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I am very impressed with Phoneraiser, you are people of your word.

Dennis - St. Louis, MO

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

»	Can any type of organization sign up for the Phoneraiser program?

Phoneraiser is designed to help any organization (school, church, youth group, choir, non profit, business, club, Boy Scout troop, Girl Scout troop, band, cheerleading squad, soccer team, individual, etc.) raise money, while protecting the environment, through the collection of used cell phones and ink jet cartridges. Individuals can also sign up to conduct a Phoneraiser.

»	What types of cell phones and inkjet cartridges does Phoneraiser accept?

Phoneraiser accepts every brand of inkjet cartridge and cell phone that you send, working and non-working. Please see the price list to view the models that we pay for when the cell phone and/or inkjets qualify. If a phone cannot be reused in another market, Phoneraiser will absorb the cost of properly recycling it in accordance with state and federal EPA guidelines.

»	What is considered a "qualifying" cell phone and a "qualifying" ink jet cartridge?

Cell phone prices are volatile and subject to change. To qualify for payment, a cell phone must power up, make a test call, have an undamaged LCD screen, and be included in our price list. The phone should not be damaged beyond normal wear. Clear off all personal information from cell phone. Cartridges must not be broken, i.e. cartridge case, circuitry, or print head. Refilled cartridges are considered broken. Please pack carefully. Remember, you can send all types of cell phones and/or ink jet cartridges to Phoneraiser. If they do not qualify, they will be disposed of properly. If a cartridge is larger than the palm of your hand, it is not an ink jet.

»	Do you accept accessories such as earpieces, owner's manuals, and chargers?

No, Phoneraiser does not accept accessories such as earpieces, chargers, manuals, etc. Boxes that are primarily filled with accessories will be charged a $30 shipping fee. However, Phoneraiser encourages you to include the cell phone batteries with your shipment, as batteries contain many toxic substances and should be recycled properly.

»	How do I package and ship the phones?

When you have gathered several cell phones and/or ink jet cartridges, you can ship them to us. Use the prepaid FedEx labels that we sent to you when you registered. Email a request to (shipping@Phoneraiser.com include your full name, organization name, mailing address, and phone number in the email) or call (1-800-873-8908) and tell us you need more labels and we will send them within 48 hours. When your shipment is ready:

Place all the cell phones in any cardboard box you can find.
If you have any ink jets, place them in a plastic sack so they don't leak ink onto the other items. Then place the sack in the box with the cell phones.
Stuff the box with packing material (bubble wrap or newspaper) to protect the phones during shipment. Then completely seal the boxes with heavy duty tape
Complete the FROM section of each label (one for each box)
Stick a FedEx shipping label to each box
For a record of the shipment, keep the top left tag. It is labeled Shipper Receipt.
The number on that tag is your tracking number.
Have your boxes picked up by FedEx for free by calling (888) 777-6040 (have your label ready when you call) OR Drop Off your boxes at the nearest FedEx drop off location. To find the nearest drop-off location, log on to www.fedex.com or call (800) 463-3339.
Your check will be mailed 10 days after we receive your shipment. Note: If you have DHL labels that we sent previously, we will accept those too. Please follow the directions on the label.

»	Is there a minimum amount of cell phones or cartridges that I have to send in each time?

No. Phoneraiser will process and pay you for any amount of cell phones and/or ink jet cartridges.

»	What happens to the items after I ship them?

Once we receive your shipment, we sort and separate all the different models. Within 72 hours, we will send you an email that details how many items you sent, how many products qualified for payment, and what amount we will be paying you. Many people have an email filter that blocks our email, so feel free to call and find out how much your check is going to be if you don't hear from us in 72 hours. Remember, we pay up to $300 per qualifying cell phone and up to $5 per ink jet cartridge. Nothing that you send to us will be wasted. We recycle the broken phones, the ink jets, the phone batteries, and the cardboard box you send.

»	When can I expect the payment check to arrive?

Phoneraiser will mail your organization a check within 10 days of when we receive your shipment.

»	How much money can we expect to raise by conducting a Phoneraiser drive?

It is really up to you and your organization's goals and commitment. We have had collection partners raise $20,000 in a single drive and others who have raised less than $100.00. Your organization does not have to sell anything - simply collect used cell phones and ink jet cartridges. There are over 250 million retired cell phones in homes and businesses in the USA. Like any fundraiser, your organization will reap the rewards of your efforts. Please review the Phoneraiser Resource Center section for a guide on how to conduct a successful Phoneraiser Drive. Please see the included Price List for individual phone and ink jet values.

»	Can I conduct a Phoneraiser program outside of the USA?

Yes, Phoneraiser is happy to recycle phones from any location. However, Phoneraiser will not pay for any shipping costs from outside the continental United States.

»	What does Phoneraiser do with the cell phones and inkjet cartridges it collects?

If a cell phone cannot be reused in another market Phoneraiser will absorb the cost of properly recycling it in accordance with state and federal EPA guidelines. Used cell phones that have an economic value are refurbished and reused in markets utilizing compatible wireless technologies. Reuse reduces the depletion of our Earth's finite resources. The proceeds from the resale of these used items enable Phoneraiser to continually expand its recycling efforts and provide less fortunate people a means of obtaining an inexpensive technology. All ink jet cartridges are recycled to be reused in the market.

»	Do we have to separate the cell phones and inkjets or keep track of the different models?

No. You can pile all cell phones together in the same box. We do all the work for you at our warehouse, where we seperate the items and make a detailed inventory list. Please be careful not to damage the items when packing. Also, please place any ink jet cartridges in a plastic bag to prevent them from leaking.

»	How can I find out what model my phone is?

Remove the back cover from your phone and pull the battery out. You will see an I.D. tag on the phone under the battery. The phone model # should be located on that tag.

»	What happens to information stored in the cell phones?

Cell phones that are recycled are completely dismantled, and through this process the information is destroyed. Phones that are reused in other markets are "flashed" to allow new software to be loaded. This process erases the phone's memory and enables a new number to be assigned. However, Phoneraiser strongly recommends that donors clear the memories on their cell phones of any sensitive private information before donating them. In addition, donors should always ensure the service on any cell phone they donate has been disconnected, to prevent fraudulent use. Phoneraiser will not be responsible for any information left stored in the memories of phones donated or their fraudulent use.

»	Are phone donations tax deductible?

The value of most phones qualifies as a tax deductible donation. Please contact your tax professional for more information.

»	Why are cell phones so harmful to the environment?

Improper disposal of cell phones is a serious threat to our environment. Every cell phone contains no less that 8 hazardous materials including Arsenic, Antimony, Beryllium, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc. Disposing of these phones in a landfill allows these substances to leach into groundwater and soil. Burning them in an incinerator releases chemicals associated with reproductive complications, cancers, and developmental problems especially in children. In 2006 alone, more than 130 million cell phones will be discarded. One cell phone can pollute up to 132,000 liters of water.