Electronics Repair, Refurbishment & Depot Operations worked example

Cannibalization Value at 58% usable cannibalization yield: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop usable cannibalization yield to 58%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Estimate usable value from cannibalizing donor electronics for displays, boards, ICs, power modules, cables, housings, or scarce spare parts.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Donor units stripped for parts: 100 items (held at the documented default)
  • Usable value per harvested item: 45 $ / item (held at the documented default)
  • Usable cannibalization yield: 58 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 80)
  • Fixed resale credit or value adjustment: 250 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Gross cannibalization value = donor units or harvested assemblies × usable value per harvested item × usable cannibalization yield.
  • Net cannibalization value works out to 2,860 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Cannibalization value per donor item works out to 28.6 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Gross cannibalization value works out to 2,610 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed resale credit or value adjustment works out to 250 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where usable cannibalization yield sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 25.71% below the baseline at 2,860 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to usable cannibalization yield, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It uses one average value per harvested item, so a mix of high- and low-value parts on the same donor needs separate runs or a weighted average to stay accurate.

Results at a glance

  • Net cannibalization value: 2,860 $ (headline result)
  • Cannibalization value per donor item: 28.6 $ / piece
  • Gross cannibalization value: 2,610 $
  • Fixed resale credit or value adjustment: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Cannibalization Value calculator, set usable cannibalization yield to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.