Customer came in with a computer issue, seemed very nervous when explaining that his pc would not boot and had not for the past several days prior.  Laptop was an older model with Windows XP.  Upon attempting to boot, the pc would give a power indicator light, beep, and immediately shut back off.  I looked up his laptop model and found the beep code, which stated that the motherboard had failed.  I let the customer know that in most cases, motherboard replacement on a laptop is not as cost effective as simply replacing the unit, but on older pcs like this one, it would be next to impossible to even find parts, and that his best option was to look at a new pc and transfer data.  Customer stated he wanted to remove the hard drive but could not open the case due to a stripped screw.  I let him know again that we could transfer the data for him, but due to the placement of the screw and the fact that it was stripped, there was little option besides prying the case open.  Customer agreed, stating he had been planning on doing that prior if the pc was found to be not repairable, and let me know "Just do what you have to do, I don't care if you break the pc, just get it open."
I verified with the customer before fetching a pry tool.  Customer watched as I pried the back casing off of the stripped screw to open the laptop, and immediately asked "So, how do I change the motherboard then?"   I let him know again that this was an older laptop, it would be very difficult to find parts, and that we do not carry them in store.  As I looked to remove the hard drive, I noted it was not present.  Asked the customer, who suddenly realized that he had removed it already, and promptly offered to sell me the pc for $300.  I told him that we did not buy computers and that with the age of the pc, it was likely not worth near that much, to which he asked which parts could be salvaged and sold.  I showed the customer how to locate the RAM and remove the battery, which he thanked me for and then asked if I wanted to buy the parts.  I again rebuffed the customer, he collected his computer, and left.