I see the same truck 2-3 times a month at my scrapyard dumping a whole big box truck worth of appliances into the shred pile. They don't strip motors, compressors, or even wire. I think they may be from an appliance store, and they're just getting rid of the old appliances that they are taking away after delivery of new stuff.
I would have to guess between 20 and 30 appliances every time I see them. I wonder how many times they do that?

I approached them and asked why they didn't strip the appliances, and suggested that at that volume they were leaving a ton of money on the table. They said they didn't have time to worry with it. I asked if they would be interested in letting me come in and take what I want, and I would do a 50% split with them, and I would pay them their share on the spot. They said they didn't want to fool with it.

Broke my heart, I tell ya'.