First buy of computer components. How'd I do? - Page 2

I figured out that if I C/P Ewasted's price sheet and pay between 40 - 60% (higher on higher value items) and keep several copies In my briefcase I can use them as receipts when I buy scrap, and I can itemize it out and not over pay and the customer knows what they are getting and why. which is more important than the money in their pocket, because they don't feel screwed. I am very open also with my customers and routinely refer them here / CFCS and I explain that yes you could ship the stuff yourself if you like, but it will be 10 days before you have a check, cherry city metals is the best paying yard in the valley but they won't tell you how you are supposed to break stuff down so you end up making 20 cents on the dollar. and then there is a 3 day waiting period and they mail you a check (Oregon law for non-ferrous scrap) OR I can pay cash for your computer scrap and will be 15-30% higher than CCM. as I break it down as I am weighing it to ensure your max return. (I am also sorting and loading so I only have to handle it once when I receive it.

in my business model,
lowgrade (less than $3# goes to a local yard) I don't make money on this as i'm paying what the yard gives me for it. it's all about customer convenience, making it a one stop shop for them so they only have to deal with one person for all their recycling needs. stuff like CRT's and cardboard I don't charge for if it is a repeat customer as I can dump these for free at places on my route that I am going to anyway.
mid grade #3-6# I usually pay 40% of ewasted price as the volume required is higher to make the same amount, and i'm able to make up the difference for the low grade and still pay better than the local yard.
high grade $6#+ if I know what it is exactly and know how much I can sell it for and know the weight of the material i'll pay up to 75% of the value. as to me there is minimal risk in buying gold cap 486 intel processors as I know that i'm still going to make money on them for example. for standard high grade stuff like ram i'm at 60% .

I try to ship atleast one shipment a week to ewasted, shipping for me is right around $.80# which on a $3lb motherboard is 27% of the cost +40% that I paid for it =33% for fuel and time, beer, donuts (for customers) and other expenses. it doesn't matter if you have 20 different grades of material in the box, as long as they are sorted so they can pull them out and weigh them. I have found that with the volatility of the precious metals markets it is of the utmost importance to move the scrap on a regular basis when it is like now, otherwise your going to be left holding product that you paid way to much for and can't get the money out that you thought you could.

just my two cents worth.