Aluminum Heatsink Scrap

So! I'm just going to vent here, and tell me if I'm wrong.



I just finished processing a bunch of computers and had around 18 pounds of aluminum heatsinks when I was finished. I took it to the local yard here, and they paid me .07 cents a pound and labeled it as "unclean" aluminum.

Is this typical?

The pay check was a whopping $1.26

Even if they were dirty(had some steel/plastic on them) you should be getting around .50 per pound. Heat sinks are extruded Aluminum and should bring .60-.65 per pound if they are clean. Some yards consider them dirty if they are painted or anodized, but you got ripped either way.

They were 100% clean and I take pride in making sure I get top dollar for the scrap. Unfortunately, they're the only ones that buy scrap alum/copper here.

Sad part is, it was just a way to help a homeless guy here make some extra $$ by sending him on the errand. Pretty ridiculous.

Oh well, guess it's worth selling online now.

I just called and spoke to the manager and apparently there were 4 screws on a couple of the PSU aluminum plates (yes, 4 screws) and they labeled it as unclean. Regardless, .07 cents a pound astounds me.

So I told them to set it aside and I'd be over to remove the screws. First experience actually selling my scrap, and I'm not too impressed thus far!

Originally Posted by corycouch

Did you let the homeless guy take it in? Right or wrong most of us get better prices than the regular customer. I know here on the price sheet breakage pays less than shred but I get 16 to 20cents. If they had never seen him before sounds like he just got shred price

No, they actually work with this guy quite often. He's always bringing in bags load of AL cans, copper, etc. The bulk majority of the AL was the heatsinks (aside from the AL plates in PSUs).

Originally Posted by Mick

It looks like they paid "Light Iron" price (the screws) rather than "Irony (or Dirty) Aluminum" which is total BS for 18 pounds. I'd have that yard on my sh-- list. I totally quit going to one yard over less. Sorry but they just showed their business culture.

Yea, I won't be doing business with them again.

I called again and spoke with the managers, manager and he told me that because of the screws, they labeled it as unclean AL. So I asked if the screws were removed (all 4 of them) how much per pound he'd pay me.. and here's the kicker: .20 cents! Totally floored me.

I understand they need to make a buck, and that's totally acceptable, but .20 cents a pound is a bit out there.

Not to mention, I called a few weeks back to inquire about their prices and they quoted me around .37 cents a pound. It's still low, but from that to a $1.26 for 18 pounds of AL blew me out of the water.

Will be selling it online going forward, as I don't have any other alternatives.

Originally Posted by Mick

You DID say heat sinks, didn't you? I've always gotten Extruded price for heat sinks. Been awhile but I seem to remember .57/lb. I called a yard down in Portland the other day about computer scrap. Now I understand why he emphasized that he'd pay me Extruded for ALL heat sinks. I just took it as a matter of course.

The mass majority of the poundage was from heatsinks. There was a few miscellaneous items in there as well (AL from the PSU plates), but the majority was the heat sinks.

Selling it online will probably be more cost effective, I'll just need a bigger lot.

Now he won't be getting my bright copper either.

it's stuff like that why I don't use my local yard. I save up all my non ferrous and drive 80 miles one way just so I get a fair price.

I just went to two yards the other day. I called before I went and was quoted $1.01 for power cords at the big yard from the 13 pallets of cable boxes I have. When I told them I had over 300lb the quote went up to $1.11. The small yard that I like to sell to said they need to see them. They are 18ga two strands. The small yard called them low grade like communication wire and would not come close to the other yard.
Also the small yard will not buy power adapters [what I call Wall Warts]. The big yard has me put them in with low grade wire at .37 a pound but they only pay .06 for transformers,,,go figure!
Chris

That sucks Emeeks. I try to process my metals well also, but something almost always gets overlooked or maybe just got knocked into the wrong bucket. If the yard questions a piece at the scale I just pull it out without discussion. Don't want to compromise the price of the entire load for a piece valued at a few pennies.

That's about how it goes where I am, too. I last checked with my local yard a few years ago, when the market sucked and metals were doing pretty good. I think they offered me $0.07/lb for my heatsinks. I decided then and there that I would just save them until I have a big truckload that would be worth driving somewhere like DFW (I'm in SW Arkansas) and make a fair rate.

What Parrot said, x5. Don't be afraid to take your product back. The yard on my sandbar that I whine about now an then, tried this with me on some power supplies from computers. I had bout 4 or 5 totes of the suckers, wire still attached, the whole deal. Wanted to give me shred for it, asked if the boss was around, told no, so I said ok, if that's your final answer...I picked up my totes, put them back in the van, an went home. I can break them down in minutes an make way more. I was being lazy that day, an I'm spoiled by main yard, but I didn't feel like an hour ride.

They also tried it with some heatsinks I had, but with copper in them. Tried to get a mixed price..copper/alum deal. Nope, wanted to give me shred, not even dirty. Took them home to.

If you let them screw you they will, each an every time. I'd rather take my product back, then settle for pennies when I could get dollars.

This is something I brought up with the yard owner of that yard. An he told me it was stupid of them to offer that on the supplies an the heat sinks. An would change things. They have. Slowly but surely, their learning.

Sirscrapalot - Doesn't feel bad one bit taking his stuff back if he doesn't like the price, or feels is being screwed.