The Logansryche Thread

[logansryche]

I'll admit my way of doing things are against the grain as that's whats worked for me. I feel like i'm the only one around here with enough brass to challenge the way things are done. I've attempted to do things the way their done and what did it get me? Truckless with two tickets to pay off so no, I won't be doing things the normal way ever again. E-Waste is my forte. No one in this area has the brass to open shop for electronics(even upstate won't take em) and I saw kickstarter as the answer to my problem(even if "most of you" didn't). True I have my EBay consignment business but it's not where my heart is and I'd rather attempt to do something now in case I don't have the same opportunity later.

I'll also admit I don't have the best choice of words alot of the time or word things so they make sense. I'm not usually the one trying to get funding going, I'm the one out in the shop taking this stuff apart and sorting it so it can be taken to Upstate or be put up for sale on Ebay. Having a dedicated space for scrapping would help me help the community as a whole(even if I'm the only one who wants or see's it).

That's all I've got,
Matt

[logansryche]

And, there's a fight....

I think it would be beneficial to explain why you need that space in the mall. I don't know what the circumstances are, but that would make it easier. The recycling centers out here are in the poor side of town. Back there, it may be different. I'd like to see the reasoning, though.

I think we could do alright in New York. I'd just import F150s from out here!

I didn't see your post till after I posted my reply but sure... I have an understanding with the leasing agent for Great Northern Mall that the space will be used for dismantling only. No sales would be conducted there. The space would A: get my business name out there B: provide a drop-off point for electronics(except CRTs) for the community and C: Whatever was dismantled would have been sent to buyers on this form, putting SMF into the equation. That was the plan anyhow. All pc metal wouldve gone to Upstate and I think I have a lead on a plastic buyer. I would've used Gorvin for his shipping services. The space wouldn't hold many gaylords but it'd be enough space for what I want it for, as opposed to trying to base everything out of the house. As it is the wife doesn't like anyone coming to the house and is affraid when I go out to get something for fear of it being a trap by either the EPA or the police. I did also have the thought of building a fence and extending the shed but both were denied by the town so that killed that.

Great Northern Mall's right off I81 and is surounded by restaurants. I wanted to base the shop here mainly to try and help save the mall so it doesn't turn into another Drivers Village, park, or old folks home. I refuse to shop at Destiny for the way they treated me and the wife(security guard guard called my wife fat and the owner made him apologise, then fired him). There are several buildings closer to the house that would fit the bill but their also more expensive. Being based in the mall has everything included(including wifi).

[KzScrapper]

You asked for opinions and I gave you mine....sorry you didnt want the reality check. Big part of running a biz is setting yourself up for success and so location is part of my plan, you chose to move there so that's on you. If you can't make it in the business world without needing free funding then its time to get a job and use part of the income to take baby steps until you can go fulltime.

[logansryche]

You asked for opinions and I gave you mine....sorry you didnt want the reality check. Big part of running a biz is setting yourself up for success and so location is part of my plan, you chose to move there so that's on you. If you can't make it in the business world without needing free funding then its time to get a job and use part of the income to take baby steps until you can go fulltime.

I asked for your opinion on the kickstarter, not about me personally. I've stated why I feel I require the space and I'll be taking the suggestions that were given to me because I believe crowdfunding exists for a reason. I'm sorry you had to start where you did but this is the 21st century. Today's business' are built apon investors and crowdfunding. If you can't mange to attract either, your sunk.

In regards to location. No, it wasn't my choice. I honestly don't enjoy living here. The people are rude, conceited, and thieves. Since moving back from TN I've had to look over my shoulder to make sure someone doesn't break into the house or the car or both. I have a b**ch of a neighbor across the street who thinks it's fine and dandy to file false police reports on the family because she's a racist white woman and her husband's on the police force(wife's brother's cousin's black). If it were up to me, we'd be living in Florida where I could scrap electronics as I please. In the meantime I'm dealing with it to the best of my ability. I could tell horror stories about the retailers here.

I do however have good news to report(well, good news for me). I found a free source near me for can tabs. Went and picked up 300 today and will be getting more when they drink more. I started a project over facebook to do with can tabs and touched on it lightly over here.

[Mechanic688]

Received a phone call from Christine Vincitore of Macerich who owns Great Northern mall a bit ago. Apparently their hurting for tenants and someone mentioned to her what I do and was curious if I wanted to rent a space because what I do is unique or something to that effect. The spot she wanted to rent me was an ex-Verizon spot behind a cell-phone repair shop which would be a good set up as all the Verizon fixtures are still there and would be included, not to mention utilities. However rent on that spot is $1,200/mo.

Isn't that a lot of rent for a spot in a (my reading only) half dead mall?? I could go uptown right now and rent a 3800 sf building in a working mini mall for about $800. maybe less if signing on for a year.

[logansryche]

Isn't that a lot of rent for a spot in a (my reading only) half dead mall?? I could go uptown right now and rent a 3800 sf building in a working mini mall for about $800. maybe less if signing on for a year.

Not for up here. Commercial space no matter where it is up here is expensive(I was looking at that one redemption center building that's up the street from me and that's more expensive then this spot and didn't include any utilities). I'm pushing for this one mainly because utilities are included in the rent plus wifi. I saw it as worth it as no sales would be made at the location: only drop off and dismantling.

I also found some PDFs the leasing agent sent me that points out shops around the mall, what's in the mall currently, and what's available for rent if anyone's curious(I updated the kickstarter with some of the images including a blow up of the spot I'm interested). Major anchors are Sears and D's Sporting Goods and from what I understand D's Sporting Goods is what's keeping the mall afloat currently. I could easily see other business move in there but they need a nudge(like the return of Gamestop would be nice).

[Scrappah]

I've been busy and have been out of the loop for awhile. ( No idea what's going on with you. )

It looks like things aren't going well. You need more e-waste. You would have to process A LOT of of material just to break even on the cost of a commercial space every month.

Why not set up a series of e-waste drop off boxes around town ? Maybe make the rounds every day at 5:00 AM -or- 5:00 PM ?

It would be low key and low operating expense.

Maybe start with one ? If it generates profit .... re-invest the money to putting more boxes out there ?

Later edited to add:

I don't buy into the idea that you need investors or have to go into debt to start a business these day.

In fact ...it probably has a lot to do with why most new business startups fail within the first five years.

[mthomasdev]

Before thinking about a store or warehouse, you need some volume. Hit the the streets. Talk to businesses. Put up a listing on a site like yp.com. Be prepared to pay for some material.

[matador]

I agree with Scrappah. In my eyes, it's best to grow into what you need, not to purchase something and then try to use it. I made that mistake with my box van a few years ago. That decision cost me a lot of money. Is there a way to rent a storage unit to put stuff in? Working low-key for a few months, and building up is always a good plan. The best thing that a business can do is to have constant, slow growth.

[Sirscrapalot]

One needs investors an crowd funding or their sunk? HA!

I politely agree to disagree. I've started two businesses now, both successful, an neither required me to do either. Anyhoo..I'm not here to attack you. I will say...you comment about GameStop coming back. If they left that mall, that should tell you something. I had a similar experience once back in Tucson with a mall. It was dying a very slow death, half the stores bailed, an the rest were headed that way.

Second..If your so sure on your idea, why haven't you approached a local SBA chapter? You did say one "must have Investors". You do know they can help you develop a business plan designed to get you such, an other financial backing. They will also mentor you, provide some learning if you require it in certain areas of business. An..it's FREE! Well it costs you time, but hey..if it's a good plan, you'll be willing to invest money and time into it right?

The resources are there for people to succeed, one must just be willing to jump through the required hoops.

I now return you to your mob mugging.

Sirscrapalot - We all live in a yellow submarine..We all live in a yellow Submarine..

[logansryche]

I've been busy and have been out of the loop for awhile. ( No idea what's going on with you. )

It looks like things aren't going well. You need more e-waste. You would have to process A LOT of of material just to break even on the cost of a commercial space every month.

Why not set up a series of e-waste drop off boxes around town ? Maybe make the rounds every day at 5:00 AM -or- 5:00 PM ?

It would be low key and low operating expense.

Maybe start with one ? If it generates profit .... re-invest the money to putting more boxes out there ?

Later edited to add:

I don't buy into the idea that you need investors or have to go into debt to start a business these day.

In fact ...it probably has a lot to do with why most new business startups fail within the first five years.

Thinking about it from a certain point of view you're right. I mean heck, I had an off idea of building a trailer but then was told no because the hhr isn't mine and has no hitch and the list goes on. I'll have to look into drop boxes and see what's required in placing them. Thanks for the suggestion ^.^

[logansryche]

I agree with Scrappah. In my eyes, it's best to grow into what you need, not to purchase something and then try to use it. I made that mistake with my box van a few years ago. That decision cost me a lot of money. Is there a way to rent a storage unit to put stuff in? Working low-key for a few months, and building up is always a good plan. The best thing that a business can do is to have constant, slow growth.

I'd thought about doing that too at one point. Friend of the family operates his cabinet building business out of one. Defiantly worth looking into again.

[EcoSafe]

Some good solid advise above. sit down and think about it. Growing too fast is a big business killer. My recient Omaha debacle is a good example. a partly ego based decision not well thought out ate up a years profit and a lot of extra expense that would have been better applied here. I am moving loads of servers and 1800 lb mainframes by hand at 70+ years old because of a quick dumb mistake. A new concrete pad , a fork lift , bob cat or............ would have been a smarter and better choice! learn from my dumb mistakes. don"t make the same ones. Starting a scrap co is hard work there is just no easy way around it.

You have a lot of different Ideas , let us help you, vet your Ideas, hopefully you will hit a winner.

[MattInTheHat]

make sure you find out if storage units will meet the requirements to get the permits you want

[logansryche]

Does anyone have any info on what's required to set up a drop-off bin? I google searched and didn't come up with anything concrete but by the looks, nothing's required to build or distribute them which is a good thing. On the note of the storage locker, looks like that will be my best best to start with since it's away from the house and I don't believe there would be a problem basing my business there as it's intake only and by the bit of searching I did do, no licenses or permits are required because of how the business would be operated(intake from me only, going around to the drop boxes) so it would come off as someone renting a locker but I'll double check with the local place and see what they say. For now I don't see needing anything bigger then a 10x10, at some point if business gets good I'll upgrade to a 10x20 or 10x30 so I can hold more. I do still plan on whatever's brought in, to be sorted and sent out to members of this forum as this forum's become the face of the scrapping world. Any metal would still go to Upstate. I do unfortunately still foresee requiring an amount of start up money to pay for the locker, outfit it with storage bins, a bench, and possibly an electric generator since most of these places do not have electricity. I'll have to run numbers and see how much I'd require, but whatever it is, it'll be less then what I'm trying to get through kickstarter.

Thanks for the refresher ideas,
Matt

[EcoSafe]

The deal I have with my roll offs is that I sell to the scrap co that owns the roll offs I get .02 less then if I hauled the scrap 120 miles round trip , but this deal is a no brainer. check yards (smaller ones for free roll offs) a 20 yarder will do for now have them bring it when you are ready for it and pick it up the next day when loaded. Most of the smaller yards lease these roll offs so every day you have it cost them money. it takes me about 2 or 3 hrs to load a 20 yarder it holds about a ton of server cases.

I operated "prism sand" for several years from a 20x20 storage unit as long as Ikept the noise to a minumim and the outside area cleaned up I had no complaints. don't get discouraged by no. The average salesman hears 10 no's for every yess.

[ScrappinRed]

Does anyone have any info on what's required to set up a drop-off bin? I google searched and didn't come up with anything concrete but by the looks, nothing's required to build or distribute them which is a good thing.

...get permission from the owner's of highly visible or trafficked private property. Secure your container and make sure no one can easily drive off with it. Make it pretty. Be prepared to deal with a LOT of crap that is NOT what you asked/advertised for and have a way to properly dispose of this waste. Check it OFTEN to remove the crap that people stack around it, making the property an eyesore (mattresses, broken furniture, boxes and bags of trash, etc.) Then process the good stuff.

[Scrappah]

Just throwing out random ideas in regard to an e-waste drop off box. It seems like you could head off some of the inherent problems by thinking it through beforehand.

Image would be important. People will respect it more if it looks professional. Ought to be green in color with the recycling logo on the sides.

Maybe think about placement ? You might be able to place something like a mailbox / dropbox in the walking way of a high end shopping mall. If you put it out in the end of a parking lot with no eyes on it .... they might think of it as being a dumpster.

Think of the material it's made up of. Steel would be nice in some situations but it would be expensive. What about something of cardboard about half the size of a gaylord or smaller ? Corrugated plastic would be nice too and it can be screen printed to look professional.

Maybe use logic to help weed out the things you don't want ? ie: Let's say you didn't want "bubble back" tv's & CRT's. Make the opening of the bin too small to fit them in ?

Maybe have a phone number & a web address on the side of the bin ? It could say " for large items please contact us for a pick up ". If it's an item that's not cost effective to recycle you could charge a nominal removal fee. In a way ... it's like advertising if you've placed your drop box in a high traffic area.

~ Just a few thoughts. Much as anything, it would probably be a process of trial & error to see what works best for you. ~

[logansryche]

...get permission from the owner's of highly visible or trafficked private property. Secure your container and make sure no one can easily drive off with it. Make it pretty. Be prepared to deal with a LOT of crap that is NOT what you asked/advertised for and have a way to properly dispose of this waste. Check it OFTEN to remove the crap that people stack around it, making the property an eyesore (mattresses, broken furniture, boxes and bags of trash, etc.) Then process the good stuff.

I thought so, I didn't think there was anything more then asking permission of placement but wanted to make sure and didn't see anything about requirements so I asked. I was going to do a bin like this or maybe a bit bigger http://www.phlmetropolis.com/assets_...5x561-1695.jpg. Also, by the looks of things I'll require a startup of $5,000 which will provide all the tools, storage, and year lease at the storage facility. It'll give me something to work towards anyhow.

[HipoGear]

Let me throw in my 2 cents here. I live about two hours west of you, an hour the other side of Rochester. Our county is getting ready to do a tax sale. Properties get sold to the high bidder, who is then responsible for paying back taxes. See if your area has something similar coming up (Onondaga County). There are several properties here that I expect to go for $1 with some of them only have about $1K in back taxes owed. Some are tear-down type houses with garage.

I was considering the bin idea myself. I found this for cell phones which I fell is very affordable. Just not sure where I could place one that would make sense.
Cell Phone Recycling Bin

If you're going to rent a storage locker, don't tell the manager your plan. They don't need to know, won't understand, will assume the worst (EPA disasters, etc). Also, be careful with the generator idea. That will draw too much attention and if you pull it inside, you'll likely kill yourself from CO emissions. Cordless drill with an inverter in your car for charger to keep second battery charged. I just saw a unit that was sold where the guy had a Coleman propane lantern hanging from the ceiling for light. There are easier and cheaper options. Get creative and get busy. Winter will be here before we want it