Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 54

Who else stopped scrapping?

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
  1. #1
    Gravitar started this thread.
    Gravitar's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    1,086
    Thanks
    1,258
    Thanked 1,431 Times in 525 Posts

    Who else stopped scrapping?

    Am I the only one who has stopped scrapping lately? The crap prices finally cought up to me and the highest paying yard is 4.5 cents a lb for shred. It's not even worth the time to go pick it up. I do have a large hoard of alumiunm and brass that I'm going to try and hold on to, but for the most part, I have stopped scrapping. I don't go out of my way to look for it anymore and I wont pick up anything unless it's an appliance or non-ferrous. This kind of explains my absesnce lately. So, has anyone else stopped as well?

    Made in China, Recycled in the Republic of Texas!

    "When the mind fails, brute force prevails" - CTSSolutions

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Gravitar for This Post:



  3. #2
    afmedic279's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 132 Times in 57 Posts
    Yes i am in the same boat. Bypassing shred stuff and focusing on Aluminum brass and copper and some ewaste if its around. Been looking for more resellable items lately. Tonights find 5.11 tactical jacket, nice staple gun several boxes of screws 3 faucets, nice flashlight, and sone miscellanous stuff. All going up on ebay.

  4. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by afmedic279:


  5. #3
    TheRecycler's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Ithaca, NY
    Posts
    616
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 413 Times in 199 Posts
    Nope, I have not stop and will not. As a person in business for myself, I have a business model which allows me to survive during this time. Business like everything else have got its ups and downs. The question you each need to ask yourself is, what's my business model and why do I have to quit? Your business model must be flexible to deal with change in price. It's time to make adjustments. For example, to cut down on operation cost, your business model should have anticipated these low prices. Instead of looking for scrap, you should have been cultivating an environment where scrap comes looking for you. Another thing I have done is to connect with a guy that buys my appliances to repair and resell. As such, I'm making more on a washer, dryer, stove, etc than when it was $.10/lb. I can offer more ideas if you're interested.
    Last edited by TheRecycler; 03-03-2015 at 06:08 AM.
    Your Trash-My Cash
    Yours Truly, TheRecycler:
    RecycleReuseItAll@Facebook.com

  6. The Following 8 Users say Thank You for This Post by TheRecycler:


  7. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    512
    Thanks
    521
    Thanked 812 Times in 311 Posts
    I had a load of 2.73 ton yesterday of tin and misc. iron and got $50/ton. I'm still operating on a 50/50 basis. My bonus was almost as much as the iron. I sure don't want to bring it home, unload it and reload it someday IF the price goes up. The scale guy mentioned an imminent price rise....(HOPE SO). This is an experience in ''taking the bad with the good". I did find two spare tires and rims that will fit my manure spreader and also I'll buy a walk-in door to a grain bin that I took down. Sometimes those types of additional finds or favors take the hurt off the price and the labor involved. I'm not aggressively looking for more iron, but I'm making notes of where the stuff is at. Ya, I'll keep scrapping. I like it. I look like a scrapper anyhow and I have to put my coveralls and stocking hat to good use somewhere.


  8. The Following 7 Users say Thank You for This Post by Yunkman:


  9. #5
    DevinThaScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    588
    Thanks
    120
    Thanked 605 Times in 247 Posts
    Hah. I got .03 / lb and I went right after to grab more shred. It's never over for me and I'll ride it out.

  10. The Following 7 Users say Thank You for This Post by DevinThaScrapper:


  11. #6
    travistemple202020's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    ames iowa
    Posts
    1,326
    Thanks
    267
    Thanked 883 Times in 495 Posts
    I guess I have to say thanks to all that are dropping out of this because I am making triple what I would even in the best of summer months and grill and lawnmower season lol I work from my garage and storages no heavy equip. not even a trailer so I have to pile my truck high and if this keeps up I will start renting a uhaul to keep up with everything.
    so if your not able to research, plan and make money right now please don't throw things in the trash for them to make money off of please post it on clist here or something so others can make your money you don't want

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to travistemple202020 for This Post:


  13. #7
    logansryche's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Jamestown, TN
    Posts
    1,215
    Thanks
    1,043
    Thanked 564 Times in 367 Posts
    I'm the same way - I'm finding more ewaste now then before. I'll never quit doing what I enjoy.

  14. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by logansryche:


  15. #8
    hobo finds's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    tucson, az
    Posts
    4,758
    Thanks
    6,037
    Thanked 5,910 Times in 2,556 Posts
    Did not quit just stopped looking, if I find some scrap sure, I'll take it (still free money) just not so much...

  16. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by hobo finds:


  17. #9
    SMF Badges of Honor




    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    ks
    Posts
    2,187
    Thanks
    2,513
    Thanked 2,140 Times in 898 Posts
    Haven't done much in the way of scrap this year. Just buying cars and hoarding. Only thing I've sold this year is cats and a van body.
    Alvord iron and salvage
    3rd generation scrapper and dam proud of it

  18. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by taterjuice:


  19. #10
    AdmiralAluminum's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    737
    Thanks
    824
    Thanked 968 Times in 415 Posts
    I've tried not too stop. Things have trickled in here and there. Actually Curbco has been pretty good to me lately, many things coming on off waste pick up nights too. Nothing spectacular but enough to make a little money. Things are starting to melt a little up here too and I am reservedly becoming hopeful for next weeks garbage nights.
    METAL IS MY MISTRESS...PLEASE DON'T TELL MY WIFE!

  20. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by AdmiralAluminum:


  21. #11
    greytruck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Thornton, Illinois
    Posts
    1,909
    Thanks
    1,679
    Thanked 1,772 Times in 919 Posts
    Ive been focusing on the items that bring more than just steel. I havnt seen anyone out scrapping. Even the guy across town stopped and i thought he was hard core. Another guy that lives a couple blocks behind my work took his wood sides off his truck along with his sign on his doors. For me, I never found so many appliances in a short amount of time.

  22. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by greytruck:


  23. #12
    Patriot76's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Buffalo Commons
    Posts
    2,949
    Thanks
    10,591
    Thanked 7,218 Times in 2,256 Posts
    Have not stopped scrapping, just quit selling. Spending most of the time preparing non ferrous that was stockpiled. Still cutting # 1 iron and let it sit where it lands. In addition, preparing equipment, trailers, and trucks to reduce down time when the price increases. Part of the business plan others talk about was dumping non ferrous in the shed for a rainy day. Lack of experience and no desire to take the time to learn created the stockpile. The rainy day has arrived. Instead of turn and burn, it is time to learn, analyze, and prepare.


  24. #13
    matador's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    We purchase laptop computers and many components for greater than scrap value. We offer a shipping reimbursement program.replies

    Member since
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Big Wonderful Wyoming
    Posts
    2,310
    Thanks
    1,813
    Thanked 3,200 Times in 1,448 Posts
    I've cut back on advertising, but that's it. We'll be doing computer collection events this spring like we did last year.

    Other than that, 85% steam ahead!

  25. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by matador:


  26. #14
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
    I have been loving the price drop because I have been getting more than I ever have before. My nonferrous is even increased a lot due to people completely quitting. I have been trying to minimize my shred by reusing a lot of it to make new things.

  27. The Following User Says Thank You to Spidy for This Post:


  28. #15
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2013
    Location
    texas
    Posts
    12
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 19 Times in 6 Posts
    will not stop scrapping just brought home a load looking for more to stockpile invest a little time and gas when prices go up it is money in the bank according to some prices will not be down that long

  29. #16
    wayne1956's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Cleburne, TX
    Posts
    705
    Thanks
    195
    Thanked 754 Times in 293 Posts
    I pretty much have not changed anything. All the calls I get are pretty much on the way from work to home, so it is nothing to swing by and pick up a washer/dryer/refrigerator. My big client (plumbing company) continues to replace appliances, so once a week I will drag my 16ft flatbed with me to work, then swing by after my regular job. I will usually fill it about 2/3 full, and save the stuff until I have a full load to take to the yard (after processing to remove the non-ferrous). That way I am not making several little runs, just one big run. I just got a call today from a apartment complex who asked me if I would be interested in a continual haul off (as they replace appliances in their apartments), and I said I am your man. I will not go out of my way as much as I use to, but I get enough calls off of craigslist that it still keeps me busy.

  30. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by wayne1956:


  31. #17
    submarinepainter's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,025
    Thanks
    1,230
    Thanked 654 Times in 316 Posts
    I still scrap, I am trying to take alum., copper and Brass with my Light Iron, I use to not strip my wire but I have started doing it , it should really help a lot!!
    Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes;
    God bless little children while they're still too young to hate

  32. The Following User Says Thank You to submarinepainter for This Post:


  33. #18
    TheRecycler's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Ithaca, NY
    Posts
    616
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 413 Times in 199 Posts
    To all you fellas and gals who have not stopped scrapping, I applaud you. Just today, I turned in about $500 worth of material and I'm still sitting on about 200 lbs of copper. One last thing, sold a couple of washers to my guy for $15 a pop and got a call to pick up another and found two dishwashers while I was on the way.

  34. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by TheRecycler:


  35. #19
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,985
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,351 Posts
    Still scrapping what's in the way and hoarding what will stack neatly (TOWERS)

  36. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by mikeinreco:


  37. #20
    junkisus's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    NC mtns
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    90
    Thanked 39 Times in 15 Posts
    I know I have said this before but I've been doing this for 29 years why stop now ? Anything lost in price can be made up in volume with scrappers dropping out. The quick easy money may not be there right now but if you do it like a job there is always good money in this business.

  38. The Following 8 Users say Thank You for This Post by junkisus:



  39. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. new to scrapping, looking for some guidance on e-scrapping
      By Chrissm14 in forum General Electronics Recycling
      Replies: 9
      Last Post: 02-07-2015, 09:51 PM
    2. My local yard a while back stopped accepting computer fans.
      By Kochy in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 26
      Last Post: 02-24-2014, 10:22 PM
    3. Today a scrapper stopped by my jobsite (what not to do).
      By SDSCRAP in forum Scrap Metal Tips and Advice
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 10-09-2013, 09:18 PM
    4. I never stopped to say thanks...
      By Oldbarnz in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 7
      Last Post: 12-17-2012, 01:24 AM
    5. Need advice scrapping trailers! New to scrapping!
      By Instaed in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 01-11-2011, 09:59 AM

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 3 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 3 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook