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Who else stopped scrapping?

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  1. #1
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    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?
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  3. #2
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    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.

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  5. #3
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    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.
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  7. #4
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    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.


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    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.

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  11. #6
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    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

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    I'm the same way - I'm finding more ewaste now then before. I'll never quit doing what I enjoy.

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    Did not quit just stopped looking, if I find some scrap sure, I'll take it (still free money) just not so much...

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  17. #9
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    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.
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    3rd generation scrapper and dam proud of it

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  19. #10
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    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!

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  21. #11
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    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.

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  23. #12
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    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
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    We purchase laptop computers and many components for greater than scrap value. We offer a shipping reimbursement program.replies

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    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!

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  26. #14
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    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.


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  28. #15
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    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
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    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.

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    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!!
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    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.

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  35. #19
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    Still scrapping what's in the way and hoarding what will stack neatly (TOWERS)

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  37. #20
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    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.

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