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Can hardly give scrap metel away

| A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
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    ChildhoodDream started this thread.
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    Can hardly give scrap metel away

    ....

    Last edited by ChildhoodDream; 11-03-2024 at 01:04 AM.


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    no its people just not wanting to work hard there used to getting stuff and expecting it to be fast money or easy or some kind of excuse like gas or time or what not. the real scrappers out there are still working and like me harder than ever because as people lazz about we are cleaning up and the money is amazing. you post it they will come

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    carolinaecycle's Avatar
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    I would kill for a job like this back when I was new and scrapping hard.

    Funny thing is, I have 5000+ pounds of steel stacked on a loading dock. I cleaned out everything that was non-ferrous and electronic, figured I'd leave the steel for someone that could really use the job.
    I posted an ad on Craigslist, fast forward 2 weeks, steel is still there. Had 4 response, either no shows or had the nads to want to charge for a clean up ... LOL!!!! It is a FREE pile of metal, you know where I told them to stick it when they asked for a fee.
    Now that I have a little free time, I called in for a dumpster and I am going to take a day to get it done myself.

    People are spoiled, with prices at 5 cents if your lucky, it's to the point where you pretty much got to load it for them or they don't want it. Or pay them to pick up something they're going to go get paid for.

    I know that when I was young to this business there would have been a fist fight for this pile of scrap... now ... well ... enough said.

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    It seems simple to me. I put the tin in Gaylords on pallets. When I had 14 pallets. I rented a truck, took a trip to the yard and walked away with $400.00 after the truck rental. With that much tin, they unloaded the truck for me. So what's wrong with that? Nothing.
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    spin your price is also higher than most of the nation right now too. We use dumpster service here and it's not awesome by any stretch but or handling is over the second the tin hits the dumpster.
    WI ITAD LLC, IT Liquidation Services, we remarket, buy and sell scrap electronics No customer too large or small!

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    If I could place a tin dumpster here, I would do that in a minute, even though I would get less per pound. If I didn't have to handle it, I would be a happy scrapper. Rock on, Army!

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    Even at .05 a lb, that is still worth $250, so I would be jumping all over it, even right now. Although prices are around half what they use to be, I am still out there, trying to set up permanent clients for when prices do recover.

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    I Pm'd you Id Love to assist a fellow Minnesota room member

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    Curbside is still competitive around here. Although I dont really do that anymore; the same regulars are still driving through my neighborhoods. I think it is just alot more competitve around here. I dont see how they are making much. If you placed ads like that around here youd have people fighting over it. It is all relative I suppose.

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    Would be more than great if someone from here could remove that scrap for you, good for you and good for them!

  18. #11
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    pics?

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  20. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by travistemple202020 View Post
    no its people just not wanting to work hard there used to getting stuff and expecting it to be fast money or easy or some kind of excuse like gas or time or what not. the real scrappers out there are still working and like me harder than ever because as people lazz about we are cleaning up and the money is amazing. you post it they will come
    the money is amazing? Really? I take offense to the comments in bold. As someone who has scrapped for the past 8 years and still scraps while working a day job, I have to say, the money isn't THAT AMAZING.

    Steel prices SUCK. is it worth it for me to run my 80 mile route on mondays when I might only be lucky to get five bucks in steel because thats all thats out there? Because thats all that people put out? I wake up at 5:30 every day to work my 8 to 5 job. then I drive home and go scrapping.

    I have to sleep some time. Please don't lump everyone into the lazy category when I myself have to decide whether its worth spending gas and time driving around OR picking up items that don't bring a lot of money in. Its not my fault but I tell you what, I'm not going to waste gas/money that I can't afford to lose.


    If YOU can afford to spend twenty bucks in gas to bring in maybe fifteen dollars worth of scrap, how is it that I'm lazy because I decide not to do that? Even if I didn't have a day job I still might decide I wouldn't try to fight the other fifteen scrappers on my same route because its not profitable.

    That makes me lazy? no, that makes me smart because I save money by sitting home some days.

    Personally, I think the scrappers whom charge to haul away scrap are the smart ones. They cover their gas with the surcharge and profit off the scrap in these lean scrap price days.
    Scrapper, Scrap Yard Worker, Horse farm worker, Cooler Puller and just plain ''tired''

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    Just sayin...

    This might be just me but when prices dropped my volume went through the roof. I am taking on another employee to keep up. Its all about efficiency and diversification. All routes are planned so I have both trailers full by the time we get back to the shop on client pick up days. That alone cut fuel cost by 26 percent.
    Newattitude- I encourage you to go back and read some ideas in the archives on how to squeeze out every quarter you can.
    I got inspired by Army G Wolf and started doing refurbished/ resell on some things and it increased my bottom line enough to start the "new giant warehouse fund because I am tired of running into people and having no space left" (btw thanks Army). What I am saying is "lazy" doesn't apply to just the physical. If you truly want to make this a career you can't be lazy in the mental side of figuring out how to make it work and searching for new revenue rivers ( screw streams go big or go home ).

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  24. #14
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    actually I can lump you into the lazy category because you have not do enough research or got out there to drum up business in a 80 MILE ROUTE oh and fyi not only do I run a very successful business during the day the crazy part is I work at night at of all least money making places MCDONALDS at least 25hrs a week on a slow week ACTUALLY sit down like you do and not go out and make money one of these days and plan a real trip and factors things in like your gas you want to save and ACUTALLY look into steel prices because they only suck because your not looking around. you leaving all that stuff like all these others out there and people are cashing in on you so that's fine if you want that but don't complain about the money because there is so much out there, I am not even able to get all that I want

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    I usually get a kick out of your posts travistemple202020 but to insinuate that Newattitude is lazy id just F'n BS. No, I have never met her, but I think she works as hard if not harder them 90+% of the members on this forum...have you read any of her posts or threads??

    The other thing you can throw in the mix is family and quality of life. I know NA has at least two kids plus a hubby that demands some of her time and attention. My kids are grown now and even though we did a lot of things as a family as they grew up, I also owned a const. biz that took a lot of time but it also allowed my wife to stay at home with the kids till they all were full time in school. I got out of the const biz for several reasons but mostly wanted to keep the few brain cells that are left and save some of the wear and tear on the body...and I was tired of working 50-60 hours a week.

    Everyone has their price point...I have kept some of my regulars and others I've had to let go. Hated to do it but the scrap they generated wasn't worth my time anymore...I'd rather go do something with the wife or hang out with the kids. If prices go back up I will rebuild the missing clients.
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChildhoodDream View Post
    I was getting ready to sign out of here and go about my day and I thought " I bet others might wonder about this not starting the job till noonish."

    The brothers scrap as a hobby mostly as they farm a bit, fix things and have families and such. I offered them a nice gig that they were more then happy to fit it into their plans as they will do well as they have the room for the scrap and will most likely wait for prices to go up as the scrap part is extra gravy in the bank. They use semi trucks and trailers when they sell a load of scrap and will deliver their loads to where they can make out the best. It's all in the overall maths.

    p.s. It don't hurt to know a few small farmers as they can have some nice equipment that comes in handy on the job.

    So off I go as we are going to get a early start today,lol...
    haha
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    about 12 is when I would show up as well...
    There ain't nothing wrong with an honest days work. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.- Old Man

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    Quote Originally Posted by carolinaecycle View Post
    I would kill for a job like this back when I was new and scrapping hard.

    Funny thing is, I have 5000+ pounds of steel stacked on a loading dock. I cleaned out everything that was non-ferrous and electronic, figured I'd leave the steel for someone that could really use the job.
    I posted an ad on Craigslist, fast forward 2 weeks, steel is still there. Had 4 response, either no shows or had the nads to want to charge for a clean up ... LOL!!!! It is a FREE pile of metal, you know where I told them to stick it when they asked for a fee.
    Now that I have a little free time, I called in for a dumpster and I am going to take a day to get it done myself.

    People are spoiled, with prices at 5 cents if your lucky, it's to the point where you pretty much got to load it for them or they don't want it. Or pay them to pick up something they're going to go get paid for.

    I know that when I was young to this business there would have been a fist fight for this pile of scrap... now ... well ... enough said.

    dang, i normally keep a closer eye on the NC craigslists for larger loads like that; sorry i missed it. if you get another big pile contact me; sounds like a good weekend pickup for my day off.

  29. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by travistemple202020 View Post
    actually I can lump you into the lazy category because you have not do enough research or got out there to drum up business in a 80 MILE ROUTE oh and fyi not only do I run a very successful business during the day the crazy part is I work at night at of all least money making places MCDONALDS at least 25hrs a week on a slow week ACTUALLY sit down like you do and not go out and make money one of these days and plan a real trip and factors things in like your gas you want to save and ACUTALLY look into steel prices because they only suck because your not looking around. you leaving all that stuff like all these others out there and people are cashing in on you so that's fine if you want that but don't complain about the money because there is so much out there, I am not even able to get all that I want
    Sorry but I do believe the working at MickyD's but after reading thru a bunch of your posts, I just have to say that there's not that many hours in a day. I call BS on about 2/3 rds of what you claim, but that is just me. As far as New goes, she's taken on some challenges that I'm not sure if I would have taken on. She started out scrapping and taking advice from our more experienced and rolled up her sleeves and took on the job ahead. Now she's taken on a full time job in a scrap yard also, that takes hustle.

    **Opinions expressed by me do not reflect on the Mgmt. of the forum but is my opinion only. And like they say, everyone has an opinion but some stink worse than others.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mechanic688 View Post
    Sorry but I do believe the working at MickyD's but after reading thru a bunch of your posts, I just have to say that there's not that many hours in a day. I call BS on about 2/3 rds of what you claim, but that is just me. As far as New goes, she's taken on some challenges that I'm not sure if I would have taken on. She started out scrapping and taking advice from our more experienced and rolled up her sleeves and took on the job ahead. Now she's taken on a full time job in a scrap yard also, that takes hustle.

    **Opinions expressed by me do not reflect on the Mgmt. of the forum but is my opinion only. And like they say, everyone has an opinion but some stink worse than others.
    Well said mech.
    He obviously hasn't done his research, or he would never have made that accusations about NA.

    There is no set way to do everything.
    I do it the way I want when I want.

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