What Business am I Really In?

This may seem like a Stupid Post I mean I am here on the scrap metal forum posting this lolol. I should be in the Scrap Metal Business but lately I feel like I am in a Business where If I go out and say find something in the Scrap I am buying that I can fix up for a few bucks and sell it for more then scrap price thats the Business I am in On that Particular day. If I go out to Say clean a persons Lot and Take it to the Landfill I am on that particular Day a Garbage Man. If I pick up a Vehicle for Scrap and it only needs some minor work to get it running right so I can sell it then that Day I am a Mechanic, Salesman.

So the List is
1. Scrapper
2. Repairer
3. Garbage Man
4. Sales Person

I am sure everyone in this Business can add more to the List Lots More

I dont tend to call my sell a "scrapper" but just as you stated in your post. I'm a business man, I do what I feel would make the most money with low costs. I over look my P&L's and keep them in the green.

Being a scrapper (sorry if I offend someone) but if you are just a scrapper and you pick up and drop off with little to no thought in what you just picked up or can plan out what it is worth...how to see it...how to make the most of your time..yous a dumb and lazy person. You would be better off working for someone if your only going to be "robot". To me what is what a scrapper is..if you are doing more than that...then your mind never stops thinking and you will spend countless hours trying to find the info you need. That to me is a business man!

Again sorry if I have offended someone with this post.

Well Said Easyrecycle as far as offending someone they can get over it if they are in this business and get Offended easily this is not the Business for them anyway

KZBell, all household recycling does is make the waste collection company money. They're already sorting trash for recyclables. By cleaning it, and putting in that 'free' container it just cuts out a step in the process for them.

you guys are awesome I am glad you are here.

I always thought the term "scrapper" was a bit derogatory to the people participating in this industry. I’ve always looked at it and called myself a "commodities recycler". In my travels, people hear "scrapper" and think "dirtbag". Right or wrong that's what I have seen over the years.

Originally Posted by Victor

I always thought the term "scrapper" was a bit derogatory to the people participating in this industry. I’ve always looked at it and called myself a "commodities recycler". In my travels, people hear "scrapper" and think "dirtbag". Right or wrong that's what I have seen over the years.

I guess for me it all depends on who I'm marketing myself too. If I'm in the Principle building trying to convince the IT guy he should pay me to haul off his tape server, I'm a recycler. If I'm in someones backyard who had a PC and I notice a nice pile of metal behind their shed I'm a scrapper.

Scrappers do it for free or pay, recyclers get paid to do it. Not always the case but that's how it's worked for me.

Originally Posted by dherik

I guess for me it all depends on who I'm marketing myself too. If I'm in the Principle building trying to convince the IT guy he should pay me to haul off his tape server, I'm a recycler. If I'm in someones backyard who had a PC and I notice a nice pile of metal behind their shed I'm a scrapper.

Scrappers do it for free or pay, recyclers get paid to do it. Not always the case but that's how it's worked for me.

But, in the end, both are recycling the same items for ''pay.'' Both are recycling items no matter how they came upon them. I understand what you're saying I just don't agree with the analogy. Victor makes a good point - if I were to go to the local golf course for instance, and ask them if they had any metal laying around and could I have it to scrap they would look at me like I'm a 'dirtbag' and wonder why they should even entertain the idea. But if I went to them in dress clothes and proposed a deal to them to recycle their metal they would probably listen to me even though the end result is the same - the items are being taken away to be recycled and each party gets a share. I am either going to be looked at like I'm a bum even though a deal would still have to be made (and they probably wouldn't even listen that long to get to that part) or a smart business person who they might make a deal with all based on the approach. Because in the end what does it matter when the IT guy gets paid as long as he gets paid? If the guy with the PC has that pile of metal and doesn't care if you take it you got lucky and he just wants it out of there, you are still recycling that metal even though he gave it to you out of the goodness of his heart.

It's a full time job just being me............
;?)