Should i have corrected the guy ? - Page 2

Originally Posted by Scrapette

You make good points about teaching and learning these skills.

But I don't feel the need to tell everyone who gives me scrap of whatever variety, "hey, did you know that you could make money off of this yourself? Why don't you just keep it?" Particularly someone who is being a butt about it.

i would agree.

True gotta keep what we learn to our selfs <<

that was what i was commenting on.

i disagree with those who say everyone is your next competitor. this is a tough and demanding business. not many are going to do what it takes. they lack the drive and the will.

I never had a problem walking into an establisment covered in dirt from head to toe....Why cause when I pulled out my wallet it was full of greenbacks...LOL

That's exactly where I got my user name at...lol. I have a rgular pick up I do from a car lot and every time I go in one of the guys says "Hey, Scrap Junky's here!" Doesn't bother me in the least, I just think to myself, if they only knew.

Originally Posted by Copper Head

For me I have a high mechanical side , for instance I'll just look at something and in a few seconds i see how to put together (no need for instructions) same for dismantling. Once you know what things are made of you finally realize what is the best way to sell each item
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Back to the original joke "here's .40 cents " well i did my best to say very little to the other workers & they are watching me, asking me SO how much you get for scrap ?? I was as evasive as possible.Later on I here one of the labor workers say in reference to me "That guy has it down to a science" now on day two I go to a pale of metal and a labor worker says to me thats my pail I just need a little gas money.
Day three on job I load up make a run to yard come back and i am told we have a problem ."the job is being shut down by state do to all sorts of code infractions from Asbestos to the PCB's in ballast"
To day I'll drive by, if i see guys working I'll have to except some one on the job sight convinced head foreman " We need to sell metal don't give it to that metal junkie"
Thats what many metal people are called by me - Metal junkie's.

And now these guys got there beer money! Found out it's much more than 40 cents...

Well I hope the labor worker sells as tin , as the bucket was short but I know the yard will try to buy as tin.I just don't want a lite bulb to go off in his brain , AHH he probably has the fever by now !!
The job was shut down so I do feel that no one was pulling my crank.

Wow! What an attitude, that is awful. I have encountered it from time to time myself. I would have said "thanks Boss! thanks!" smiled and kept working...the joke is on Mr. attitude all day long. Here is what I think is behind these types of comments: Consumer,throw-away society. Corporate culture has pumped us full of a media message "Buy new,buy now" and wealth is measured in possessions. Those that recycle and value thrift are looked down upon by main steam society. As we all know "the bill has come due", Americans are broke,miserable,sick and without hope. Mark my words we are leading the way to a sustainable,stable state future. I share all know with any one that will listen, it is not a threat to my business,it gets them recycling! Most folks don't have time or interest to do what we do but they will separate,store, and call when they have recyclable material to be removed once they are educated. Leave the world a better place and share the good news about recycling is my personal motto. I have done very well financially with that philosophy. Even when I created a "competitor" they call on large clean-ups+good will!

I am asked all the time from every where I go. the residential pickups I tell them exactly how much I am going to make off of them. lets face it if we make $35.00 off a fridge it was 400 lbs.

The reasons people call someone else to pick up scrap appliances is because they: 1 are lazy. 2 don't have a means to drive it to the yard themselves. 3 they are to old to do it them selves. 4 don't know how much they would get. 5 they are afraid of scrap yards. 6 they don't want to be labeled as "scrappy the metal junkie". 7 THEY ARE LAZY.

now if I buy scrap from factories I never tell them my margins but I don't ever try to rip them off. at This one place the plant manager tried to grill me to find out how much I made off a few of machines I purchased from him so I LIED and for the 3 day tear down I said I only made ($150 x 3 days) $450.00 so it would look like he got a good deal. I believe if I recall correctly I made like $4000.00 off the 3 machines

Its none of their business.

oh is there any one on this forum that has never sold scrap? I would suspect that there are not too many if any at all.

My conclusion is here. I went to the job as I saw it was up once more . I said hi - am I in the loop ? The GC says ah its to complicated , I said how so? He goes LOOK I am doing it. It's all mine / I say OK . then I showed him some wire and metal he tossed into the dumpster ,I said i don't think your going to be as careful as me to get it all . I can offer you more then the yards on CU wire and a decent cut on all else and you don't have to carry any stuff.
He then proceeds to tell me his veiw . " I am sick of all you scrapers - all you guys approach me like the metal is crack cocaine . If you guys would spend the same effort and time looking for a job, you guys would have a job" then he shut the door in my face .
The last time i worked for him I cleared out a mountain of stuff wile he and all his workers were busy with other things I made some money but I feel I provided a service I eased up his work load The time I spent and money I made was not sufficient for even 20% But if he gave me the full project I could have gone 30 40 % . All I see is the truth he insulted me but he is scraping also , thats fine but don't scrap it and insult me cause here you are looking forward to the scrap $$ your self now!!

I look at it as a need to know basis
i know and they don't need to
if i buy it at a the price they set what i sell for is nunya buisness

I always say, "It pays for my gas and a little extra for beer money, but I enjoy it".