Analysis of ewaste true value

**MisScrap** · 10-04-2012, 10:30 AM

There are a couple of threads on here that give links to pdf files from refinners like umicore (http://archive.basel.int/industry/si...07/umicore.pdf) that go into the nitty gritty of what can be refinned from certain electronics (give or take)....

But I've been taken by customers before...I'd rather have learned the lesson early than when I'm buying 10k of computers and really have my butt handed to me...that percentage of lose should be expected in our line of business...up to a certain point that is.

**URBANERECYCLING** · 10-04-2012, 10:37 AM

Scrap is and always has been a volume and niche business. The structure of the industry in the glory days of metals was the peddler sold to the small yard. The small yard sold to the big yard and the big yard sold to the mill. Each step of the way everyone made money.That went away when the conglomerates came in and bought up everyone in the 90s and again in the past few years. E-Scrap is still running the proper way. The smaller guys are selling to places like Ewaste and myself and although Ewasted might be going to the refiner im going as high up as possible without the refiner. I have niche markets for my low grade and I run my business accordingly . I dont publish a price list because I wont pay a one time customer with 30 lbs the same price I pay some of you guys and other repeat and volume customers. That is how I can work off of small margins and im content with my results..You and Joe are working off of a much bigger percentage but your doing the work. im recieving a finished package from you that I dont have to assign a labor cost to because its ready to ship. if you actually paid yourselfs a salary or hourly wage you would find I believe that you are actually working off of the same margins the rest of us are. Nothing wrong with how your thinking except the numbers. The reason I finally piped in was that in order for you and evryone else to grow there has to be a realistic understanding of how the industry works. Your growth only helps me as it all comes back to volume...

**mikeinreco** · 10-04-2012, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by URBANERECYCLING

Scrap is and always has been a volume and niche business. The structure of the industry in the glory days of metals was the peddler sold to the small yard. The small yard sold to the big yard and the big yard sold to the mill. Each step of the way everyone made money.That went away when the conglomerates came in and bought up everyone in the 90s and again in the past few years. E-Scrap is still running the proper way. The smaller guys are selling to places like Ewaste and myself and although Ewasted might be going to the refiner im going as high up as possible without the refiner. I have niche markets for my low grade and I run my business accordingly . I dont publish a price list because I wont pay a one time customer with 30 lbs the same price I pay some of you guys and other repeat and volume customers. That is how I can work off of small margins and im content with my results..You and Joe are working off of a much bigger percentage but your doing the work. im recieving a finished package from you that I dont have to assign a labor cost to because its ready to ship. if you actually paid yourselfs a salary or hourly wage you would find I believe that you are actually working off of the same margins the rest of us are. Nothing wrong with how your thinking except the numbers. The reason I finally piped in was that in order for you and evryone else to grow there has to be a realistic understanding of how the industry works. Your growth only helps me as it all comes back to volume...

Was that your introduction??

**MisScrap** · 10-04-2012, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by mikeinreco

Was that your introduction??

I'm glad someone else noticed...felt like I was put in timeout

**URBANERECYCLING** · 10-04-2012, 03:05 PM

Yes it was. Considering the recent bullying or smart ass comments made at people who mispelled or spoke the word "sale" wrong and the mocking of a foreign buyer introducing themselves, I think my words should be adequate.....

**MisScrap** · 10-04-2012, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by URBANERECYCLING

Yes it was. Considering the recent bullying or smart ass comments made at people who mispelled or spoke the word "sale" wrong and the mocking of a foreign buyer introducing themselves, I think my words should be adequate.....

Well, welcome to the forum!

**Scrap808** · 01-31-2015, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by URBANERECYCLING

Scrap is and always has been a volume and niche business.

This is really what it comes down to. And this is basic economics. Like everything else, economies of scale hold true in this business. Larger facilities can afford to absorb smaller margins while smaller ventures need larger margins to survive. At the end of the day everyone is taking the same sized slice of the pie.