I feel you phred I've been on a hot streak with silver and while I DO want it to come back...I could stand to keep buying. There are some industry secrets I am keeping that I've only recently discovered but it will keep me in the game for decades to come. I good scrapper never stops looking for material, maximizing what they have and learning more about what they COULD get. One of you guys told me the real money begins when you start PAYING for material. I cannot agree with that more, e scrap has a stigma as it is with the general public and businesses alike that it's basically gold mining and why should they sell their gold to you for free. So I don't, I BUY IT. Just remember this: Don't get hung up on marginalizing your profits to beat a competitors and don't forget to pay yourself...Originally Posted by phred59
I don't want a silver rally yet personally... I'm not done buying yet
Things any good e scrapper should be doing to make a living:
Advertising: Wear a company t shirt, have a business card, use the paper, CL and facebook.
Solicit: Hit up every computer shop in your area to start, build a rapport, move up to small IT supported companies then when you have the coffers move right along to enterprise solutions.
Maximize Labor: This is more important to this subindustry than anything else. You MUST have the fastest tools with the lightest batteries and the most precise chucks (nothing worse than a bit that skips off the head because the chuck bearings are loose...) invest in tool steel bits, precision sets, a well lit workspace and knowing your workflow (order in which you dissassemble, by machine brand and type...everything is important).
EBAY: Hate to say it but this is a necessary evil, if your not selling on ebay as a e waste scrapper your bleeding money. Also realize not everything that should sell will sell, be able to rotate your inventory on a regular basis, this stuff has a definite shelf life. I should also say as a one man operation if you already have a job skip ebay...it eats 20 hours of my week every week.
Reselling Locally: Don't be afraid to go to your material suppliers with components you think are still good. I often trade for material, such as memory sticks for scrap towers. It's a business and your supposed to be offering solutions, that's one of them. I also build computers I've cherry picked and use components I've gained from some of you guys.
Anyways, it's a multifaceted industry so adapt accordingly or you will always be dependant on PMs, which will always be your eventual demise.
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