Advice on scrap yard deal.

Hey guys. I am going to a scrap yard Monday that has a pile of computers. They have been outside in the weather so only good for scrap. It is a huge pile. I am curious what is a good per pound price. And what is a good per computer price. I plan on offering $2 per whole computer. But I'd imagine since it's a scrap yard they will want to go by the pound. This will be my first big "deal" if it goes thru. Just looking for some good advice. Also I plan on having cash money in hand. At least 400.

Alright. Scrap is 4.75 per 100 at the yard that has the computers. So 12-15 per pound is what I'll offer. Also I'm gonna bring all the regular metal and stuff. Back to them. I really hope I get this deal. One more thing what you would top out at per pound?

If I'm buying computers that are all going to be scrapped, first I don't count the steel in my figures. Then I assume the lowest value being a motherboard and no ram/finger cards/cpu/hard drive. For a small socket motherboard, I'd get maybe $1.50? Power supply and media drives are also not worth considering to me. I'd be comfortable topping out at 0.10/lb and try for less. If one were to look at the prices in my area that larger recyclers are offering for complete computers, that is totally fair.

I also want to add that scrap yard computers are of the lowest quality (especially those stored outside), however you can get some old stuff mixed in. Some people are disappointed at what I can offer for their stuff, but that's the way it goes. I have walked away from a lot of deals. If they want to do the research, and find someone else that might pay more, be my guest. Some have even ended up taking them all apart and ended up with less than what I offered.

It's situational ... a lot depends on your operating costs.

I figure the average small socket motherboard weighs somewhere around a pound. It has a scrap value at around 1.35 USD.

Shipping the e-waste out to a buyer is around .45 USD per pound.

It would probably be safe enough to pay 1 dollar per computer. Worst case ...you don't make anything on your labor but you do get back the money you put into it.

Well isn't a cpu a cpu? Even if it has been in the rain and weather? Are you saying that it'll be newer stuff most the time?

Originally Posted by mudlight2

Well isn't a cpu a cpu? Even if it has been in the rain and weather? Are you saying that it'll be newer stuff most the time?

You'll usually get a mix, with an occasional oldie thrown in.

My last smaller batch was some P4's with one slot processor an a dual core thrown in.

Yea I'm definitely gonna look at the pile again. Last time I looked into saw a couple servers and 2 or 3 slot processors. Didn't look real hard, but I will before I make an offer. Preciate you guys advice.

And most scrappers I've met around here rarely open the computers. Both yards that I have taken heat sinks to have asked what they came out of. But again definitely gonna look first.

$1 per computer is less than shred here. You can't pay that.

I would offer per lb. $.10 to $.15. $.15 is for a good mix with hard drives and memory.

Outside you say, yard might be motivated to move that pile as EPA reuirement ewaste must be kept inisde or covered.

Yard is obviouslu hard pressed for covered storeage.

Good luck on your aquistion.

The yard pays regular scrap prices for them. They just store them seperate.

I'd say "Do it".

My yard won't sell anything to me, or anybody else either.Sad because they do have people dropping of old computers etc, as 'steel.
Its actually sad to see, last time I was there I noticed a 1000 watt PA speaker amp going as 'mixed metals'...

But once, piles and piles of industrial escrap, they were hacking the transformers and wire out of it... Leaving the Gold there.
I asked "what did it come out of?".
"Analogue TV station transmitter" was the answer.
We had just changed from Analogue TV to Digital only and the old transmitting stations and repeaters were being scrapped.

That's the sort of stuff you may pick up in between buys of scrap computers, if they can get ca$h for something without having to do any work, why wouldn't they sell it to you first? You are just going to add value to it and sell parts of it back to them so they can make even more money from it.
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I am sure I learn something every time alloy2 makes a post.
Today it was {"Outside you say, yard might be motivated to move that pile as EPA reuirement ewaste must be kept inisde or covered."}

Yea. I don'the see any good reason for them to keep them just piled up. Essentially they will have made money 3 times off of the same items. Whoever dropped them off as regular scrap. Me buying them and then bringing the cases and whatnot back again.
Edit. Lol ok making money 2 times. They paid someone the 1st time. Bit of a brainfart.