Results 1 to 16 of 16

profit margin on a whale?

| General - Let's talk business
  1. #1
    Russell started this thread.
    Russell's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Chicago,Il
    Posts
    815
    Thanks
    495
    Thanked 707 Times in 324 Posts

    profit margin on a whale?

    I was contacted by a grade school friend. He worked for a manufacturing outfit since high school making arcade machines. They've recently downsized. Long story short we discussed this today. He estimated 10 ton; everything from galvanized steel to aluminum.

    With this kind of tonnage. What kind of profit margin would big players make on this?

    Thanks again to everyone who chooses to comment on my posts.



  2. #2
    Scrapcrazy's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    321
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 321 Times in 125 Posts
    Aee you asking how much margins would be for a large scrap yard or how much a scrapper would share with his client?
    Sweat is the cologne of success!

  3. #3
    Scrap man's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    657
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 172 Times in 93 Posts
    It all depends on how much you pay for it. Even if it was all steel, you'd be making approx. $1,400 gross profit at $.07/lb (my local price). Factor in the AL, and you could have up to $1,700 or beyond. How much you make depends on how much you get it for. If it were me, I'd offer $400 and negotiate from there. Personally, I'd go and look at it first before making any kind of offer, though.
    There's nothing more fun and more effective than hitting something repeatedly with a sledgehammer

  4. #4
    Russell started this thread.
    Russell's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Chicago,Il
    Posts
    815
    Thanks
    495
    Thanked 707 Times in 324 Posts
    I will be doing a walk through with him.

    With so many large companies around here I was in the range of 100 to 150 a ton.

    My question is between a scrapper and their client. I don't think he will contact large corporate places. I want to be fair. I think by offering 50% of current market. He may be very happy. I would be happy with 50%. To those that have landed large deals... Is 50% selling myself short?

  5. #5
    Russell started this thread.
    Russell's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Chicago,Il
    Posts
    815
    Thanks
    495
    Thanked 707 Times in 324 Posts
    In all fairness I know large corp work on much slimmer margins and their paying a lot more overhead. Then again I can't compete with their tonnage.

  6. #6
    Scrap man's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    657
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 172 Times in 93 Posts
    Don't forget that you're going to be doing most of the work, as well as hauling it all to the yard yourself. That's a lot of gas. I'm not sure what prices by you are like, but I'd go maybe 30-70, just because that extra 20% would be going towards labor, gas, and other expenses. Also don't forget to ask the yard about bulk pricing.

  7. #7
    Scrapcrazy's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    321
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 321 Times in 125 Posts
    At my yard you'd get $0.08/lb. So the overall load will bring in $1600. If 50 percent or $800 would be worth all your effort and expenses then roll with it. If I could complete that job within one day and my expenses were less than $100' I'd be satisfied with a $700 a day payday. I'd definitely look into seeing if your yard could spot you a roll off box.

  8. #8
    Scrap man's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    657
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 172 Times in 93 Posts
    I'd split it by taking $1,000 of it and offer him whatever is left. Don't forget that your labor should be considered an expense too.

  9. #9
    PartTimeScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Morrison, Colorado
    Posts
    3,400
    Thanks
    1,004
    Thanked 3,256 Times in 1,335 Posts
    Personaly I would do a 60 40 split. The 20 percent difference would pay your expences. Just my opinion though.

  10. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by PartTimeScrapper:


  11. #10
    EcoSafe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    May 2011
    Posts
    3,705
    Thanks
    3,713
    Thanked 6,807 Times in 1,954 Posts
    my recent whale deal is turning out pretty disappointing to be truth full. when we started negotiations 6 month ago or so HD boards were at 14 + the 2 samples he brought me weighed out at 7 per LB the price has dropped to 10+ and most of the HD boards are weighing out at 17 per lb. steel dropped from 14 to 06 vhi grade boards have dropped about 25 to 35%. die cast to 27. extruded from 80 to 44 ect. so a lot of your profit will depend on unintended and unforeseen elements give your self the profit you want then add some more for a cushion. when you are dealing with a lot of weight even a small move in the market ads up very quickly. you may give him a percentage based on the price at the yard when delivered like the yards do.

    we will still make a decent profit on the whole 900.000 lbs but we are losing tens of thousands off the estimate 6 month ago
    Last edited by EcoSafe; 07-31-2012 at 10:35 PM.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to EcoSafe for This Post:


  13. #11
    Russell started this thread.
    Russell's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Chicago,Il
    Posts
    815
    Thanks
    495
    Thanked 707 Times in 324 Posts
    I'm leaning towards a flat fee way under 50%, more in the range of 25-30%. If we cant come to an agreement my final offer will probably be 50% split of ticket, just so I don't get burned on price fluctuations. My hopes are he doesn't call a corporate place like Sims or another large yard. I don't want to look like a scammer. He may open a company himself in the future, and he knows many others in the stamping/ plating industry. With only two regular accounts I'm looking more at the long run , rather than short term.

    You've all provided some good answers/ suggestions. Thank you.

  14. #12
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    OK
    Posts
    5,731
    Thanks
    6,815
    Thanked 3,465 Times in 1,990 Posts
    Dont arcade machines have a lot of particle board and glass in em?

  15. #13
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Usa
    Posts
    769
    Thanks
    67
    Thanked 312 Times in 179 Posts
    Dont forget the baords in a lot of older arcade and pinball machines are telecom grade or high grade....

  16. #14
    Mechanic688's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Warsaw , Ind. In the heart of the lakes, and down the street from the hotel where Al Capone stayed.
    Posts
    9,568
    Thanks
    11,247
    Thanked 10,730 Times in 4,728 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ozzy214 View Post
    Dont forget the baords in a lot of older arcade and pinball machines are telecom grade or high grade....
    I just took a load of arcade boards to a buyer and they were all the Chinese grade boards.
    P & M Recycling - Specializing in E-Waste Recycling.
    If you enjoy your freedom, thank a vet.

  17. #15
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2012
    Location
    massachusetts
    Posts
    98
    Thanks
    44
    Thanked 44 Times in 25 Posts
    Russell, maybe you should try to have your buddy speak to the owner, or set up a meeting with him yourself(if you haven't already done so) and just give him reasons why he SHOULDNT deal directly with a yard. Tell him you live in the same community, by him sticking with you he's helping you get by, supporting your family, etc heck everyone's got a soft spot

  18. #16
    Russell started this thread.
    Russell's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Chicago,Il
    Posts
    815
    Thanks
    495
    Thanked 707 Times in 324 Posts
    To clarify: These are all internal pieces of the games, not whole machines. This would be a lot of framing and bracketing type material used inside the machines. From my understanding they don't just make your typical arcade games. There's a lot of different types of entertainment machines nowadays. If any of you have been to Dave and Busters or Gameworks. You know what I mean.


  19. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. HMS profit margin?
      By myekem in forum Scrap Metal Prices
      Replies: 18
      Last Post: 09-09-2012, 12:29 AM
    2. Whale !!! This isn't my first whale but it is a nice one.
      By theelectronrecycler in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 08-27-2012, 07:59 PM
    3. first 2 whale loads
      By EcoSafe in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 01-14-2012, 07:44 AM
    4. whale update 1/11/12
      By EcoSafe in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 21
      Last Post: 01-12-2012, 11:30 PM
    5. How is the margin of copper doing today?
      By Starmex in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 09-30-2011, 10:49 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook