Big load of servers...what would you do?

This may be long but here goes. Missed out on a load of about 8000# of server equiptment last week. Was supposed to recv it this tues but due to the company having to use their truck they wanted to deliver on fri. Couldn't take it due to some logistic and $$$ issues on my end. Anyway lost that load but was told that they have this qty on a monthly basis. I visited their warehouse and the feeling I got was that they were at a premium for space and need to move the materials out soon after they determine what is still resellable and what isnt. I want to set up a mtg for this week and want to propose doin the pick up myself on a bi-monthly basis. They were pretty set on what they wanted for the material but I think if I can sell the idea of moving the materials quicker to free uP space for them I might be able to get the stuff for .05 cheaper per # than what they wanted. Also they were sending it about an hr away where my location is only 17 miles from them. I think that selling the savings of gas,miles and tolls might get me into lage qty on a steady basis.
The next part is how to scale the materials. The problem I have is that I don't have a floor scale to weigh the material. The idea I have is to bring a small scale with me. Weigh one item of what they have on hand now. List it on a form for them with weight and depending on how many of each unit there is it should be an accurate accounting of how much material I am paying for. It also takes the out the question of tare since we are going on the weight x # of units.
If that goes well the next question I have is to breakdown or not breakdown. I have limited space but I could fit four pallets where I am now. I spoke to a yard here that does ewaste and has some very good prices. He said depending on how the units come in and what parts are included he can give me better pricing if it is going to be a monthly thing. Sorry for the long post but I just wanted some opinions on this.

Very nice Brass, What are they looking for per pound on the servers? I normally pay around .22 a lb for them. If you want send me the model types and we can get the manufactures est weights. Id be interested to add new types of server break downs to my data base. As for weighing the items, if you get the job you need to go get a pallet jack scale. It will make everything so easy. Id recommend doing a bunch of pallets and find the average weight. Good luck man so like a nice gig. I shut dwn for the holiday weekend, phones been ringing off the hook for a bunch of large equipment. Once you get a good network of large ewaste producers it makes things run itself.

...that's tough on the weight if you're not guaranteed they are identical inside the units. Especially with servers that they can't resell because they're parted out. If you weigh one that is complete and all the rest are missing 2-3 hard drives and a power supply you could really shoot yourself in the foot. Also, if you weighed a stripped one and then bought them at that weight, I would be pretty unhappy as the customer if I figured out what happened...

Are there any trucking companies near their location? Might be possible to strike up a deal with a local company to use their truck scale. You ride over with someone in the empty truck, agree on the weight, then ride over in the full truck and agree on the difference? I only ask because I have a good working relationship here with a fellow scrapper who happens to have access to a truck scale and I could work out that arrangement here...

For me personally, I would look into reselling the servers or parts if at all possible. I have a local guy who just offered to buy any server CASES that I come across. That one had not crossed my mind yet as something to resell. If you can't sell anything for more than scrap then I personally would break them down as much as I could and then dump the rest at your yard when you need to turn them. You maximize money on what you process and you don't lose any potential future business by turning some of the items whole for a good price at your yard if you need to clear the space fast.

just my two cents...

brasscatcher,

Your theory is good, but like everyone else is saying, I would get a pallet scale, or something to weigh each container.

To just weigh one item, and they say that they have 200 of that model, what if they are wrong? or take advantage to get more $$ and you don't find out till it is to late?

Dune- thanks for the pallet jack idea,I will look into that since up here there are a lot of places the sell used warehouse equiptment. As for as pricing there is a big different between the northeast and down south I see..lol. I would be looking at something around .30#. I know from doing servers in the past I can double up on that if I tear them down.
Scrapping- the only parts that would not be included up front would be the harddrive as they are contracted to destroy them. So figuring the weight is not that big of a deal. Just have to sell it to them unless I use dunes idea of the pallet jack with a scale. I know I can get pricing for the parts locally that is about the same as ewasteds soi am not worried about that. Hopefully with a large qty going to the same yard I might do a little better too.
Thanks guys for the ideas and info. Hopefully will be speaking to them on tues or we'd. I will keep you updated.

.30 isnt to bad but id try for the .05 drop like you were saying. And its a pallet jack scale. google it first to make sure you are buying the right thing.

Good point Jeremiah. Whenever I go to a mtg I always try wear the collared shirt and dockers, clean shaven and speak professionally. Kinda a stretch for me..lol. The main problem I foresee is the equiptment aspect. I wasnt going to walk in wih a scale under my arm but just try to propose the idea to them. If they go for it I think I could get it to work if they don't then I have to come up with a better way. Right now the pallet jack scale seems to be the best idea unless I can find a portable floor scale. I have time to figure out that problem since I know they won't have material ready to go for another week or so.

you can use a junkyard truck scale or grain elevator scale also. don't know if you've got any of those close by.

Originally Posted by chrisc

i use CAT Scale Locator | CAT Scale there all over best scales to use they charge

Thanks for the tip. I looked it up but the closest ones are in ct and nj.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

you can use a junkyard truck scale or grain elevator scale also. don't know if you've got any of those close by.

Don't think there has been a grain anything ever on long island...lots of potato farms though...lol. Have an auto salvage yard not far from me, going to speak with them tomorrow..thanks

Friday I am mtg with the owner. I think I have my pitch ready and all possible questions they may ask i think I have an answer for. Hopefully I will be loading up some pictures of the first haul early next week. Wish me luck and thanks for all the great ideas and feedback once again.

Ok met with owner yesterday. Went well got my asking price and he said when he is ready he wants me to take out 6 or 7 mainframe servers as well. Those are the BIG ones wtaht are in cabinets. Similar to the shark server I think someone recently got here on the forum. I am looking at a steady customer at this point wih weekly or bi-monthly pick ups. I am getting all their servers,towers,printers,keyboards,mice and power cords. He also approve of my idea of weighing one item from each skid and figuring the weight. Will post some pice when I get first load. Thanks everyone for their input and ideas.

The Shark was a storage unit cabinet. Equivalent to 5 TB of storage space. Main frames are the entire shebang and nice going brass. Email me what types you get i really would like to add the data to my server for future reference.

Thanks Dune. No problem sending you the info if and when I get them.