how do you charge?

And by charge i mean how do you communicate the value of your services???

i have come to the realization that services rendered for just metal are usually undervalued. to e honest i have been charging for removals and while most would argue i am basically setting my self up for failure the referalls hae been better then the $$.

you have to in my honest opinon learn to understand the value you bring



sentences like sir the clean workspace and value ion not having to go to the yard or reload your van may be work the $25 pick up fee for jobsite service. it works and keeps me further in the black. plus with the traler i can make $125 plus the metal in about 3 hours paid for

YES! THANK YOU! THIS is what I have been saying, we have to charge for our services!!!

ALSO the reason I don't buy scrap. (Well, unless they really have a LOT!)

In this respect, I'm sure the "Burly Guys" and "liberty tow" names go a long way. It's much easier to accept paying a fee to a company angled for hauling/logistics services than to a "scrap recycler." I would think a lot of people here could benefit from adapting a similar strategy, especially seeing as there have been many of these type posts as of late.

You all must live on mars or something but round here free scrap doesn't exist, at least in any noticeable amount anyhow, and people would trample each other to buy scrap. Wish I lived on mars with you all, but here on earth scrap is not something people pay to get hauled off

Originally Posted by libertytow

and by charge i mean how do you communicate the value of your services???

I have come to the realization that services rendered for just metal are usually undervalued. To e honest i have been charging for removals and while most would argue i am basically setting my self up for failure the referalls hae been better then the $$.

You have to in my honest opinon learn to understand the value you bring

sentences like sir the clean workspace and value ion not having to go to the yard or reload your van may be work the $25 pick up fee for jobsite service. It works and keeps me further in the black. Plus with the traler i can make $125 plus the metal in about 3 hours paid for

Originally Posted by burlyguys

yes! Thank you! This is what i have been saying, we have to charge for our services!!!

thank god people agree!!!

Originally Posted by JohnM

In this respect, I'm sure the "Burly Guys" and "liberty tow" names go a long way. It's much easier to accept paying a fee to a company angled for hauling/logistics services than to a "scrap recycler." I would think a lot of people here could benefit from adapting a similar strategy, especially seeing as there have been many of these type posts as of late.

There is at least 4 other companies much bigger than mine in my area, and I never have any problems in charging for a pickup. Granted, for the time being, I can charge the cheapest for metal removal, but the point being, around here, if you do not charge, you wont be in business for very long!

Originally Posted by taterjuice

You all must live on mars or something but round here free scrap doesn't exist, at least in any noticeable amount anyhow, and people would trample each other to buy scrap. Wish I lived on mars with you all, but here on earth scrap is not something people pay to get hauled off

And 99% of those people who do things free carry no liability insurance, because they cannot afford it. So if they take a refrigerator, and it slips and busts a huge hole into the wall, they are more screwed then before they got started.

Around here, people do love FREE, but they care more about the insurance of knowing if something bad happens, it will be resolved nicely.

Taterjuice I don't have a problem getting metals large and small i have a problem driving 20 minutes accross tow to pick up $3 worht of duct work. i can handle alot of pick ups i have several trucks pay insurance workmans copensation and have a professional uniformed employees who get jobs done.

to be honest i will fire any employee who shops at curbco with my signs on the door.

i beleive there is more value in scrap than just the metal i believe as a full time scrapper i need to raise the bar and the only way to do it is to charge accordingly, if i am not making $30 an hour for my time expertise equipment and insurance how do i raise the bar.

There is at least 4 other companies much bigger than mine in my area, and I never have any problems in charging for a pickup. Granted, for the time being, I can charge the cheapest for metal removal, but the point being, around here, if you do not charge, you wont be in business for very long!

I wasn't actually referring to the size of their businesses. I just meant that the way the names imply that they are providing a service by moving equipment surely helps get customers in the right mindset, and makes their removal fees easier to swallow.

Originally Posted by Libertytow

Taterjuice I don't have a problem getting metals large and small i have a problem driving 20 minutes accross tow to pick up $3 worht of duct work.

Some jobs aren't worth that time due to distance, if you don't learn that won't be in business long.

Originally Posted by taterjuice

Some jobs aren't worth that time due to distance, if you don't learn that won't be in business long.

Any job is worth the time, as long as you are being compensated for it.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Any job is worth the time, as long as you are being compensated for it.

That's what this is about captain obivious, if it don't make dollars then it don't make sense does it ?

All I'm saying is I buy scrap, anywhere from 3 tons to 75 tons at a clip. If a customer has 50 ton of scrap are you really in ANY position to charge them to pick it up ? Sounds pretty dam greedy to me but I guess if your customers are willing to sit still for it, more power to you.

how do you guys make money paying workers to pick up shred? thats what i cant figure out

after overhead is figured in i dont think there would be anything left on the table

I have to think after reading all the posts that wether to charge or not depends on where you are. I know where I am the scrap yards will pick up from a residence and pay on the spot for whatever they pick up. Also people here can put out whatever they want on garbage nights and each morning the town has regular garbage pick up and later they send out a truck to pickup bulk, sofas,ovens,mattresses,refrigerators.....so advertising to charge someone to pick up their scrap doesn't work. Now if i had to hump a stove or fridge out of a basement that is another story, but those calls are very rare.