Buying computers from scrap yards?

Just a thought I had, and not even sure if its feasible or not, but has anyone considered contacting your yards and seeing if you could come up with some sort of contract or agreement for buying the computers they receive? Seems like they pay .17-.20 per pound at the yards around here, so that works out to about $4.25-$5.00 per computer if you figure an average computer weighs around 25 pounds (estimation). So hypothetically if you were to offer them lets say $6.25-$7 per tower they would still be making a profit. Estimating the average computer pay out about $12-$15 in parts, sometimes more depending on the market for them, then you're still making a decent profit and probably a steady source of product as well. I'm not even sure that any yards would even consider this, but figured I would throw it out there and see what you all thought.

people talk about it a lot on here. in some areas, you have to have a special license to buy from a scrap yard.

My local scrap yard is the kind that when it comes to shred, you just back up to a pile, and unload all your own crap. They are out there moving from one pile to the next but most of the time not even paying no attention to you. You get weighed in and you get weighed out, then you walk inside to get the cash, NON-Ferrous is done on the opposite side of the yard. One day I backed up to a shed pile that was a pile of AL ladders. I asked the attendant if I could load the ladders and go sell them on the other side and he said yes. Ever since then, when I see a computer in a shred pile (OFTEN), I just throw them in the back of my ride. They don't care. I asked if they'd save them for me and they said no but they said I could have what I saw. I don't make a big deal about it, I get what is just right there close by and throw it in the back. My next move with them is to ask if they will allow me to post a flyer and pricelist in the waiting/paying room.

Originally Posted by burrage1

My next move with them is to ask if they will allow me to post a flyer and pricelist in the waiting/paying room.

There is a point where you are shooting yourself in the foot. Once you asked them to hold computers and they said no, I would have kept my mouth shut and carried on as usual. The louder you get and the more attention you draw, the more the yard may feel you are "getting over on them" and they are losing money in some way causing them to end their leniency. I'd just be happy with what I could get...


Just my .02.

I've seen many times at my local scrap yard where people just throw the computers whole into the big pile of tin where you toss it all after you get weighed. Whenever I see that I just want to cry. Look at all that lost money!

Originally Posted by regidroz

I've seen many times at my local scrap yard where people just throw the computers whole into the big pile of tin where you toss it all after you get weighed. Whenever I see that I just want to cry. Look at all that lost money!

Some people that scrap do so out of necessity (can't get any other type of job). I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of them can't even spell "computer" let alone be expected to go on the big scary internet to find out that they have more value than shred. I'm sure you see equipment that can be sold for more than scrap, cords attached to everything, ect, on any given day at the yard.

good luck with that. most yards are selling to overseas markets, they're fetching $0.50 per lb or more.

Originally Posted by Russell

good luck with that. most yards are selling to overseas markets, they're fetching $0.50 per lb or more.

Thought it might be another avenue to explore for product is all. Some of the smaller yards i'm sure would be more willing to work something out with you, especially if they turn around and sell their scrap to a larger yard.

If your local yard won't sell you whole computers, put in a bid for the boards out of them. I did that with two local yards who now sell their boards to me. They didn't want me getting all the copper wire and aluminum out of them so I'm happy for them to take them apart, get that stuff out and sell me the boards.