View Poll Results: Keep the money or split the profit?

Voters
42. You may not vote on this poll
  • Keep the money

    13 30.95%
  • Split the profit

    29 69.05%
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 71

Unexpected profit - Should I give a kickback? - Page 2

| General - Let's talk business
  1. #21
    AuburnEwaste's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Metro Detroit
    Posts
    773
    Thanks
    32
    Thanked 976 Times in 413 Posts
    Thank you John and George, I agree 100%. It would be a nice thing to give the guy something extra, but you also need to look at it like this: You are telling the guy "I am not paying you enough for your scrap". Or at the very least you are letting him know it would be easy to just sell the stuff himself.

    Just like George said, the extra 150 was a rare find. If he starts bringing you one of those pumps every week, then you start with the kick backs. It don't want to sound greedy, but people do not stay in business by giving half of their profit away.


  2. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by AuburnEwaste:



  3. #22
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by BurlyGuys View Post
    It says in the OP your agreement is for half the shred value. SHRED value, not resale value. Reselling involves more work, placing an ad, meeting the buyer, haggling, etc. I seem to be in the minority here but keep the money, unless you feel you are somehow being dishonest, which by my reading you are not. Remember, you made a trip to the guy for a ten dollar bill.

    I'll give you an example from my business. I do junk removal. I charge $425 for one full truckload of material removed regardless of what it is, unless the load is very heavy dense or wet. Otherwise, I charge the same whether I am hauling bags of trash or the entire contents of an estate. At the time of the removal I have an agreed upon price before work begins.

    With an estate I have the guys bring everything back to the warehouse (this is the entire purpose of spending money on a warehouse!) for sorting. I am typically selling a couple grand a month worth of stuff. I then go through the work of sorting, cleaning, and otherwise making things sellable. Then I either transport items to an auction house or a consignment shop, OR I store them further while I photograph, write ads, research the item so I know what I'm selling and can protect my precious feedback, and finally list and hopefully sell the item on CL or Evilbay.

    When I finally DO sell an item, do I have an obligation to go back to my source and pay part of the profits? Of course not. That was extra work and expense on my part. Had I just done what I was contracted to do, hauling their junk away, I would have gone straight to the dump, dropped everything, and moved on to my next load. My obligation ends when I drive the truck away from their property.

    Had you driven away and thrown that pump in your shred pile, would the customer have expected anything extra? Of course not. You had an agreed upon price, you paid, customer is happy, you're happy, end of transaction. Had the customer wanted more for the pump, he could have sold it himself. But he was willing to sell it to you for shred value, which he did.

    Am I the only filthy capitalist pig on here? Or am I the only one willing to be honest?

    And now TMoney, with all of that being said, act as your conscience guides you. If you are looking for absolution over keeping a little windfall profit, I hereby grant it my son. If you feel better cutting your customer in, then by all means do so. It will certainly generate some good will.
    Glad I am not the only one who has the same opinion.
    George Beale - Founder & President - info@viprecyclingjunkremoval.com
    VIP Recycling Junk Removal LLC - Premier Scrap Metal, Junk, & Electronic Recyclers!
    http://www.viprecyclingjunkremoval.com

  4. #23
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by AuburnEwaste View Post
    Thank you John and George, I agree 100%. It would be a nice thing to give the guy something extra, but you also need to look at it like this: You are telling the guy "I am not paying you enough for your scrap". Or at the very least you are letting him know it would be easy to just sell the stuff himself.

    Just like George said, the extra 150 was a rare find. If he starts bringing you one of those pumps every week, then you start with the kick backs. It don't want to sound greedy, but people do not stay in business by giving half of their profit away.
    I say if you want to give him something extra, treat him to a steak dinner at Christmas and on birthdays.

    The obligations stop once negotiations are over and done. If they want more money, they will haggle with you over price. Simple as that.


    If they are comfortable with x amount of dollars, then buy and move on.

    I agree karma is a wonderful thing, but karma doesn't keep a business going. MONEY does!

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to GeorgeB for This Post:


  6. #24
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Rochester NY
    Posts
    615
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 526 Times in 238 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by BurlyGuys View Post
    Am I the only filthy capitalist pig on here? Or am I the only one willing to be honest?
    Nope, 101% agree with you

    http://reclaimtech.com/
    We pay you to recycle!

  7. #25
    corycouch's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    jonesboro ar
    Posts
    1,405
    Thanks
    3,766
    Thanked 1,988 Times in 746 Posts
    ive thought about this and thought about it. ive put off posting till now. George I don't often agree with you but I do here and ill explain, I deal with dozens of people every week from the yard to picking up cars at peoples houses.

    ive made a couple licks on cars that ive bought from individuals and made way better than scrap and of course those guys a deal was a deal.

    on the other hand this guy is a regular on the pump and he gets scrap from him all the time. I took care of my repo guy one time when I made a huge chunk on a motor probably 10x scrap, I took him a $100 bill back. I get cars from this guy all the time sometimes 3 or 4 a week and im the guy he calls. im not going to list every example as I don't want to fill up the server but, businesses often replace items after while that no longer suits their needs. ive gotten trailers, tire machines, tools and even a cummins diesel truck on a steal just because they know when it comes back around im going to treat them right.

    so I have to agree that generaly since I get more cars from individuals I don't take them any extra later, but on my regulars sure
    expect the worst and hope for the best
    cory couch
    c & c recycling
    JUNKERS AND CLUNKERS
    (870) 897-6484

  8. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by corycouch:


  9. #26
    brandon's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Oct 2011
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    787
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 673 Times in 310 Posts
    The guy told him, this one still works, I would give him some money for letting me make more money.
    If the guy didn't tell the op that it still worked then we wouldn't be having the discussion.
    My fortune cookie said:
    You discover treasures where others see nothing unusual.

  10. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by brandon:


  11. #27
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by TMoney View Post
    Thanks all for the quick replies. I can see that everyone is on the same page here.
    Not so much...
    Burly Smash![/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
    John Terrell (248) 224-2188
    Burly Guys Junk Removal LLC
    5499 Perry Drive Unit P Waterford, MI 48329
    http://www.burlyguys.com

  12. #28
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    By the same token guys, let's say while you were making the deal scrap prices fell precipitously. Remember a penny a pound from a few years back? Would you go back to the customer and say they needed to give you some money back because prices fell? Flip side of the same coin.

    You're the one taking the risks of being in business. The reward, or loss, belongs to you.

  13. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by BurlyGuys:


  14. #29
    badkarma506's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2013
    Location
    oregon
    Posts
    159
    Thanks
    31
    Thanked 123 Times in 59 Posts
    this is when you show up with a case of good beer. generally $50 isn't much to someone in business, but show them that you care by making the effort to go to the store and buy beer. if your not comfortable buying beer for them then a gift card for a local restraunt.

    monetary agreements are tricky. if you give him cash, then it may be expected the next time you show up, and if you don't give him what he thinks is the correct value then you will lose that customer. if you still want to give him cash explain what happened, how you were able to spend more time and make more than scrap value, stress how much time and effort you had to put in to make the extra money, and ask him what he would expect back. and then give him what he expects. and either you will realize that your trading dollars for time or it will become a second source of income for you.

    I personally have a couple $10 subway gift cards on the back of the stack of business cards that live in my cargo pocket, so new customers that I want to make a impression, or existing ones that need some extra encouragement, and I usually say something like, thank you for your business, today lunch is on me.,

  15. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by badkarma506:


  16. #30
    msmoorad's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    690
    Thanks
    715
    Thanked 746 Times in 356 Posts
    as burly said:
    do as your conscience tells u.

  17. #31
    Re-cycler is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    Re-cycler's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Southwest MN
    Posts
    167
    Thanks
    126
    Thanked 207 Times in 114 Posts
    When I first posted the vote was 13-0 for keeping his word and not succumbing to greed.
    Those who voted against it have their reasons none of which I agree with from a moral standpoint.
    They are also the kind of people who feel the need to keep a lawyer's phone number handy and make an effort dress and drive better than others so they can make a few bucks more than the next guy.
    These are not crimes or even bad attributes They are just not the way I choose to be when it comes to life, in and amongst my peers.
    We all like to get a deal whether it is cheap or free.
    The no votes are from what I have seen posted by them over the last couple years all businesses which understandably charge given rates for their services.
    Some of the yes voters are at lower levels of service dealing at more of a personal level in much smaller quantities that can easily be squeezed out by the no voters who often roll in with cash in hand eliminating small competition immediately.
    It's all just "Law of the jungle" the big eat the small,predator and prey etc etc.
    I can say that lots of folks have walked up to my accounts trying to outbid me and failed because my clients/friends know, respect and trust me, hell some of them even like me.
    Above all they know I don't hide anything from them.
    I tell every one of them what the current prices are and where they can haul or send their scrap to get the best prices.
    This thread and whole forum has told me clearly who I would not do business with or offer referrals to.

  18. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by Re-cycler:


  19. #32
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by corycouch View Post
    George I don't often agree with you but I do here
    Thanks, I think lol

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to GeorgeB for This Post:


  21. #33
    GeorgeB's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Manassas Park, VA
    Posts
    2,919
    Thanks
    462
    Thanked 639 Times in 432 Posts
    Ladies and gents, bottom line is a business deal is a business deal. Simple as that. The OP and seller made a deal for $10. That concludes the deal. Neither one owes the other anything. Once a deal is finalized, it is finalized and you continue trucking on. Doesn't matter if they been a customer just once, or for lots of years.

    If you want to show your kindness, do as many have suggested in this thread, and in others in the past. Give a gift card for lunch, some donuts, etc. I know people all the time that will do stuff like this, if they can afford to do it. Nothing wrong with it.

    If you start providing kick backs and like someone else said, the market drops for a while, well they will expect that same high kick back all the time.

    Stick to the simpleness of things, and dont over complicate things any.

    You made a deal for $10. So you made a $140 profit, by selling for $150. I would say that is a **** good deal! Your seller was happy for $10, so your all good. Not like they said "Hey sell this for me, since I dont have the time or connections, and lets split the profits"

  22. #34
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Re-cycler View Post
    When I first posted the vote was 13-0 for keeping his word and not succumbing to greed.
    Those who voted against it have their reasons none of which I agree with from a moral standpoint.
    They are also the kind of people who feel the need to keep a lawyer's phone number handy and make an effort dress and drive better than others so they can make a few bucks more than the next guy.
    These are not crimes or even bad attributes They are just not the way I choose to be when it comes to life, in and amongst my peers.
    We all like to get a deal whether it is cheap or free.
    The no votes are from what I have seen posted by them over the last couple years all businesses which understandably charge given rates for their services.
    Some of the yes voters are at lower levels of service dealing at more of a personal level in much smaller quantities that can easily be squeezed out by the no voters who often roll in with cash in hand eliminating small competition immediately.
    It's all just "Law of the jungle" the big eat the small,predator and prey etc etc.
    I can say that lots of folks have walked up to my accounts trying to outbid me and failed because my clients/friends know, respect and trust me, hell some of them even like me.
    Above all they know I don't hide anything from them.
    I tell every one of them what the current prices are and where they can haul or send their scrap to get the best prices.
    This thread and whole forum has told me clearly who I would not do business with or offer referrals to.
    So...am I supposed to be insulted?

  23. #35
    hobo finds's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    tucson, az
    Posts
    4,758
    Thanks
    6,037
    Thanked 5,910 Times in 2,556 Posts
    I voted to split it. But a dead is a deal you got your $10 dollars worth. You may not want to tell him how much you did make, but get him something, dinner, beer, some amount of cash. You don't need to say it was because of this great thing you got and sold in your own time. Could be just a thanks for all the stuff he has sold you! I think that will work and you both will be happy!

  24. The Following User Says Thank You to hobo finds for This Post:


  25. #36
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Re-cycler View Post
    When I first posted the vote was 13-0 for keeping his word and not succumbing to greed.
    He did not NOT keep his word. Splitting the SCRAP price.

  26. #37
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by TMoney View Post
    One of the guys I regularly get scrap from has a business replacing water pumps, and tanks.

    So along this same vein...does the guy you get the scrap from tell HIS customers he is profiting from the scrap? Does he then owe THEM something?

  27. #38
    hobo finds's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    tucson, az
    Posts
    4,758
    Thanks
    6,037
    Thanked 5,910 Times in 2,556 Posts
    About once a month he gives me a load of mixed scrap from his business. I estimate the weight of the load and give him half of the shred value. This leaves me with a decent profit after processing the scrap.

    This guy knows the value of these pumps! He may have just given you a kickback!

  28. #39
    Re-cycler is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
    Re-cycler's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Southwest MN
    Posts
    167
    Thanks
    126
    Thanked 207 Times in 114 Posts
    Some people spend so much time looking for angles that they couldn't see straight if they had box blinders on.
    There truly is no gray area between right and wrong no matter how your contract is worded and what George might win in court.
    Giving out bad advice on a daily basis in not helpful to myself or anyone who reads it so I make great effort not to waste anyone's time.
    I have great disdain for schemers and coat-tailers looking for the fast buck with no regard for their fellow man on the other hand I really admire the dreamers who can apply imagination and originality with a little hard work to profit and benefit those around them.
    The rest of us get by and appreciate the little things.

  29. #40
    BurlyGuys's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Waterford Michigan
    Posts
    1,591
    Thanks
    1,109
    Thanked 1,620 Times in 635 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Re-cycler View Post
    When I first posted the vote was 13-0 for keeping his word and not succumbing to greed.
    Those who voted against it have their reasons none of which I agree with from a moral standpoint.
    They are also the kind of people who feel the need to keep a lawyer's phone number handy and make an effort dress and drive better than others so they can make a few bucks more than the next guy.
    These are not crimes or even bad attributes They are just not the way I choose to be when it comes to life, in and amongst my peers.
    We all like to get a deal whether it is cheap or free.
    The no votes are from what I have seen posted by them over the last couple years all businesses which understandably charge given rates for their services.
    Some of the yes voters are at lower levels of service dealing at more of a personal level in much smaller quantities that can easily be squeezed out by the no voters who often roll in with cash in hand eliminating small competition immediately.
    It's all just "Law of the jungle" the big eat the small,predator and prey etc etc.
    I can say that lots of folks have walked up to my accounts trying to outbid me and failed because my clients/friends know, respect and trust me, hell some of them even like me.
    Above all they know I don't hide anything from them.
    I tell every one of them what the current prices are and where they can haul or send their scrap to get the best prices.
    This thread and whole forum has told me clearly who I would not do business with or offer referrals to.
    Wow. Obviously you think I am an immoral jerk. Let's take your argument point by point.

    When I first posted the vote was 13-0 for keeping his word and not succumbing to greed.

    He did what he said, paid shred value. I take issue with the words "succumbing to greed." Is it greedy of the restaurant not to give me a discount when I tell them "no toast" with my omelette?

    Those who voted against it have their reasons none of which I agree with from a moral standpoint.

    So we're immoral?


    They are also the kind of people who feel the need to keep a lawyer's phone number handy and make an effort dress and drive better than others so they can make a few bucks more than the next guy.

    None of that describes me in any way.

    These are not crimes or even bad attributes

    Well thanks for THAT acknowledgment at least!

    They are just not the way I choose to be when it comes to life, in and amongst my peers.

    A little "holier-than-thou" here, aren't we?

    We all like to get a deal whether it is cheap or free.

    Given.

    The no votes are from what I have seen posted by them over the last couple years all businesses which understandably charge given rates for their services.

    Whether you get this or not, you ARE a business!

    Some of the yes voters are at lower levels of service dealing at more of a personal level

    You think a business's dealings aren't personal? It's ALL personal.

    in much smaller quantities that can easily be squeezed out by the no voters who often roll in with cash in hand eliminating small competition immediately.

    You obviously haven't walked a mile in my shoes, or you'd know I went very much in debt this winter.


    It's all just "Law of the jungle" the big eat the small,predator and prey etc etc.

    No harm came to this customer. He got exactly the deal he had all along. If you re-read the OP you'll see that initially he was GIVING the poster his scrap.


    I can say that lots of folks have walked up to my accounts trying to outbid me and failed because my clients/friends know, respect and trust me, hell some of them even like me.

    No doubt.

    Above all they know I don't hide anything from them.

    No, they don't know that.

    I tell every one of them what the current prices are and where they can haul or send their scrap to get the best prices.

    This is foolish. You provide a service. Telling your customers how to cut you out of the equation may make you feel morally superior, but it just makes you a fool. Let them do their own research and sell their stuff themselves if they want to make money off it. They sell/give YOU their scrap because it works for them. They don't mind you making money off of the transaction. If they did, they would do the research and sell the stuff themselves.

    This thread and whole forum has told me clearly who I would not do business with or offer referrals to.

    And now you add insult. You know, you're not a bad guy. You know what else? Neither am I. We choose to do business differently. But I do take issue with you coming on here and talking smack about me like I am immoral.

    End of rant.
    Last edited by BurlyGuys; 05-13-2013 at 03:17 PM.

  30. The Following User Says Thank You to BurlyGuys for This Post:



  31. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. 100 subscribers give a way
      By CAPTSCRAPER in forum Scrap Metal Videos
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 04-05-2013, 08:00 PM
    2. Do You Give a Receipt ?
      By Bear in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 02-26-2013, 11:50 PM
    3. I would like to give a testimonial
      By mikeinreco in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 08-30-2012, 09:53 PM
    4. unexpected plus today
      By BRASSCATCHER in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 4
      Last Post: 04-17-2012, 09:16 PM
    5. Rubbish night turned into unexpected dumpster dive
      By Ry4nscr4p in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 12-08-2011, 09:53 PM

Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 4 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 4 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