Another lesson learned...

Should've known something was up when the call came at 10:45 on a Saturday night. Right in the middle of our dart tourney.

It was a big, steel, 250lb+ desk. In the goddam basement. I tried to not accept the call, but the guy was persistent and somewhat physically limited.



Long story short, we got it out. Barely. Although no incidences occurred, I keep reliving what could have happened had the dolly swung out, or had we damaged the trim or a wall, or incurred physical injury.

The whole episode has made me rethink my 'business model' as it were to include the following changes:

- free scrap pickup will apply only to items already outside the house (ie: curb, back/side yard). A labour fee will be applied to any items removed from inside the house

- If removal is done from within the home, I plan to have the homeowner sign a waiver releasing me from any damages that may be incurred during the removal

That is a very good idea. I won't pull something out of a house unless I know the person, but if the need occurs, I will create a paper/waiver removing liability on me for damages.

I have a co worker that said she has a boiler down in her basement and said I could get it. I don't expect her to remove it from the basement and she already stated that she won't hold me responsible for damages. I will have her sign something anyhow.

Originally Posted by Scrap man

I see the point of a labor fee and waiver, but if anyone up near me started charging a fee for stuff like that, they'd be out of the job. Scrappers up here are a dime a dozen and the person would probably just find another scrapper that didn't charge anything.

Besides, isn't 10:45 at night a little late to be scrapping? It sure is for me

I agree with you, scrap guys are everywhere now days.. but i try and seperate myself from the guys who would go pick up 250 lbs of light iron out of a basement for free. Theres a fine line between whats worth doing free and whats not. I picked up a cast tub and a stove today.. i charged $50, only because the items were still in the apartment. The guy asked " dont you guys usually do it free" theres the stereo type.. like a scrap guy is just some scrub that will break his back for $20. I told him if the items were outside the home and i can just back up to them with my truck and load them, yes id do it free.. but theres a labor charge involved, especially since im going to need to bring 1 guy to help. Sure enough i get there and the bathroom is TINY! barely got the tub out.. Anyway i feel like you should always mention the fact that if needed you might have to charge a fee, and then you can determine that once you get there.. its just a way to cover your own @ss.

Originally Posted by BigIgg

Theres a fine line between whats worth doing free and whats not... its just a way to cover your own @ss.

That's the way I'm looking at it.

Always make it know that you are doing a free pickup and not a free removal...

Got a call today for a washer n dryer, computer, n related items...been takin $10 off my bros tab, that he will never pay off, each time he comes to help me out with a pickup..get there n ask the lady to open the garage door...she states they are in the basement...of course I asked her if they were ready to pick up prior to arriving...went down grabbed the computer stuff, loaded it, n told her I needed 50 to grab the washer n dryer...she got upset, but I explained to her originally the deal n that we were not movers...settled on 40, cuz she didnt understand the situation...

Worked out decently for me on this one, but be careful n specific

It's not a bad idea to include an additional charge per flight of stairs

Before driving to a basement job I would ask about corner stairs and ceiling height. Some of it may be lower under ducts and beams. The basements of old houses were not designed as living spaces. Since I lived in a house with corner stairs, those memories are too fresh to take another job like that.