My First Dumpster Jackpot

Well I finally hit my first jackpot while scrapping part time. I usually search the dumpsters in the commercial complexes around where I work for anything and everything. I mostly stick to copper wire, aluminum, brass and small appliances and motors. I try and stay away from steel and large appliances since I don’t have a big place to process and store them. I only have a one car garage that my wife has to park in every night. Well I noticed one of the companies in same complex where I work was doing some housekeeping. I decided to go check out the dumpster to see what they were getting rid of. I looked inside and saw “dollar bills” everywhere. Tons (not literally) of brass fittings, aluminum plates of all sorts, motors of all sorts, and a few devices that I didn’t quite know what they were. I couldn’t jump in fast enough. I sorted out all the small fittings and all the aluminum and wires and kept a few things aside that I thought might be worth more that scrap value.

First thing was this.





I knew it was a camera but I didn’t really know what type. Threw it up on eBay for $100 and got an offer for $42. I’m planning on accepting that offer as long I don’t get a better one by tonight.
At this point I’m thinking, “Awesome. I just made $50+ dollars in about an hours’ time.”


But then I found three of these.



At first I thought “I can take these apart for the aluminum plates and housing. Then I did some research (which I’m glad I did). They’re called linear stages. I found out these sold for $1100 each brand new. Nobody was selling them on eBay so I didn’t even know if there was a market for them. I thought heck I’ll spend the $.50 and see if I have any takers. Being optimistic I put them up for $1000 for the set of three. This morning got an offer for $400. $400!!!! I couldn’t believe it. I’m going to leave it for another day or so and see if I get any other offers, but dang. $400!!


My mom always gave me crap for “trash picking” and “dumpster diving”. But I think this’ll shut her up.

Thanks for listening to me brag.

Well worth bragging about. Super finds. When your family/friends tell you "you are lucky" tell them about all the dumpsters that didn't have hundreds of value. I am happy to hear you were smart enough to check them out before you dismantled them. Mike.

What the heck are those second things? I looked it up but all the mumbo jumbo made my eyes cross and I clicked off the page going ''Huhhnnnnn...'' lol.

Awesome find Don, take a bow!!!

Nice hit Don. I'd keep an eye on that place. if they tossed something like that, who knows what they will chuck.

SS

Well Don you know that old saying " If you think education is expensive try ignorance" nice find.

If they were willing to offer 400 they would gladly pay 500. Do not take that offer without going back and countering at 500.
Offer them 500 firm.

Originally Posted by Torker Man

I rekon $500 too Don, like buying a used car, you never go in with your highest offer...

best of luck!

I agree...I'd counter with a spit of the diff. You ask $1K and he offered $400...take the diff. and split it. Counter with $700. If he wants them, he will make another offer but don't wait. Work the deal!

i have to agree w/ the replies above even if you don't know what the market for the item is or exactly what they are used for just "pretend" you do and counter w/ an offer in the 600-700 dollar range and if they take it great more bank if not go back to there original offer of 400, either way would still be a decent payday for the time dumspter diving and a little google searching to find out what they are.

i am not a great wise business man or anything just an average scrapper saying that you have to make the most of every sale, like i said worst case scenario you just accept there original offer, which you obviously are satisfied with in the first place, but i would try an get a little extra out of it if i could.

just my .02 if you think i am wrong that's perfectly understandable, do what you feel is necessary

Originally Posted by ilovejunk

if they take it great more bank if not go back to there original offer of 400,

I guess my problem is that I'm using ebay's "Best Offer" system. They offered $400, If I counter with $600, their original offer gets canceled and they can walk away and then I have $000. That's the way ebay's system works. Is it flawed? Yes, but I have to use it. It's my only market. Don't get me wrong, I like to haggle. But ebay doesn't work that way.

A happy ending.

Well I decided to email the guy that offered $400 (I didn't want to make an official counter offer since that would void his offer). I simply said "Is $400 the best you can do?" He emailed back and said $450. I changed the price to $450 and he bought it within minutes. He paid promptly so I shipped promptly. My running total for this one "dive" is now at $530 (not including the other little things I'm going to take in for scrap this weekend). Not bad for a part timer.

Thank you all for your kind words and the advice.