My First Dumpster Jackpot - Page 2

Congratulations don!

Originally Posted by Don

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.

Nice score bro!!

This is what happens a lot of time to those who go to local storage auctions too. They will find something, not know what it is, and bingo, they hit a small gold mine.

A few of my friends around here, make a nice little living doing it.

One time when I was driving around, this guy litterally ran in front of my truck, asked me if I was scrapping. I told him yes. He was like pull around back. I did. They had roughly 3 bix boxes (looked like music trunks) filled with aluminum.

Keep it up!

PS. Whats your ebay handle? I would like to take a look