Some people are too smart to do what we do.

I promise you had a conversation today that was roughly as follows:
(I was picking up some metal from a new neighbors place. It was free.)

"so is there any money in this?"

(me) "some"

"Seems to me that if you average a lb a minute that would be a pretty good rate, but don't see how you could any money."

(me) "I hear ya, but every little helps."

Keep in mind in less than 30 minutes I gathered about 600 lbs of metal out of this guys yard. At my current shred price that is $57.

lol

Figured you guys might get a kick out of that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VERYOLDGUY

I promise you had a conversation today that was roughly as follows:
(I was picking up some metal from a new neighbors place. It was free.)

"so is there any money in this?"

(me) "some"

"Seems to me that if you average a lb a minute that would be a pretty good rate, but don't see how you could any money."

(me) "I hear ya, but every little helps."

Keep in mind in less than 30 minutes I gathered about 600 lbs of metal out of this guys yard. At my current shred price that is $57.

lol

Figured you guys might get a kick out of that.

---

So your 20 lbs per minute made you $1.90 a minute! Would have made more if the guy wasnt talking to you so much! LOL But his wife was happy he got rid of all that worthless junk!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hobo finds

So your 20 lbs per minute made you $1.90 a minute! Would have made more if the guy wasn't talking to you so much! LOL But his wife was happy he got rid of all that worthless junk!

---

And that is priceless,,,

I love it when things like this happen I always hear so many complain about jobs/work and I see all the money out there to be made and I can not even get it fast enough for have enough space to tear it apart yet like right now I am trying to give away over 200 monitors/stuff that I do not have the room just to sit and even with my 1 employee we are kept busy just handling what is coming in and I only like in a town of 80k when the students are here 50k when there gone lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VERYOLDGUY

I promise you had a conversation today that was roughly as follows:

---

yup...sure did.

This is true. All the guys at school pick up small pieces of metal and throw them at me and jokingly ask how much can you get for that. So i throw some prices back in their face. then again, these are the kids that don't have a job

There is money to be made in anything. Some people just cant "lower" themselves to do things that are beneath them, yet may be the first to complain about the economy, job situation, etc. My Dad, a VP at a midsize company, told me many years ago that you do whatever you have to take care of your obligations. He was laid off about a year later and I saw him walk the walk, doing everything from roofing jobs to deliveries to selling some things door to door. It wasn't for long, as he eventually got back to other things, but he is evidence of a work mentality that is being lost in today's subsidized economy.

Good for you to let the snickers and jokes go right on through and look at the big picture (and payday) that comes from good, honest hard work. Kudos!

Some of the richest men I've ever met made their money in TRASH. Whether they owned a landfill, recycling company, hauled trash, or simply saved and resold things that other people discarded...there's always money to be made in trash!

The question is...will you let pride get in your way?

I get that "do you really make money doing this?" all the time when I'm picking up people's stuff. I usually just tell them that it's a lot of hard work, but I do OK with it. I figure as soon as most people hear the words "hard work" they tune out.

I do let my "pride" get in the way a lot ! Pushes me to haul more, and do even better than the last year! I'm proud to seen that not all discarded items arent trash but simply stuff not being used. And for all dem haters, and what not, you laugh all you want but I'll laugh to bank with all the dough people simply threw out !

It seems that I get asked that almost every day. The best part is I now have people at work bring me their old lamps, fans, vacs and etc. I just throw in the back of the truck, say thanks and smile.

Bossandy

The kid, the ones that have made fun of me, are the same ones that eventually borrowed $ from me at 20% a week interest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thortek

Some of the richest men I've ever met made their money in TRASH. Whether they owned a landfill, recycling company, hauled trash, or simply saved and resold things that other people discarded...there's always money to be made in trash!

The question is...will you let pride get in your way?

---

I scrapped my pride over thirty years ago when I started having KIDS! And now, I am jus to old ta giveada**

My grandfather said it best... As long as I have two hands and a truck I will always feed my family.. That is the mentality that.past generations were built on. That's what keeps me going

I did find 4 tires and rims ,beside a dump.
Put it in my wife's car trunk,

Got it home clean all 4 tires and rims.

Took some pics, put it on Kijiji.

4 days later got $ 120 into my bank account.

That is one way to transform garbage into money.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheKid

This is true. All the guys at school pick up small pieces of metal and throw them at me and jokingly ask how much can you get for that. So i throw some prices back in their face. then again, these are the kids that don't have a job

---

Alot of my friends and co workers do the same thing. Started to bug me, but I tell ya, sure doesnt bother me when im walkin away from the yard with bills in my pocket. Showed up at work this summer with a 2007 arctic cat quad to do a bit of service on it, so they ask how the heck I bought it with an apprentices wage, told em all the scrap they tell me im wastin my time with payed for it. Looked like his head was about to explode. Best feeling.

Most of my family and friends have always thought my scrapping was a waste of time. The average person knows nothing about scrap. They may have saved aluminum cans for a while took them in and got $15. So, they think this isn't worth my time. I say let them think there's no money in it, more for me. I don't tell people how much I make but I did tell my brother once, he was floored.

All of my co-workers know I scrap and they birng me stuff all of the time. Many times I find things they left for me beside my car or in my cube. All they know is that I like to recycle to keep their electronics out of the landfill. I have explained in detail to a few what I do and they look at me like I'm crazy but they keep bringing me their scrap.
Our office is in a 6 story multi-tenant building and there is usually a large construction dumpster at the loading dock. I check it several times a day and have pulled a lot of good stuff out of it. Pride? Yes, I feel very proud when I pull a PC, microwave or 10 pounds of copper wire from the dumpster.

Ignorance aka not knowing, is the one thing that cost people the most and most of them will never know it.