Small towns and resale

Reselling stuff you get for free from a small town to small town people for a profit.. Specifically refrigerators.

The problem I encounter with fridges/freezers is that most of the time the fridge is scrapped because it leaks, food is getting frozen or thawing etc..

If I resell a fridge, I want to make sure that it is working properly. I come from a small town, ppl. know that I scrap...The only place I want to sell real scrap is to the yard, unless it really is worth selling for a real profit. (not scrap)

Not too long ago, I got a nice (but real dirty and lots of caked dust underneath) fridge with the bottom freezer drawer. The guy told me that it still worked, so I planned on keeping it for myself. Long story short my buddy's wife left him so I gave him the fridge. He took 4 hours to clean it!
Was at least a hundred and fifty dollar fridge.(by the time he was done cleaning it)

Recently, one of my regulars dropped off a fridge and stove. I figured they were scrap but then I got a phone call from a friend of mine, she says I was talking to so and so, he says the fridge still works, can I have it for my brother, he needs a fridge. You see people know I get it for free, so its hard to put a price on it, and when you do they figure you are giving them a stiffie. Small towns..

I got kids to feed!

Just explain to them you have kids to feed and a $20 "DONATION" would be in order...........

Thanks Mike, you make it sound so simple. I will try this exact thing, it should fly.

Its just plain crazy the good stuff I get. This year I'm stepping it up a notch on the resale part.

When I was in the military and lived in an area that had regular garbage pick up, I went out every night scrapping. sometimes I got stuff that had resale value, I would ask people that I worked with if they were interested, if they were I would usually let them name a price that they were willing to give me for it, they knew where it came from and knew what I had in it, I knew what it would scrap for and always got more from selling it than if I were to scrap it. I even had people asking me to look out for certain things, usually stuff that I would maybe get $1 to $5 for if I scrapped them, some items had 0 scrap value and got real good money for by selling. If I had fridges and stoves that worked I would at least ask for last summers scrap price on them, you get better than current scrap and get to help someone out.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave

Thanks Mike, you make it sound so simple. I will try this exact thing, it should fly.

Its just plain crazy the good stuff I get. This year I'm stepping it up a notch on the resale part.

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I know its not that simple but you are providing a service to the people of your town by taking non-wanted items for "RECYCLE"..........Let them know if you don't get something you might not be able to continue to provide your service

It's a tough call
If i knew the brother, as she is your friend. I would base it off that relationship, favors for the right people come in handy at just the right time.
friends get free everyone else pays, one way or another.
I could think of ten things i'd trade for a fridge that most people have lying around;)

Super D, try bartering. Maybe they have something of value to you as a scrapper/reseller.
That's what I like about small communities, there is always some willing to trade.

Ok here is my new angle. Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I am going to start selling used fridges and stoves. Going to store them in the back garage. The worst part will be cleaning them. As for refrigerators often the evap. coil gets real dirty and its the only problem.
Lately I've sold a few woodstoves I got for free.

I've got all kinds of stove elements and fuses. I am not willing to play with compressors and that kind of thing.

I am going to sell them with a 1 year free replacement warranty. Worst case scenario the fridge or stove stops working, I've got replacements.

Then I can scrap the ones that are shot.

Also going to keep an eye on the classifieds craig kijiji that kind of thing. There are deals to be had.

1 year warranty may be a little much on used appliances.........Unless you have plenty of parts and are willing to do free service calls...........I offer a 30 day guarantee on computers and cheap repair after that

Yes Mike thanks for your input, maybe you are right. Actually I think you are. Still throwing ideas around.

My Grandfather was the local butcher here, he sold used appliances on the side, a real entrepreneur to say the least, he sold them as well with a replacement warranty, can't remember how long it was though. There was an appliance store 2 buildings down where he got fridges and stoves,
people trusted him. Back then the appliances would end up in the landfill, scrap was 20$ a ton.
And 80 miles away.

+1 on the 30 day warranty at most...The longer the warranty the higher your price should be as it is a cost of business that few people take into consideration.

I usually don't tell friends/family about things that are for sale...if they ask I say I have it listed for $xx.xx but open for offers.

+2 on 30 days. I see a lot sell for as is, no warranty.
If know people with rental property they can be a good market.
Especially fridges and stoves. Maybe give them a free replacement for 60 more days.
You'll even end up with other scrap from them.

I do a 30 day warranty as well. Same deal (never had to yet) replace with similar unit and take the bad one.
from CO to TN to NH very similar situations...

On a side note: if you haven't upgraded your membership, there is a thread in the Scrap Room Forum with a list of quick flip items for better than scrap $'s.

Just doing my bit to help keep SMF going.
It's well worth the price members.