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I am on a very good job situation . Lots of scrap & demolition A guy I know there teased me and tossed at me about 7 ft of old #1 and said in a sarcastic voice here's .40 cents I just smiled & took the innuendo razing, I should have told him ,It's actually $2.50
I think you did good by not saying anything, you don't need any extra competition.
Yeah. dont give em' any ideas
I'm with KZBell.
Sure it would be nice to shove some numbers back in the guys face but sometimes you just gotta be secure enough in your own skin to not let your ego cost you $$$
I would suggest this one :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI6DJ0VkBMQ
yeah don't talk too much locally, on here is fine swapping tips and all, i keep my answers short and to the point everytime i buy something.
True gotta keep what we learn to our selfs , I don't want to get into the particulars but I see what i know, far exceeds the average demo / worker / craftsmen . & many of these average people, just act like they know the deal & or could do this any time they want .
I will not teach any person who asks me questions .I know it well enough that i can sound lame about it if need be . But when they see you working the metals they catch on to the true skill .
In high school I would have said "Great, 10 more feet and I can afford your mom for the night" but I'm more restrained now.
Don't let it get to you. Let THEM think it's only worth pennies, while you smile on the inside, thank them and move on.
Like Mick says "People may laugh at me, but that's ok. I laugh all the way to the bank."
If I did my math right, you made 6.25 times more than that guy thinks you did. Keep quiet about it!
Thats ok by me as some may some feel this really is not worth it (yanking a fridge in car for $12) ,but if some one finds ways to get 1000's lb & and not take apart & still likes the money , all the power to themQuote:
Originally Posted by Kris Kringle
The sarcastic ones who think I am wasting my time are some of my best regular clients. I don't lie, but I make no effort to change their view point.
Even on this site lets just be honest I know everyone can be very helpful and all and I'm not saying everyone is like this but do we really reveal our true, money making secrets? I doubt it at least I don't and i don't think the majority does.
Whenever someone gets his nose bent out of shape or is butting into your business; ask yourself - "Why do I care WHAT he thinks? Maybe he should be concerned with what I think of HIM."
now I would said let me cut that in half so I can pay your MomQuote:
Originally Posted by IronPirate
his ignorance is your bliss.
with the economy going the way it is there is a good chance that A hole fool may be comming to you looking for work one day soon. If he does dont hire him, hes the kind of jerk that will think he know it all in a month and become your worst nightmare compitition.
For me I just feel telling to much ends up with the wrong people like the Gov and unfortunately we might cause laws being past that are unnecessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick
that is a interesting philosophy. a true self taught individual. what was the reason for the formation of this forum. we are not going to share our knowledge? our experiences. different ways to increase profitability.Quote:
Originally Posted by Copper Head
how does one learn if no one is willing to teach?
that does explain the reactions to some of the posts.
i am curious how you acquired the knowledge you have without a variety of teachers who were willing to share their knowledge with you.
You make good points about teaching and learning these skills.Quote:
Originally Posted by rbrooks715
But I don't feel the need to tell everyone who gives me scrap of whatever variety, "hey, did you know that you could make money off of this yourself? Why don't you just keep it?" Particularly someone who is being a butt about it.
I would agree with you keeping your mouth shut. Around here I am sort of a big joke. Everyone thinks I make 4 dollars an hour and always make comments about it. I just laugh and say "I enjoy doing it."
Last weekend I was stripping a car. There were some guys who came out where I was taking it apart to have some beers with the owner of the property. I was the big laugh. They couldn't believe I would go to all that work for 4 dollars an hour. Hahahaha
I don't mind talking to someone who wants to learn. Actually, I enjoy it. But I also go by the saying; I taught him everything he knows but I didn't teach him everything I know.
I think some things learned should be up to the person to figure out.
i would agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrapette
True gotta keep what we learn to our selfs <<
that was what i was commenting on.
i disagree with those who say everyone is your next competitor. this is a tough and demanding business. not many are going to do what it takes. they lack the drive and the will.
Someone recently told me "What others think of you is none of your business." I liked that.
When I started scrapping last Sept I was sometimes embarrased being seen all dirty with all the junk in the truck bed and trailer, driving my bf's beat up scrapper truck, yada, yada. They prolly think I am a crackhead :-( Now, I am sitting in my home office in my jammies most of the day answering the phone, entering the financials and laughing all the way to the bank thinking of those who would look at me like a low life, and still do when I am out working on days needed. We are just smarter then they are Cooper, but they don't need to know that ;-)
I never had a problem walking into an establisment covered in dirt from head to toe....Why cause when I pulled out my wallet it was full of greenbacks...LOL
BUT, some will be by taking/picking the easy stuff, then you are left with the work.Quote:
i disagree with those who say everyone is your next competitor. this is a tough and demanding business. not many are going to do what it takes. they lack the drive and the will.
For me I have a high mechanical side , for instance I'll just look at something and in a few seconds i see how to put together (no need for instructions) same for dismantling. Once you know what things are made of you finally realize what is the best way to sell each itemQuote:
Originally Posted by rbrooks715
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Back to the original joke "here's .40 cents " well i did my best to say very little to the other workers & they are watching me, asking me SO how much you get for scrap ?? I was as evasive as possible.Later on I here one of the labor workers say in reference to me "That guy has it down to a science" now on day two I go to a pale of metal and a labor worker says to me thats my pail I just need a little gas money.
Day three on job I load up make a run to yard come back and i am told we have a problem ."the job is being shut down by state do to all sorts of code infractions from Asbestos to the PCB's in ballast"
To day I'll drive by, if i see guys working I'll have to except some one on the job sight convinced head foreman " We need to sell metal don't give it to that metal junkie"
Thats what many metal people are called by me - Metal junkie's.
That's exactly where I got my user name at...lol. I have a rgular pick up I do from a car lot and every time I go in one of the guys says "Hey, Scrap Junky's here!" Doesn't bother me in the least, I just think to myself, if they only knew.
And now these guys got there beer money! Found out it's much more than 40 cents...Quote:
Originally Posted by Copper Head
Well I hope the labor worker sells as tin , as the bucket was short but I know the yard will try to buy as tin.I just don't want a lite bulb to go off in his brain , AHH he probably has the fever by now !!
The job was shut down so I do feel that no one was pulling my crank.
Wow! What an attitude, that is awful. I have encountered it from time to time myself. I would have said "thanks Boss! thanks!" smiled and kept working...the joke is on Mr. attitude all day long. Here is what I think is behind these types of comments: Consumer,throw-away society. Corporate culture has pumped us full of a media message "Buy new,buy now" and wealth is measured in possessions. Those that recycle and value thrift are looked down upon by main steam society. As we all know "the bill has come due", Americans are broke,miserable,sick and without hope. Mark my words we are leading the way to a sustainable,stable state future. I share all know with any one that will listen, it is not a threat to my business,it gets them recycling! Most folks don't have time or interest to do what we do but they will separate,store, and call when they have recyclable material to be removed once they are educated. Leave the world a better place and share the good news about recycling is my personal motto. I have done very well financially with that philosophy. Even when I created a "competitor" they call on large clean-ups+good will!
I am asked all the time from every where I go. the residential pickups I tell them exactly how much I am going to make off of them. lets face it if we make $35.00 off a fridge it was 400 lbs.
The reasons people call someone else to pick up scrap appliances is because they: 1 are lazy. 2 don't have a means to drive it to the yard themselves. 3 they are to old to do it them selves. 4 don't know how much they would get. 5 they are afraid of scrap yards. 6 they don't want to be labeled as "scrappy the metal junkie". 7 THEY ARE LAZY.
now if I buy scrap from factories I never tell them my margins but I don't ever try to rip them off. at This one place the plant manager tried to grill me to find out how much I made off a few of machines I purchased from him so I LIED and for the 3 day tear down I said I only made ($150 x 3 days) $450.00 so it would look like he got a good deal. I believe if I recall correctly I made like $4000.00 off the 3 machines
Its none of their business.
oh is there any one on this forum that has never sold scrap? I would suspect that there are not too many if any at all.
My conclusion is here. I went to the job as I saw it was up once more . I said hi - am I in the loop ? The GC says ah its to complicated , I said how so? He goes LOOK I am doing it. It's all mine / I say OK . then I showed him some wire and metal he tossed into the dumpster ,I said i don't think your going to be as careful as me to get it all . I can offer you more then the yards on CU wire and a decent cut on all else and you don't have to carry any stuff.
He then proceeds to tell me his veiw . " I am sick of all you scrapers - all you guys approach me like the metal is crack cocaine . If you guys would spend the same effort and time looking for a job, you guys would have a job" then he shut the door in my face .
The last time i worked for him I cleared out a mountain of stuff wile he and all his workers were busy with other things I made some money but I feel I provided a service I eased up his work load The time I spent and money I made was not sufficient for even 20% But if he gave me the full project I could have gone 30 40 % . All I see is the truth he insulted me but he is scraping also , thats fine but don't scrap it and insult me cause here you are looking forward to the scrap $$ your self now!!
I was shocked at how many scrap yard owners in my area hold Masters degrees. They realized the money in scrap. Heck I have three degrees, one BA and two MBAs, and I could not work in another industry.
Had some guy ask me last night about how much i made. I said a little gas money. (tried to make it seem like almost nothing) in an hour i see him with a friend picking though a can for little bits of metal. He was driving a really small car (like an old chevy aveo type thing) I laughed cuz he'll bring in those little bits of metal into a yard and get a whopping 2 bucks. I laughed cuz after that night, he wouldnt do it again.
Unfortunately, if you say "I can't say" they know ur rolling in dough, and if you say lots the'll join in too, and if you make it seem like near nothing, they think your lying and still want to try it out
THERE IS NOTHING U CAN/CANT SAY TO STOP THEM
I look at it as a need to know basis
i know and they don't need to
if i buy it at a the price they set what i sell for is nunya buisness
What would you say if somebody asked you how much your paycheck was last week? Same thing.
I always say, "It pays for my gas and a little extra for beer money, but I enjoy it".
My paycheck today was $1728.40 but thats for 2 weeks. Flicking letters pays well but **** the days are long and cold sometimes.
No wonder the post office is going bankrupt. JK PTSQuote:
Originally Posted by PartTimeScrapper
Ummm ive never sold scrap.........??Quote:
Originally Posted by jackshmuc