Let's talk ethics - Stealing specifically - Page 3

Everyone has the chance to be honest. What irks me the most is when men take the high road in lip service only. We all need to survive, but we also all need to do the right thing, and that means asking for permission more, pay taxes more, be respectful more. Overall, we need to be entirely aware of the audacious notion that most scrappers are trying to make money from FREE sources. I believe guys should knock on doors and ask, unless there is a note on the alley junk. If there is a valuable load, offer the owner a few bucks.

There is a moral imperative here. You cannot get something for nothing. You either trade value for value, or in probably most cases involving scrappers, you get value for trading being the alley scrounger and the associated attitudes/ commentary. My shop gets permission for EVERYTHING we take. It is my personal opinion that an alley scrapper who gets a little guff for not being respectful deserves it.

Btw: Our illustrious city just issued us very nice new recycling containers. They plainly state that taking aluminum cans from them is illegal, and notes the ordinance. Guess what I saw yesterday? Some dude in an old junky truck, picking through recycling containers stealing alum cans. Didn't bother calling the police.

The worst thing about theft is the scrapyards that knowingly support scrap metal theft by buying from known thieves and refusing to ban them.

This happened to me earlier this year.

A crack head was caught three times in 2 days stealing stuff I pay for so I call the cops and like usual they don't give a crap "put up a sign so he won't take it again".

I call one scrap yard that I deal with occasionally and they banned him permanently that same day.

I tell the scrapyard that I deal with on a weekly basis and get this-the manager tells me "unless he gets arrested for it we refuse to ban him"

I think the manager is taking kickbacks to keep buying from the crooks.

And of course if I put the name of the scrapyard on here I will get sued into the stone age.

THAT is the worst part in my opinion.

Sadly just like there will always be someone stealing copper, metal, etc. There will always be a yard/person/company/etc that will buy it. Can't have one without the other. Sucks but..on the bright side they're aren't the smartest bulbs in the socket an eventually do something stupid like cutting lines with electricity running through them, or they get caught.

I've said it before, an I'll say it again..Thieves suck.

Sirscrapalot - Love and marriage, love and marriage, Go together like a horse and carriage. This I tell ya, brother, you can't have one without the other. - Married with Children theme song

I have two yards near me that will buy known stolen goods. One of them has employees that are known to steal and then sell it to the yard. The yard also gets rid of CRT tubes illegally. I know for a fall that the cops are looking at him but hasn't caught him yet.

I agree completely. As a scrapper I love this line of work
It's honest hard work for honest pay. Buy then you have people who steal scrap out of metro tunnels and AC units. Then ruin it for the rest of us.

This is a interesting read with a few good links to other related threads.

Originally Posted by MNScrapper

Everyone has the chance to be honest. What irks me the most is when men take the high road in lip service only. We all need to survive, but we also all need to do the right thing, and that means asking for permission more, pay taxes more, be respectful more. Overall, we need to be entirely aware of the audacious notion that most scrappers are trying to make money from FREE sources. I believe guys should knock on doors and ask, unless there is a note on the alley junk. If there is a valuable load, offer the owner a few bucks.

There is a moral imperative here. You cannot get something for nothing. You either trade value for value, or in probably most cases involving scrappers, you get value for trading being the alley scrounger and the associated attitudes/ commentary. My shop gets permission for EVERYTHING we take. It is my personal opinion that an alley scrapper who gets a little guff for not being respectful deserves it.

Btw: Our illustrious city just issued us very nice new recycling containers. They plainly state that taking aluminum cans from them is illegal, and notes the ordinance. Guess what I saw yesterday? Some dude in an old junky truck, picking through recycling containers stealing alum cans. Didn't bother calling the police.

Pay as little tax as you can. Avoid any tax you can. You have every obligation to avoid tax any way you can.

Originally Posted by t00nces2

Pay as little tax as you can. Avoid any tax you can. You have every obligation to avoid tax any way you can.

Taxes pay for roads, schools, some health care and more. It's the common good. Not to say all taxes are justifiable and they certainly pay for some horrible stuff too but the idea of pitching in for the betterment of community is a good ethic.