Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 27
  1. #1
    MattyNoNeck started this thread.
    MattyNoNeck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2014
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    345
    Thanks
    140
    Thanked 476 Times in 176 Posts

    What generally happens in the winter?

    Starting to think ahead towards the winter and since I just started in the spring, I have nothing really to go on as far as winter scrapping. Do prices generally go up during the winter months? Should I hoard until...say...February?

    "Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make its own judgments"

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to MattyNoNeck for This Post:



  3. #2
    Scrappah's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    1,058
    Thanks
    320
    Thanked 1,419 Times in 676 Posts
    What generally happens in the winter ?

    Well .... it gets really cold and snowflakes fall from the sky. Sometimes lots -n - lots of em' and they pile up.

    (Sorry .... couldn't resist.)

    Why don't you check the historical charts for metals prices ?

  4. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by Scrappah:


  5. #3
    1956's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Fort lauderdale FL The Venice of The USA
    Posts
    642
    Thanks
    399
    Thanked 1,276 Times in 348 Posts
    Prices tend to go up on copper and steel materials, but this year might be a little different? Not as much material around prices go up.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to 1956 for This Post:


  7. #4
    Scrappah's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    1,058
    Thanks
    320
    Thanked 1,419 Times in 676 Posts
    It's a little OT but if you store your stuff outside you wanna keep it covered. It's not much fun having to dig your metal out of a three foot snowbank. Everything gets frozen in. You take it to the yard and they start deducting weight because all of the snow & ice that's stuck to it.

    The frost heaves are in the road by then. Take it slow with a load so you don't break your springs.

    Kinda sorta been there.

  8. #5
    Metalbestos's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor
    Buying ewaste and vintage video games

    Member since
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Baltimore md.
    Posts
    987
    Thanks
    3,114
    Thanked 1,658 Times in 707 Posts
    Plug ends and power supply's fill my winter void . You should have a pallet somewhere to put your get to it later stuff. Maybe fill two just to keep you motivated . I prefer the cold over the heat so I can't wait. Sometimes I just fill a few tubs with things but I like the pallets to stack ewaste as tall as I am .
    Buying ewaste and video games !

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Metalbestos for This Post:


  10. #6
    travistemple202020's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2012
    Location
    ames iowa
    Posts
    1,326
    Thanks
    267
    Thanked 883 Times in 495 Posts
    the world econ climate right now is spinning so were it stops is the payday were all looking for but chances are good.

  11. #7
    KzScrapper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Denver Metro, CO
    Posts
    4,841
    Thanks
    7,019
    Thanked 5,792 Times in 2,417 Posts
    I wear more clothes and have to do laundry more often.

    Prices do tend to go up for steel so if you have the room roll the dice if you want.

    Since I do this full time I turn stuff in as bins and areas become full. I may not necessarily need the money but I might need the space the next time the phone rings.

    Mick (God Rest his Soul) wrote on several occasions about having a stock pile of copper and would not sell it till he could get $x.xx amount of dollars...You get my point.
    Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesaler
    Certified Zip-Tie Mechanic
    "Give them enough so they can do something with it, but not too much that they won't do nothing."

  12. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by KzScrapper:


  13. #8
    redcrossnj's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Oct 2011
    Location
    central jersey
    Posts
    465
    Thanks
    28
    Thanked 243 Times in 143 Posts
    Ebay and maybe some curb shopping

  14. #9
    MattInTheHat's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Sep 2012
    Location
    rock hill, sc
    Posts
    1,464
    Thanks
    1,142
    Thanked 1,396 Times in 703 Posts
    Like everyone is saying, Prices generally go up over the winter, by me it usually starts when the snow hits the ground. Doesnt always happen though.

    Prices acted very weird this year, but part of it may have been a new owner at the yard.

    Prices usually drop during fall cleanup, but it was only minor here.
    Currently looking for a job in or related to scrap/recycling. Relocation is possible for the right offer.

  15. #10
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    218
    Thanks
    130
    Thanked 158 Times in 60 Posts
    Can tell you this-someone will post in January that copper will hit 4$this year. I am still waiting. P.S. Don't beat me up to bad for posting this.

  16. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by kbob:


  17. #11
    Jonniebrass's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    1,007
    Thanks
    582
    Thanked 496 Times in 296 Posts
    I don't curb shop much but I have seen a decrease in stuff to grab. That is probably not true in the south and warmer areas.
    Google first ask questions later!

  18. #12
    wadarbr549's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    southern ohio
    Posts
    412
    Thanks
    175
    Thanked 505 Times in 204 Posts
    i always look foward to winter,,,i get more stuff from folks,,,,and usually prices rise a bit....i have less competition when the weather is bad

  19. #13
    happyscraper's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Feb 2012
    Location
    spring hill,fl
    Posts
    2,864
    Thanks
    350
    Thanked 1,371 Times in 847 Posts
    I live in Florida, we don't get snow here in the Tampa Bay area and steel prices stay pretty much the same all year around. E-waste will go up and down with the spot price of gold and silver. I hate the cold but after about 5 months of 95 degrees the cool weather is a nice change.

  20. #14
    SparrowMetals's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Central PA
    Posts
    129
    Thanks
    173
    Thanked 187 Times in 81 Posts
    I despise winter, especially after the one we had here this past year. Prices on the materials I generally deal in were fairly stable, but.... Business was way down compared to the milder months. Some of my yard guys that I serve had vehicles literally embedded in ice, not even the fork loader could break some of them loose. Plus, you can't blame anyone for not wanting to dismantle vehicles outside in sub-zero cold and two feet of snow. I wouldn't want to! Dismantling was pretty much limited to what they could get inside their buildings to work on, mostly late-model vehicles with a good amount of salable parts. The "clunkers" that never make it inside (ones where you basically get the wheels/cats/battery and crush it) were mostly put on the back burner until the weather broke.

    The only nice thing was, when spring FINALLY arrived, I got a nice burst of goodies from the backlog of junkers that had accumulated over the winter. I hope this winter isn't as nasty as the last. It would be nice if the metals markets picked up, as well. The past month has NOT been kind to us
    Sparrow Metals- Automotive core and converter buyer in Central PA since 2012.

    www.sparrowmetals.com

  21. The Following User Says Thank You to SparrowMetals for This Post:


  22. #15
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,985
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,351 Posts
    Biz as usual for me as winters are usually mild here........It will get cold but several layers of clothes is good enough

  23. #16
    eesakiwi's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NZ
    Posts
    2,531
    Thanks
    2,909
    Thanked 2,556 Times in 1,227 Posts
    'Winter' is summer here in NZ.
    Because we don't have a 'Thanks giving day' like the Americans, we use Christmas day ( and boxing day)
    for that, we have two days off work there, and another two days off on Newyears day and the next day.

    Because of that, and all school.pupils have 4 odd weeks off school over that time, and its summer, everyone in NZ goes on holiday for two weeks, businesses shut down etc.

    I find that the scrapmetal prices drop just before Christmas.
    Buncha reasons for that..
    People who.have saved up scrap for Christmas $$, sell it just before Christmas.
    Businesses, like plumbers, engineers etc etc, who save up their scrap all year, sell it then for bonus $$ a few days before they shut down for Christmas.
    The scrappers know this is the right time to drop their prices, a little extra in their pocket and over that week they probably bring in 4 or 5 times as much nonferrous than any other week of the year.
    Also, they shut down too, they have to pay out their workers holiday pay, while still paying overheads.
    While paying out many more thousands for the extra metal comming in, knowing its not going out for another 4 weeks at least..
    At the same time, the northen.hemisphere is in the deep part of winter, less construction equals less demand for metals.

    Just after Christmas here, people are hanging out for money, broke, so they go scrapping, so theres more competition, and some are really broke, hardly any food, welfare pays out differently over Christmas, two weeks payout the hour before the shops shut for Chrustmas break, then no payout the next week.
    Most welfares have used up their spending money in one quick go, since shops are shut, nothing to do 'cept scrapmetak for $$.
    Just after Christmas, people do cleanups, get rid of rubbish, extra scrapmetal about then.

    So.
    Prices drop at 14th Dec, businesses sell scrap on the 21st, same with scrappers, Christmas day etc holiday in the sun.
    Wefares spent all cash, nothing to do, go scrapping for $ about the 28th+ till the 8th Jan.
    Some srappers open during break. Most reopen 10th Jan, prices go.up again.14th plus.

  24. The Following User Says Thank You to eesakiwi for This Post:


  25. #17
    spinroch's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    675
    Thanks
    1,983
    Thanked 1,556 Times in 460 Posts
    I keep working. If you look for a reason not to work, you will certainly find it. I work outside when i have to, and inside when i can. Just keep looking for work: looking for material. It may come from a different source, but it is out there.
    F1 Recycles

    Electronic/Electrical/Mechanical Recycling
    www.f1recycles.com


  26. #18
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    466
    Thanks
    1,612
    Thanked 417 Times in 199 Posts
    I get a lot more consumer and household ewaste the closer things get to Christmas. People clearing out the old to make way for the new.

  27. #19
    matador's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    We purchase laptop computers and many components for greater than scrap value. We offer a shipping reimbursement program.replies

    Member since
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Big Wonderful Wyoming
    Posts
    2,310
    Thanks
    1,813
    Thanked 3,200 Times in 1,448 Posts
    I get less business E-Waste, but a spike in January for the new year stuff. Then, it dies down again until early April.

    Consumer E-Waste actually comes in more often for me.

    I do fall collection events, so I can sell on eBay for the Christmas rush, and have enough stuff to keep me busy until April.

  28. #20
    Sirscrapalot's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    A sandbar off the atlantic..OBX,NC
    Posts
    6,123
    Thanks
    11,885
    Thanked 8,781 Times in 3,853 Posts
    What happens come winter time? - OP

    It gets cold and people hate on me an my sandbar.

    By Spring I need a handful of hugs.

    Sirscrapalot - Why is it always.."do you want a cookie?" Maybe I'd like a eff'ing doughnut, or a muffin, why's it always gotta be a **** cookie!

  29. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by Sirscrapalot:



  30. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. What do we do in the winter ???
      By Happy-Scrappy in forum General - Let's talk business
      Replies: 15
      Last Post: 01-29-2014, 07:50 PM
    2. This thead is a question - Winter...
      By DevinThaScrapper in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 31
      Last Post: 01-14-2014, 08:47 PM
    3. Winter approaches
      By Caveman in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 12
      Last Post: 11-26-2012, 12:05 PM
    4. Winter perdictions out
      By chrisc in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 0
      Last Post: 09-30-2012, 07:58 AM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 12 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 12 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook