I posted in the welcome area some info about me.
I basically go through a lot of scrap from HVAC/R equipment along with old copper tubing. The equipment is donated to Hi-School Vo-Tech to train with and then scrap to help with their limited budget, my guys got the tubing. Quite a bit would be stolen before we could deliver it, catching them was a problem, one guy basically said he took it once and no one said anything to him so he figured it was OK to take, (whose going to be there at 1am besides him). My friend has a shop down the road from me and the Deputy ended up shooting another guy caught stealing scrap who tried to run her over making a getaway. Shot 4 times and lived BTW.)
Anyway guy comes in, has references, said he would take all metal for 25% and give us 75%. Between the theft and cost of delivery it would be a plus. Worked OK for a couple months then things started getting squirelly, late on pay, was supposed to get copy of metal yard receipts, that changed to handwritten ones from him, the numbers didn't seem to match, etc. I warned him at the start that if I got a bad feeling the deal was off and reminded him before Christmas when he picked up a large amount. Said he be back the 26th, no show, said it was to be the 2nd. No show, no call, answer box full on phone.
My question(s) is was the deal to good for me to begin with? What's the chances of finding someone that will handle it right and what should the deal really be, or should I just go back to the old way? I don't have the time to scrap it myself or pay me guys to do it, ($15-$30/hr + and I need them making money doing our work instead).
I am in MD, Eastern Shore.