Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 32

What Is Your Net Profit From E-Waste ?

| Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
  1. #1
    RLS0812 started this thread.
    RLS0812's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Bucks County Pennsylvania
    Posts
    895
    Thanks
    155
    Thanked 633 Times in 358 Posts

    Question What Is Your Net Profit From E-Waste ?

    I am wondering: after all your expenses ( gas, shipping, labor, taxes, storage, e.t.c.) how much money do you have left over from scrapping E-Waste ?



    I am asking this to figure out a general price that I could pay folks for "stuff" and still have a few $ left over.

    Items would include, but not limited to:
    Desktops, laptops, cell phones, smart devices, VCRs / DVD / Blue Ray, Flat screen, other general electronics, and E-Waste in general.

    Thank you very much.


  2. #2
    Mudlucky's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2013
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    398
    Thanks
    230
    Thanked 484 Times in 194 Posts
    Hi RLS0812,

    I doubt many people, if any people, will answer this question. Part of the reason is that some of buy from a lot of folks on the forum. If you head over to the buyers' forum, you can see prices. Then, figure out where you can afford to buy the products considering everything you listed. i really wish you the best.

    Ken

  3. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mudlucky:


  4. #3
    hobo finds's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Nov 2010
    Location
    tucson, az
    Posts
    4,758
    Thanks
    6,037
    Thanked 5,910 Times in 2,556 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by RLS0812 View Post
    I am wondering: after all your expenses ( gas, shipping, labor, taxes, storage, e.t.c.) how much money do you have left over from scrapping E-Waste ?

    I am asking this to figure out a general price that I could pay folks for "stuff" and still have a few $ left over.

    Items would include, but not limited to:
    Desktops, laptops, cell phones, smart devices, VCRs / DVD / Blue Ray, Flat screen, other general electronics, and E-Waste in general.

    Thank you very much.
    Not as much as I would want!

  5. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by hobo finds:


  6. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    120
    Thanks
    136
    Thanked 119 Times in 65 Posts

    What Is Your Net Profit From E-Waste ?

    The problem is that there is such a mix of scrappers here, ones that scrap 20 hrs - 80 hrs a week, part time full time, own space used for different uses. all affect the bottom line. Personally I get all my scrap for free and do it out of my house so my only expense is gas.

  7. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by mnrecycler:


  8. #5
    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
    or the fact there are several of these threads, where some did answer.

    The others said it well enough. May want to search out the older threads on this subject.

    Sirscrapalot - Round and round an round and round and round and round we go.

  9. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by Sirscrapalot:


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



    Member since
    Mar 2011
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1,647
    Thanks
    4,388
    Thanked 2,835 Times in 1,132 Posts
    For me, I'd rather make something (anything) than pay a large national corporate waste company, that would have recycled a little (very little), putting most of it in a large hole in the middle of the desert and each year charging me more. Now my waste expenses are going down, my revenue is about the same and I put one more person to work. The big plus for me, I sleep better at night, knowing I'm trying to be a solution than another problem! $$$ numbers those belong to me.
    Last edited by bigburtchino; 10-16-2014 at 10:08 PM.

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


  12. #7
    MattyNoNeck's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2014
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    345
    Thanks
    140
    Thanked 476 Times in 176 Posts
    I can't (and won't) tell you an exact number but I will tell you how I figured out my buying price(s)

    Strip down a few computers, weigh all of the components, and then figure out how much each component is worth. Then average it out.

    So if each computer grosses (before shipping and other expenses) X, then factor in your expenses.

    Let's say your expenses are Y per computer. X - Y = your net per computer, Z

    Then, find out how much of a margin you are comfortable making per computer. This is something you and only you can decide on. Let's call this one A

    Z (your net per computer) - A (your acceptable profit) = B, your buying price.

    There, I did some algebra for you. Plug in your numbers and have fun.
    "Don't try to be a great man, just be a man. Let history make its own judgments"

  13. The Following 6 Users say Thank You for This Post by MattyNoNeck:


  14. #8
    Mmarro89's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    132
    Thanked 214 Times in 76 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by MattyNoNeck View Post
    I can't (and won't) tell you an exact number but I will tell you how I figured out my buying price(s)

    Strip down a few computers, weigh all of the components, and then figure out how much each component is worth. Then average it out.

    So if each computer grosses (before shipping and other expenses) X, then factor in your expenses.

    Let's say your expenses are Y per computer. X - Y = your net per computer, Z

    Then, find out how much of a margin you are comfortable making per computer. This is something you and only you can decide on. Let's call this one A

    Z (your net per computer) - A (your acceptable profit) = B, your buying price.

    There, I did some algebra for you. Plug in your numbers and have fun.
    Matty laid this out in the easiest but simplest way possible. It's your job as a buyer to figure out your exact overhead, (should be a part of anyone doing any kind of business), determine market value after logistics of shipping and storage and determine how much you would like to make on it. Basic finance practice will tell you a business should try to operate on 20-30% ROI (return on investment) but you can adjust this figure when considering your particular overhead costs.

  15. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mmarro89:


  16. #9
    saabsw's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2012
    Location
    Pittsburgh
    Posts
    59
    Thanks
    100
    Thanked 68 Times in 30 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by RLS0812 View Post
    I am wondering: after all your expenses ( gas, shipping, labor, taxes, storage, e.t.c.) how much money do you have left over from scrapping E-Waste ?

    I am asking this to figure out a general price that I could pay folks for "stuff" and still have a few $ left over.

    Items would include, but not limited to:
    Desktops, laptops, cell phones, smart devices, VCRs / DVD / Blue Ray, Flat screen, other general electronics, and E-Waste in general.

    Thank you very much.
    Shipping is minimal, labor depends on how you value your time, and storage is in my own apartment, so free.

    As for prices, if we're talking scrap value only. Then for a desktop I would pay $5 or less, a laptop about $1, and the rest I wouldn't pay anything. Some people buy cellphones by the pound, but unless it's a huge amount it will be worth very little.

  17. #10
    scrapping's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Aug 2013
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    117
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked 82 Times in 42 Posts
    I'm sorry if this is going to seem offensive. I have seen questions like these like this on here before and it kind of ticks me off. Instead of YOU doing your own research of a certain market, you want someone to just hand you the information on a platter. Sure, most people here are willing to help out with certain questions regarding a thing or two. Consider this, I walk into john does local business and say hey can i take a look at you books so I can determine if i can not only compete with you but possibly undercut you putting you out of business. I'm sure I would receive a not so kind response.
    Last edited by scrapping; 10-23-2014 at 08:48 AM. Reason: spelling

  18. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by scrapping:


  19. #11
    armygreywolf's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Posts
    1,084
    Thanks
    193
    Thanked 2,064 Times in 649 Posts
    This is the sort of thing that's taboo in business. Nobody serious about it, trying to make a living from it is going to share their expenditures report with their gross income with you. There's a good reason for that because like it or not some of us compete with each other. I will give tips to maximize because it's prudent for me and I'm trying to be helpful, what I won't do is:

    I will not tell anyone I'm not in business with:

    How much I make
    How much material I process
    Who I sell to
    What refiners I am using
    What I am selling to other buyers
    What my shop looks like or how much I have in it
    How much I spent on material

    Things I will show:

    Tools I use, how I use them
    Identification of various things
    My truck, my sorting area, my workbench
    My recomendations: People, places, methods.

    Let me be direct here. This is going to appear rude, what reason would I have to disclose ANY of that information to you. Would it help you? Would it hurt me? Yep, and Yep. Frankly it's hard work, it takes knowledge and involves more than driving around and picking up sheet iron, vacuum cleaners and car rims all day long. The more you learn the better it becomes. Computer recycling is difficult to be profitable on a larger scale. This is why there's less than a dozen large operations in the united states, despite 25% electronics production to waste stream going on...you can see where I am going with this.

    My take: Figure it out for yourself.

  20. The Following 8 Users say Thank You for This Post by armygreywolf:


  21. #12
    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
    Somewhere between $1 and $1,000,000 You figure it OUT!

  22. The Following User Says Thank You to mikeinreco for This Post:


  23. #13
    phred59's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Northwest AR
    Posts
    276
    Thanks
    288
    Thanked 504 Times in 200 Posts
    it would appear... a consensus has been reached

    annnnnnnd..... that's all

  24. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by phred59:


  25. #14
    EcoSafe's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    May 2011
    Posts
    3,705
    Thanks
    3,713
    Thanked 6,807 Times in 1,954 Posts
    Year 2 was less then year 1 and year 3 less then year 2 and year 4 less then year 3. The reason, more competition from people who didn't do their home work. Selling prices are down, people are paying more for dead computers, because they didn't do their home work. and electronics /Computer companies are doing more with much, much, much less.

    An MMLC that 2 years ago was about 1/4" x 1/8" is now nearly microscopic, the price is still the same or, but the weight is less then 1/10, new processors avg $8 per lb old ones $110, boards are 1/2 weight or less, shipping is up. You may well have missed the bus. E scrapping is not something you wake up in the morning and decide to do,

    It takes knowledge to be a scrapper to just make a few $ or break even if your lucky. E scrapping is not for the novice with out a lot of study here. Most scrap is free. E scrap is usually not so unless you are prepared to lose yer A**, do your home work and pray a lot. Just my .02
    "anyone who thinks scrappin is easy money ain't doin it right!"

  26. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by EcoSafe:


  27. #15
    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
    My Net:
    There's lots of holes in my net!
    F1 Recycles

    Electronic/Electrical/Mechanical Recycling
    www.f1recycles.com


  28. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by spinroch:


  29. #16
    Mmarro89's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    134
    Thanks
    132
    Thanked 214 Times in 76 Posts
    I'm afraid more and more everyday people just hop on this forum and ask "hey can I have your business model that you've spent your time, blood sweat and tears on so I can become your competitor?"

  30. The Following 5 Users say Thank You for This Post by Mmarro89:


  31. #17
    Phantoms001's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    556
    Thanks
    167
    Thanked 529 Times in 243 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Mmarro89 View Post
    I'm afraid more and more everyday people just hop on this forum and ask "hey can I have your business model that you've spent your time, blood sweat and tears on so I can become your competitor?"
    Yeah, that is pretty funny. And tons of people that are just too lazy to take a MB, throw it on a scale, look at what someone is paying, and figure out what its worth. While not rocket science, some people act like it is instead of putting out a little effort.

  32. The Following User Says Thank You to Phantoms001 for This Post:


  33. #18
    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
    Quote Originally Posted by olddude View Post
    Year 2 was less then year 1 and year 3 less then year 2 and year 4 less then year 3. The reason, more competition from people who didn't do their home work. Selling prices are down, people are paying more for dead computers, because they didn't do their home work. and electronics /Computer companies are doing more with much, much, much less.

    An MMLC that 2 years ago was about 1/4" x 1/8" is now nearly microscopic, the price is still the same or, but the weight is less then 1/10, new processors avg $8 per lb old ones $110, boards are 1/2 weight or less, shipping is up. You may well have missed the bus. E scrapping is not something you wake up in the morning and decide to do,

    It takes knowledge to be a scrapper to just make a few $ or break even if your lucky. E scrapping is not for the novice with out a lot of study here. Most scrap is free. E scrap is usually not so unless you are prepared to lose yer A**, do your home work and pray a lot. Just my .02
    I think E-scrap alone for the small timer is not going to cut it.........Evolve, Adapt, Overcome

  34. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by mikeinreco:


  35. #19
    phred59's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Northwest AR
    Posts
    276
    Thanks
    288
    Thanked 504 Times in 200 Posts
    I have volunteered my process on another thread to make an example of how i don't have anything into the parts i hoard, just the other day. So it just goes to show, that people asking for that quick answer, not only don't have the willingness to figure it out on their own, but they don't read the $hit that's already been said here. If anyone really wanted to formulate some numbers, all they have to do is put the pieces together from what I have said personally, and what others have said, and then take a quick peek at some of the buyers prices... weight up your own parts... and bang... you have the answer to why that chicken crossed the road.
    Intellectual property has the shelf life of a banana - Bill Gates

  36. The Following User Says Thank You to phred59 for This Post:


  37. #20
    armygreywolf's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Germantown, WI
    Posts
    1,084
    Thanks
    193
    Thanked 2,064 Times in 649 Posts
    I think the OP really wants to hear that we all buy computers for ten bucks each, make twenty five and deal in tonnage...

    I'm a nice guy but I'm also pretty ruthless. I'm out to provide excellent customer service and grind my freeloading competitors right into the ground. I'm not a fan of people who show up, pay 6 bucks a computer for a bunch of p4 dells then complain to me (locally I might add, because that's often how this happens) that my prices aren't high enough for them. Well, let me help you, your expectations and reality missed each other by miles sir. I will repeat over and over again, this is not an industry to get into if your not planning to take a plunge into it as your sole efforts, what it really is for most of my individual customers is a side business where they save material from targets of oppurtunity, and that I can appreciate very much. It shows hard work and being out there to get what they can and not spend too much getting it.

    I'm honestly tired of the people who think there's several grams of gold in every tower. Ever since the boom, less informed shops and individuals look at me like I should be offering 40 bucks a tower. Most common phrasing "Ohh no way I can let it go for that, there's alot of gold in there." Same people call me back months later long after I've crossed them off the solicit list and ask if I'd still buy. Answer is yes, but not at my initial offer, because now I have to make an out of the way trip when it could have been handled on the spot.

    Difficulties in business gentlemen. You will forever be dealing with people who think they are the leprechaun sitting on a literal pot of gold.

  38. The Following 6 Users say Thank You for This Post by armygreywolf:



  39. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. cash4books.net
      By GeorgeB in forum Off Topic Discussions
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 11-19-2012, 09:16 PM
    2. need help grading server and net work hub boards
      By chevwizard in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 08-22-2012, 07:25 PM
    3. Proof that the simplist ebay add can net you better than scrap value.
      By PartTimeScrapper in forum More than Scrap Value
      Replies: 26
      Last Post: 02-21-2012, 08:20 PM
    4. per net ton question on steel
      By rebar17 in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 01-05-2012, 02:59 PM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 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