My Craigslist Ad

A couple of days ago, I had an elderly guy call me, he asked me if I took old computers and Tv's, I told him yes I do, when I got over to his house he had two old laptops and five television sets, I picked all of them and I am waiting for the scrap yard to open up tomorrow, hopefully I will make enough to pay for my gas that I used to get it.

Thats the most difficult thing for me, I live in a large city and find a lot of good leads; but once I do the math nothing I find ends up being worth the gas to drive 20 minutes away.

I wouldn't even turn the key on my truck for that load. Always ask what they have and if its not at least 10 computers or equal value tell them to bring it to you. What all do you have is always the first thing out of my mouth

My CL ad says that I will pick up for free in about a 12 radius of my home. I've kind of of taken upon myself as a local citizen, who knows how to properly recycle electronics, to help out out my neighbors in keeping stuff out of the landfills. I don't pay for the stuff, nor do I charge for pickup. Usually, I make a couple of bucks from the scrap, sometimes I get real lucky and get a good load. Cha-ching! It's all profit and a good conscience knowing I'm doing my little part for the green cause.

I think Im going about things the wrong way. I thought at least three tv's here and there would be worth it but from the way everyone seems to be acting Im just cleaning out peoples garages for free (which is basicaly what my ad claims I will do.) If I got a call for two laptops and five televisions I would jump in my truck and go, whistling the theme song to sanford and sons the whole way there. What exactly constitutes "worth it"?

Im just curious what other people are willing to leave the house for. I dont have anything steady yet, Im looking, hard, but if the math works out right, and I would make a couple bucks after gas and mileage, Id leave the house for an empty dr. pepper can.



Edit: XZAV38, brandon- If your not comfortable with it I understand, but would you be willing to share your craigslist ad?

Originally Posted by brandon

If it is worth it to YOU that is what matters, it doesnt matter what the rest of us say. If it makes you money great, just be careful and not lose money. Like I said in my earlier post, I know I lost money on the deal i made today, but some times you have to lose or break even to get your name out there.

EDIT: pm sent

Absolutely 100% corect sir. Sometimes, I feel that the "its not worth it" brigade appear to be coming from the BIG guns on this forum. Some of us, me included, do NOT qualify for such high "status", so us 'lil pistols will go to larger lengths to get the word out to possible future clients, by picking up whatever they have to offer, especially if its all FREE

Weighing in the cost of gas, would be my only concern. In my case "time", matters not.

My 2 roubles worth, ty. Ed.

Originally Posted by CarolinaEwaste

I wouldn't even turn the key on my truck for that load. Always ask what they have and if its not at least 10 computers or equal value tell them to bring it to you. What all do you have is always the first thing out of my mouth

The fact of that matter is that it was all FREE. My buddy helped me pick it up, so we used his car, probably should have grabbed his truck. So l literally paid $0. No fuel, nothing. Granted I have the "labor" involved in breaking it down and pricing it out, but with what I got it shouldn't take me to long. You have to understand that I've only been scrapping for a few weeks and most of it has been electronics. I have a good grasp on computers and such from by background in networking and just knowledge I've acquired over the years. I handed him a business card and told him if he knows anyone else who is interested and to have them give me a call so who knows what that "might" lead to. Even if its nothing, I'm out nothing so its really a win/win for me Sir.....but the dude abides man.

This forum is a opinion, share your experience with fellow scrappers format,your profile states you are a experienced scrapper and you in your tread say that you have been scrapping for three weeks ok so with three weeks under your belt and useing your friends car to do the pick up i under stand.The information that fellow scrappers give you should be taken seriously we have been there and done that,i dont want to seem rash to you but doing those kind of pick ups with out charging is a recipe for failure just my two cents,

Originally Posted by 1956

This forum is a opinion, share your experience with fellow scrappers format,your profile states you are a experienced scrapper and you in your tread say that you have been scrapping for three weeks ok so with three weeks under your belt and useing your friends car to do the pick up i under stand.The information that fellow scrappers give you should be taken seriously we have been there and done that,i dont want to seem rash to you but doing those kind of pick ups with out charging is a recipe for failure just my two cents,

Again, I'm new and I understand and appreciate the information that is on this forum, and other people's experiences and knowledge. I'm just curious, how you think that not charging is a recipe for failure? At the very least I'm profiting on selling the boards and testing everything that's going to catch more then scrap prices. The server is whole, and I plan on wiping the drive and upgrading it, maybe, then throwing it up to sell. While I just briefly checking the pricing on, they go for around $250. So even if I'm able to get $200 or so, that's still a nice profit in my eyes. I realize that some of the members here are dealing with mass amounts of product, so my little pickup doesn't seem worth it to you. Which I can understand and see why when your at that level.

I'm not sure why I put experienced scrapper, by the way. I'm not trying to portray myself as something that I am not.

Well if you don't put a value on your time,gas,parts,e/bay fees shipping costs and knowledge,good luck to you,but i will tell you that customer called every add on craigs list and you were the only one to do the pick up for free, by the way what are you going to do with the glass tubes from the five TV'S? Best of luck to you I guess you will figure it out,