asking the neighborhood

**bluemeate** · 07-15-2011, 07:05 PM

so my parents neighborhood seems to have no scraptrucks running around working it... wondering what would be a polite way to hit up all the neighbors for their scrap... its a 40year old middle class neighborhood filled with mostly homeowners, not renters. and as far as i can remember from when i was younger, a lot of these backyards have accumulated a decent amount of crap

Im scared to go up and ask people sittting around their front yard/garages much less go up and ring doorbells... any ideas how i should approach them? is there any sort of proper eddiquite? I figure if theres a polite way to do this, then it wont be so intimidating

oh yeah, hi, im carlos, just finished my BS in civil engineering and cant find a real job :P luckily some neighborhood tweaker introduced me and my ford ranger into the scrap game. havent been making too much money off it but i got a backyard to stockpile and live about 2 miles from sims metals. Ive also make a decent buck doing furniture deliveries off craigslist but that only seems to get me weekend work.

**gueroinchicago** · 07-15-2011, 08:14 PM

my first 2 immediate thoughts are #1 dress appropriately, don't go in wearing dirty clothes, and 2nd be extremely polite and maybe start off by saying "I'm sorry I don't mean to intrude but:

**Mechanic688** · 07-15-2011, 11:22 PM

Or just go around and introduce yourself and hand them a business card. Let the card answer their questions, and it's something they can stick on the fridge.

**IdahoScrapper** · 07-16-2011, 12:14 AM

Maybe it's just me, but why would a tweaker introduce someone to scrapping? Unless they're hoping to steal that persons scrap later.

**TheFatMan** · 07-16-2011, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Maybe it's just me, but why would a tweaker introduce someone to scrapping? Unless they're hoping to steal that persons scrap later.

I started my biz by having an alcoholic neighbor lead me on his trash route while I was broke and living in a hotel. People need cash to support their habit. Meth costs money, so does booze. While these folks can and will steal, they usually do it as a last resort. Getting sent to jail for theft equals out to going clean by force. That being said, Tweekers and Alkies have some decent sources to score metal. Their health and sanity basically depends on it, so ya know, their sources pan out better than most experimental ideas do.

**bluemeate** · 07-16-2011, 11:57 PM

anyone got a sample buisness card they dont mind sharing?

also is it too intrusive to knock on doors? should i just stick to those people that are chilling in their garage/front yard?

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Maybe it's just me, but why would a tweaker introduce someone to scrapping? Unless they're hoping to steal that persons scrap later.

his truck breaks down a lot, so he calls me up to overload mine :P
hes a cool guy tho, basically knows every single neighbor in the whole neighborhood. half of them are his cousins, uncles, nephews

also i went to san jose state university.

**MilitiaMetals** · 07-17-2011, 12:08 AM

sir an mam go a long ways too!

**Mechanic688** · 07-17-2011, 12:23 AM

I know the regulars here get tired of hearing it, and I get tired of typing the same thing over and over. Walmart do it yourself cards in the office section(Avery #28371) are $3.59 per hundred and you just lay them out the way you want and print them off. Get you started cheap. Later on you can spend the big money on Vistaprint.

**Re-cycler** · 07-17-2011, 12:48 AM

Stop by while I'm chillin in my front yard and ask for free scrap and see what happens.
Oh yeah ....go to church first.
;?)

**wayne1956** · 07-18-2011, 08:16 AM

Another possible option is to create a flyer, and put it on their doors.

**Mechanic688** · 07-18-2011, 11:58 AM

As for me personally as a homeowner; I don't like someone cramming a flyer in my door or mailbox, I would rather have them come up and hand me a card and explain what he's trying to do. I'm much more receptive to that; the flyer I'd wipe my butt with it and throw it in the trash,,, sorry.

PS; but that's just me and my opinion.