Scrap steel types and how to get the best price.

**Ironhead** · 09-08-2013, 06:34 AM

How to prepare your load to get the most amount of money for it ?

I know I mentioned this you you earlier regarding my feelings every time I go to the scrap yard.
You call in and get a price per ton for steel, cast iron , and or heavy steel.

They quote you as an example 250 a ton for heavy iron.

You head in with your load, drive on the scale get weighed, empty your load where they tell you,
You drive back on the scale and get your tare weight.
Then you get paid for something less than 250. per ton, they give you 235.00 and when you ask what are you paying me for they say we paid you for cast iron.
I guess at this point its not negotiable, you have dropped your load and your leaving
Once again I feel like a new bride !!!
Is it possible to get the best price for your load and how to you do it.
This I might add is another clean and prepared load , nothing over 5 feet long, no plastic mixed in.
Anyway , thank you in advance for the replies.

**brandon** · 09-08-2013, 07:31 AM

Tell them you were quoted $250 on the phone and ask to speak to me manager or owner.

**greytruck** · 09-08-2013, 11:48 AM

The yard i go to uses the same scale for shred, cast iron, HMS, auto cast. If you dont tell the scale operator or yardsman, They will pay you as shred.
Example.
Pull on to the scale. "Ok go ahead" they say.
Then I say I got all cast iron.
"OK. hold on....... Pull up to the 3rd spot on the left. yard guy will meet you there"
Even with copper and alum, make sure what they are paying you for. Who wants copper2 price when its all copper1

**Mechanic688** · 09-08-2013, 11:50 AM

When you call to get the price, be sure to get a name to go along with it.
That way you can say I was quoted xxx price by so and so.

**jord0690** · 09-08-2013, 01:18 PM

The yards here have one scale for ferrous. They weigh you, you go in, yard guy looks at your load, and writes down on a small form what you've got and tells you where to go. So when i first go in to get paid all the scale person has is a weight at this point. No idea what kind of material you had. So you Hand him or her the paper and they pay you accordingly. That way you can discuss with the yard guy and explain what youve go so theres no issues when you get paid.

**KzScrapper** · 09-08-2013, 01:56 PM

At my yard the default is #2 Unprepared or Shred and no need to get out at the scale...If I'm making multiple drops I run in after getting on the scale and tell them the order of drops and hit the scale after each drop.

**Ditchdigger** · 09-08-2013, 04:52 PM

I guess at this point its not negotiable, you have dropped your load and your leaving

Mistakes can happen. I've been paid shredder for a load of heavy melt, signed the slip and had cash in my hand before I looked at it, and then told the lady at the window the problem, and had the problem taken care of. If the yard man has seen it, all it should take is for him to verify what it was. That is, if they value your business....

**Arkansaw** · 09-08-2013, 11:36 PM

Maybe try to haul all one type of metal if you have enough, or let the yard guy know ya have diffrent grades,might have to scale an extra time,but maximum funds is the goal.