How well does the "free appliance removal" work?

**zeusophobia** · 08-25-2016, 01:03 AM

Just wondering how well this works. My roommate has been scrapping constantly and is making a ton of money. I don't want to step on his toes and compete with him.

I was thinking of doing that "free appliance removal" thing so I'm not going after the same scrap as he is. Also, he seems to be making most of his money from appliances.

**eesakiwi** · 08-25-2016, 06:40 AM

If he's making his money from fixing them up and selling them. Your idea of getting them and then scrapping them, if they are not going to go, may fit in well with his work/income.

Once you know enough to fix them and can see the money there, you only want stuff that works and picking up stuff that does not work, and getting rid of it too, is dead time.

See if you can do the advertising and pickups and sell the stuff that has potential to him for a set price, he could pick out the bits he wants from stuff that does not work, for free, since its normally not 100% metal anyway.

How do you plan to sort out the 'Freon problem'? There's $ there is you do it right, and a almost endless supply of whiteware if you are accredited.
He probably won't have the time/energy to process Freon.

If I got fridges that work, I'd rather sell them to a 2nd hand dealer than mess about with the general public. I don't fix stuff unless its obvious what's wrong, everyone has their own 'niche' finding yours and making it fit with others is the way to make money, for everyone.

**nutpie** · 08-25-2016, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by zeusophobia

Just wondering how well this works. My roommate has been scrapping constantly and is making a ton of money. I don't want to step on his toes and compete with him.

I was thinking of doing that "free appliance removal" thing so I'm not going after the same scrap as he is. Also, he seems to be making most of his money from appliances.

How is this not stepping on his toes? "He makes most of his money from appliances" and " I was thinking of doing a 'free appliance removal'".

**aph** · 08-25-2016, 11:40 AM

Just talk to your buddy about your ideas of getting into this.
You might find a deal where you can work together or otherwise benefit each other.
Communication can work magic sometimes

**zeusophobia** · 08-25-2016, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by nutpie

How is this not stepping on his toes? "He makes most of his money from appliances" and " I was thinking of doing a 'free appliance removal'".

He's responding to curb alerts on craigslist. I want to advertise. Therefor different scrap

**nutpie** · 08-25-2016, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by zeusophobia

He's responding to curb alerts on craigslist. I want to advertise. Therefor different scrap

Talk to him before. I don't know your relationship with him or his personality. You do..

**cummins** · 08-25-2016, 04:54 PM

I'd be looking at creating a relationship give him first dibs on anything you pick up. You make money he makes money. You get the scrap he gets stuff for re sale...
But be careful of how you word your ad. Free removal implys that your going to show up with labour to do free basement or in house removals. My ads say metal and electronic recycling. Free pick up of easyly assable items. Then i state that I'm not insured to be in your home. I left knuckle in prints In million dollar soccer players stairwell. And he expected a repair. His wife came home and wanted everything stainless not black.. my phone rang. Washer dryer two fridges dish washer micro wave gas and electric range. Whole 9 yards. I made an exception I called my dad and grabbed the trailer and blah blah blah still bit me in the ass. Made a grand but had to deal with explain my service was free and I'm not insured. ....he didn't care. I never was called back but I learned a lesson twice. If it's in the driveway garage out side I'll come. If it's on the curb chances are it won't be their by the time I get their and can't garrenty I'll show up. It's a gable...... just a heads up.

**Lexwalm** · 08-27-2016, 11:18 AM

Does he actually fix and sell them, or just scrap? People will always be posting curb alerts, maybe you wouldn't hurt his business very much by putting an ad in wanted or labor/moving? Maybe? I don't know your area. This is different, but my uncle will buy appliances to fix for $20 bucks a piece a lot of the time, but we have an ad and get most of our stuff for free, and he will get free stuff too sometimes. We both have plenty of business, in the same area. So idk, maybe it'd still be good for both of you if you just put an ad. Just a thought.