Scrap Metal Free VS Buying

[KzScrapper]

I'm curious about that as well MDG. I'm working on a website that offers several services and although I will start with the free removel angle I figure I had better come up with a plan "b" if the response is not where it needs to be. Don't want to be overwelmed either with every Tom, **** and Harry that needs some beer money for the weekend.

[fiat128]

I purchase scrap all the time. However, I wouldn't waste my time purchasing low value stuff like white goods unless I was running a yard.

Best thing to purchase is old mainframe computers. Good return on that stuff (although I haven't seen too many around in recent years). Next best is stuff with copper in it - lots of copper.

[dherik]

I have two approaches, computer shops I pay a flat fee for a set amount of scrap(I leave them with 15 gallon totes, and pay $20 dollars for a FULL tote). Consumers I typically actually charge to pick up and haul off their scrap. Once in awhile I haul of PC's for free if there's at least 5 of them and there's no monitors to take.

[easyrecycle]

I buy all my scrap.

Before I go any where..I know what will be there...how much an most times...I make them help me load it. But I do pay the highest price than anyone around the DFW so...companies will have a few workers there to help in the loading.

If its a large load an there is no forklift an or its not on pallets...I charge them for the labor (only $9.00 an hour) but we all know..there is nothing that is "free" the cost is there somewhere....I tell them that an when they look at how much labor I will say it will be an how much I am paying an match it up to other offers...They go with me every time.

Just don't be scared to brake down the pricing an cost as they will see an understand...No one works for free...I am just very upfront an honest.

[TheFatMan]

Okay, let me preface this by saying, there is no such thing as getting something for free.

Personally, every time I see the ads people post on craigslist advertising "Will pick up for free"... I bounce back and forth between laughing to ease the awkward tension and wanting to gouge my eyes out.

First and foremost, when you don't pay money for goods or services and you base your success solely on the off chance that someone might be kind to you or throw something out; you're leaving yourself open to a host of things.

As you may have noticed--when you haul off something for free, you're not actually doing it for free. You're wasting your time, gas, and physical energy to pick up their appliances/junk and then tear them down and process them.

You have to realize the majority of most people aren't thinking of it like this.
When you show up to a prospective client's home to collect junk/appliances for free, you're prospective client immediately has the edge. They have the luxury of having the scrap metal, being at home and comfortable, and having all the cards to make negotiations. Case in point, a simple dollar or two kills this immediately and saves you an assload of work in the future.

The minute you come to a prospective client's home, you can and most always will become their worker and errand boy. People tend to feel that they're doing you the favor by letting you haul away their junk. They expect you to show gratitude and you run the risk of having them take advantage of you to do crap tasks and remedial chores or you lose your metal. It's demeaning, nerve wracking, and a stupid social anomaly that can easily be avoided by paying a couple dollars. When you let a prospective client feel that they're doing you a favor, you're no longer in charge of the situation or the relationship. At that point, you haven't sold yourself as a professional and paying your rent is now based on how well you're going to eat doodie so they'll let you drive away with their junk.

If you want to seem successful and competent spend a few dollars on buying scrap. Seriously, just come off the 5 dollars to pay for the washer or dryer. Doing this is going to generate positive word of mouth, speed up your overall time during pick-ups/production, and give your client a reason for repeat business. From a factual stand point, Sears even charges 10 bucks to pick up broken appliances. Be the guy to pay and be innovative. Set yourself apart from the game. Spend money to make money. I mean seriously, what kind of business man are you that you can't spend 5 bucks to make 15? I always ask people, "You ever see Donald Trump use a coupon?" What I'm saying is, if 5 bucks makes or breaks you, you weren't much to begin with. Think about it.

[Re-cycler]

My tax preparer is also my neighbor and had me clean up his farmplace many years ago, 15 or more........just gave me three more buildings to clean out. Some really nice stuff like old john deere tractor parts and old tools and a tin pole shed to tear down too.............I pay him every year to get me money back from the IRS and he gives me cool junk.
I will takes some good beer over and we'll sit and have a couple.
Life could be worse.
;?)

[Mechanic688]

The only thing I buy is batteries, everything else is free right down to bringing it by the house and throwing it in the back of my truck. How cool is that???

[Dumpster-Dee]

I tell them that they are helping the environment by giving stuff to me instead of putting it in the landfill. Why should I pay them for something that doesn't work and is just sitting around taking up space...then spend MY time taking apart and separating ...and MY gas taking to the scrap yard. They know I"m going to make some money...they also know it ain't gonna be much !!

[IdahoScrapper]

I tell them that they are helping the environment by giving stuff to me instead of putting it in the landfill. Why should I pay them for something that doesn't work and is just sitting around taking up space...then spend MY time taking apart and separating ...and MY gas taking to the scrap yard. They know I"m going to make some money...they also know it ain't gonna be much !!

Not all people know that. Some think that dryer you picked up from them is worth $50 in scrap.

Speaking of, when people ask how much I'll make, I tell them it's not much but that I pick up enough stuff it makes it worth my while.

I tell them I get about 8 cents a pound, and that always quiets them up as it's "not worth it" in their mind.

[BendemiC]

The eat doodie part had me rolling. =)

[CMHN]

I will only buy vehicles and that is only if they ask for something. If the items are in my zip code I will pick up for free, if its outside of my zip code I will charge a pickup fee. I haven't had a problem finding scrap and I havent had a problem with people paying. I refuse to put ads on craigs list, first there are to many low life's on there that flag my ads, and 2nd, I can't compete with the free pick up guys willing to drive a 60 mile round trip for only a washing machine.

[MilitiaMetals]

I would say I buy half of my scrap, and definitely all of my batteries, I pay 50% of scrap value, there are a few guys around here that only pay 25% but they have burned their bridges with the local farmers, they have not been paying them! I am willing to pay more than others because I say quantity is better! I'd rather have 20 customers and payout 50% than have 5 customers and payout 25%, still making money. My customer base is growing huge, my territory covers a 50 mile radius of where I live, and I live in the middle of farmer world lol so lots of old yards full of scrap.

[Re-cycler]

We all have to remember that no matter how hard our lives are .....the world owes us no favors.
We can only hope that if we are honest,straight forward , and work to the best of our own abilities that we will survive.
To live one more day.
It's nice when people give us something we can scrap and make a bit of cash on. but don't try to make them think you are saving the world by taking their junk away......for free!!!
If they like and respect what you are doing they will give it to you. or sell it to you cheap.
Don't mistake kindness for weakness ,
It will bite you on the ass
;?)
;?)

[glassman]

i work at most of the apartment complexs in my area.this is how i got in to scraping.thers alot left behind after move outs.then one day i saw a maintnace guy putting a ac unit in the dumpster. after that i asked all the guys for there units.i was picking up 3 to 5 units a day.then things changed prices whent up and every tom,****,harry,and there sister started scraping.so i had to change to. today i give 10 bucks per ton comp. with copper condenser. 5bucks per ton with alum. condenser.at prices today im still making what i was then sometimes more.good thing is i dont have to worrie about freon they have to empty them anyway plus im allready there for my job so no fuel is used on pick up.what im getting at is times change change with them or be left behind.

[Mechanic688]

times change, change with them or be left behind.

Very good point,,

[blacksteel]

Free since Oct.2006 100%
At : free free free free free

[CCRcameron]

I will only buy vehicles and that is only if they ask for something. If the items are in my zip code I will pick up for free, if its outside of my zip code I will charge a pickup fee. I haven't had a problem finding scrap and I havent had a problem with people paying. I refuse to put ads on craigs list, first there are to many low life's on there that flag my ads, and 2nd, I can't compete with the free pick up guys willing to drive a 60 mile round trip for only a washing machine.

Gosh...I hate them, lol. But at one point, most of us did that. What I started doing was sending them emails offering to buy from them. Make them do all the hard work, lol.

[wadarbr549]

i get lots of things free, as ive said before i sometimes come home to loads of scrap piled in front of my shed ...since the big rise in scrap metal prices in the last several years it had became harder for me to come by junk than it used to be. until i started taking electronic scrap. now i have been getting tons of good stuff,and not just e scrap.

i was surprised at what people will give you when you haul off the several old tv sets they have out back..i have found lots of folks are so happy to get rid of the items that no one else wants. that they will give me all the junk they have laying around there property..i am the type of scrapper who leaves nothing behind when i go to a pickup...i have found that a lot of the junkers around here like to cherry pick there loads, in my opinion this leaves clients un happy..

i think that accepting tv sets and crt's has actually got me more scrap than any other method ive used in the past..in the last few months i have been getting more than i can process..i actualy have several tons of lower value stuff that i need to tear into when i get the chance..

even with the abundance of material i get for free i still buy stuff almost everyday..i only pay for certain things.. i will not pay for any appliances, i just feel there is to much work involved for me to pay for them...if a customer has a lot of appliances i will haul things on a percentage, but i will not put money out of my pocket up front for shred material..

here is a list of the items i buy from the local scrappers around here...so far it is working out great for me...cable/satellite recievers/video game consoles= 11 cents per pound.....car batteries= 5.00 dollars each.....cell phones= 1.25 per pound....satelitte eyes .15 cents per pound.....computer towers 1.00 dollar to 3.00 dollars each depending on what is there....breakers .08 to .09 cents per pound....

i left fliers at both of the local beer carry outs along with some of my cards and it has got me tons of material....i was amazed at the amount of folks that would rather come to my house than drive into town and go to the junk yard..

[KzScrapper]

Wow this is back from when I first started and hadn't committed to full time.

A thread with a mention of MDG and Dumpster Dee brings back memories for sure.

Not too long after this thread, I started offering $5 for appliances in a 10 mile radius of my house, and the appliance had to be at the top of the driveway for easy loading...did this for about 6 months till I built up a good customer base. And the rest, as they say, is history.

[taterjuice]

Why should I pay them for something that doesn't work and is just sitting around taking up space...then spend MY time taking apart and separating ...and MY gas taking to the scrap yard.

because it has value. I ain't got nothing against free scraping but where I'm at, your more likely to see a gang of yetties riding Harleys than a ton of "free" scrap. If you find where I can get 400 tons of ferrous and non ferrous scrap a year for free, please do share this info, til than Im gona have to keep a sharp pencil and keep buying.