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Request for the smallest pickup ever

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  1. #1
    Mike1286 started this thread.
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    Request for the smallest pickup ever

    I had to turn down a pickup request the other day for the first time in a long time. I advertise my service as free pickup with the exception of fees for tv's. And since this is currently a side business for me, I occasionally pickup stuff that's break even or very little profit. Mostly to get some extra miles in to fluff the tax deduction a little bit. But I had to draw the line on this one.

    Customer requested pickup of 1 computer mouse. Yes, just the mouse. No tower. No other wires. Not even extra metal. 1 computer mouse.

    Luckily it was an email request so I had a minute to laugh about it with the wife before responding. I told her kindly that picking it up wouldn't be cost effective or ecologically friendly due to the gas used to pickup for recycling. And to talk to friends and neighbors and gather a bit more material before scheduling a pickup if she has nothing else herself.

    I get that offering free pickup implies that I'm making money off whatever I pick up. But really? How can someone think picking up just a computer mouse is somehow worth the time?

    End rant. Lol.
    Owner and operator of M K Recycling LLC
    Specializing in metals and electronics

    www.mkrecycling.com

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  3. #2
    hobo finds's Avatar
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    Great idea for her to ask her neighbors if they have stuff to make it worth wile to go out! Hopefully she wants that mouse gone and can find other people who have stuff! This would be cool if it turned into a truckload of stuff!!


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    wow well if you dont own a car like me i guess i would do it but mostly you get more stuff other than just one thing but hey if its just one window a/c im on it lol.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mike1286 View Post
    I had to turn down a pickup request the other day for the first time in a long time. I advertise my service as free pickup with the exception of fees for tv's. And since this is currently a side business for me, I occasionally pickup stuff that's break even or very little profit. Mostly to get some extra miles in to fluff the tax deduction a little bit. But I had to draw the line on this one.

    Customer requested pickup of 1 computer mouse. Yes, just the mouse. No tower. No other wires. Not even extra metal. 1 computer mouse.

    Luckily it was an email request so I had a minute to laugh about it with the wife before responding. I told her kindly that picking it up wouldn't be cost effective or ecologically friendly due to the gas used to pickup for recycling. And to talk to friends and neighbors and gather a bit more material before scheduling a pickup if she has nothing else herself.

    I get that offering free pickup implies that I'm making money off whatever I pick up. But really? How can someone think picking up just a computer mouse is somehow worth the time?

    End rant. Lol.
    That is disheartening she was trying to do the green thing by not tossing the mouse into the trash, you should have given her your mailing address and have her post it.

    Ten bucks says she would have.

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  8. #5
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    Are you sure they were not just trolling you?

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    RLS0812's Avatar
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    For a second I thought you were talking about a literal "small pickup" truck.

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  11. #7
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    Maybe she had seen you before and thought that would be a good way to meet you and talk a bit. One never knows what you might find on a scrap pickup....

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    I make those pickups regularly. Well not a bunch, but I don't hesitate to make the stop. I make it clear to them that in order to grab it, it needs to be along my way. They will usually let me choose when to grab it after that. I have had more than one instance where this has turned into more material either from the same person or someone that they know.

    I will lose a dollar for the potential of multiple dollars later. I look at it as a service I do for the community. Every satisfied customer has the potential to lead to many more satisfied customers.
    "64K should be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates 1981
    http://www.treasurecoastelectronicrecycling.com/

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  15. #9
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    That's the way I look at it, too, parrothead.


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