Rant on buying prices:

Originally Posted by shendog

I've seen my item #4 manifest itself in many different types of industries, so I know its a sound principle. I don't advocate it as an absolute in every circumstance, but its true more often than not. I know of 4-5 guys on this thread regularly that could walk into (almost) any location in the US and set up shop without connections and within a year have a successful business. It takes motivation and knowledge, period. The contacts will come. Competition is everywhere, so if you are fortunate to be "the only game in town" you are indeed lucky....for now. But having competition isn't what breaks you, it actually allows you to have a measuring stick on how good you are and what areas you can improve on. There are ALWAYS areas where you can separate yourself from others and provide a service that others don't/won't.

Unlike the original poster, I don't worry about the guys that are not "true scrappers". They don't pose a threat to my business and them overpaying for material will just hasten their departure from the industry. I set my own rules for what I pay, who I do business with, what I'm willing to do (or not do), etc. I am confident in my abilities and painfully aware of my deficiencies. I focus on what I do best, represent myself honestly to my clients, and try to meet or exceed their expectations. While I do most of the things the OP described as necessary for a "real" scrapper, I really haven't kicked off my business as one might for a new startup. Given the great success I've experienced in just the first year, I'm almost afraid of what will happen if I actually did a marketing campaign. I thank God regularly for the blessings and I count this Forum as one of the best tools for my success.

competition is not the problem. any good business will have a lot of competition.

the problem is uneducated competition that thinks to beat other competition is $.

when in fact the key to competition is knowing your craft, profit line, and common sense.

Yes 1000 people a day run out of money because of lack of these factors but, there are 2000 more standing in line to take their place if they think there is a "fast buck" or easy buck in it.

the proof of this is 1,000,000 successful businesses and 340 million workers available in this country. (numbers are for illustration only).

lets take the "cash for guzzlers" fiasco. suddenly every one thought their $1000 clunker was worth $3500-$4500. Pryer to that idiotic scheme you could buy an old work truck/car for $1000 or less any time any day and used car lots were on every corner. Suddenly that $1000 car/truck is $2500 or more.

Have you counted the number of vacant car lots in your town lately?



"those who think the path to success is only money will never see success." MCW 2013. just my .02

Originally Posted by olddude

lets take the "cash for guzzlers" fiasco. suddenly every one thought their $1000 clunker was worth $3500-$4500. Pryer to that idiotic scheme you could buy an old work truck/car for $1000 or less any time any day and used car lots were on every corner. Suddenly that $1000 car/truck is $2500 or more.

The other thing that happened with that program was the cars with all the parts had to sold for scrap and not to be re-used. That caused a shortage of used parts for older cars that forced people to buy new parts or new(er) cars. I wonder how much more energy was expended rather than saved by that program. Also didn't that cause addition expense to those least able to shoulder it? I am certain there are more great government programs to come. Mike.

Originally Posted by miked

... Also didn't that cause addition expense to those least able to shoulder it? I am certain there are more great government programs to come. Mike.

There is the basic flaw in most government programs - the belief that those being "helped" will use common sense and not take on more debt than they can afford. How many traded in a junker for a new car, only to lose that car six months later cause they couldn't afford the payments?

It's true in this example and it's true in business or anywhere: The people who manage their money will prosper. People who let their money manage them will fail. It's been said that you could put ten rich people and ten poor people on an island. Give each the same amount of whatever they'll use as currency. Come back in six months. The rich people will have all the currency; the poor people will have none.