prices/profit

i ahve been scrapping for the better part of a decade now, mostly small scale bringing stuff in that was laying around job sites and such, and over time grew more and more into it. the other night i was talking to an old friend in NY that is a scrapper and has been for a long time, and somehow the conversation got around to the price of metals versus the money we make. he told me he made more money easier when steel was at $70 a ton than he does now when it is 200+ a ton. i see what he is saying, and am curious if any of the old timers on here see the same thing? back in the day, granted im only 31, i remember steel beams just laying on the job because people didnt want them, where as now i cant leave a load in the back of my truck overnight without things walking out. i also really see it in auctions ever since the shows came on tv, but do any of you guys see the same with having to work/spend more now for the same? sorry if i didnt word that right but im sure you get the drift.

I started hauling scrap back in 1976 while I was still in high school. We used a cornbinder grain truck and every farm we went to had truck load after truck load of old equipment for us to haul. I don't remember what it was a ton back then but we were literally rolling in money. A tank of gas back then was like 15.00. I bought my first new truck (a 1977 gmc 4x4 fully optioned) for 7900.00 cash.

I have been hauling scrap for about 20 years and I feel the same way your friend does it is easier to make money at less per ton because I am able to charge people for the removal. I used to have over 50 auto body shops that I would pick up from like once a month to a month and a half at about 200 a shop with prices like they are I have not done a body shop in about 4 years. As well as the homeowner removals that I don't get because I will not pick up for free.

You could say that about almost any job. when the prices are low the compatition, the also rans, and the fast buck people all look elsewhere for a fix.

the scrap bis is all about volume less compitition more volume and easier pickins.

part of the pricing is inflated dollars, the scrap isnt worth much more then it was in the 60/70s, the dollars are worth a lot less.

inthe 60s I worked in a donut shop for $65 a week, had my own apart, car, and partyed every night and still had $20 or so next payday.

many people my age will tell you the same.

if you take a historical look at standard of living you will see we are some where in the early 70s comparatively.

in the year 1 a fine complete set of cloths cost one gold coin, today that fine set of cloths still cost you one gold coin. think about it.

though i wasnt in the game that much back then i see it now. those were the exact things we said. i got paid to pick it up before, and while i have seen on here that guys still can charge to haul it in some places, that definately isnt the case around here. even homeowners are either starting to see that it is worth something or have someone they know that does scrap. and while the prices are great, the fuel cost sucks and i kind of miss getting paid on both ends.