Why do ewaste businesses hate giving prices?

First off I am very happy with the buyers here.

I have now contacted 2 ewaste businesses here in New Hampshire to check out if they buy ewaste.

The first one, I spoke with the person for about 45 minutes until I got just motherboard pricing. He kept on saying that prices change every day and could not tell me prices. This one was recommended from a forum member in reference to ABS recycling.

The second one, in which I just got off the phone with. I sent him a email asking if he buys boards. His email response is below...

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Yes we do, give me a call at the number below.

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Now to me, that means that person could give me prices. So I call and he then says that "neither of the people are there and I would need to schedule an appointment to come down and talk to them." He said he does not know any prices. This is from the person that emailed me.


Just had to share since I am so grateful of the great buyers on this site.

Simple answer. They don't want competitors calling to check on their prices. Most will feel you out before they start talking numbers.

An educated seller is a scarey seller to the yards getting into escrap. When I call the yards in my area for a price on fingerboards and ask if there is a price difference between clean and dirty, they realize that maybe I know what I'm doing. Every yard that I've talked to here in the northwest spends time lurking on this forum. That's one of the reasons that I've started posting more in the scraproom and less on the open forum.

if a yard is not going to be upfront with there prices i wouldnt use them, period

We are one of the largest e-scrap buyers in the US and my prices are posted for all to see. If you want to do business with me its because we have built a relationship and you like how we treat you!!

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Originally Posted by ddelatorre14

We are one of the largest e-scrap buyers in the US and my prices are posted for all to see. If you want to do business with me its because we have built a relationship and you like how we treat you!!

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Exactly my point! While I have not dealt with you yet, I think everybody on the forum gets used to seeing up from prices from all the sellers here so we can compare.

I got turned off from the place I called right away because he could not give me an answer.

I deal with very few buyers, all here on the forum and, all with published prices.

there are several resions to post prices as well as several resions some don't post.

there are also other factors that determine the best buyers, service, convince, smoothness and speed of transaction to name a few.

the scrap business has always been a volume based business, Ewast is no different.

tier buyer x buys for y$ accumulates some volume and sells to buyer z for c$who accumulates and sells to buyer b and so on. when I find buyer A and have the required volume thats who I will sell to instead of buyer x.

A convenient smooth and dependable transaction far out weighs a few pennies a lb. that said as I move up in volume the game changes and .25 a lb can be a significant factor in how much inconvenience I am willing to put up with.

It is the same with buyers. The easier and more dependable you and your shipments are. the better price you will get.

I feel a bit of the problem is we are pioneers in a somewhat new industry segment. One of the larger yards in my area contacted me today because I told them I buy boards, etc. His biggest problem is not understanding the difference between boards. After all they are all green and an uneducated eye does not see what we see. I am going to charge him a flat fee to teach him how to sort boards and train a few of his guys. I do not fear competition as there is enough pie for everyone especially once we educate the public as to the value of what e-scrap is.

Second I find in my area there is no where to pull up and throw e-scrap on a scale and sell it. In Jan. I will open up and this is my niche to start. I will grow out from there. Right now one yard pays $12/100 for shred and the other yards are mostly at $10/$10.50. There scales are still busy and guys come in from the scale asking what shred is at. It is already weighed and unloaded. The point is most don't care. Just give me my money whatever amount it is. Those of on here take scrapping a little more serious than the majority of scrappers. We care about maximizing value, breaking down, and more than scrap value.

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Originally Posted by jghilino

if a yard is not going to be upfront with there prices i wouldnt use them, period

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Is that upfront with your prices or does a yard have to post everyones prices?

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Originally Posted by freonjoe

An educated seller is a scarey seller to the yards getting into escrap. When I call the yards in my area for a price on fingerboards and ask if there is a price difference between clean and dirty, they realize that maybe I know what I'm doing. Every yard that I've talked to here in the northwest spends time lurking on this forum. That's one of the reasons that I've started posting more in the scraproom and less on the open forum.

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That's interesting, yeah it makes sense for anyone in the game to keep tabs on other players.
but is the fee of the scrap room so out of reach to the competition?
I mean if I'm a dealer wanting to hear the good stuff and keep tabs of my local competition then wouldn't I
simply become a scrap room member myself?

wouldn't the sense of security in the scrap room mean that members feel free to open up their deep secrets
only to be feeding the one's that are using that info against them?

Ben, the only people I've had problems with are the ones who spend their time on here as guests. I've never had a problem with any of the forum members.

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Originally Posted by scrapperben

That's interesting, yeah it makes sense for anyone in the game to keep tabs on other players.
but is the fee of the scrap room so out of reach to the competition?
I mean if I'm a dealer wanting to hear the good stuff and keep tabs of my local competition then wouldn't I
simply become a scrap room member myself?

wouldn't the sense of security in the scrap room mean that members feel free to open up their deep secrets
only to be feeding the one's that are using that info against them?

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You seem to be really upset with the "room", no one is forcing you to join it. There is still plenty of free info available.

don't put words into my mouth, just read what I say as I write it, don't make up things and I won't reply inappropriately.

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Originally Posted by Geiser093

I feel a bit of the problem is we are pioneers in a somewhat new industry segment. One of the larger yards in my area contacted me today because I told them I buy boards, etc. His biggest problem is not understanding the difference between boards. After all they are all green and an uneducated eye does not see what we see. I am going to charge him a flat fee to teach him how to sort boards and train a few of his guys. I do not fear competition as there is enough pie for everyone especially once we educate the public as to the value of what e-scrap is.

Second I find in my area there is no where to pull up and throw e-scrap on a scale and sell it. In Jan. I will open up and this is my niche to start. I will grow out from there. Right now one yard pays $12/100 for shred and the other yards are mostly at $10/$10.50. There scales are still busy and guys come in from the scale asking what shred is at. It is already weighed and unloaded. The point is most don't care. Just give me my money whatever amount it is. Those of on here take scrapping a little more serious than the majority of scrappers. We care about maximizing value, breaking down, and more than scrap value.

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I would be very careful educating your direct compitition. gold has a courious effect on people. we are in the beginnings of a type of gold rush, and it will get quickly to the point of dog eat dog.

Instead why dont you buy his boards at a fair price.

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Originally Posted by scrapperben

don't put words into my mouth, just read what I say as I write it, don't make up things and I won't reply inappropriately.

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mech gave an opinion that more and more of us tend to agree with. he out no words in your mouth. he in fact quoted you verbatim.

I was replying to a post that was interesting to me because freonjoe pm'd me with a good explanation about why he uses the scrap room. I was merely extending on that discussion and it is totally another topic, words in my mouth as in not taking what i'm saying now at face value but linking it to a previous discussion.

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Originally Posted by bpatnoe

He said he does not know any prices.

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You never heard of a "shady character"? If a person/company cannot be honest, open, and up-front with you at all times, beware.

I can think of no reason for anybody, anywhere, at any time, to try and "hide" pricing in an open market, not even as "protection" from their competition

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Originally Posted by URBANERECYCLING

Is that upfront with your prices or does a yard have to post everyones prices?

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A yard should have posted prices for everything it buys. And keep the price list updated on a regular basis. That is just good business practice. It shows that you are a serious buyer and that you know what the different types of items are. Not posting prices or lumping similar items together instead of paying by the grade is a great way to make customers not do business with you.

I dont list all of the items a buy or all of my prices because my stock and the prices change to rapidly. And i buy everything so making a complete list is impossible. If anyone contacts me directly i will give out my current prices at that time.

I was able to locate a refiner a few weeks ago. I called them up and asked if they buy computer boards for refining, they said yes and transferred me to their buyer. I started asking questions about their pricing and could not get any answer out of them at all, was told to call back when I had a couple of gaylords full or at least 100# of ram. The only other thing I was told was that pricing varries from day to day and from item to item. I said yes I understand that different boards have different values. I quoted some prices from the buyers from this forum and bumped them up a few bucks a pound. The buyer stated that my price per pound wasnt far off from what they were paying, but I just needed more volume. I sold them to a buyer on here because I needed the space.

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Originally Posted by brandon

I was able to locate a refiner a few weeks ago. I called them up and asked if they buy computer boards for refining, they said yes and transferred me to their buyer. I started asking questions about their pricing and could not get any answer out of them at all, was told to call back when I had a couple of gaylords full or at least 100# of ram. The only other thing I was told was that pricing varries from day to day and from item to item. I said yes I understand that different boards have different values. I quoted some prices from the buyers from this forum and bumped them up a few bucks a pound. The buyer stated that my price per pound wasnt far off from what they were paying, but I just needed more volume. I sold them to a buyer on here because I needed the space.

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Yep when your dealing with board wholesalers they wont talk to you unless you can produce volume. And the more you have the higher the price you get for it. Like the other buyers here i buy tess than 1 pound to thousands of pounds. If the volume is to high for me to handle i will offer out the job for a referral / finders fee.