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Hey guys, I had an idea and I was hoping maybe you guys could tell me if it works or not.
What if I was to buy wholesale items (that had scrap value) like steel whistles, jewelry, a toy made out of copper -- anything! And sell it for the scrap value to a yard.
E.g. I buy a copper whistle for 0.40 cents per unit and sell it for 1.00$ (or whatever) at a yard -- than do this in bulk!
What do you guys think: would this work?
Also HOW and WHAT do I buy? Please point me in the right direction.
if I knew that, I'd be doing it! lol might be better to learn the different types of metals first and how to identify them. Learn what price your yard pays, and then the rest would be math. You would REALLY need to be sure you were buying clean metal that you were sure of the identification or it would be a way to lose a lot of money fastQuote:
Originally Posted by ScraperRick
For TRUE whole sale prices you will need a license. No real wholesaler is going to sell to you without one, an why would you scrap perfectly good items? You'd be better of using ebay, amazon, or your own website to sell them, if you in fact are really getting wholesale price.
I used to to buy wholesale items and resell them, just like every other retailer. If your meaning something different then actual wholesale, you'll have to elaborate more. I see quite a few problems with this. You say you need money badly, yet..a wholesale license will run you about $100.00 if I recall, not to mention you will need to actually pay for your product, if you can't afford to pay for computers for scrap..I don't see it working for you. Now granted..one could get on 30 day pay cycle with a wholesaler, but..how do you figure to make enough money scrapping the stuff, in order to pay it?
Another thing, when dealing with wholesale, there is scams all over. So if your looking on the internet thinking it's a cake walk, I got news for you, it's not. It takes a lot of work, not to mention research in finding the right items. An again for true WHOLESALE PRICES like the every retailer gets, you need that license, tax idea number, etc. I personally think you'd be better off taking the 100.00 you would use for the license an buy computes an flip your profit back into it buying more, repeat rinse.
If you want to resell the items thats one thing, an your on the wrong forum for that info. Might be other folks like me out there who've done it, but there are other forums to get this info. You wouldn't goto a fishing forum to learn about bowling would you? :P
Not trying to be harsh, mean or a jerk, but..real. Your not going be getting computers or whatever at .50 or even 5.00. Yea..you can get mp3/4s at 1.00 a peice, but you will need to buy a certain amount to get that big price break, etc.
In your example..do you really think a copper whistle weighs 1lb? Be one helluva a whistle if so..LOL. I'm including a link to a wiki how to buy wholesale, it gives you the gist of it, but I suggest you do a lot more research an not be blinded by the websites that claim you make bank buying wholesale. True wholesalers don't, won't an can't deal with the unlicensed public.
I'm being wordy, but whatever..I don't want to see you scammed, or out even more money. Invest what you would in this, an BUY YOUR STUFF local. Now I am going be harsh..It seems to me your looking for the easy way, and it's going to bite you on the ass. In your last thread everyone gave you excellent ideas, with less risk. Sorry but that's how I see it. I won't tell you where or how to do it, you will have to figure that on your own, true wholesale buying is a game that requires tons of research, an YOU have to be the one to do it, so you know the rules an the game.
Now..if you mean buying someones wholesale lot off ebay, or whatever, thats different an you can disregard all the above. If real wholesale, then I stand by what I said above, an your on your own. It's the only way you'll learn it. Or find the right forum an ask folks who do this for a living.
My last piece of advice..Don't belive the hype. If it was so easy, everyone would be doing it.
Good luck with whatever you do, I'd like to see you succeed at it, but it's not easy, it'll take you a lot of hard work and research, an money, as you will have to pay for this stuff, whether you make a profit or not. Keep that in mind.
How to Buy Wholesale: 6 Steps - wikiHow
If I've offended, hurt feelings, or anything else..I do apologize, not my intention, just tossing a dose of harsh reality in to this. I did this for several years, an I got out of it, to do ewaste/scrap full time. Once more..I highly suggest you do something else then this, unless it's actually selling the items on ebay/amazon/wherever. You'll do far better.
See Scott your not the only one who writes a block of text. :p
Sirscrapalot - Hates to see anyone scammed, or suckered, an wholesale/dropship is ripe with it, unless you do it properly.
Just to put this in perspective...an itemsCOST takes Ito accaccount the cost of material to make said item along with the labor cost, shipping ect. Then you add in profit.
Just use some logic here...why would all of us buy something wholesale and resell for scrap if it were that easy? Heck I would just ship it directly to the yard and cut out the transport cost. Your idea just doesnt work the way you presented it....if you find some way to do that then by all means lmk...I will partner with you!
That old saying comes to mind..."If it seems to good to be true, it likely is." Keep this in mind when your looking into this stuff. Snake oil sales men may be dying breed, but their not extinct.
Sirscrapalot - Every crowd has a silver lining. - PT Barnum
easy! just take a bunch of ones to the bank, and buy you some fives. When you get a stack of fives, go buy you some tens, When you get a pile of tens, buy twenties. Before you know it you'll be rich!! (and the best part is they'll never figure out how ya did it ; )
ummmmmm wellllllluhhhhhhh whewwww
I need coffee first.
b back...
I've bought different things at yard sales and thrift stores below scrap. Not in bulk though. Also, I bought some die cast that I would have sworn was brass. Also have bought decorative brass only to find later that it was weighted with sand or steel.
Now, as far as buying wholesale, I've recently started to vend at the flea market. Not everything I get a good deal on will sell. It's all ok and I'm learning but definitely neither idea is risk free or get rich. Good luck.
I do know a guy that is buying a pallet or two at a time of returns from different stores. Could be toys, or sporting goods, or housewares. Doubling his money at a flea market.Quote:
Originally Posted by carolinajunkman
Yea, the flea market/swap meet thing is a different beast. If your buying a pallet from a retailer its one thing, if your buying from a true wholesaler it's a different beast altogether.
Good money to be made in those places, this is true. I know folks who do that to. Long as you get it a good price, flipping it if it works/good isn't the problem. Just depends on the scale of your operation.
Sirscrapalot - Snake oil salesmen are a dying breed but not extinct. - Me..I liked that quote so much I had to quote myself..lol.
The yard sale flip is ENTIRELY different thing. I buy crappy looking brass candlesticks all the time and may 75-100% profit scrapping them....alot more reselling them. I just bought 2 large marked pewter candlesticks for $1...but those will get me $10-15 on ebay.
You can buy random boxes of computer cables all the time and make money scrapping them.
The point is that works because the prices are way lower than "wholesale"...wholesale to scrap doesnt work but obviously buying wholesale and selling retail works ....that is how retailing works...
I've gotten some awesome deals at flea markets/swapmeets/yard sales. Heh. I love'm. My drill came from a flea market type place. 20 bucks for a working drill, two batteries an charger..hell yea baby. :p It's a Nikita..if I recall. Brand new it woulda cost me heckuva lot more then the 20 I paid..lol.
An I'm in full agreement with ya WBSTS. Different beasts.
Sirscrapalot - Wishes he had a flea market/swap meet place closer to him.