What to take and what to leave?

Hey guys haven't been scrapping long but have read this tremendous forum alot and learned so much. But I have a few questions for the experienced curbside shoppers. I pretty much do this to just make a little extra money to buy new tools and toys for the garage so all I do is shop on trash days. But i question myself every week for leaving stuff behind that might be worth my time. The item I see the most are the old tvs , are these worth the time? I also pass up on small electric appliances,vacuums,crt monitors. Should I grab these items. Storage is not a problem so that"s not a issue, and I have plenty of extra time to break things down completely. Thanks for all the great forum and all the advice

I'm posting this strictly as a person who might put material on the curb for others to take.

If the person who I am leaving it out for, left a flyer on my door offering to take specific things away, I expect them to take everything I put out if it's on the list, period.

I don't really see people just putting things out on the curb for people to pick through where I live. But if I did, and someone cherry picked it and left a mess, or left behind a lot of things, I would stop putting it on the curb. After all I am putting it there for other people to benefit from, and having to clean up what is left over probably wouldn't make me too happy. At that point it might be easier to call someone who would take it all away for free.

I know certain things are a hassle, and I know some people have issues with space, etc. But think of it from the point of view of the people who put it out for you to take, and who's only benefit is that you are taking it away for them and only saving them a phone call. These people really are your customers and if you treat them poorly, they will stop putting things on the curb for you. There is one specific company that puts out flyers where I live to pick up every two weeks, I will never put anything on the curb for them again, just based on what they did the last time they picked things up. My neighbors will not either, I have spoken with them about it and they feel much the same as I do.

Scott

Tv's and crt monitors are good if you have the time to dispose of the glass tubes properly. Over time with the small appliances you will learn whats worth it or not, Definitely if you have a low grade board buyer.
Good luck

vacuums you should always cut the cords there worth almost 2 dollars ea alone. crt tubes do yield a good amount.but again make sure you have a way of getting rid of the tubes. I will tell you a few things to shy away from that are not really worth the time . all in one cd,stereos table top ones. cheap speakers,cd players, tape decks, vcr, . those items don't yield much and may not be worth your time

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Originally Posted by Vdubya63

Hey guys havent been scrapping long but have read this tremendous forum alot and learned so much. But I have a few questions for the experienced curbside shoppers. I pretty much do this to just make a little extra money to buy new tools and toys for the garage so all I do is shop on trash days. But i question myself every week for leaving stuff behind that might be worth my time. The item I see the most are the old tvs , are these worth the time? I also pass up on small electric appliances,vacuums,crt monitors. Should I grab these items. Storage is not a problem so that"s not a issue, and I have plenty of extra time to break things down completley. Thanks for all the great forum and all the advice

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I make a decent living off those small items. All the ones you mentioned and more. Don't pass up on the small things. Remember, before you get to a dollar, you need to get $.10 and so on.

Experience will teach you the most. Bring home things you are unsure of and do the research as to value and where to sell them. What you can turn into money will differ from what I can and am willing to do. Mike.

Thanks for the great advice all. @noblemetalworks I always clean up after the trash pile I dig in, the one thing I hated the most was when scrappers would tear my piles to shreds and leave the mess behind for me to clean up. From now on I will grab a few smalls and tear them apart for further inspection and knowledge. Also I see alot of water hoses, are all the metal ends on them brass?

yes 95% of hose ends are brass. some are plastic and some are s.s. I work with hoses and irrigation systems a lot and come across them often always do a quick check to see what is the matter most of the time the end where the brass fittings are have a split it's a two minute fix and resell for much more.
I don't cherry pick but I won't go out of my way for small stuff