My trip to the scrap yards.

Well, today is Monday and my normal day to run to the scrap yards. Normally, I alternate between two yards. I take certain things to one yard and other things to the 2nd yard. However, today I went to both yards.

The first yard:
Shred $185NT ($0.0925 per pound)
Alum Cans $0.50/lb

At the first yard, while I was unloading my shred, a guy pulls up in a trailer beside me. He has 4 or 5 trash cans and buckets with everything separated out, from what I could tell. He pulls up and the yard man tells him where to unload the steel (shred). Next thing I know, he is saying "yeah, this is my first time to the yard." Fortunately, he did go across the scales. Unfortunately, he dumped all of his shred, motors, and what looked like aluminum gutters all in the same pile. I 'bout cried when I heard the aluminum cans hit the concrete. The yard guy just looked at me, smiled, and sent the gentleman on his merry way.

The second yard:
#2 copper 2.40/lb
#2 ICW (they didn't print on the ticket what percentage) $0.64/lb
clean extrusions $0.60/lb
dirty extrusions $0.52/lb
Computer fans (low grade motors) $0.17/lb
Power Supplies $0.25/lb
Cu transformers $0.28/lb
Cast Alum $0.54/lb
Alum Sheet $0.47/lb
Shred $200/NT ($0.10/lb) (This is what they paid me for laptop screens and speakers from inside of computers.)

While I was there two weeks ago, they told me that they would pay me $1.50 to $2.00 a piece for phones and Palms. when I returned today with over 100 palms and cell phones, they said the price has went up to $2.50/lb. I must have really misunderstood. But, I loaded them puppies back on the truck. I'll be sending them to one of the buyers on here. Then, as I was leaving, this guy pulls in beside my truck and has 3 desktop computers in the back of his bed. I chat him up a bit and let him know that I buy computers that are whole and I also buy parts. We chat some more and then he says, "So you buy computers?" I said yeah. and asked how much the yard pays for whole computers. He said $0.17 a pound. I guessed that there were about 50 pounds total between the three computers. He agreed. As I pick up the computer, I saw a big Windows '95 sticker on the front of one of them. The other two were p4s. I did some quick math in my head and said, "you know, if there are 60 pounds there, you'll get about $10 in there. We both think that they weigh about 50 pounds, so I'll give you $10 for all three right now." His eyes lit up and he said sure! So, I load them up and give him the $10. We chatted some more and he took my card and number.

When I get home, sure enough, a nice ceramic AMD K6. Several memory sticks and lots of green finger cards. Only thing is, one was missing a power supply (don't know how I didn't see that!). But, that turned out ok. I couldn't let that opportunity pass me by.

Ken

Kinda cool being in the right place at the right time. Good Score

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Originally Posted by Mudlucky

Then, as I was leaving, this guy pulls in beside my truck....[edited for brevity]......"so I'll give you $10 for all three right now." His eyes lit up and he said sure! So, I load them up and give him the $10.

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It appears you were still at the yard when this took place?!?

Wow. I'm surprised the yard let you do this. If it were my yard I'd toss you both out with instructions not to come back.

They have to catch you first!! :))

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Originally Posted by sawmilleng

They have to catch you first!! :))

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The yard pays rent/mortgage, pays wages, pays insurance, maintains the property. They advertise for business, invest in all the equipment. All for the opportunity to make a profit.

Someone comes in and takes their profit opportunity -- on their property.

And you say it's ok if you don't get caught? Really?

Yeah...I see what your saying. Didn't even cross my mind.

Furthest I'll go at the yard is to hand them my card & say gimme a shout next time.

Lol we have people come into our shop and ask our mechanic to do work after hours off property. We dont mind. We just remember who thy are so when they need a tow or service, its now 100 instead of 50 for a local tow and 100 an hour instead of 85.

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Originally Posted by auminer

Furthest I'll go at the yard is to hand them my card & say gimme a shout next time.

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Yeppers. People see me with a trailer full of empty computer cases while we are waiting in line. Inevitably, somene will some up and tell me that I can get more for those computers down the road than shred price.

I tell them that they are stripped out and I pay the same as that yard down the road and hand them a card.

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Originally Posted by jord0690

Lol we have people come into our shop and ask our mechanic to do work after hours off property. We dont mind. We just remember who thy are so when they need a tow or service, its now 100 instead of 50 for a local tow and 100 an hour instead of 85.

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Back when I had my radio shop I found out that my second shift radio tech was doing that off the books also. He was doing radio work for cash, (my parts-my equipment) no receipt, until one of my good customers witnessed it going on and told me. It cost him his job.

Still hanging my head over this. Didn't even think about things you all have mentioned. Lesson learned. Hoping I didn't get put on a black list at the yard. Thankfully, there are other yards...but still.

Another reason I'm thankful I found the forum! This place rocks and keeps us honest. Even when we didn't mean to be dishonest. I'd rather know I screwed up so I don't do it again. I know that ignorance isn't an excuse. I just ran out of common sense that day. Sitting back and looking at it, I see it wasn't the best thing to do.

Well our guy does it out of his house using his own tools. Thats the onky reason why we dont mind too much. As long as its not distracting him from his work. If we ever caught him doin that on shop property it would also cost him his job.