Catalytic Converters - Lets Play A Game! A Trust Game?

What Grade are they, & What's It Worth In Your Area - I've listed what it came off from and what I Cashed them in for today. Back Story Below.

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/5375/b4ij.jpg
In case you can't see the image:
1997 Explorer Cats (2) $50 ea
1997 Taurus Cats Pre-$35 Regular $50
2002 Jeep Liberty - $20ea Pre & $40 for the Main
1997 Altima - $90

So today I brought in a small load of Catalytic Converters I had been collecting up over the last few weeks. I have been dealing with the same cat buyer for the last year or so. I made the switch to him to based on he was also a younger guy, and seemed to give the highest prices around. But I have noticed over the last month or so he has started to be mildly deceitful, like not giving me straight up answers when I ask about prices. Instead he avoids it and has me drive a half hour away to see him, weighs and piles away my metals before he announces that I'm gonna take a $40 hit of what I normally would expect. This one example was on aluminum rims, and I understand the markets going down and business is business. But be upfront, and clear about things and I will respect the fact everyone has to make a living and the market fluctuates. I still consider him to be somewhat competitive, and I haven't shopped around to find out if its true or not.

Today I brought in this small load, he gave me the price of $350 for everything, and started to scuffle them away, I said OK, break it down so I know how much each one is, and he sort of stumbled for a second about what he was going to say, and then listed off an amount totaling $360.00 - the office lady interviened and asked how much to put on the check and he said $355.00 now. I think where its winter here in Maine he is scaling back his prices and maybe he's not being upfront because he is scared to lose my business? Maybe he's just bad at math..

I know people here have discussed cat prices, and I'm new and I've read enough to figure I'm getting more than other people on here, but I'm going to a cat buyer not a yard. I have dealt with people in the past giving me far less than what he is, or they lure you in with high prices and then scale you back significantly if they don't think you know what your doing. How do you feel about the prices being offered to me, based on the east coast? Ideally I would run them down to Boston, which is no problem, and I think I will collect as many as I can fit in my trunk before I cash them in again, I'm not liking his attitude lately.

But on the bright side, I used the money to buy myself some new tools for Christmas! :D Yay!!

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3200/rohk.jpg

I got a 18V Dewalt Sawzall, and 18v 1/2 Impact Gun (300ft lbs!), 2 Lithium Ion batteries, and 1 nicd, 2 chargers and a dewalt Duffle bag large enough to carry it all and some more. I also got a set of wrenches, worth $100.00 but reduced to $25.00 at lowes! Combo pack has 8mm to 18mm and 1/4 to 15/16!
Thanks,
-J

Woodman-
I love the "before and after" pic! Sadly I am not on the east coast, but prices on them here in the Midwest (which are usually in line with the East Coast) seem fair on the pre-cats. The only ones I see some slight of hand on would be the Jeep Main Cat and the Ford Main Cat. That jeep here should pay between $70 and $80.. The Ford main cat- likely higher than the $50 you were given.

My stance (and this is just my .02) is be sure your current "Cat buyer" is aware that you have other options. If he thinks he is "it" then yes.. greed may creep in and you may be getting a bit stung. I have a good relationship with all of my yards AND my core buyer. I am kind- yet firm.. that if prices seem to be getting a little toward their side.. I have plenty of other places to take my items. It is not a threat- it is just business. I work my tail off to get something to bring them.. and if they start getting "off" on their prices.. I know and they know.. I can take it back with me and drive down the road somewhere else.

I sold one off a Nissan two weeks ago for $50 to a local scrap yard. They must be the Cadillac of converters b/c I'm always asked what they come off of.
The yard does me many favors on the side so I guess I don't care if they make a profit off me. At least they didn't just give me the regular $35 that covers most cats.

It looks to me like the jeeps converters are wire type converters which are mostly sold buy them pound.They bring around $45-50 each on the big ones and the little ones i think around 30-35.
The ford explorer should have been a low grade honeycomb which s about $50-55
Taurus pre cat 35 is about right the reg taurus honeycomb is 55-60
the altima is a small foreign it is worth 95-103
so my total is $378 is a average of what you should have gotten.
Also you said something about wheels what are they paying for them.I think i get $0.84 per lbs which is anywhere from $16-$18 per wheel on average

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Originally Posted by Focker

Also you said something about wheels what are they paying for them.I think i get $0.84 per lbs which is anywhere from $16-$18 per wheel on average

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The jeep ones were foil.

I was getting $15 per clean rim, (no weights or tires) so I usually slip my friend $20.00 to use his tire machine for an hour after work and strip my tires down to the rims. I then take em out to this guy when I go to cash in some cats, and I had texted him the night before and the day of of the price of rims and he didn't respond with an answer for the rims, just the cats.

I brought them in and after he weighed them all up he paid me $.64lb for the rimes, which ended up being like 9.50 per rim (I only had 12) but it was pretty frustrating the way he went about it. He is normally pretty clear on things. I will shop around next time before I unload anywhere, and I do need to get a better of idea of how to classify my scrap. Need to do some more reading!

yeah that is sad.but people do that shady stuff all of the time.On my wheels i dont clean them or anything leave stems and weghts on them and still get top dollar.But i have been going to my guy for 5 years so he really doesnt care lol.

Seems like its happening everywhere, sign of the times I guess. I do not begrudge a yard or buyer taking what is given if the seller does not want to go the extra effort, that is the price of education. I do take exception to knowingly fraudulent practices, tampered scales and the like. JMO but if you decide to go on down the road I would make it a point to tell said buyer WHY you are going down the road and why, education goes both ways. Have a great day.

Cats here aren't worth much the nice dodge and gm cats are $20-$40, hence hanging onto them now for close to 3 years. Sooner or later they will go to Chicago where they are worth something.

How many do you have? **** I'll drive out there with a box truck if you want to make a deal! hahaha

good info im here in portland the prices look alright who cares if he makes a couple extra bucks i think it was a fair trade for all those nice tools :)

Woodman, I don't have a ton of them. 25-30 of them. A lot of the cars I get people already cut them out. Where abouts are you out of?

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Originally Posted by junkcarremovalportland

good info im here in portland the prices look alright who cares if he makes a couple extra bucks i think it was a fair trade for all those nice tools :)

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Well, I would have bought the tools anyhow, I don't mind if he's making a couple extra bucks, as long as I am too ^_^

I just don't care for his techniques.. gotta love business

The Fords are about $10 each higher than what I'd get out here, the Nissan about $15 higher and the Jeeps about the same. Gotta love NorCal, higher cost of living and lower scrap prices!

.64 for aluminum wheels sounds about right. We took some in recently and I remember them bringing about $10 ea.. $15 for rims is exceptional. Convertors are always a crap-shoot because there are so many variations. I suggest showing your pics (without prices) to another convertor buyer and ask what he would pay. And next time you call a yard; ask for a per pound price on your goods. Good to let them know you're shopping around. BTW: $20 for an hours use of a tire machine is VERY generous of you and takes a big cut of your profits on the wheels. I'd figure out a way to cut back on that.

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Originally Posted by diesel1

I suggest showing your pics (without prices) to another convertor buyer and ask what he would pay... ...BTW: $20 for an hours use of a tire machine is VERY generous of you and takes a big cut of your profits on the wheels. I'd figure out a way to cut back on that.

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I didn't think to send that picture out - I will shoot some e-mails this evening.

I don't mind giving them $20.00 for their time and use of the machine.. I've saved thousands being able to use their facility when it comes to Maintenance =P - and if you factor in 60.00 extra by cleaning the rims, (it was $10 with a tire on it) the $20.00 an hour of my time is profitable to make another $40.00 (well supposedly)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by diesel1

.64 for aluminum wheels sounds about right. We took some in recently and I remember them bringing about $10 ea.. $15 for rims is exceptional. Convertors are always a crap-shoot because there are so many variations. I suggest showing your pics (without prices) to another convertor buyer and ask what he would pay. And next time you call a yard; ask for a per pound price on your goods. Good to let them know you're shopping around. BTW: $20 for an hours use of a tire machine is VERY generous of you and takes a big cut of your profits on the wheels. I'd figure out a way to cut back on that.

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I will buy all you get for .64 per lbs sign me up