Got screwed again by the local scrap yard....:(

So I've been collecting my scrap for a couple months now and I decided I needed to take some in to make room in the garage. I took in 2 big rubbermaid cans full of crushed cans and a pile of window frames and screen frames. Also 4 alum. truck wheels. I noticed the guy at the yard was weighing things together which seemed odd. I questioned this and was told I would have to ask the guy at the counter when I take up my ticket. I get to the counter and the guy tells me they buy aluminum either "clean" or "dirty" and there is no difference in price for grade. WTF?!? I tell the guy window framing is 6061 and worth a whole lot more than the 0.35/lb. they were paying. Nope he says it doesn't matter. Guess I'm loading up my trailer and driving into the next state over next time. This is BS!

Were the window frames clean? Meaning did you have all the cast removed from the corners? All screws out of it?
The Rims- were all valve stems, center caps and lead weights removed?

These are the things they will get you on- I had an entire truckbed of window frames torn down once- the buyer found 1 ONE- with a piece of cast in it and d**ked the WHOLE load. It was an Omnisource if that means anything- will never go there again and have not in over a decade!

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Originally Posted by sledge42

Were the window frames clean? Meaning did you have all the cast removed from the corners? All screws out of it?
The Rims- were all valve stems, center caps and lead weights removed?

These are the things they will get you on- I had an entire truckbed of window frames torn down once- the buyer found 1 ONE- with a piece of cast in it and d**ked the WHOLE load. It was an Omnisource if that means anything- will never go there again and have not in over a decade!

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Everything was clean. Frames broken down. Some were painted some not but they insisted they only have two grades of aluminum clean and dirty. My reciept says clean aluminum 140 lbs or something. The kicker is I had 43 lbs. of cans and they paid me .45/lb for those.

That is when you tell them to put it back on your truck, I had a yard try that on me but I called before I went there and got prices over the phone for each category I was bringing in. 50 cents a lb for extruded, 30 cents a lb for cast and sheet, after they totaled everything up I saw that they didn't have the category right for the extruded, they said all prices were correct and didn't know what extruded was. I told them to go get my extruded and load it back into my vehicle, they looked at me like I was crazy but went and got it re-weighed it and put it back in my vehicle. Then after all of that they found their price sheet with extruded at 50 cents a lb. If you know what you have and know its value, don't let them steal it from you, we all work to hard to get what we have.

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Originally Posted by gravygrabber

Everything was clean. Frames broken down. Some were painted some not but they insisted they only have two grades of aluminum clean and dirty. My reciept says clean aluminum 140 lbs or something. The kicker is I had 43 lbs. of cans and they paid me .45/lb for those.

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Yup.. Find a new yard! Sounds like a "We got a monopoly on this market and do what we please" yard. There are a few around here like that.. but luckily for me- there are PLENTY of other options for me. I learned my lesson- hopefully less experienced recyclers will too and seek out an alternative as I and many others have!

As far as the aluminum.. cans must be in a different league for a reason I do not know. I get .50 for cans.. and .40 for sheet aluminum.. Makes ZERO sense to me!

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Originally Posted by brandon

That is when you tell them to put it back on your truck, I had a yard try that on me but I called before I went there and got prices over the phone for each category I was bringing in. 50 cents a lb for extruded, 30 cents a lb for cast and sheet, after they totaled everything up I saw that they didn't have the category right for the extruded, they said all prices were correct and didn't know what extruded was. I told them to go get my extruded and load it back into my vehicle, they looked at me like I was crazy but went and got it re-weighed it and put it back in my vehicle. Then after all of that they found their price sheet with extruded at 50 cents a lb. If you know what you have and know its value, don't let them steal it from you, we all work to hard to get what we have.

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The problem with this place is you unload at one building like a drive thru then go next door to get paid in another building. The guy who weighs doesn't know the prices so he refers you to the next building. It's total bull**** compared to the yards where I used to live in a big city. They tell you right at the scale not a problem. If you don't like the prices load it back up.
This place pissed me off from the attitude of the workers alone. They are a corp. place and the only game in town. I actually fired off an email to the manager of the location asking for clarification of the grades of aluminum and explained how mine was graded and how once I'm in the next building to get paid it's a little late to say nevermind and take the material back. No prices in the unloading area, etc..

The only thing I like about the place is the fact they pay cash on the spot and no waiting for a check in the mail 3 days later BS like you have in CA. and other states.

I'd find a new yard. Even if it requires a drive. I drive an hour to my preferred yard, cause I don't like being screwed over by the two within 20 minutes of me.

My yards tried that, I'd be getting my stuff back regardless of where I drop it.

Crap like that is what gives yards a bad name. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that.

Good luck in the future!

Sirscrapalot - My name isn't Ben Dover.

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Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

I'd find a new yard. Even if it requires a drive. I drive an hour to my preferred yard, cause I don't like being screwed over by the two within 20 minutes of me.

My yards tried that, I'd be getting my stuff back regardless of where I drop it.

Crap like that is what gives yards a bad name. Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that.



Sirscrapalot - My name isn't Ben Dover.

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unfortunately the drive is about 3-4 hours depending on where you go for me. I'm thinking about just saving up maybe 6 months worth and driving it two states over. Sell this crappy yard my shred and batteries and just save my non ferrous for the far away yard.

Good luck in the future!

My sister took some cans to a place in san diego, and gave the dude her ticket. He gave her about half what was on the ticket. She complained and he basically told her to take it and shut up. I don't get those kinds of business practices.

Ok cans or UBC'S industry term for cans have the highest recovery rate 98% that's why cans pay more than say old sheet, the painted panels go as painted, and can go for old sheet price but the frames if you broke them down should have been graded as 6061 or 6063, excursion 6063 pays more.

we have 3 grades of aluminum, cans 45 cents 50 cents if you have over 100 pounds, clean aluminum, this is any clean aluminum that is not pop cans or wheels it can be painted but must be free of steel and plastic, it is 40 cents per pound..then aluminum wheels are 55 cents per pound if cleaned....i sell my aluminum rims to a core buyer for 15 dollars each though..

Sorry you got shorted, that stinks. As already said, this stuff (material) rarely gets handed to us, loaded for us, hauled for us, and unloaded for us. It's work. And it sucks when someone tries (or worse, succeeds) in ripping us off. I'm only part time, but really hate to see anyone get ripped, especially you full time guys and gals. Karma has a way of evening scores, though.

Yes yards have been paying 30 to 37 cents for sheet aluminum for awhile in Baltimore. One paid 50 then dropped and held steady at 45 all winter and now. During that time stainless dropped to 45 but just came back to 65. All steel has dipped. SMH prices.

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Originally Posted by sledge42

Yup.. Find a new yard! Sounds like a "We got a monopoly on this market and do what we please" yard. There are a few around here like that.. but luckily for me- there are PLENTY of other options for me. I learned my lesson- hopefully less experienced recyclers will too and seek out an alternative as I and many others have!

As far as the aluminum.. cans must be in a different league for a reason I do not know. I get .50 for cans.. and .40 for sheet aluminum.. Makes ZERO sense to me!

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Aluminum cans are food grade aluminum there for pay more, it's a more pure aluminum and is easyer and cheaper to use recycled aluminum.

My favorite is the copper aluminum heat sinks are .15 cents/# because they aren't pure one or the other. Al/CU radiators; $1.80/# The only difference is one is smaller and more dense.

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My favorite is the copper aluminum heat sinks are .15 cents/# because they aren't pure one or the other.

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Take a moment to split them then you have 2 pure products getting full price.

I have been mixing 6061 and 6063. Just noticed 1956 post saying that the 6063 pays a little better. Been getting $.60 or better for the two mixed, I have over 50 lbs. getting ready to sell some aluminum. Any one have thoughts on separating. I get much more 6061 and theres nothing to process as it comes from my aerospace contractors. The 6063 takes some work, mostly making sure ferrous hardware is removed. The 6063 that has paint on it I just throw it with the painted aluminum. Opinions and suggestions welcomed. As for being taken by a yard, I ask questions if it's not right by me and as Brandon said, not afraid to put it back on my truck. Some may not have those same options, as it all depends on your individual needs, quantity, quality of your scrap and available buyers.