YOU SHOULD SELL TO at least TWO YARDS*

I have always sold my goods to at least two different outlets (scrap yards)and I believe it has helped me always get top dollar for my goods. Now I understand that in some areas it's not always a option but some times a half hour or so ride may just seem to increase your margins. Most larger multi yards or corporate owned yards tend to buy the basic steel, tin, aluminum can, we don't care if you sell us your copper or electric motors type of yard, and than you have the smaller family owned one location yard that wants your business and appreciates you coming in.kind of like the hardware store that has a floor person that greets you at the door and asks you can I help you find something, you get the idea.Now they both serve a purpose and that is giving you there prices and information on the ups and downs of the different markets it also shows you where you should sell certain ITEAMS here and certain ITEAMS there. The smaller yards sometimes will have a stronger price on a certain few ITEAMS and that's where I make my money. We make our money when we sell our material not when we buy it.I always call before going to sell my material, I know the price I am going to get before I get there ,calling around a few yards puts you in a good position in that they know you are savvy and sharp and they have to pay you the right price to buy your goods. I just wanted to add that a lot of the big yards have different prices for different customers. They pay lower prices to what they call walk in customers and they pay dealer prices to the regular savvy scrapers, that's what you want to be the savvy scraper, it also helps if you know your weights on material, they will treat you a little better when they know you are on the ball, Good luck

I agree, I have shopped around on prices, and sometimes weighed my material before I brought it in. I am lucky I know of 5 scrap yards within 5 miles of me and many more if I am willing to drive 20 to 40 miles. One yard used to give me 30 to 40 cents a pound for brass plumbing faucets regulators etc. I brought in 70 to 80 pounds at a time and did not get paid crap. know I go to a yard that pays me 190 a pound for brass, I do sort the brass better and remove most of the crap first though. Thanks for the informative post 1956.

So the proofs is in the pudding called around for wire #2 prices large yard .70 a lbs smaller yard .84 786 x .14 = $110.04 Ca-Ching

I wholeheartedly agree, before yesterday I took everything to one of the local yards. Mostly because I was familiar with how they worked, and they pay better on iron,that yard pays by check. Both have the same prices for nonferrous so I decided to try the other yard out. At the new to me yard, the scale is visible and you know your weights before getting the slip, also they pay in cash. I believe from now on my ferrous will be going to one and my non ferrous the other.

Totally agree. I've got 2 yards and always call before I load up and go. There's still one yard I haven't been to but need to stop by and check them out soon.

I agree you need to call before you go, call several yards and then see what works for you!

I've posted this several times that I use 4 diffrant yards for scrap in order to max my profit.

Agreed. Ask the scrap dealer how he grades copper wire. The dealer’s refiner will usually set the standards for copper wire, and every scrap yard will have different expectations.

There is more than just straight up price sometimes. For example, one yard may pay a higher price for #2 wire, but the next place that pays 5 cents less may take ribbon wire from computers mixed in where the first yard would not allow that.

ALWAYS deal with more than one yard.

I have a few items that nobody local will give a good price, but if I have a big load, I will make the three hour drive to get the extra 15 cents per pound on what would have been an 18 cent a pound item locally.

So, ya, I deal with several yards.