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Hi,
So far I've been scrapping for 2 months, made close to $2200, all I've been doing is posting on Craigslist and have advertisements on my truck, where do you guys post to get scrap? Stop at businesses? Real estate? City zoning office? Schools?
Also what do you guys say to let's say a business to work with them to take care of their scrap?
I just don't wanna sound like an idiot when asking
You've already answered most of your own question! From reading here at SMF, it seems people get scrap from many different locations. I've read posts where they got it from yard sales, businesses, curbside, individuals, and more.
Sounds like you're doing alright by yourself...over $2,000. in 2 mths., is rather impressive in my book! Certainly better than me! I am collecting and breaking apart, etc and still haven't taken in my non-ferrous. I may need lessons from you!
It is all about networking and treating people right. It depends on your location, circumstances, and opportunities. Good luck and let us know about your journey.
Patriot nailed it on the head. I just tell people I know if they have anything they want recycled, let me know and I"ll come pick it up. I'm always amazed at what people "save" for me. My grandmother called me up because her neighbor was throwing away a huge metal seed spreader. She walked over there and put it in her back yard and saved it for me. Good job grandma!
Get you some "business cards" and hand them out to anyone and everyone you know and meet on a daily basis. The networking starts there and will grow over time. You'll never know when you'll meet what we like to call a whale. You'll find them in the craziest places.
http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/scrap...ess-cards.html
For a good definition of "whale", see some of Olddude's posts. He used to be knee deep in "whales".
I already have business cards, I hand them out to all the people that I pick up from, also when I stop at houses with dumpsters in yard I leave them in the door jam, I just feel weird walking in to a manufacturing or auto shop and asking to recycle their scrap for them I feel like I'm gonna say something stupid haha
Miked on here has a few basic lines when you introduce yourself that goes something like this...(Mike forgive me if I didn't get it quite right.)
Hi my name is...
I'm in the business of recycling...
And this is how my business can help your business...
Money talks and BS walks and so you need to be able to read your customer and know that they are either looking for some $$ or they just want to get rid of their material. And if they want money, you need to know what you can pay in order to make them happy, cover your expenses and then be able to pay yourself enough to make it worth your while.
Practice your speech, know your numbers and fake it till you make it.
Thanks for the advice =), I just hate seeing all this small timers around here getting more scrap curb picking then me going on calls and spending money on advertising lol I'm just a greedy b*****d
You just need to find that balance of doing both. I only shop Curbco when I know there is going to be a target rich environment. Leave cards with folks when ever you see an opportunity. I print my own cards which doesn't necessarily save money but allows me to make changes to target my audience.
While building a base of customers I had an add on Craigslist offering $5 for Unwanted Appliances within a five mile radius and would actually go ten miles sometimes. Appliances had to be in driveway by garage or in garage, not on the curb or in the house. Many folks didn't even want the $5 and cal on a regular basis or refer you to family and friends.
People like to think they are contributing to saving the earth.
Ya the only thing is I had my business cards made before I thought about something, scrappers have a bad rep I think so I call myself a recycler now but my card says "free scrap removal/pickup" so I think that detours some opportunities also
you probably will make more money by parting it out. if it,s in your way then strip it down, save the parts and advertise the parts you want to sell, then call the junk man to come after the shell.
I've cleaned out 2 estates. Curbside works out okay. $100 or so a load. Sometimes more. 5 days weekly...A TON of people stop us. Pass out a card each time. :)
Work (Body Shop)
Craigslist the wife searches and I sick em
Had a guy with a piano i went and picked up he said man your strong I said nope I'm determined this is coming with me
then he like me so much he gave me a dryer and two 38 inch flat screen tube type tvs a grille and some other odds and ends.
on a different note the 88 year old woman that the piano belonged to was so cute I talked with her the first time I was there then she talked to me the second time saying she was a music teacher for 35 years and all she wanted was scratches (scratch offs) before I left I handed her 20 dollars of the piano money. she hugged and kissed me before I left.
Hi im kiwi I live on a island in the middle of know where.I get scap from every where the jungle has many old mineing sites the local power authority local electricians, air con installers the phosphate mine, plumbers water corp, telstra, and locals on tne island.I beleave what I am doing is agood thing for every one and our small island , almost 20 tonne in two years all copper and brass that isnt being put in land fill thats got to be good.Be professional, honest and do what you say you will do, take risks and just ask all they can say is no.THE BIGGEST RISK IN LIFE IS TO RISK NOTHING AND STAGNATE.Go forth and prosper.Happy scrapping
If you are on Facebook you have a great networking tool. All of YOUR friends have friends who have friends etc. I'm about to put a FB message out to my friends for scrap but I'm hesitant because I don't have the time to devote to picking up the stuff as quickly as they will want me too. Hoping I can find the time soon.