How do you choose a scrap yard?

Hello all,
I'll be upfront - I'm working with a scrap yard who wants to attract more sellers. They have at least three other yards in a close geographic area competing with them and they are doing their best to compete on price.

Knowing that they won't always be the best price in town - what else can they do to compel sellers to their yard? What catches your attention - giveaways, contests, rewards programs, free lunch etc?
How much does the experience of the yard itself - wait time, attitude of staff, cleanliness of the yard effect your decision? Any and all feedback is appreciated!

knowledgeable workers in the non ferrous area.

Helpful and kind. Show respect for the people that bring stuff in. I don't need free stuff but I would go to a yard if the staff was helpful.

Honesty and consistency!!

Consistency for sure. I like to know what I bring in is going into the category I was expecting it to go in. Reward Points? I like where this is going...

Not downgrading my stuff every time I show up. This is not my first rodeo and I know how to break down and clean stuff up, quit changing the rules on me. That really aggravates me,esp. during this down time.

Also, our local yard is working with the local American Legion and has a large rolloff parked out in the far parking lot with a recycle banner on the side. Even parked under a nite light for evening service. It sure made my curb shopping dry up as everyone around thinks their helping the A.L.

I second all already said and would like to add a clean area to drive around in. Broken glass and nails/screws are understandably going to be lying around but when its still there a week later threatening to ruin my tires I would get upset. I say "would" because the yard I use is pretty good about this.

A newer yard here has a card punch program each time you go you get a punch, after 10 trips your next trip you get +$.10 a pound on all items you bring in and +$10 a ton on steel that trip. With prices so bad the bonus helps out a lot.

Be like these guys - Herb Black's American Iron and Metal. Clean, efficient yards. The right amount of info online, prices directions none of that i-scrap app nonsense, good urls free trailers to certain scrappers. I could go on.

Money For Metal | Ottawa's cleanest and most efficient metal recycling depot.

American Iron & Metal - Home

American Iron & Metal - Video

Pricing, Knowledge and customer service are huge.

Also around here "pay out girl must be cute". Seriously employees need to be able to communicate with you, let you know how they want the items and what to do to get better prices. As far as a clean scrap yard, I would say organized as where to drop off items, easy scale access and keep ground clean so no nails, screws. One yard I go to the guy wants you to back up so close to the pile of metal that you almost are up on it, why?

As I have stated I have only been doing this for 3 months.And the yard I go to everybody there is always courteous and friendly.In fact the first time I went there I must have looked like a jacksass I was going to all the wrong spots a young guy came over and showed me how to separate my stuff and explained this would maximize my profits its always a pleasure going there that's all i ask for and they keep the areas clean of glass and broken metal so you don't get flat tires.

And it seems like with my knowledge from SMF I know more about the different grades than the employees. When they have to ask one of their buddies what something is I broke down and brought in, then I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the short end of the stick.

Even with the rewards program I still call several yards by this one to get the best price... unless I am one punch away from the $.10 bonus, then I take in a small amount of one item in order to get the 10th punch.

Speed is the last thing I'm looking for in a scrapyard. Kind attitude and consistency are my top two.
My first trip ever, I got the unpleasant lesson: Just because they look nice, does NOT mean they are.
A Santa Claus lookalike ripped my head off!
Ima be okay.... ;(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScrapperTrecycling

A Santa Claus lookalike ripped my head off!

---

So, that's what Christine looked like back then? o:)

Seriously, time isn't worth it. 10 minutes more to make extra money is well worth it to me! Of course, out here, I have a choice of one yard, so process of elimination applies....

The scale is something to consider. Once a few years back shred prices unexpectedly dropped a couple cents, so my company found a yard that paid a little more. I hauled my trailer of appliances over to find that their scale could scarcely fit my truck on it let alone my 10 ft trailer. After estimating the load I have no doubts that I got ripped off by the scale. Not only that but when I pulled up to the yard I wondered around forever til I found the office the. Waited for an eternity for the yard worker to weigh me in. Make sure you stick with the well established yard even though prices might get a little shaky.

I like the customer appreciation ideas. I can tell you why I left one yard in Billings:

The employees there didn't know anything. They had to get the manager for the same item over three trips (At least he graded it the same), nobody helped unload (When you have a long bed truck and a 16' trailer, you're there all afternoon!), and the lady at the desk was very rude. She actually tried to reject part of our load, which the manager had given us approval on twice.

Don't do any of that....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

And it seems like with my knowledge from SMF I know more about the different grades than the employees. When they have to ask one of their buddies what something is I broke down and brought in, then I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the short end of the stick.

---

Around here I have a problem when the guy in the yard calls in the steel to the payout girl, I unload it in the PREPARED area and he tells her SHEET IRON! They fix it, but pisses me off. I ask "Where do you want this PREPARED steel?" they say over here, as we are unloading I say "all prepared right?" They say yes....

The number one priority for me is how they treat my equipment. Our yards use magnets or grapples to unload trailers. If they do not respect my tools of the trade, I am not interested in doing business.