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Around here Cat5/Cat5e (Ethernet patch cables) goes the same as #2 insulated copper - about .71/lb with the ends (RJ-45 connectors) cut off - not sure why one of the yards wants the gold plated plastic connectors cut off... otherwise they pay "low grade" price - I don't care about taking a few seconds per cable cutting the ends, just wondering why they don't want the gold...
My actual question - why would VGA monitor cables or even old PS2 cables be low grade wire and cat5 not be?
By weight the gold recovery is negligible but, depending on their copper buyer, having the ends means they cannot sell the wire as #1 insulated, instead because of the non-copper contaminant on the wire itself, as #2 insulated. Assuming the ends are cut from the VGA cables, this is partially the same answer in that VGA cables tend to have tinned copper that can only be sold as #2 when chopped. They also have a lower copper-to-plastic weight ratio on average - around 40% copper recovery without the ends while cat-5 is a little over 50%.
That makes sense thanks.
I cut the ends off all my wires and cables and the ends they go into my scrap (aka. "shred") pile - unless the ends are brass. I just recall the first time selling Cat5 with the connectors on (before I knew they were worth more) and I got #2 price - this last time I was told to remove them. Maybe the person at the yard was new (first person that took them with the ends on).
FWIW every place we've sold cat-5 to hasn't tripped about the ends precisely because the post-insulation removal non-copper contamination is within the bounds acceptable as #1 for most buyers. But buying policies vary so don't take that as gospel.
Also the terms 'low grade' and such have firm meanings only to the yard and then mostly for inventory value tracking. Like where I work we buy 65% #2 wire as "#2 high grade" but 65% #1 as "#1 mid grade". Getting consistently terminology from your yard(s) about % copper recovery might help more than low-grade/high-grade terms unless they're firmly defined.