Catalytic Converter Beginner

Hello all, long time lurker, and just decided to finally make an account after searching the web for everything cat related, and ending up with quite a lot of new information, but not enough to start buying locally quite yet. I've been parting out totaled cars by myself for about 2 years now and selling parts, selling the cats, and recycling the chassis's to a local recycler. Obviously every one of of the cars we get has cats on them, at first we were getting ripped off and a guy used to come by and just give us a $100 dollars a cat, no matter the cat. After some research, we found out we were being made fools out of and found a guy that started paying us based on the part number. Any how after some research I started to want to buy and sell cats locally, after days of researching, and finding many helpful threads that APA answered too I learned a lot. But at the end of the day I still dont understand a lot, for example, how do you price cats based on the part number, I haven't found anything but rough estimates online for example by RRCats that gives $60-107 for small foreign's, $148-263 for large foreign's etc. How do you price cats by part number? Prices on metals are always fluctuating, so how do you update prices daily? Do most of you guys just resell, or send to refineries? I see a pretty good opportunity because in my city I personally know many people, shops, mechanic shops, and even small junkyards that are still being ripped off, and they have a pretty decent amounts of cats that they collect monthly. I know that's a lot of info that i'm asking for, and if thats too much info to give out I totally understand. If anyone can point me in the right direction, give any tips on where to start researching, or what website or article to read, that I haven't already, would be greatly appreciated, thanks to APA once again for all the helpful information you've already given out on this forum. This forum is a a great help. Have a good night guys:) .

Why not just sell to APA?

Markets go up and down just like a stock on the stock market. Even as my margins are thin, I try to stay consistent on my pricing.

RRcats pays usually 25% to 75% less than I do. They buy anything batteries, aluminum, rotors, etc. My focus is on converters at market pricing.

I buy by codes. Codes make possible to give you the best price on each unit. If a code can’t be read or doesn’t have one, I try to estimate the best price for the situation.

Selling to refineries, which I do takes, many things:
1. You have to be approved and vetted. Refineries do not deal with the general public.
2. Shipping is paid for by you. They do not pay for shipping.
3. 2000 lbs of cut material is usually the minimum they want
3. No upfront payment, usually 30 day weight time for your money
4. There is no return policy, once they have it, they take ownership
5. Refineries are very limited on their knowledge of individual cats. They are in the business of refining material.

Thousands of people have told me they are going to go out and “be a catalytic converter buyer”. A very small percentage ever do. It takes time, dedication, skill, heart, will, and experience. When I had major surgery 2 years ago, I choose someone who had decades of experience, worked at the best hospital, and had the best supporting team around him. The Dr was the best and is the best and he took care of me. I know I strive to take care of my customers as the best so I can treat them the best with all that I can.

878-207-6242 is my free quote text line 24/7. Send pictures of cats with there codes to receive the best price. I can also answer any general questions.