Just missed out big time !! Ugh

so since ive been paying for my scrap ive had a bunch of calls and email asking to take stuff away although alot of them expect over scrap value some of them understand and just wanna make a few bucks. well anyway this guy emails me he says this (copy and paste from actual email)"Hello I have a 4 car garage full of many items I am looking to sell can easily fill a van 4-5 times with what I have. I am in Southampton if you are interested my # is 5*6 2*6 *475 Thnx Andrew" i call him we discuss a time and day but after what i tell him i pay for these things he says he can get more and thanks me for my time i said "thank you and if all else fails you can always shoot me a call back " after i hung up i almost punched in my wall ! do you guys have any suggestions what i should do different if i raise my prices ill only be making a tiny profit after gas and time. is there anything you guys use to persuade your clients to sell to you ?

Some people just don't understand that their junk isn't worth much. Sometimes you have to explain it to them, but even then they might have trouble understanding their crap is almost worthless.

When a person calls me, the first thing I ask is: What have you got? Then: Where are you? Then: What do you want for it? By then, I'll know whether it's going to be worth it getting around to the details. No use wasting either of our time otherwise.

actually that is a good idea i should ask THEM what they want for it first itll cut the bs out thanks mick

You handled it just like I would have. Explain to them scrap value and that he will have it all gone instead of having to sell it off a little at a time. Let him know the offer stands and thank him for his time. If you can't make a decent profit, it's. Not worth your time. Sometimes the best deal is passing one up.

Profit begins when you buy not when you sell. That being said perhaps you saved youself a loss. Don't over think yourself. Paying too much is a quick way to ruin. Keep trying, Mike.

I for sure let them know up front I only pay scrap value and how I make my money.....I tell them don't be offended by the prices I offer because I know what it's worth to me and how much time and effort it will take to get to the junk yard.....Experience pays in this biz and I never go over what i feel comfortable with on bigger items due to amount of labor involved or offer a pct to the owner with a signed contract

If it was alot of scrap i might have said i would take it and split it 1/3 for him 2/3 for me profit but sometimes you just have to pass

Yeah don't beat yourself up over it because everything happens for a reason. Nearly every time I've missed out on what I thought was a good deal it was only because god had a better deal waiting on me and I was too stupid to realize it.

I answered an ad on C.L. that just said, "who buys computer stuff". I answered in an email that I recycled computers/parts and paid for larger quantities. He says he has a keyboard and mouse and wanted to know how much. Then I find out he's clear down at Indy, 140 mile away! I explain to him that a keyboard and mouse doesn't have much value recycle wise, and he messages me back,"stick it you just want something for nothin". What are ya gonna do???

I quit smoking back in '08 but after reading that over and over I sure wanted to light one up.

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

I answered an ad on C.L. that just said, "who buys computer stuff". I answered in an email that I recycled computers/parts and paid for larger quantities. He says he has a keyboard and mouse and wanted to know how much. Then I find out he's clear down at Indy, 140 mile away! I explain to him that a keyboard and mouse doesn't have much value recycle wise, and he messages me back,"stick it you just want something for nothin". What are ya gonna do???

I quit smoking back in '08 but after reading that over and over I sure wanted to light one up.

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I get so many of these calls from my Craig's List add. I even get sworn at and hang up even though my add clearly states I am buying for recycling purposes.

I wouldn't worry to much over it really.

Most of my clients know the stuff is worth some money, but they also realize that I am not getting rich off of it either. Also, when I give them my prices for removing it, they realize that even though I am charging them, I am at the same time, saving them a lot in the process.

Most guys that advertise here, try to nickel and dime everything.

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Originally Posted by Ptscrapper

Yeah don't beat yourself up over it because everything happens for a reason. Nearly every time I've missed out on what I thought was a good deal it was only because god had a better deal waiting on me and I was too stupid to realize it.

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this statement is so true

I would have wanted to go over there and take a look. There might have been something worth offering more for or maybe he would have taken a fixed amount for everything.

If his wife was there she might have pressured him to take your offer and get all that stuff out of the garage! lol.

If it was somewhat close you could take a look and offer a bulk bid. He was too focused on the nickles and dimes, when you start talking greenbacks his tune could change. It's going to take him a while to sell all that stuff and just needs a little persuading.

you gotta remember working craigs list is like panning for gold, ya just have to move a lot of gravel to get to the gold. I have had some big dissapointments from craigs list, but every whale has also come from craigs list. its just part of doing business if you don't have big bucks to advertise.

if it was easy every one would be doing it.....oh waite every body is doing it. :)

I always ask how much people want for material before even throwing out a number. Example I can get 400 a ton for prepared plate. Said customer calls and says he has a bunch of i-beams he wants to scrap. I ask him what he wants without quoting a number and he says 400 a ton. I say thanks but no thanks. I just A saved time not talking on the phone B didn't waste gas money to look at the job C didn't waste any of time beating a dead horse. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose in the scrap game you just need more wins then loses or you wont be doing this for long. Its feast or famon which side of the fence do you want to be on?