Starting things back up, nervous, excited, stressed, but smarter!

For those of you who don't know, about 5 years ago I had a pretty decent escrap operation going on. I started with TVs/CRTs. I would take any and all, and for a while, that's all I was doing. Literally hundreds of TVs a day. It was insane, frustrating, and often I didn't make money due to my over head and stupid working habits. (i.e not using power tools because I was a stubborn idiot).

After the market fell, I had to stop. I was already barely scraping by and that was the final nail in the coffin. I spent some time in the bottle, in court, and finally in jail....took 3 different charges and getting kicked out of where I was staying to get my head on right. Went to college, met a woman (dropped out of college....the woman was more fun. lmao) Ended up marrying that woman, adopted her daughter, then had a son of our own. He's turning 1 in 10 days! Cute little turd if I do say so myself. I moved 150 miles away from where I originally started scrapping, and now my little family bunks with my in laws.....ugh.

I work 2 part time seasonal retail jobs right now. Didn't really have too much of a plan, until I started going through my cell phone one day...

APPARENTLY their is an "inbox" on facebook, where filtered messages go that FB thinks are spam. WELLLLLLLLL, a friend that worked at the scrap yard I would go to all the time had reached out to me....about 3 years ago. Saying he has an opportunity for me, and I shouldn't pass it up. Short story long....

I'm going on a trip back to my home town in 2 days to meet up with him. He's agreed to finance my start up costs (renting 2-4 storage units, and making my first large escrap purchase), just to get me started.

The plan is for me to somewhat do what I use too. Hit up the donation based companies for their escrap and wires, and offer a better price than the scrap yards give them. The great thing is, where I live now, theirs virtually NO escrappers. So when I pull the trigger, I have to be discreet. No advertising, covering my loads when driving through town, etc. Last thing I need to do is have a bunch of tweakers with a pick up thinking they are scrappers now....kind of learned that the hard way last time.

Now this guy that is financing this, also has an interesting proposition. Due to the sensitivity of the buyer, I can't disclose the location. But my guy has a big rig and a flat bed. He will come to my location, pickup my full gaylords, bring them to said buyer, and we'll split the profit. (Working that part out at our meeting in 2 days). The prices (that have been verified) are amazing. WELL above anything I can find in my state. I'm talking 3-4 times higher. Only for escrap, unfortunately.

I spoke with my local scrap yards today, figuring out prices and making a game plan. Found a perfect buyer for my tin/alum/copper AND plastic. They're willing to pay more than a penny a pound for it, so i'm stoked.

My question to you guys:

Any other ideas, BESIDES advertising on CList, to acquire escrap that ISN'T TVs/CRTs?

Sorry for the long post. Nice to talk to yall.

Welcome back. It's been awhile since you have been on the forum. Good luck on your adventure.

Yes welcome back we have missed you. Your "safety" thread has had to be brought up by others.

I don't do large volume and most of my income is from selling parts. I get most of my material from computer repair shops. Developing a relationship with shop owners can be challenging.

I do bid on many and win very few government auctions. One of the best deals I had was with a guy who buys a lot of government auctions and resells the whole devices and I got his left overs.

Good luck, Mike

I would say it depends on your local....I live 10 minutes away from a LARGE state university......There are also many of other smaller schools in this area.....Sometimes if I don't win the auctions I get leftovers ETC from others......Also I buy from scrapyards/landfills etc.....Never had much luck with computer repair shops

Welcome back. It's been awhile since you have been on the forum. I have often wondered where you disappeared to. I remember your Dad was sick that was a heavy load Hoss ,hope you have Good luck on your adventure.
too

Thanks all. Good too be back. That laptop that I was sent took a nose dive, but I was able to revive it. And boom, i'm back.

I'm stoked to get started. Darn near counting down the minutes.

And my Dad is doing ok....all things considered. He got arrested for some sticky green stuff....4 years of probation blah blah blah. Gotta love Idaho! They'll ruin the life of an old man, a vet at that, because of a plant. Smh.

Welcome back. I have tried all kinds of angles to aquire escrap. Around here people have all of it covered and figured out. There are auctions all the time selling escrap and other stuff. In have tried to bid on some of it but when a small container of old CPU's and monitors goes for $800 I just step back and stare. Recently saw a dumpster load of shred go for $300 bucks. Plain old 2 cents a pound shred. They have to be crazy to pay that much with no chance of profit. With prices so low I limit myself to picking up old appliances and scrap iron from three close by regulars who have been with me for years. I hoard copper one and two, motors, brass radiators, insulated wire and some aluminum. I do strip a lot of the wire. The place I sell to considers it to be number one copper calling it bare bright. Good luck on the escrap. Might be better in your area.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

For those of you who don't know, about 5 years ago I had a pretty decent escrap operation going on. I started with TVs/CRTs. I would take any and all, and for a while, that's all I was doing. Literally hundreds of TVs a day. It was insane, frustrating, and often I didn't make money due to my over head and stupid working habits. (i.e not using power tools because I was a stubborn idiot).

After the market fell, I had to stop. I was already barely scraping by and that was the final nail in the coffin. I spent some time in the bottle, in court, and finally in jail....took 3 different charges and getting kicked out of where I was staying to get my head on right. Went to college, met a woman (dropped out of college....the woman was more fun. lmao) Ended up marrying that woman, adopted her daughter, then had a son of our own. He's turning 1 in 10 days! Cute little turd if I do say so myself. I moved 150 miles away from where I originally started scrapping, and now my little family bunks with my in laws.....ugh.

I work 2 part time seasonal retail jobs right now. Didn't really have too much of a plan, until I started going through my cell phone one day...

APPARENTLY their is an "inbox" on facebook, where filtered messages go that FB thinks are spam. WELLLLLLLLL, a friend that worked at the scrap yard I would go to all the time had reached out to me....about 3 years ago. Saying he has an opportunity for me, and I shouldn't pass it up. Short story long....

I'm going on a trip back to my home town in 2 days to meet up with him. He's agreed to finance my start up costs (renting 2-4 storage units, and making my first large escrap purchase), just to get me started.

The plan is for me to somewhat do what I use too. Hit up the donation based companies for their escrap and wires, and offer a better price than the scrap yards give them. The great thing is, where I live now, theirs virtually NO escrappers. So when I pull the trigger, I have to be discreet. No advertising, covering my loads when driving through town, etc. Last thing I need to do is have a bunch of tweakers with a pick up thinking they are scrappers now....kind of learned that the hard way last time.

Now this guy that is financing this, also has an interesting proposition. Due to the sensitivity of the buyer, I can't disclose the location. But my guy has a big rig and a flat bed. He will come to my location, pickup my full gaylords, bring them to said buyer, and we'll split the profit. (Working that part out at our meeting in 2 days). The prices (that have been verified) are amazing. WELL above anything I can find in my state. I'm talking 3-4 times higher. Only for escrap, unfortunately.

I spoke with my local scrap yards today, figuring out prices and making a game plan. Found a perfect buyer for my tin/alum/copper AND plastic. They're willing to pay more than a penny a pound for it, so i'm stoked.

My question to you guys:

Any other ideas, BESIDES advertising on CList, to acquire escrap that ISN'T TVs/CRTs?

Sorry for the long post. Nice to talk to yall.

---

An unexpected problem i'm having: My wife wasn't around when I was scrapping before, and knows absolutely nothing about the industry. I've tried explaining it too her, she understands what i'm wanting to do. The problem is, she doesn't trust that it'll make money or that it's worth my time. I'm in the process of obtaining accounts now. If I go out to their location, i'm "wasting gas". If I cold call them, it's "well that doesn't seem effective, why are you doing it?" When I try to explain, I get "whatever, just do what you want"

It sucks not having support from your other half. I reckon with 3 kids we are kind of testy, especially with me getting less than 2 hours of sleep last night....either way. It's frustrating. Yes she stays at home with the kids. Yes that's important. But i'm out doing "my part". I shouldn't be hassled about it and told that i'm doing it wrong.

GAH.

/rant.

You need a better one man as YOU ARE MAKING MONEY.

I got to revise my reply as your reply just got to me. My wife dosen't know scrap but I have many contacts. I crush all my beer cans. ( A 96 gal. toter holds 125 lbs of cans $38.00) I brake every thing down and sort, she *****'S take's time and lot's of BEER, I only cash out ounce a mounth or so, BUT when I give her the CASH, $300.00 too $400.00 a mounth she's HAPPY, BUT still *****'s, I MAKE IT YOU SPENT IT. Gotta LOVE your wife.

Try a flyer at the bulletin board area at grocerys and post offices , I have also had success using car / truck magnets to drum up new clients , welcome back hoss best of luck my friend .

My wife quit her job 16 years age to stay home and take care of our 3 kids because we could not afford daycare. I continued working but started selling old copper wire I removed from buildings I worked in. It paid the house note many times. I've been scrapping for a long time and my wife has always supported me doing that. About 4 years ago I got into ewaste and was bringing home enough that I was having a hard time breaking everything down to get it ready to sell. My wife told me about 3 years ago that she felt useless because she didn't have a job. I've always told her she had a harder job taking care of the kids and she agrees but she wanted to be able to do something to make money. I told her one day she was hired. I've taught her how to separate the different metals and she can tear through a truck load of computers in no time. We're in the process of getting everything ready to haul off because she wants to use the money for Christmas. I don't mean to high jack your thread but it has always bothered me when I hear about someones wife, husband or parents who don't support their scrapping. I hope that anyone in that situation succeeds and makes a s**t ton of money. Hopefully people will notice and the support will follow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

An unexpected problem i'm having: My wife wasn't around when I was scrapping before, and knows absolutely nothing about the industry. I've tried explaining it too her, she understands what i'm wanting to do. The problem is, she doesn't trust that it'll make money or that it's worth my time. I'm in the process of obtaining accounts now. If I go out to their location, i'm "wasting gas". If I cold call them, it's "well that doesn't seem effective, why are you doing it?" When I try to explain, I get "whatever, just do what you want"

It sucks not having support from your other half. I reckon with 3 kids we are kind of testy, especially with me getting less than 2 hours of sleep last night....either way. It's frustrating. Yes she stays at home with the kids. Yes that's important. But i'm out doing "my part". I shouldn't be hassled about it and told that i'm doing it wrong.

GAH.

/rant.

---

She just needs some reassurance. Sit down with her and have a heart to heart. Explain to her that you know what's important. The little ones are helpless so they come first. She's depending on you so she comes second. Your needs come last.

Once you start bringing in a lot more than you could ever make on the job she'll get on board. :)

Hopefully!

Had that business meeting yesterday 150 miles away. The guy even paid for the gas. She was all for it until about 30 minutes before i left. I got off my morning job, came home to get some things and she lost it. Said i didn't tell her i was going, that i'm going to screw us over, that i'm wasting time, that "youre showing that your business is more important than family, so **** it just go, don't come home tonight"

This basically all started because she asked if i could wait 2 1/2 hours until the kids got home from school, so everyone could go as a family. I said "im not sure, i know he has plans at 6, and it's a 2 hour drive, so if we leave at 330 that's pushing it". She got upset, so i folded, said ok, no prob, we can wait. I wasn't upset, didn't even act like it or show it on my face. That's when she went psycho and did the whole "were not important" bit. After 2 hours of arguing, i FINALLY convinced her to come with, which is what she originally ****ing wanted anyways.

We end up showing up to the meeting 45 min late. It was totally pitch black out side so i couldn't see his operation that well, we were using our cell phones for light. It was successful, but it could've been alot better. I didn't roll back into my town until 215 am, and had to wake up at 445 am to go to my morning job.

TL;DR Somedays youre the windshield, somedays you're the bug. Love being both, as is life!

I love my wife. Shes a FIERY redhead and sometimes thinks with her ego and temper instead of her brain. Of course, one could say the EXACT same thing about me. Reckon that's why we work together so well. lol.

A long, long time ago in a home far, far away, I had computers scattered all over the family room, kitchen, living room, on and under couches, my wife finally has enough and said she was going to get a dumpster and throw it all in there.
I WAS really making a mess so I cleaned it up. In the process I boxed up all the e scrap and sent it to a buyer here on the forum. When the first check came my wife looked at it in disbelief. After a few more checks and a few trips
to the scrapyard (where I sent her in the get the payout) she is now much more tolerant of my " messes" and when she makes a comment I just go "Cha CHING" and she gets it ( but I do clean up cause my motto is - Happy Wife- Happy Life.
Good luck - understanding and patience on both sides is sometimes required to get things rolling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

Hopefully!

Had that business meeting yesterday 150 miles away. The guy even paid for the gas. She was all for it until about 30 minutes before i left. I got off my morning job, came home to get some things and she lost it. Said i didn't tell her i was going, that i'm going to screw us over, that i'm wasting time, that "youre showing that your business is more important than family, so **** it just go, don't come home tonight"

This basically all started because she asked if i could wait 2 1/2 hours until the kids got home from school, so everyone could go as a family. I said "im not sure, i know he has plans at 6, and it's a 2 hour drive, so if we leave at 330 that's pushing it". She got upset, so i folded, said ok, no prob, we can wait. I wasn't upset, didn't even act like it or show it on my face. That's when she went psycho and did the whole "were not important" bit. After 2 hours of arguing, i FINALLY convinced her to come with, which is what she originally ****ing wanted anyways.

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Women are complicated ! ;)

Just guessing, but that sounds like girl code for " I'm lonely, i'm dying inside, and i really need to spend some time with you right now."

IDK .... maybe on some level she was worrying that you were going 150 miles to get a bit of strange on the side. ( It doesn't have to make sense.)

It's funny, but figuring out how to keep your gal emotionally healthy and happy is almost more important than any amount of money you could ever bring into the family. Most women have got this amazing capacity for devotion. Do right by em' and they'll stay by your side during the worst of times. If they get feeling neglected they're apt to stray.

It's not easy being a good father and husband these days cause you get pulled in so many different directions.

Welcome back!

http://m1.sinaimg.cn/maxwidth.540/m1...bf_334_500.jpg

Try not to burn the 'tots' this time around eh? ;)

Sirscrapalot - All roads lead home.

Hahahahahahahahaha

I'll try to keep the taters outta the fire this time. ;)

We know it didn't zap the tater juice. He has a kid! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

The plan is for me to somewhat do what I use too. Hit up the donation based companies for their escrap and wires, and offer a better price than the scrap yards give them. The great thing is, where I live now, theirs virtually NO escrappers. So when I pull the trigger, I have to be discreet. No advertising, covering my loads when driving through town, etc. Last thing I need to do is have a bunch of tweakers with a pick up thinking they are scrappers now....kind of learned that the hard way last time.

---

That reminds me of the time I was almost home after being on the road all day to grab a load of copper out of Utah. Had a bed full of heavy MCM wire. 3 guys in a truck pull along side us and motion they want to buy it. We pull off the freeway. They make a few offers. None sounded decent. Each offer was more aggressive, I knew I couldn't take these 3 drunks and I was beginning to wish I had my piece on me. I finally said, look, give me your number, I'll call you if your offer is better than my yard. I already knew I wouldn't be calling these clowns. I just needed an out.

Yeah...yard paid me over twice what they offered.

If you need anything hauled, I have trailers. You still haven't seen the 8x20 Big Tex in person.

As for the wife, just tell her it takes time. You and her have seen all the equipment I've acquired/paid off (including house). Just takes time...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheHoss

An unexpected problem i'm having: My wife wasn't around when I was scrapping before, and knows absolutely nothing about the industry. I've tried explaining it too her, she understands what i'm wanting to do. The problem is, she doesn't trust that it'll make money or that it's worth my time. I'm in the process of obtaining accounts now. If I go out to their location, i'm "wasting gas". If I cold call them, it's "well that doesn't seem effective, why are you doing it?" When I try to explain, I get "whatever, just do what you want"

It sucks not having support from your other half. I reckon with 3 kids we are kind of testy, especially with me getting less than 2 hours of sleep last night....either way. It's frustrating. Yes she stays at home with the kids. Yes that's important. But i'm out doing "my part". I shouldn't be hassled about it and told that i'm doing it wrong.

GAH.

/rant.

---

This should not come as a shock to you as everyone knows Scrap prices are not like they used to be like when the peak of the war was happening in Iraq and afganinstan. Bottom line get a real JOB. You Can Not make ends meet right now with having a baby and a wife. Scapping wont take care of your family Bud. unless you own your own scrap yard your just living off false hope's. Sorry to crash your Little scrap dreams but someone's gotta give it to you straight. Time to grow up and be a big boy and get a real job. Scrapping is OK. Just not as a full time job when you got a wife and kid to feed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

Thanks all. Good too be back. That laptop that I was sent took a nose dive, but I was able to revive it. And boom, i'm back.

I'm stoked to get started. Darn near counting down the minutes.

And my Dad is doing ok....all things considered. He got arrested for some sticky green stuff....4 years of probation blah blah blah. Gotta love Idaho! They'll ruin the life of an old man, a vet at that, because of a plant. Smh.

---

Here's a song for your dad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk

well as far as supporting a family I do with my scrap income and all the other avenues I have for re-selling items....I agree anymore straight scrap will probably not pay the bills.........However my wife works and I have been in this area for years and the quantity of material I get continues to grow as a lot have dropped out of the scrap biz...........I feel for the rural scrapper at this point but they do have more room to hoard material........Good luck to all and I'm heading to work!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SheepDog

This should not come as a shock to you as everyone knows Scrap prices are not like they used to be like when the peak of the war was happening in Iraq and afganinstan. Bottom line get a real JOB. You Can Not make ends meet right now with having a baby and a wife. Scapping wont take care of your family Bud. unless you own your own scrap yard your just living off false hope's. Sorry to crash your Little scrap dreams but someone's gotta give it to you straight. Time to grow up and be a big boy and get a real job. Scrapping is OK. Just not as a full time job when you got a wife and kid to feed.

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Let me start by saying that I am going to try to answer this in a polite way.

You are a relative newcomer to the forum. You do not know what Hoss's previous experience is. You don't know the volumes he is talking about. You don't know the prices he had been quoted. You don't know his work ethic. Many of us who have been here a while, know his previous work experience and work ethic. If Hoss has run the numbers and feels comfortable with them, who are you to rain on his parade.
I personally believe he can do it based on my experience. I'm only part time, but know that if I decided to give up my full time job (with pension and benefits), I could easily make it work and probably clear 100 k a year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mthomasdev

Let me start by saying that I am going to try to answer this in a polite way.

You are a relative newcomer to the forum. You do not know what Hoss's previous experience is. You don't know the volumes he is talking about. You don't know the prices he had been quoted. You don't know his work ethic. Many of us who have been here a while, know his previous work experience and work ethic. If Hoss has run the numbers and feels comfortable with them, who are you to rain on his parade.
I personally believe he can do it based on my experience. I'm only part time, but know that if I decided to give up my full time job (with pension and benefits), I could easily make it work and probably clear 100 k a year.

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Good call. I thought it was a bit presumptuous to shut him down the way he did..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SheepDog

This should not come as a shock to you as everyone knows Scrap prices are not like they used to be like when the peak of the war was happening in Iraq and afganinstan. Bottom line get a real JOB. You Can Not make ends meet right now with having a baby and a wife. Scapping wont take care of your family Bud. unless you own your own scrap yard your just living off false hope's. Sorry to crash your Little scrap dreams but someone's gotta give it to you straight. Time to grow up and be a big boy and get a real job. Scrapping is OK. Just not as a full time job when you got a wife and kid to feed.

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Ah man. Theirs always one.

Not going to get all upset or anything, i've got thick skin.

I will tell you a couple things, however.

1.) Read my OP bud. Perhaps you'll step back on the whole "get a job", rhetoric.

2.) Just a piece of advice. Unless you know a person, be careful with the way you come off to them. Some folks in public might break your ****ing jaw for speaking to them like that, others, might not. Be careful, big guy.

Also, i have an amazing work ethic. When i had my business up and going prior, i would put in 14 hour days, **** near 7 days a week. I didn't take advice, did it all on my own or sometimes with the help of a friend, and made sure i learned most lessons the hard way.

Bottom line, thanks for the advice. Unfortunately none of what you said applies to me. As i've stated, i have 2 jobs and CAN pay my bills. Yeah money is tight but i just spent $45 on diapers (**** me, right?), picked up the formula and baby food, got some TP, and have some extra to buy a beer if id like.

Sounds like i've got my big boy pants on, eh?

Oh, *******, i've got *3* kids too feed. (Again with the reading the OP thing. Perhaps this whole paying attention, or written word comprehension thing you lack has some kind of correlation to how smart you think you are...)

Well Perhaps I touched a nerve....My deepest apologies to you. Good Luck to you and your Family.

Funny way of apologizing buddy.

Anyway, now that this post is totally derailed. lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheHoss

Funny way of apologizing buddy.

Anyway, now that this post is totally derailed. lol.

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We need a goat!

https://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/67632192.jpg

Sirscrapalot - I do this full time. Let's not presume what it's like in anothers shoes just cause yours are getting mired in the mud. - Me, Unknown, insert author here.