a little common business sence

there is, as we know a lot orf noobs getting into the business, and as times get tougher ther will be many more. I hve seen this in other "quick cash" businesses, over my 50 + years humpin it. I have already seen the near future, on some of the government auction sites and here on this forum.
junk cars selling for 500+ a palet of compiters selling for $150 and up This is caused in a large part by rhoumor among those in the biss. I dont know about most of you but, I cant buy a junk car for $500, go pick it up. strip it and cut it and make any profit. Most inexperienced noobs will do this some times for months on end not realising they are just treading water, turning the same money over and over, and working their butts off doing it. i know I have done it with Hot dog carts, food stands fruit stands and in the salvage business.
I also know there are those of you astute enough, and business wise enough to know exactly what a washer, a car. a monitor , a computer will scrap for. i think it would benifit us all and the business to compile a guide list of the actual scrap value, of some of the most common items are. I know the metal prices fluctuate, but there has to be as way to come close. just my thoughts. mcw

I hear ya!

I've been searching Craigslist for junk cars, but these clowns want too much for them. They include in the ad "Won't go lower than $500 (or whatever number they want) because I can scrap it for that".

Bought a car for $100 and doubt I will make much on it.

right now I would buy all I can get (if they are complete including cats) for $200, I can still make a min fo $100 with that but any thing more is just a tread mill.

But Id rather get it free, or paid to haul it off. but si much for the old days. :)

Always good to be thinking ahead olddude. Since the dawn of man, anytime anything comes along that has value and is somewhat plentiful, the masses are going to try and get in on the action. From fire to salt or sugar, gold, oil...there's always going to be something that people think they can make a quick buck on. But many that try just don't cut the mustard and fail sooner or later and being the shrewd businessman that we all have to be sometimes, can grow stronger and bigger when they do. Capitalism works when governments let it.

I ran into the same thing yesterday...We went to buy a box truck that a guy had for sale....We were doing the negotiation and he said he would not go any lower because the scrap yard would give him so much....Long story short, the truck made it as far as the gas station before it broke down....I even called the scrap yard and they said that he would have to take all the wood and fiberglass out before they would even accept it. Luckily he gave my money back and I was able to wash my hands of the thing...But it is true, many people are thinking that their scrap is worth a fortune

I like it when I see junkers for sale and they say I can get $600 across the scales for it wont go no lower as soon as I see that Ad first thing I do is email them and ask where are they getting that kind of price for their junk because I have 5 I would like to sell. Funny thing no one ever responds back.

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Originally Posted by KZBell

Capitalism works when governments let it.

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Loud AMEN to that one!

I find it funny that they say they can scrap it for $500. Most have real jobs so best of luck to them getting it broken down in a timely manner and would love to ask them if they thought it was worth it.

The people who say I can scrap it for x amount, I walk away and tell them to call me when they're done living in la-la land.

I went and looked at a pile of electronic scrap yesterday, gave the guy what I think is a generous offer. There was some newer stuff, but A LOT of crap that is going to take me a long time to clean up and scrap. He said I can haul it to the yard for that. After I told him, listen, you can haul it in there, but what about those 15 monitors? those cost 15 a pop to take anywhere in the area. All that cardboard, garbage, my offer includes clearing this entire building out, heck I'll even sweep it, and mop the floor if I have to.

I tried to bite my tongue and not come across like I was calling him an idiot, but man it's hard sometimes.

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Originally Posted by dherik

He said I can haul it to the yard for that .

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See this is what I mean some of these Idiots don't value their time.

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Originally Posted by dherik

The people who say I can scrap it for x amount, I walk away and tell them to call me when they're done living in la-la land.

I went and looked at a pile of electronic scrap yesterday, gave the guy what I think is a generous offer. There was some newer stuff, but A LOT of crap that is going to take me a long time to clean up and scrap. He said I can haul it to the yard for that. After I told him, listen, you can haul it in there, but what about those 15 monitors? those cost 15 a pop to take anywhere in the area. All that cardboard, garbage, my offer includes clearing this entire building out, heck I'll even sweep it, and mop the floor if I have to.

I tried to bite my tongue and not come across like I was calling him an idiot, but man it's hard sometimes.

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I just say here in my number give me a call if you want me to come out or not. Take care I have other pick ups I have to do and I cant stand around here all day. Good luck.

LOl i buy cars for $500 all of the time.You just have to know what you are buying and not try to get rich off of every car.

we are talkomg scrap cars here, how many u want for $500 and do you have a big hauler? say 8 cars per trip.

I'm in the process of getting rid of some stuff, that's pretty well used up, and in trying to sell it, my base line price has been determined by what I can get for it at the scrap yard, minus a few bucks for the effort it'd take me. (Cause I know that number, and I'm not going to sell it for less than that....)

My 79 International dump truck went straight to the scrap yard, because the junkyards I talked to wouldn't offer me what simple mathematics said it was worth as scrap.

The only cars I have ever bought for 500 or more were cars I knew going in had a title, already knew what the parts yard was paying for the car. Scrapping a car, i.e. taking it across the scales for the crusher or shredder, I can't think of anywhere that's going to pay over 500 for that.

Now if you're taking a car, parting it out, pulling everything out, saving cores, and radiators, and cats, then taking it to the yard sure you might be able to scrape by buying a junker for 500 bucks.

the only cars I ever bought for %500 or more were drivers, and I sold them for $1500 or more after a little touch up and elbo grease, but those days are pretty much gone. thanks to the clunker bill, the gov regs, gov produced economy etc.

now if you own a parts yard that may be different, but you are still investing a lot of money and time, and lot space, for one car. I have never heard of a parts yard any where paying that kind of money for scrappers, with out having pre sold parts waiting on line.

my original post was refering to back yard typical junkers. I have seen beautufull 57 chevys, and even a Super Bird rot to nothing in peoples back yards because the were nutzo on the price.

$5oo does seem to be the common price around here too. We get 245 a ton for cars no battery and you have to cut a hole in the gas tank. One place take them with everything. We get 275 pr ton on clean iron and 245 for dirty.

I've helped my kid part out a car then sent the shell to the yard and that's my only experience with scrapping cars. But my daily driver bought 6 months ago, 1996 ford E150, cost me $600...put some new tires on it a brake job up front and it's been making money ever since, can't imagine paying $500 for scrap.

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Originally Posted by sjchord

$5oo does seem to be the common price around here too. We get 245 a ton for cars no battery and you have to cut a hole in the gas tank. One place take them with everything. We get 275 pr ton on clean iron and 245 for dirty.

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wow 275 a T for car bodies Im in the wrong part of the country. where are you. next queston any body got an 8 car hauler wanna go partners.
:)

The only way I would pay $500-$600 for a car is if I could turn it for profit and Down here you make no money for scrapping it. Two weeks Ago I took in a 1992 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually the weight was 5980 Lbs I got $538.20. The cat was gone when i got it. The Rad was Aluminum I left it on. As a matter of fact I drove it off the trailer in the yard and had them weigh it. It had a 460 with Automatic I tried selling complete on Craigslist for $800 no takers I figured It was a Gas Hog is why no one wanted it. Like I said there is no way I will pay that much for a car or truck unless i know for a fact i can Flip it. Now there is people out here that will pay that much to use as Scrap But here is a little secret They wont last that long in the Business I figure I can wait them out.

Case in point...

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Originally Posted by olddude

we are talkomg scrap cars here, how many u want for $500 and do you have a big hauler? say 8 cars per trip.

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Yeah for scrap cars depending on what it is i will pay 500 lol

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Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

The only way I would pay $500-$600 for a car is if I could turn it for profit and Down here you make no money for scrapping it. Two weeks Ago I took in a 1992 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually the weight was 5980 Lbs I got $538.20. The cat was gone when i got it. The Rad was Aluminum I left it on. As a matter of fact I drove it off the trailer in the yard and had them weigh it. It had a 460 with Automatic I tried selling complete on Craigslist for $800 no takers I figured It was a Gas Hog is why no one wanted it. Like I said there is no way I will pay that much for a car or truck unless i know for a fact i can Flip it. Now there is people out here that will pay that much to use as Scrap But here is a little secret They wont last that long in the Business I figure I can wait them out.

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Yeah well you cant because you are only getting .09 cents per pound which is nothing lol only $180 per ton.

If i would have had that i would have and could have gave $500 for it and scrapped it for $762.45.So you can give good money for them just depends on what it is and what you get per ton.

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Originally Posted by Focker

Yeah well you cant because you are only getting .09 cents per pound which is nothing lol only $180 per ton.

If i would have had that i would have and could have gave $500 for it and scrapped it for $762.45.So you can give good money for them just depends on what it is and what you get per ton.

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Did I forget to say in my Post Down Here ? Oh that Right I Did Say Down Here. LOLOLOLKOLOLLOLOLOOLOLOLOOL

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i would have and could have gave $500 for it and scrapped it

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Folker, no offense but you are just treading water, the older folks on the forum will know what I'm saying... Good luck to you,,

sry I komf of led us into a cat fight over cars. that wasent my intention, i was talking about small time scrappers like me. who need to get their stuff free or for very little. We are now in compitition with thousands od desperate noops who will pay $10 for a junk washer or dryer or 70 in an auction for a couple of computers the last computer buy I made was several years ago from gov auction in Pennsicola paid $50 for 5 pallets w/no printers in the bunch, did get one half pallet of speakers tho (ugh) but I also got one pallet of nothing but cords so fasr over the years I have scrapped about $400 worth and am working on the last of it now.

if anyone has a 1964 impala ill give you more than 500 ;)

500 per car doesn't really seem out of line. You figure you are going to get at least 300 a ton or more from the yard if you can bring them in 20 ton at a time or 10 on a flatbed crushed. I don't know about how much time it would take to mess with a vehicle though. I would imagine at 300 a ton you could make at least 150 off it by the time you stripped it. I would also own a bobcat with a grapple and just smash the thing to death and rip out everything of value in it. What the hell do I know though been 10 years since I crushed a car. Worst job ever to. Load car crush car put car in 80 yard container. Repeat.

Pistone-

Most of the people on this forum are not yard owners, and most of them do not have access to any of the equipment that you just described. For an individual scrapper, an outlay of $500 for an average junker does not make any sense. Additionally, $300/ton for a truckload quantity is a reasonable price...but it's completely unreasonable for a retail price across the scale. Finally, a junker sitting in a field is not the same as a junker sitting on the scale. Transport and labor are not free. The point of the original post is that many people have an unrealistic expectation regarding the value of their scrap, and these unrealistic expectations decrease the profit margin available to scrappers buying off the street.

Think of it like this: it is profitable for a professional preparer like you to cut up a piece of heavy machinery with Loxjet torches, burning bars, and all of the other tools of your trade. For an average guy with a small oxy-acetylene rig the time spent and gas used will most likely negate any additional amount he will be paid for prepared vs. unprepared. Same thing applies for the cars. A yard with all of the tools and bankroll needed to accumulate and ship 40k lbs of cars can make money buying them at $500 each, an average scrapper is hard pressed to do the same.

HLH&R yeah you are hundred percent correct but at the same time its a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Maybe those guys paying insane money have put in there time and get prices above what peddlers get. Just saying but on a side note I will posting some pictures of big big scrap we have been cutting when I get a chance. We moved 1450 gross ton of torch material last month for the yard we are contracting for.