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Im playing around with the idea of picking up a cube van and scales to offer a service to pay for scrap metal by the pound from door to door.
Does anyone here do this
Do the scales have to be certified
What problems do you think i could run into.
http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/kjc...320bmn_20.jpeg
http://imgc.classistatic.com/cps/kjc...084n2a_20.jpeg
The cube would be great for advertisement for getting more leads and customers.
I think we've had a number of threads about this, and yes, they need to be state certified if you're using them for business.
i searched all i can find was info on copper buyers. here in NS everything has to be inspected every 2 years
Most scales can be certified. Do an ebay search, seems like that's where most people buy them from. Are you going to be only doing non-ferrous?
i'd do hotshot deliveries in that thing, you could carry pallets too, all weather proof
E350, that's a one ton plus!
These things are a dime a dozen around here.
Can't touch a good one for less than $10,000 around here.
Technically, if you are providing a service or purchasing/paying out any type of item by weight you are supposed to be using a certified scale.
If you want to have a "certified" scale, You need to purchase a NTEP "legal for trade" scale. On top of that, depending on your state, they have to be inspected for weights and measures every 1-2 yrs. Here in VA, the authority over this is the Agriculture and Consumer Services. It may be different where you are.
It can get pricey for an NTEP scale. I just bought 2 for our office. a 300/.1 bench scale and a 5k/1 floor scale. I think most scales that I've seen used by yards in box trucks are hanging scales.
It would depend on what kind of weight requirements you need as well. My 300/.1 bench scale has a battery option and I can take it out and use it on the road in front of clients but I use this for E scrap. If i was weighing ferrous... 300 lbs would most likely not suffice.
I think that it is a very interesting idea. The only way to know if it would float or not, is to DO it. Try it out for 1 year. Keep good records, set it up all nice and legal, and I would think that you would have a respectible "air about your business that would put you ahead of the competition. Be sure to keep up with your mileage as you can deduct somewhere between .40 to 0.50 cents per mile as a business expense.
http://www.dr-copper.com/home.htm
These guys seem to make it work.
Think I'm going to put a business. Plan together I work a 9-5 job so scrapping is my hobby I'm young early twenty no kids so this might be a start to agreat business without the huge risk of going broke.
sounds like a plan to me. Good luck. I started scrapping about 8 months ago and being the computer geek I am found this site very early in my scrappin life. I just started my own business this month and look forward to it growing. So good luck and it will happen for you if you make it happen.
If you can buy the truck at a good price then if it does not work out, you can always sell the truck and scale and your really not out any big money, just a little time in your life. If it does work, you have made your niche.Quote:
Think I'm going to put a business. Plan together I work a 9-5 job so scrapping is my hobby I'm young early twenty no kids so this might be a start to a great business without the huge risk of going broke.
i can pick the a cube van up for about 3000 i work for a materiel handling company so i can get great deals on scales. forget we sold them when i asked about them. i deal mostly with the forklift side of the company.
I recommend a liftgate on the back if your going to do this. Also at $4-5 per gallon.....you better figure out what is going to pay and what isn't bulk wise. Picking up 300 lbs of gutters and 300 lbs of #1 stripped have very different footprints in the box. What is your scale and moving equipment going to take up space wise in the box. Also think outside the plan a bit. Moble paper shredding. Hard drive wipes. A service you can charge for on top of pick-ups.
Priced up a scale 2000 for certified. 5k scale
I actually use the Dr.Copper in howell, NJ. They have come to both my house and job site with a state certified scale. They even let me test it out. I see they are franchising, I may inquire. I LOVE SCAPPING!!!!
ScrappyAndHappy you are lucky to have state certified scale on your site. If you have a good starting then it is really easy to have a good ending. If you are on starting, Wish you best of luck. I think scrapping is all about menage all necessary equipment on time to avail all possible opportunities.
I think there are many companies on Ebay that offering NTEP certified scale for industrial and commercial use. And you can get accurate result with these scale without any issues of certification. These scales are little expensive than normal scale but you can buy from any local company which offer you cheap prices.
and if you do go broke it would be one sweet stealth camper. if you had to crash in the back no biggieQuote:
Originally Posted by wescrapmetal
I am using Prime Psb500 bench scale which i bought at Ebay. It have a stainless steel platter with accuracy up to three division. It a little expensive but i am getting accurate result with that scale.
I was at my favorite yard a couple years ago. A big state guvment truck pulls in and does a surprise scale inspection. Tied up the scale for 45min-1 hour. Loads backed up didn't matter. Shut everything down and guy took his sweet time.
I guess my point is, putting a scale in a truck just opens u up to more regulations and probably more paperwork. Which is fine if u don't mind regulations and paperwork. Personally I hate that stuff, I'm a junk man dammit. Leave me alone so I can sling junk.