Distance limits

So just this morning I received a call to pick up an electric stove:D that is located appx. 15 miles north of me. That's a 30 mile round trip and with this gas guzzler:( I have that's pushing my limits for a single item. Even though there is a good chance I'll pick up more during this trip, there is still the possibility this may be the only item I'll get.

There is a local guy around here that advertises he will go out 40 miles one way to pick up a single appliance.:eek: Way too far out for me.

So, after reading a post by MDG:cool: this morning in which he stated he would never go 50 miles to pick up a washer or dryer (which I totally agree with) I got to wondering how far others will travel. I'm not talking about real big loads here. Just 1 or 2 appliances or a couple of batteries, or computers. You know small stuff.:)

My limit is 10 to 15 miles on these types of pick ups. Does anyone else have set distance limits and if so how far? :confused:

Good question Sky. I would never consider driving more then about 10 miles to pick up one thing but then again yesterday I drove 110 miles round trip to an auction that I figured I would be able to get some good, resellable stuff and got stiffed because people were paying way to much. So I guess it's a gut call on any given day.

The good thing about it was a guy had called the night before that just lived a few miles from the auction wanting a chimney cap I had on Clist so that ended up being my gas money and he was glad he didn't have to come to me.

like skyline mentioned, it depends on the item and the client for me.

Depends on if I go, and if I charge anything or not.

I wouldn't drive that far. Last week I turned in a 217 lb electric stove and got $18.00. Take gas money out of that and taxes and its not worth it for me anyways to drive 30 miles round trip for.

I drove 40 mile one way to get 3 computers. Ended up making good money on resell from ebay.

I drive anywhere, anytime. I dont care. My little Dakota gets a 100 miles per 20 bucks give or take. I always find more along the way, so it pays for itself. Even if I make 5 over that 20 it's still more than I had started with.

i agree with ozzy, you never know what you will find along the way seeing roads youve never been on, even just 5 bucks or just breaking even, experience is worth more than dollars in the long run, 15 miles id agree with that for small things but ive drove over 100 once for a car paid our min and still cleared over 100

About a week ago I got a call for a dryer 2 towns away, about 18 miles to get there or 36 miles round trip. I gave it a little thought at first but nothing else was coming in, so I decided to go get it.

Got a call today from the same lady to go back and pick up the washer, a trash compactor, a riding mower, 5 storm windows, a storm door and 2 computers. It turns out she told her friends she found someone that would haul stuff for free so they took their stuff over to her house and dropped it off. Sometimes it does pay off!

Since i live out in the middle of nowhere, most good size towns areliente at least 30 miles one way. We go at least 3 times a week but we have a fairly large clientelle and can usually get a truck full and 5x8 trailer of computers and computer related equip. If someone has a single item or 2 we just ask if they can wait till we are in the area again (usually no more than a few days) most are perfectly fine with this. We also have a couple drop off points. My sister and her boyfriend live in town and can usually pick up small loads of a couple computers and i then pick up her house when i am in town.

Funny this came up, its been on my mind too. I've been working at coordinating trips - this week I "attended" 3 online live auctions, the pickup times were all today in the Dayton and Springfield area, and I had to go up anyway to get some stuff from storage.

Didn't win much but had a pickup load of stuff to resell (bought 19 old school paper towel dispensers....why?! Oh, they were cheap LOL) and at the last pickup the auctioneer asked if I'd be willing to haul a big shop fan that a bidder forgot to take. It was right on the way home and got $20 in gas money for 10 minutes work.

Nice fan too. I didn't tell him I was the one that bid it up so high before he won :)

Set a dollar figure that your time is worth, and that is usually the best guide.

9 out of 10 times on these smaller pick-ups like this I usually do end up coming back in with more than I was originally supposed to. Either find it along the way or someone knows someone else who has something. But I still keep an eye on the gas and my time involved as it all counts towards the bottom line. And I totally agree that something is better than nothing. It's just that I'm not real hip on making a $5.00 profit for 3 or4 hours work.

That being said I'm thinking of getting a smaller pick-up truck just for these smaller loads. Idk, maybe a lil ol Toyota, Mazda, or Nissan. That would at least solve the fuel part of the problem.

This point may have already been made elsewhere, but just in case:

Wear and tear (depreciation of vehicle) per mile driven is very important to consider, if for no other reason, then for tax purposes.

If you are a registered business, you can take 51 - 55 cents per mile vehicle depreciation tax deduction. That definitely adds up toward reducing your taxable business income.
http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools.../INF12071.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ElectricMetal

This point may have already been made elsewhere, but just in case:

Wear and tear (depreciation of vehicle) per mile driven is very important to consider, if for no other reason, then for tax purposes.

If you are a registered business, you can take 51 - 55 cents per mile vehicle depreciation tax deduction. That definitely adds up toward reducing your taxable business income.
http://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools.../INF12071.html

---

This I already know, but thanks anyway.

I agree with some of the other people above. When i get a call either from advertisements or word of mouth i will pick it up just to build a name for myself and not have people think that they wasted there time calling me.

My range is 50 miles out, but i only go out that far for stuff like i got today. Found a garage computer repair shop on craigslist saying they had 5$ computers...... i got there kinda late ended up with 10 towers, 20 power supplies, and around 30 mobos, for a clean 100$ real fast and they tell me im gonna get a call from them every Saturday from them now. i spent 20 on gas and and got a repeat custy that is gonna have lots more to offer!!! i dont care if i make 5$ on this one ( which i wont) the drive distance is nothing compared to where i gre up and it was 70 miles to the closest Walmart or 90 miles to Cuba....

I do mostly small stuff in the winter so 10 to 15 miles depending on what it is , in the summer I go 30 to 35 away , I use the trailer in the summer only

i think its a preference...and how much you need. I agree that the possibility of building a clientele is important...but at the same time, how many people who want a dryer gone are going to want to get rid of the rest of their stuff immediately or pass it on word of mouth. Around here, word of mouth means someone else who scraps just got info before you. I hate it because i pass on items that are 30 min away, when deep down i know that if i had a v8 truck that got 40mpg, i'd be there. Lol. So, longwinded...my answer is 20 miles for large appliances unless i plan on going that way anyway.