Results 1 to 6 of 6

Did I get burned on a cat?

| Scrap Metal Prices
  1. #1
    drpepper687 started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2022
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Did I get burned on a cat?

    Funny thread title. Possibly not funny question. I’m new here but not new to scrapping, I go 4 or 5 times a year, just when I feel like it.

    On a recent trip, I brought along a catalytic converter from a car I had previously been driving and junked 2-3 years ago. My first time ever bringing one. Everything else in my load went smoothly, but the worker comes up and says “hey man, I can only give you 5 bucks for it since it’s aftermarket”. I said, what are you talking about? He points out the weld marks for his suspicions. I told him it’s not aftermarket, it’s just that the Ford Tore-ass I was driving was such a piece of junk that we had to re-weld the exhaust numerous times. I pointed out that the two pipes seen welded to the cat were clearly prefab sections you can buy at NAPA or any auto store, and we used those to fit over the rest of the exhaust on the vehicle, like a plumbing coupler. For additional proof, I showed him the welding underneath my Jeep (frame repair) so he could compare and confirm my unique shoddy welding skills on both. He goes ok, walks away, and comes back with “I can give you 20 bucks”.



    I have to admit, I was excited to have “convinced” him of the truth and was happy with what I thought was getting the correct price. Wasn’t until 2 weeks later now that I look at cat prices online and see small domestic cats are going for $185 each. Did I get ripped off???? Should I bring my receipt back and ask what the heck? I’ve been going there for years.

    Wish I could include pics in this post, but I don’t think you can via phone.


  2. #2
    mikeinreco's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Dec 2011
    Location
    TENNESSEE
    Posts
    4,972
    Thanks
    1,257
    Thanked 5,023 Times in 2,350 Posts
    If not satisfied with price get a 2nd quote from another dealer before selling

  3. The Following 2 Users say Thank You for This Post by mikeinreco:


  4. #3
    CopperMiner's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2021
    Location
    Greater Montreal
    Posts
    318
    Thanks
    181
    Thanked 205 Times in 119 Posts
    I agree. If you unhappy with the quote, it is still yours and go elsewhere. If he really wants it, he gotta give you a more honest price or die with his decision. By the way, not all scrap yards are specialized in cats. From the yards I visit the most often, if I have a cat for sale, I would prefer to sell to yard A, but I would never sell to yard B even if they both buy cats. Yard A will check the serial number and give you the best price they can give you and I think that Yard B is giving a lowball offer at best or more probably a dirt cheap flat rate offer somewhere on his commodity list.

    Also, yard A has cats clearly listed on its front sign and yard B has metals (unspecified which ones) on its front sign. It is not an absolute rule, but I think that it shows what are they like to buy or what they try to do the most.
    Last edited by CopperMiner; 05-26-2022 at 05:10 PM.
    NEW TO SCRAPPING? READ THIS: Build up your horde of magnetic and non-magnetic metals in two piles until you have a better understanding of the business. Magnetic material has low value and is mostly always steel / shred / short iron. Read old threads about non-magnetic metals and ewaste (and how to sort them), but don't forget that they generally have absolutely no tolerance for contamination (screw / iron / foreign material).

  5. #4
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    1,306
    Thanks
    3,232
    Thanked 1,922 Times in 785 Posts
    Dunno if you got burned per se but they definitely got a deal. Whether they intended it or not

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to JJinLV for This Post:

    APA

  7. #5
    gorven's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    402
    Thanks
    913
    Thanked 495 Times in 201 Posts
    Thats why you sell your cats to a buyer here that specializes in cats

  8. The Following 4 Users say Thank You for This Post by gorven:


  9. #6
    APA's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Western Pennsylvania
    Posts
    628
    Thanks
    638
    Thanked 545 Times in 289 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by gorven View Post
    Thats why you sell your cats to a buyer here that specializes in cats
    We pay $25 each for aftermarkets.

  10. The Following 3 Users say Thank You for This Post by APA:



  11. Similar threads on the Scrap Metal Forum

    1. Replies: 10
      Last Post: 02-06-2017, 05:41 AM
    2. New TX reefer and burned wire laws
      By aaron p in forum Misc. Metal Recycling
      Replies: 21
      Last Post: 10-12-2014, 07:45 AM
    3. Can gold plating be burned off something with a torch?
      By urbanminer in forum Scrap Metal Questions and Answers
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 09-23-2012, 04:18 PM
    4. Burned Boat
      By street_sweeper in forum A Day in the Life of a Scrapper
      Replies: 2
      Last Post: 05-08-2012, 01:29 AM

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook