Scrapyards: Help Us Help You

I've never been a fan of the "complete car" classification. Same way I've never liked buying batteries by the piece, they're all shapes and sizes, plus if some old car has an old cast block motor with a gutted out converter in it how is it better than the 4 cylinder all aluminum Honda with a small foreign or better cat on it? The weight is much greater sure but it's all for x amount per lb anyways. The word "complete" leaves you at the yards mercy when you get there. It's just hard to get them to understand that.

Honestly for me personally I have more issues in my dealings with other industries both personal and professional. I think a lot of companies forget some of the basics of running a business. An example: I took time off of work to goto a follow up appointment for my surgery. After 20 minutes passed after my appointment time I asked the desk what the deal was. I got attitude and "the doctor will see you when he can." I politely informed her I'm out 45$ in wages alone so far not counting fuel, I am going to wait five minutes then leave. I was seen in 4. That was enough time for me to send an email to the corperate email and post three one star reviews online. The point im trying to make is anyone who wants my money, regardless what they do is a service provider. That means they are in the customer SERVICE business and they need to provide it. When I'm doing a removal I'm "yes sir, no sir" because thats what separates me and the high school kid next door(and liability insurance lol). Yards are our customers but need to treat the small suppliers like customers, because I will go elsewhere, no big deal but if 5 of us switch the weight adds up. I pulled up once in my suburban, no trailer and got the eye roll, then when they found out I had it full of buckets of copper wire i was getting the presidental treatment. My favorite yard is the one where I got a 45 minute class from the cat guy and he knew right from the start I was small time but he made me feel like I was just as important. In a perfect world the guy on a bike, the guy with a trailer and the guy who brings in semi loads weekly all get the same service. hmmmm rant over sorry. :)

one last thing, I drive over the road trucks fairly often hauling heavy equipment. There are lots of times I have had to do some Austin Powers backing up with a trailer at the yard. If I have issues what about the regular guys who hardly ever haul trailers? Sometimes I goto the yards that have an easy in and out.!!

If i was to turn in cars, it'd be piece by piece. The whole car price is ridiculous. They take in affect the waste items such as the glass windows, tires, and upholstery. It makes me an extra few bucks taking things in piece by piece. Plus, the engine blocks 90% of the time are cast aluminum, so you get a few extra bucks for that too. Or re-sell some working car parts to even triple your profits.

http://www.megavaux.co.uk/images/scrap_a_car.jpg

Yards who call it cast al one week at .40 and zink the next at .15 or call all computer wire com wire at .30 when 50 of it is #2 or sorter formen who have no Idea what they are doing.

the main yard I go to (99% of the time) have made 1 mistake (6 months ago) in almost 10 years of going there and that was putting aluminum rims in as sheet aluminum but all that was was a fat finger typo.

I can and have asked many questions at the yard and they will always take the time to answer my questions (difference in grading #1, #2, #2 copper for example)

one of the best things a guy in there did for me was when I use to just count my car batteries and was taking in 10-20 at a time he told me I should be going over the drive on scale with them and that I will get more that way, when I told him I wasn't sure he said if I didn't make more weighing them that he would pay me the difference... I have gotten more money every time since

as for the drive on scale, they have the weight show up on the way in and out and wait for the scale to settle before getting the weight

my only real pet peeve when I go into yard isn't about the yard itself but other guys in there selling and the back of there truck/trailer/van is a total mess and all mixed up.... when I back into the scale room I have all my aluminum rims neat, rads stacked by aluminum or copper (and always clean) batteries in one corner, #1 in buckets, #2 in buckets, electric motors in buckets...etc etc... everything is nice n' neat and makes weighing everything a breeze and quick... whether I take in a small load or a big load they never dread seeing me back my truck in

I hate when guys break their stuff down while they're unloading...holding up the line.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wadarbr549

i was almost 20 years old when i found out it was not called a cadillac converter...

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I almost fell over when i read this!! I appreciate the fact that you're comfortable enough to post this because it made my day!!

Thanks for that

First off - Just want to give "awesome bonus points" to LordMallard for starting a great thread & potentially opening doors for all around better understanding of the other side's perspective.

I find myself with mixed feelings here & the more I think about it, the more I start feeling like a bad person for my position on it

Basically whatever it is that you're working with, if you don't take the time to educate yourself and be confident enough in that knowledge that you can confront a discrepancy should it arise easily as well as tactfully - then that's on you - regardless if you're the buyer or the seller.
When I read the scrap metal industry guidelines book thingy last year - my understanding was that a buyer is not obligated to help a seller get different material categories than the seller presents nor is it their responsibility to inform the seller what they could've done to get a higher price for their material unprovoked. This doesn't mean that a buyer lies or is misleading about the reasons that the material is in one category & not the other when asked and these reasons are consistent and not redefined weekly or monthly. This is a completely objective view on the subject & i thought that the monetary rewards went to the one that did their job to the best of their ability. Not to the one who beats the other by tricking them or being dishonest.
I have a standard that I hold myself to : Own up to your part in what happens in your life (not the best way to say it I'm sure but I tried lol)
Trust & believe that to this day I find myself learning things almost weekly if not daily that would've put more money in my hand if I had that knowledge before i sold my material. Usually stupid & simple things so it gets frustrating. The opposite also happens though too - where I end up the one ahead by using an honest new approach to aspects of my scrap.

It's a completely equal playing field so to speak - if you can get past the resentments, blame, & have confidence in what you do.

Maybe I'm just a crazy lady in my beliefs ... but I'd rather be crazy than not have them. Yay - Julie's early April rant!! (possibly my 1st one... not sure though)

BTW - "awesome bonus points" are a patented idea that I made up

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Julie

First off - Just want to give "awesome bonus points" to LordMallard for starting a great thread & potentially opening doors for all around better understanding of the other side's perspective.

I find myself with mixed feelings here & the more I think about it, the more I start feeling like a bad person for my position on it

Basically whatever it is that you're working with, if you don't take the time to educate yourself and be confident enough in that knowledge that you can confront a discrepancy should it arise easily as well as tactfully - then that's on you - regardless if you're the buyer or the seller.
When I read the scrap metal industry guidelines book thingy last year - my understanding was that a buyer is not obligated to help a seller get different material categories than the seller presents nor is it their responsibility to inform the seller what they could've done to get
a higher price for their material unprovoked. This doesn't mean that a buyer lies or is misleading about the reasons that the material is in one category & not the other when asked and these reasons are consistent and not redefined weekly or monthly. This is a completely objective view on the subject & i thought that the monetary rewards went to the one that did their job to the best of their ability. Not to the one who beats the other by tricking them or being dishonest.
I have a standard that I hold myself to : Own up to your part in what happens in your life (not the best way to say it I'm sure but I tried lol)
Trust & believe that to this day I find myself learning things almost weekly if not daily that would've put more money in my hand if I had that knowledge before i sold my material. Usually stupid & simple things so it gets frustrating. The opposite also happens though too - where I end up the one ahead by using an honest new approach to aspects of my scrap.

It's a completely equal playing field so to speak - if you can get past the resentments, blame, & have confidence in what you do.

Maybe I'm just a crazy lady in my beliefs ... but I'd rather be crazy than not have them. Yay - Julie's early April rant!! (possibly my 1st one... not sure though)

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I help and educate all my customers as some educate me it's just fair play and sharing. I will educate all that listen. My ears all always open. I invite input from any source as I can't see everything and another might .

Profit by deception or elected omission is greedy and cheap . Not a good look building a family/ business.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Julie

I almost fell over when i read this!! I appreciate the fact that you're comfortable enough to post this because it made my day!!

Thanks for that

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well if you want to hear something else funny here it is...since i knew it was part of the exhaust system i actually thought it was called a Cadillac converter because it made the car sound quieter, you know like it was as quiet as a new Cadillac... i have a strong accent...i geuse it would be like a Kentucky accent...i live less than 2 miles from there....I moved to Wisconsin once for work, every day people would ask me where i was from and then they would laugh a little and tell me i talked funny..

i first want to say i love my main scrap yard..they are good to me and are all around honest and very nice folks....the only thing i dislike about them is there prices on a few types are a bit low...they pay great for all the main categories, but there prices are very low in my opinion on a few things,for example they only pay 15 cents a pound for stainless steel, 10 cents a pound for electric motors and transformers , and 10 cents a pound for unclean aluminum....the other yards in my area pay the same or less for these items...

since i discovered this forum and i have found out that people get a lot better prices for some of these things i have quit selling them to my local yard. the problem around here with electric motors and transformers is sometimes i can throw them in the shred pile and get more out of them than i could by separating them,

also they have no copper bearing material price at any yard ive ever been to around here..so if its not a motor or a large transformer it is considered tin around here. i usually just take the ones i don't want to strip and throw them in an old car, that way i get 13 to 14 cents per pound . i am now saving all my motors and other cbm's and when i get a truck and trailer full i will haul them to a buyer i found on this forum.

on the unclean aluminum it is about the same way..it goes for 10 cents per pound..so sometimes you can throw it in shred and get a penny or 2 more per pound...i can understand the price on this category to a point..i just feel that there should be at least 2 grades of unclean aluminum. for example if i have an aluminum motor block with one large steel bolt that i cant remove i don't feel it should be graded the same as an item that is 25 percent aluminum and 75 percent steel..i guess this is more of a suggestion than a complaint..i also realize this may be to costly or labor intensive for them to do.

i am not sure why the stainless steel price is so low in my area..it has been 10 to 15 cents per pound all my life.. i found a better buyer for my stainless steel years ago so i have taken care of that problem, i have to drive a bit but the price is drastically different so it is well worth the drive...

i have 2 more things i am going to mention, they do not pertain or effect me in any way but they effect many many others and it kinda bothers me ...1st thing is CATALYTIC converters ...all of the local yards pay extremely low prices for them..most are between 5 and 30 dollars each..i just feel this is taking advantage of uninformed customers..i know they need to make a profit but i just think they should be a bit more fair with folks... ive saw folks that dont know anything about converters, core buyers ,or junk in general ..they come in and sale there converters for 5 or 10 dollars at the local yard...little did they know they drove by 2 core buyers on the way there , and those core buyers would have paid them 80 or 100 dollars for there converters..

the last thing is, it is common practice that if you bring in a mixed load that is not separated at all, you will be paid the price of the lowest price item that is included in your load...i know it is not the yards job to separate your stuff..i just wish they had a sign up saying that all things must be separated and cleaned to get full value...i don't mean that if someone is to lazy to separate and clean they should get top dollar..i just think some folks don't know much about junk and they should inform them a bit more...i saw a guy throw off about 500 dollars worth of air conditioner units last week...he did not clean the coils ...this man had never hauled junk before...he got around 90 dollars for the load because it sold as tin...he thought they would pay more because of what the load contained....he left the yard very upset...i have always wished they had a large sign telling people to separate there junk and they would get the best possible price for it.....

I pretty much only use one yard, mostly for my non-e waste items. My main complaint are the people cleaning material in the lot, and the ones who throw all kinds of crap together on the cart before going to the scale. Then the scale guy has to try to sort through it while everyone waits.

My other issue is what Beardo mentioned- material changes grades from time to time out of nowhere. I love my yard and have built a good business relationship with them, but they are guilty of this from time to time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wadarbr549

i first want to say i love my main scrap yard..they are good to me and are all around honest and very nice folks....the only thing i dislike about them is there prices on a few types are a bit low...they pay great for all the main categories, but there prices are very low in my opinion on a few things,for example they only pay 15 cents a pound for stainless steel, 10 cents a pound for electric motors and transformers , and 10 cents a pound for unclean aluminum....the other yards in my area pay the same or less for these items...

since i discovered this forum and i have found out that people get a lot better prices for some of these things i have quit selling them to my local yard. the problem around here with electric motors and transformers is sometimes i can throw them in the shred pile and get more out of them than i could by separating them,

also they have no copper bearing material price at any yard ive ever been to around here..so if its not a motor or a large transformer it is considered tin around here. i usually just take the ones i don't want to strip and throw them in an old car, that way i get 13 to 14 cents per pound . i am now saving all my motors and other cbm's and when i get a truck and trailer full i will haul them to a buyer i found on this forum.

on the unclean aluminum it is about the same way..it goes for 10 cents per pound..so sometimes you can throw it in shred and get a penny or 2 more per pound...i can understand the price on this category to a point..i just feel that there should be at least 2 grades of unclean aluminum. for example if i have an aluminum motor block with one large steel bolt that i cant remove i don't feel it should be graded the same as an item that is 25 percent aluminum and 75 percent steel..i guess this is more of a suggestion than a complaint..i also realize this may be to costly or labor intensive for them to do.

i am not sure why the stainless steel price is so low in my area..it has been 10 to 15 cents per pound all my life.. i found a better buyer for my stainless steel years ago so i have taken care of that problem, i have to drive a bit but the price is drastically different so it is well worth the drive...

i have 2 more things i am going to mention, they do not pertain or effect me in any way but they effect many many others and it kinda bothers me ...1st thing is CATALYTIC converters ...all of the local yards pay extremely low prices for them..most are between 5 and 30 dollars each..i just feel this is taking advantage of uninformed customers..i know they need to make a profit but i just think they should be a bit more fair with folks... ive saw folks that dont know anything about converters, core buyers ,or junk in general ..they come in and sale there converters for 5 or 10 dollars at the local yard...little did they know they drove by 2 core buyers on the way there , and those core buyers would have paid them 80 or 100 dollars for there converters..

the last thing is, it is common practice that if you bring in a mixed load that is not separated at all, you will be paid the price of the lowest price item that is included in your load...i know it is not the yards job to separate your stuff..i just wish they had a sign up saying that all things must be separated and cleaned to get full value...i don't mean that if someone is to lazy to separate and clean they should get top dollar..i just think some folks don't know much about junk and they should inform them a bit more...i saw a guy throw off about 500 dollars worth of air conditioner units last week...he did not clean the coils ...this man had never hauled junk before...he got around 90 dollars for the load because it sold as tin...he thought they would pay more because of what the load contained....he left the yard very upset...i have always wished they had a large sign telling people to separate there junk and they would get the best possible price for it.....

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I feel you on some dat . You are not told prices. They weigh and dump then give the ticket with low ball pricing so it's too late to say " I'm not selling that I'll hold it and clean it more. "Or "I can get a better price hold that . I'll take it back " lol the landmines are many so walk on egg shells and make no eye contact. Just be happy.

Some places treat us like crack heads and meth addicts. Like the scrap line is a drug line.
Just treat me like a hard worker business owner because I am. That's all I ask . No gouging. I wouldn't do it to anyone.