Whether to pay for stuff or not is pretty much a judgement call. I don't pay for most stuff. I am providing a service - picking up their junk in exchange for what I get for it at the scrap yard. BUT - it took awhile for me to get to that point. I started by buying batteries and radiators, alternators etc. I still pay for batteries and brake rotors (0.25 a piece for rotors). For instance, today a regular came by and dropped off a couple hundred pounds of iron. He does this on a fairly regular basis and looks through what I've gotten since his last visit. Today, he found a galvanized rod with an eye on one end which he took.
So, the answer to your question is - It all depends. You'll just have to develop a feel for what works for you. Being 17 years old, you might emphasize that you're doing this to build a college fund (if that's true) and see if they'll just give you the stuff.
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