picking from scrappers- etiquette?

[clerkkent]

A number of scrappers have popped up in our neighborhood; you can tell they are the ones with well worn truck and trailers, and a new 'gate' in their fence where they pile their loot in the back yard. They have been parking their truck/trailers on main drag away from their house due to parking space issues. I some times see a bike or bike-related item in the trailer that has some use to me, and once I tried talking to the scrapper, but language barrier was in the way. Tonight I spotted a bike on a trailer, and wrote a note and stuck it on the windshield with "please call me!"

If I'm offering a 5 or ten spot for a bike carcass, is that better than they would get from the yard for contaminated steel?

Ideally I'd like to have them come to me, after I've dealt with them fora bit and know I can trust them.. I don't want to be the stolen bike dumping ground.

What are your thoughts?

 

[outskirtscustoms]

I normally wait till I got a small load of junk and give it to them and whaile talking I just say I'm into rebuilding bikes and if they find anything to let me know. Most times I pay $5-$10 a bike (they normally get $3-$5 at the scrapyard for a steel bike $10 if it's aluminum) and remember to say if I find any junk I'll give you a call. After that they will find bikes and bring them over just to ask if you have any junk for them.

 

[detroiter60]

I've been friendly to a couple of those guys only to find out they are very "one sided" They never have anything for me but one guy actually knocked on my door looking for stuff.They got a bit out of hand combing our neighborhood with their pos trucks and we dont really like having them around anymore.I'm no longer friendly to them and dont see them much anymore.OK by me.

 

[jerrykr]

Holding out a $5.00 bill and pointing should fix any language barrier.

 

[ratina]

A few years back a $5 bill would have the bike off the truck in 10 seconds. Now they won't take less than $20 around here even though they won't get more than a couple bucks for scrap. I don't even bother anymore, its not like they ever have nice bikes anyways.

 

[yoothgeye]

Last year I took some scrap to the yard and it was "high" at $13.xx per hundred. It's lower now, so I just guess a good average at $10/hundred. That's a buck per 10 pounds, so most bikes get these guys less than $5 each, so if the bike is worth $5 or $10 to me, I'll pay it, but NO MORE, they are scrap guys, not a bicycle shop/reseller and I won't let them act that way. I'll let them drive away to the scrap yard wishing they had just taken my money.

Now, if I saw a tank bike or something collectible, I'd pull out my money, but still wouldn't let them have the upper hand.

I lost my scrap guy, loaned him $20 about 8 months ago and haven't seen him since. :lol:

 

[Rasputi73]

I have been going to a local scrap guy for a few years now and had always walked away with a great deal. One time a whole 63 Schwinn, 59 frame, front wheel, and banana seat for a total of 14 bucks!

That has all changed-- now all of a sudden he thinks he is a "bike broker". Now, even for a complete P.O.S. he want 25-30. If I ever come across a bike that is really worth it I might pay up but for now it looks like I have to start hitting up the garage sales in the area.

People a becoming aware of what some of these bikes are worth and what they can fetch if sold.

 

[beatcad]

i'm glad this came up. i was gonna ask about this myself.
a month or so bas i was at work walking to the shop down the block an saw a scrapper driving by.
i thought it was pretty obvious..bummy,dirty guy. beat up pick up truck, and in the bed was a refridgerator and a bicycle.
i waved him down and he stopped right away. his english was non-existant.
the bike was a mid 70s ladies raliegh.complete and in good shape.
of course i only wanted it for parts(like the 3spd hub/wheel/shifter assy), and i dont like to pay much for "parts" bikes.
i didnt have my wallet on me and all i had was a 20 $ bill in my pocket.
the guy said 30. i told him 20 was all i had. i guess he thought i was lowballin him so he said 25.
i showed him the 20 was all i got, but he wouldnt take that.
i let him go.
at 1st i wished i wouldve walked 20 feet back to my shop and borrowed 5 bucks, but later i thought better and let him live w/ the 10 bucks the scrapyard wouldve given him

 

[froggy99]

Hate to say it but I've tried dealing with the local scappers but like what was said earlier these relationships are very one sided.I live in a "innercity" neighborhood and most of the "scrappers" are addicts and some straight out thieves.One asked me what I was looking at while he was stripping siding off a neighbors house. The police were called and he was arrested. I give these characters a wide birth. I think dealing with them would just prompt them to steal bikes.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Many times if the scrappers won't sell or are asking too much I let them go on and I still get it because I am on a first name basis with most of the scrapyard owners and employees. They put bikes back knowing I'll come in and buy something. Normally $5-$20 a bike depending what it is. He has started to wise up about bikes and sometimes asks more than scrap price but still a great deal.

 

[clerkkent]

This tactic depends on the scrapyard and/or state you are in.. due to laws and liability issues.

In California, forget about going on the lot and cherry picking stuff. But walking down the traffic jam queuing to get into the scrap yard and cherry picking is doable, so says some acquaintances of mine.

Many times if the scrappers won't sell or are asking too much I let them go on and I still get it because I am on a first name basis with most of the scrapyard owners and employees. They put bikes back knowing I'll come in and buy something. Normally $5-$20 a bike depending what it is. He has started to wise up about bikes and sometimes asks more than scrap price but still a great deal.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

This tactic depends on the scrapyard and/or state you are in.. due to laws and liability issues.

In California, forget about going on the lot and cherry picking stuff. But walking down the traffic jam queuing to get into the scrap yard and cherry picking is doable, so says some acquaintances of mine.

Many times if the scrappers won't sell or are asking too much I let them go on and I still get it because I am on a first name basis with most of the scrapyard owners and employees. They put bikes back knowing I'll come in and buy something. Normally $5-$20 a bike depending what it is. He has started to wise up about bikes and sometimes asks more than scrap price but still a great deal.

I hear that, one of the bigger scrapyards here won't sell anything but the second yard you can pick 15 minutes before opening and 15 minutes after closing, Then the third you can pick whenever you come in just have to ask first and be escorted by a staff member.

 

[X-RAY]

you can thank the pickers shows on tv for jacking up prices. i think osc has the best arraingement, probably safest, too, as far as recieving stolen stuff goes. they've really cracked down on the scrapyards here, and they're very catious about what they buy, so buying from them is pretty safe. and not to stereotype all scrappers, but you dont have to deal with them this way.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

you can thank the pickers shows on tv for jacking up prices. i think osc has the best arraingement, probably safest, too, as far as recieving stolen stuff goes. they've really cracked down on the scrapyards here, and they're very catious about what they buy, so buying from them is pretty safe. and not to stereotype all scrappers, but you dont have to deal with them this way.

I will say my method is not foolproof either, I have picked a few scrapyard bikes that were stolen but not having much in it I just gave it back and told the guy not to worry about the new parts and labor I put into it, just to pay it forward someday.