New scrapper here: what do you check before choosing a scrap yard?

[KyleStar]

Hey all, Kyle here. I've been detecting for a few years and I'm finally getting serious about scrapping the non-keeper finds instead of letting the buckets pile up in the garage.

Quick question for those of you who sell regularly: what do you look for in a good yard? So far I've only sold cans. I'm about to haul my first real load of copper bits, brass odds and ends, and a bucket of clad, and I don't want to walk in blind.

Do you call ahead for prices or just show up? And is it normal for yards to want everything pre-sorted down to the grade, or do they sort with you on the scale? Any red flags I should watch for? Appreciate any tips.

 

[russau]

Get prices from other scrap yards & call out of state scrap yards to check their prices. I saw what the crooks do ! They get a LOAD of stolen scrap and stolen Catalectic converters and most of these yards know stolen converters & and the people that sell a lot of this stuff often! These other guys get lowballed on $$$$ but they have a location to get rid of "their" stolen goods quickly and they are gone with the dough ! and these guys are making a killing on this stuff !

 

[KyleStar]

Good trick, russau, I have not tried playing the quotes off each other like that. I am only hauling to the two yards near me so far, but now I am curious what an out of state call would turn up.

Did the Missouri yard act annoyed at all when you brought them the Illinois number, or is that just normal haggling for them? I ask because my local guy seems pretty set on his prices and I am not sure how he would take it.