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I'm not sure where to post this, but I chose the economics forum because I figure it pertains to it in some way or another.
I posted a couple old rusty iron stoves on Craigslist in the "free" section that weighed probably a total of 250-300lbs. I have never received such a response in my life to any posting. Like 15 different people looking to pick up these items within a 24 hour period.
So why is there so much demand for this metal? Probably the recycle value is like $25-$35 dollars I figure based upon other items sold. I guess that's the reason. I can't believe how much demand was for these stoves though.
Well, at $25 to $35, if someone can do that a few times a day, that becomes a pretty good part time, tax free income. It won't make you rich, but it's not bad if you're unemployed or retired, right?
People are desperate. In a dying economy they feed off the scraps to survive. If the economy was not on Fed life support, the real economy would have rebounded and a strong dollar would have made scrap worthless. Instead, they devalue the dollar and let people survive on scraps.
Nickel a pound is what they get for steel, even at 300 lbs it is only $15 each......not worth blowing a disc in my back for $10 (after spending $5 in gas to go get it)
Nickel a pound is what they get for steel, even at 300 lbs it is only $15 each......not worth blowing a disc in my back for $10 (after spending $5 in gas to go get it)
I think you are right on about this. The people that picked up the items were about 10 miles out of town as well and arrived with a refrigerator and another item. So they probably had about 500lbs of material leaving the place here.
I did get the impression that these people in particular did this relatively regularly.
There's a lot of aluminum and stainless steel in those appliances, and refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers all have motors and power cords that are full of copper. Aluminum, stainless and copper all sell for a lot more than steel. The nickel a pound for the steel is just gravy after they've stripped out the more valuable parts. All tax free cash, too. People wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't worth doing.
Last edited by treasurekidd; 08-14-2014 at 06:41 PM..
There's a couple guys in my area that have stopped to grab things out of my trash a few times. I stopped them and asked if they were making decent money doing this. Turns out they have mapped out all of the neighborhoods for miles and miles and which days they have trash days. They just drive around picking up metal every day. He said last year they made 20k, that's certainly nothing to get excited about, unless youre despirate. Its tax free after all.
Around here you certainly don't see old rusted farm equipment lying around the edge of fields like you use to a few years ago. Someone must be making money.
I'm surprised my 1800s Jerome Case horse-drawn cultivator hasn't disappeared from the edge of my pasture. I have been asked about it from scrappers. I probably should chain it down one of these days.
There's a couple guys in my area that have stopped to grab things out of my trash a few times. I stopped them and asked if they were making decent money doing this. Turns out they have mapped out all of the neighborhoods for miles and miles and which days they have trash days. They just drive around picking up metal every day. He said last year they made 20k, that's certainly nothing to get excited about, unless youre despirate. Its tax free after all.
well 20k tax free is about 30k while working.
so basically they are really making 30k if taxed cannot live in a city but if they live out of town it may be more than enough for them to get by.
+ they can likely be on welfare + unemployment while doing this
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