If You Have a Pickup Truck...

16 replies
This isn't exactly Internet Marketing though IM could be incorporated into it. It's not very sexy either but man, is there money in it.

I just scrolled through the free section of Craig's List for a city with a population of about 100,000. There were three refrigerators available for free. There were two washers, two dryers and a dishwasher. All free. All posted within the last 24 hours. You just go and get them.

The scrap value of the average refrigerator is about $50, big ones a bit more. I'd guess washers and dryers would be around $20 but couldn't be sure. All you do is haul them to a metal recycler and collect cash. It's work. It would take some gas. But I'd bet if you hustled you could bring in more than $300 a day. Might be a nice way to put away a little money to start an online business. Who knows, you might end up with a few trucks and pull in a couple grand a day.

You could put up a site of your own saying you hauled away appliances, no charge. Of course, you could do that on Craig's List too. Happy New Year.
#pickup #truck
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Yup, scrapping is a real business. The locals in the South know all about it. I've run a couple of recycling/auto yards and there's big money in it.
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

      Yup, scrapping is a real business. The locals in the South know all about it. I've run a couple of recycling/auto yards and there's big money in it.

      Yep. And it feeds on itself. Once you get into it people are pointing you to all kinds of scrap. Brass is big right now. And when you're out there in the field the opportunities for more just keep on coming.
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    • Another tip, and obviously this depends on your region, is to be a sponge around rich neighborhoods. People who live upscale and upgrade to new items do not tend to worry about the value. My best day from driving and picking up items in La Jolla was $7,500 from all free stuff from a family that was moving. It took us about 2 weeks to list and profit from all of the items.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by Larry The Craigslist Guy View Post

        Another tip, and obviously this depends on your region, is to be a sponge around rich neighborhoods. People who live upscale and upgrade to new items do not tend to worry about the value. My best day from driving and picking up items in La Jolla was $7,500 from all free stuff from a family that was moving. It took us about 2 weeks to list and profit from all of the items.
        I hear ya. There's a ton of opportunity out there. I was just throwing out an idea. I think some people are hesitant because it's not primarily income derived from working on the computer. But money is money is money... and as long as it's legit, it's cool.
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          • Profile picture of the author midasman09
            Banned
            There's guy in my area who gets used computers, cleans em, re-furbishes and sells em for GOOD money.

            The "old-time" Box Desktops go for $200 and up and he drives a 20yr old Ford Van.

            Don Alm
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            • The earmarks of self reliance are everywhere in these posts. I really like the idea of salvaging older computers, wiping the hard drive and selling them for a profit.

              LLS
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              • Profile picture of the author midasman09
                Banned
                On the 1st biz day of 2014....I just dropped down to my buddy who started up a "ReCycled Computer" biz and....when I went by his small shop....I happened to notice a white sheet of paper on the door that said:

                "MOVED TO XYZ AS OF JAN 2, 2014"

                So....as a "curious observer"....I drove over to "XYZ" and....WHALA!...here's a BIG warehouse-type building off the main drag and.....FULL of computers!

                So....I enter and a gal comes over to me and asks if she can "help me". I respond with, "No! Is Eric around?" She says, "Yes! I'll get him for you!"

                TaDa.....a minute or so later, Eric comes thru the door and greets me and takes me on a "tour" of his operation. WOW.....2 people doing "computer-work"....1 guy at the reception door accepting used puters and a guy doing "something" (I didn't ask what)

                So....4 employees in a BIG bldg. after 2 yrs of starting out. There IS MONEY in "refurbishing Used Computers.

                There is STILL HOPE in our country .....for people who do NOT believe the "Liberal-Lies" and who do NOT want to "Depend upon da Gummit"!

                Don Alm.....ben depending on MYSELF for over 30 yrs.
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  • Profile picture of the author BBQman
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    This isn't exactly Internet Marketing though IM could be incorporated into it. It's not very sexy either but man, is there money in it.

    I just scrolled through the free section of Craig's List for a city with a population of about 100,000. There were three refrigerators available for free. There were two washers, two dryers and a dishwasher. All free. All posted within the last 24 hours. You just go and get them.

    The scrap value of the average refrigerator is about $50, big ones a bit more. I'd guess washers and dryers would be around $20 but couldn't be sure. All you do is haul them to a metal recycler and collect cash. It's work. It would take some gas. But I'd bet if you hustled you could bring in more than $300 a day. Might be a nice way to put away a little money to start an online business. Who knows, you might end up with a few trucks and pull in a couple grand a day.

    You could put up a site of your own saying you hauled away appliances, no charge. Of course, you could do that on Craig's List too. Happy New Year.
    I scrap and dumpster dive. Here's a tip with the a appliances to get you more money. With the refrigerators, take the compressor out/copper out and turn that in separately. Cut the electrical cords out, and save them until you have a decent amount and then turn them in or if you have time(and patience) strip the copper out, you should do this with any appliances you get if you want to get more cash.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
      Originally Posted by BBQman View Post

      I scrap and dumpster dive. Here's a tip with the a appliances to get you more money. With the refrigerators, take the compressor out/copper out and turn that in separately. Cut the electrical cords out, and save them until you have a decent amount and then turn them in or if you have time(and patience) strip the copper out, you should do this with any appliances you get if you want to get more cash.
      Right. Recycling is all about sorting. If you know your categories, you can get a lot more money for an item than just dumping it all in one "tin" pile.

      Check your state regulations--you may have to remove liquids and other things from items before you can sell them to the yard.
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      • Yesterday was a great day for us. We picked up an 8-person jacuzzi and a free stacked washer and dryer set. Both from the same guy. He listed them as free and all were working properly, very little touch up needed.

        The jacuzzi was a bit of work as I had to take it apart myself in order to load it into my truck. That was about 3 hours. The estimated profit that I'll see from these 2 items is around $750 when they are sold.
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  • Profile picture of the author NewParadigm
    I had a compressor go out on a 5yr old stainless fridge. Repairs get quoted dang near at the cost of a freakin new one. I posted it on CL and got several replies in an hour to come pick it up.

    I have a lake home that is a tear down for a new build. Posted crappy old stuff (sinks, toilets, old washer dryer etc...)for free on CL or offer me 100 bucks for exclusive picking rights. I got 50 replies.

    Lots of competition out there.
    Signature

    In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

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  • Profile picture of the author tretheraider
    Now that is a hustlers mindset. I've used this method before myself and it does pay off. I always check to make sure the said appliances do not work before scrapping them. Turned a free fridge into $350 in a 2 day period before.

    -Travis
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    • Profile picture of the author BBQman
      There is so much out there to make a living off of when it comes people's "trash".

      There are two locations near me that have a bin out by the road that says "We take used motor oil and used car/truck batteries".

      The batteries get sold for the price of lead and the motor oil can get sold to a oil recycler, but I think most of the time it is used in a petroleum burning furnace.

      There are companies out there that will buy wood pallets AND provide a trailer for pickup. I always see "Free Pallet" signs out in various locations.

      Another commodity are those 5 gallon food service buckets that have the rubber o-ring in the lid.

      Opportunities are everywhere!
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  • Profile picture of the author MarketMaster13
    Yeah some guys are making decent amount of money by picking up free stuff. Surely, the money is there

    Thanks for sharing.
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  • I'm not really tempted to buy a pick up truck
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  • Profile picture of the author floridamarketer
    some people get paid to remove the junk along with the additional income from recycling or reselling =)

    Check out this one www . junkremovalstartup .com
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