Starting out a scrapping enterprise involves a lot of up-front work besides just gathering scrap, and one important part of that work is the process of choosing a scrap metal yard.
Of course, price is always a factor in choosing a scrap metal yard, but prices are often very similar within a given geographic area, and also fluctuate constantly. While it’s easy enough to find the single yard that usually has the best prices, it’s virtually impossible to find a single yard that always has the best prices for every metal, every time.
However, there are a few other factors that definitely stay more constant—and determining which of them is most valuable to you is the clearest way of choosing the best scrap metal recycling facility to fit your needs.
Customer Service
Good customer service is often the biggest deciding factor people cite as a reason they do or do not return to a given scrap yard after their first visit or two.
To pick a scrap metal yard with good customer service, call around to yards in your area—in our case, Garland, Texas. When it comes time to actually go to the yard, get to know the employees, and don’t be afraid to ask questions—especially if you’re a new scrapper.
Good customer service often makes going to the scrap yard—which, let’s face it, can be a lot of work—much more enjoyable. Once you find a yard that makes you feel at home, you should stick with it.
Efficiency
Many scrappers want to get into and out of the scrap yard as quickly as possible. Time is money, after all, and on top of that you have a life outside of scrapping.
Good customer service plays a big role in the efficiency of a scrap yard, and can make the time seem to go by faster too. Technology is also a major factor, though, so the yard with the latest tech may just be the fastest in your area.
That being said, there are a few things to consider when it comes to judging a scrap yard based on its efficiency and speed. First of all, your first visit to a given yard—assuming you’re selling anything besides aluminum cans, of course—will take quite a bit longer than subsequent visits, because of the registration process that is required by law.
On top of that, scrap yards will always be a bit slower moving on busier days, simply because there is more work for every employee to do. If you’re really interested in getting in and out quickly, and have a fairly open schedule, you might ask a scrap yard employee when the busiest times are.
Is there anything else that you can think of that might make you choose a given scrap yard over another? At Encore, we’re committed to providing the best possible customer service, and we hope you’ll give us a try when making your choice. Let us know in the comments, or give us a call to find out if we have what you need!
