Know exactly what you need before you go. Know the make and the model of your car, and any car that also used those parts if possible. Some things are used for more than one, like radios, for example.
By now, everyone in the area had come over to appreciate our trophy. My brother always could please a crowd. He opened his pocketknife, to remove the rattles, asking dad where to make the cut.
Another good thing about salvage yards is the spare parts here may not be found in local auto part shops. Some cars are manufactured in other countries and so spare parts, especially of older models, have to be ordered from the manufacturer, which is very expensive. However, in a salvage yard, it can be gotten at a cheaper price.
The Salvage Yard. Let’s admit it: there isn’t anything wrong with going to the 2013 ford transit connect to find the part you need. My ’78 VW Rabbit’s window handle broke and I snagged one off of a junker for just a few bucks. Still, if you are looking for a radiator, engine, exhaust stuff, or anything else that actually runs, you risk that the part will fail soon after you place it in your car. Naturally, the price you pay through the junkyard should be the lowest price going.
If you decide to sell your gold you should be aware you would be much further ahead if you deal directly with the smelter or the refiner. By eliminating the middleman you will realize a far better return on your scrap gold. Of course you must use due diligence and choose a refiner with a reputation you can trust. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start if you decide to deal directly with the smelter.
Work out deals with your local scrap yards in advance. The spot price for metal is generally the best price you can get with a large homogenous quantity of some metal. You’ll likely be bringing in many different types of metals and the quantities may be limited to what you find or what you can haul. Work out a deal where the yard gives you a good price in exchange for consistent influx of scrap metal.
There are two huge advantages to getting your parts from your local auto wrecking yard. First and foremost in these recessionary days is the cost, purchasing here will reduce your outlay significantly. Used parts from the auto salvage yard are even cheaper than spurious parts. So there are some good savings to be made.
By putting in a little extra effort you can make a little more cash. What used car dealers and car salvage companies do is to farm used and salvaged cars for parts. It is normally repaired and sold for a profit, or your car will be dismantled and the good parts be used to spruce up other cars that have damaged or defective parts. So why not do the deed yourself and make a little more cash with a little effort. Get a mechanic to check the car for parts and get an estimate of the value of the parts based on the condition.
Before doing anything else, you need to know what scrap gold is. Strictly defined, it’s any gold that has been discarded and is suitable for reprocessing. Any leftover gold that can be smelted and reforged is scrap, such as bent, broken and tangled jewelry, casting gold, cluster rings, dental work, gold dust and flake, pins, brooches, sheet, solder, and even gold-plated chips and CPUs.
The Penny Bid. While you may not actually be able to bid one penny at a time, the idea behind this strategy is to bid the minimum increment very quickly after your opponent bids. After a few times, your opponent may just give up, thinking that no matter what he or she bids, you will always top her. At the very least you may push the price past your opponents limit this way. Beware. I have actually had people that I was bidding against this way, come up and give me an earful for my “poor sportsmanship”. People hate to lose and they hate to lose even more when it’s only by a few cents.