Learn & Earn - PM scrapping at Yard Sales, Flea Markets, etc

[cyberdan]

So about 22K Net?

For me? yes about that.
I also bring in Li Ion batteries, computer greenboards and old laptops.
(no RAM or CPU or hard drive boards - I get extra on ebay for those)

[Recyclersteve]

This is a GREAT thread! I've read the whole thing a few times.

Here is my war story...

Mine has to do with a pawn shop where things are often overpriced. In December, 2008 the story hit about Bernie Madoff defrauding people out of billions. At one Palm Beach, FL country club, it was said that 1/3 or so of the members had invested with Madoff. A man from a pawn shop in nearby Riviera Beach was on national TV shortly thereafter talking about all the high end stuff they were getting from Madoff victims.

I happened to be in the area and decided to pay a visit during January 2009. I saw a small box of Kennedy halves where clads were mixed in with silvers. The employee told me they were $1 each. I remember making three stacks of halves. On top of each stack I put a single clad coin and the rest were all silver. Mostly 40%ers, but there were some 1964's too. I got about 50 silver halves and walked out the door with an instant profit of about $200. That was when silver prices were quite low.

$200 isn't nearly enough to make me rich, but this felt so good!

[blackrabbit]

I bought a small metal toolbox full of small tools/junk from a thrift store for 5 bucks yesterday. In the bottom drawer amongst the rivets and wire was a small old gold ring. Eureka! 10k 3.2 grams = over 56 dollars melt value.

[AGgressive Metal]

I bought a small metal toolbox full of small tools/junk from a thrift store for 5 bucks yesterday. In the bottom drawer amongst the rivets and wire was a small old gold ring. Eureka! 10k 3.2 grams = over 56 dollars melt value.

Whoa nice!

[Rodebaugh]

Quick run over to an estate tag sale during lunch. $5 for 3 mismatched hoop earrings 2-14K 1-10K..........= $43 melt

If you're not looking you're not buying.

[OneBiteAtATime]

Some smashing of sterling items has revealed…..

On average Weighted Sterling candle holders (you know the 3 1/2” ones that everyone made) yields about 35 g each.

Full size knives (stainless blades sterling handles) are yielding about 20 g each.

Salt and Pepper shakers are so wildly different, from 10g to 37g each.

Honestly, it’s sad to destroy something beautiful, but if it cannot bring its melt value when sold, it’s time to melt.

[OneBiteAtATime]

Some smashing of sterling items has revealed…..

On average Weighted Sterling candle holders (you know the 3 1/2” ones that everyone made) yields about 35 g each.

Full size knives (stainless blades sterling handles) are yielding about 20 g each.

Salt and Pepper shakers are so wildly different, from 10g to 37g each.

Honestly, it’s sad to destroy something beautiful, but if it cannot bring its melt value when sold, it’s time to melt.

Don’t listen to this guy!

Recently I’ve gotten into a mess of candleholders that are super thin - 16g of sterling. Not making any money on them!

[thecrazyone]

I saw a possible silver item today, flipped it over and it said Richfield 2191 quadruple. That is silver plate, so it went back on the shelf.

[Lemon Thrower]

I have a buddy who moved to Ft. Myers Fl. His wife is an artist/painter. He tells me that if you know art, the area is a gold mine. Wealthy folk from up north retire to the area and have nice art collections they bring with them. When they pass, everything ends up at Goodwill or whereever. Now I'm not talking about Rembrandts or Picassos, but lesser known names in the tens of thousands of dollars. He's a little coy with the details and I don't know if he's liquidated anything he bought but if I was down there I'd buy up anything that was a maybe or had an expensive frame and bring a truckload of art to a consignment shop in a rich neighborhood of NYC.