Should I be buying junkyard parts to flip?

They still make profit off the parts sold off of the cars. I am just saying they make a majority of their profits off of the resulting recycled steel.

 

@jsi
@BartMaster1234

Just to add to BartMaster's point

I am going to my local U-Pull It today. I have gone there for many years. The owner told me a lot of why they let people pull parts and buy at ridiculously low prices (scrap metal +small percentage) is those cars are going to otherwise just be sitting and waiting for the price of metals to hit certain points. They go months without crushing very many, then they go into a blitz. Great thing is right after that, they bring in a bunch of new inventory. Fresh picks are awesome!

In Indiana, even though high percentage of Tacos are 4x4, they almost never reach a self part pull type yard. Even 4x2 are very rare. I've seen one 1994 4x4 Toyota truck in the last 3 or 4 years. I get my parts off Camry's and other cars and trucks. Today for example getting a Denso alt from a Jaguar. Maybe lighted key ring from a Camry or Corolla.

 

Because the manpower to do that (not so much pulling the parts but listing them) is daunting.

 

I should add here are junkyards that do pull parts and sell online, such an LKQ.

 

only upon request tho.

 

No. LKQ sells individual parts to the public via www.car-part.com, eBay, and other sources. They also sell a majority of parts to repair shops.

 

didn't know that, I thought it was all by request.

 

Well, kinda related... I have a wrecked 2002 4x4, manual, trd pro I need to sell. I was considering the junkyard... Should I just pull it apart and sell it on ebay (I would rather not) or sell it to the junkyard?

 

Where are you located? and Pics?

 

I thought you were done for the summer.

 

I'm in Austin.
I can't put it for sale here because I dont have enough posts

 

There's a lot of good money in that truck. But way to far for me to get.

 

How much?

 

lol..................

that's "barely" wrecked. Most guys in my area would consider that good condition - perfectly worthy to drive daily, for years even.

I'm not sure what the details are with the truck, but that one might fetch like $3500-4k in my area as is.

 

Yeah it looks like you can save it. New crashbar, and maybe a new fender apron.

 

Perfectly good Tacos like that in junkyards are a shame. Perhaps luckily most I see are with rollover damage and simply beyond repair. Judging by the enormous interest seen on TW for private part outs, one should never get rid of it unless they don't have the time or room to keep the shell.

As for my situation I think I will grab an occasional part in excellent shape here and there to flip, especially if there is a sale going on. Then again I have experienced similar problems with ebay, seeing a part for a high price listing it for a third of that and having nothing happen...Regardless of all that I hate to see good parts go to waste. We should get together and for each state rent a warehouse for parts

 

The insurance was going to total it before they decided not to pay me.

 

I'm not sure if I'm ready to part it out. I've got limited time and mechanical skills

 

I'd be happy with $2500

 

Sounds about right. I’m way too far away though. Haha.