I called and was given a price for #1 and #2 copper of 2.00-2.50 a pound. and 1-2.50/lb for brass.In line with the rates in town. My copper was cut and sorted into #1 and #2 prior to arriving. And my brass was sorted into clean and dirty.
After I got there, the gentleman unloading me was very friendly and since I already had my scrap sorted it went very quickly and I watched the scales as they weighed it all. We weighed and chatted with Mr. Mize and discovered we were neighbors!
I had 81 lbs of brass, 113lb of #1 Copper and 38lbs 3@ copper. Once I was given a weigh bill and check I realized they had seriously under paid me. $1.00/lb for the brass, and $2.00 lb for #1 and #2!! This made my check $383 when it should have been $496.00 That's $113.00 difference. Queen City rates for the#1 were $2.37 #2 $2.14 and Brass $1.82!! Thats over 23% difference just driving across town! If I would have seen this before they dumped my bins I would have driven it across town.
I went inside and confronted Mr.Mize and all he had was some excuses and initially tried to tell me he had given me the prices on the phone for bare bright, and when I corrected him, it was just awkward chuckles and excuses and some song and dance about how he sell's it and been doing it for 30 years. I'd imagine if he dupes every customer for $113 he can do this the rest of his life.
My advice would be to take you scrap to Queen City or Barge Point Rd. If they will do this to a neighbor and semi regular customer. What will they do to a stranger?