Self service junkyards

jimg.allentown

Well-known Member
So as not to hijack the previous thread that was headed this way, I will start this one about junkyards.

Self service junkyards are relatively recent in this area. Most are secondary to the main full service yards.
One yard has cars that are within 10 years old, and is a full service yard. You talk to the counterman, he takes your order, and you pick up your part once their crew takes it off. Once the cars in the yard start getting too old or too picked over, they go to the "back" yard. This is the self service yard. You pay admission to get in, bring your own tools, and take off your own parts. You also sign a waiver holding the operators harmless in the event of injury. Once you get the part(s) you need, you go to the checkout and the cashier prices your selection and you basically pay and leave.

Previous to this, the yards around were all full service. They only started going self service about 15 years ago. There are three outfits that I know of within 75 miles of here that are operating self service yards. I can only assume that they have checked out the legalities and liabilities of these operations before letting Billy Bob and Bubba loose in their yards. So far, after over 10 years of operations, there have been no major "mishaps" that have caused them to have to reconsider the whole self service thing.

One thing to note is that in the self service yards, the cars are older and get picked over quickly. There is still a high demand for used parts for older cars. Typically, cars last 20 years or more in this area in terms of being drivable and not completely rotted out.
 
Only one I can think of around here right now doesn't allow anyone on the yard. They only carry 10 year old cars. After that they get crunched.
 
The only close junk yard to me takes all the usable parts off, and send them to rebuilders. If you want a rear end, or bumper, you MIGHT find one, but - other than that - they are pretty much useless....
 
Back more than 40 years ago when I used to go to junk yards frequently all of them in my area were self service. They are almost non-existent today. Perhaps it's liability issues fearing someone would drop a motor or something on themselves while removing parts. Junk yards in general are getting scarce anyway. I know a half dozen or more in my area have closed. The way cars are made today fewer and fewer people are working on their own vehicles. Myself, I'm doing more and more work because I can't find a competent mechanic. When I was 18 I sold my first car because it needed a timing chain. Now I'm 63 and I just did my first engine overhaul where the engine needed new heads and I found them at a junk yard.
 
There is a yard not too far from me that lets you pull any part you need. Some cars are fairly new. The parts are not real cheap. It's called Ecology. They have a cherry picker to pull engines. Stan
 
By the Twin Cities there is UpullrParts which been good for me. You can go on there website and see what cars are in inventory but it will not tell you if the part you are looking for is there or not. It will give you different years to look at though.
 
One of the big things here that killed the Upull places around here were the EPA and theft. Owners didn't drain anything and people getting stuff you just cut lines spilling fuel, antifreeze and oil all over the place. The other side was people who went in, got a couple of cheap items and swiped a few more.

Junk yards are not closing because of the number of people fixing vehicles for the most part. Regulation is. I don't remember where it is but one area I saw on the news the junk yard has only a few days to strip everything usable (salable) and to send what's left to a recyclable. Entire operation has to be under overhead cover. I know when they get a vehicle they only have a few hours to drain all potential pollutants and must be able to prove that they were legally deposed of. IIRC this was the last place in that area and the owner wasn't sure he could keep the doors open for long.

Rick
 
Most of the yards here are full service but there is one that is strictly u pull. They have a sale a couple times a year where it is $65 bucks for whatever you can pack out of there. You do have to be able to pack it but you can have your buddy there helping you pack it.

Steven
 
3 in my area, Dayton and Toledo Oh and Ft Wayne In. that I know of. All fluids removerd before being put on yard. And pictures on line and can be any age as long as still have parts avaible. I believe name is Pick And Pull or something like that I am driving on tires from their now,
 
Pick n Pull East of me does a whizz bang of business. They list their inventory and pricelist online. No one under 16 in the yard, a refundable dollar for entry. They also have core charges for appropriate parts.
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In Florida we have U-Pull-It . 3 dollar admission pull any parts and bring to counter for price. Good prices like Bose Cadillac speakers ten bucks .Side mirror ten bucks etc.
 

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