novaderrik wrote: step 2) start hauling scrap iron step 3) profit
We live in an average subdivision and used to see 1-2 guys out with trucks grabbing scrap steel. I used to save stuff for them. Last garbage night I saw 6-7 different guys combing the 'hood. LOTS of competition!
I sold cars for about a year outside of Denver. You can make a decent living honestly by selling cars. The trick is to find a GSM (general sales manager) that isn't a scumbag. Even if you find a decent one to work for, there is no guarantee he'll be there long though, as there is a ton of turnover both in management and in sales.
I made about $40K back in 1995, which was decent money. I didn't lie, misrepresent, or pull any scumbag moves......nearly all of the other salesmen did. Things to keep in mind if you take the plunge:
--- How strong are you mentally? It takes a ton of mental stamina to deal with the B.S. of selling cars day in and day out. This is a stressful job. It is very hard to "curb" your feeling at the end of the day and not bring frustration home.
--- Your co-workers are your opponents, not your friends. In the car sales world the other salesmen will try to "crack" you mentally, so you aren't as eager to take the next "up". This ranges from trying to get you down by saying no one will buy a car on a windy day, to outright stealing of potential customers. It is a cut-throat racket, you'll need to have a strong mind, and lots of inner self-esteem to maintain your head.
--- Management is usually corrupt. Most are "turn and burn" types who don't care about the product AT ALL. It isn't about cars as much as a commodity. It is all about how much $$ you are making the dealership. Also be prepared to be sabotaged by management as you near your "spiff" goal. They have to pay more out to you once you reach a sales plateau.....they may try to prevent you from getting that one last sale.
It is a hard, stressful racket. I wouldn't do it again, but I'm glad I was able to get an insiders view. It's fun now to shop for new cars as I know what they are going to say, before they say it!
In reply to Pete240Z:
I took about 120lbs of steel in yesterday with 4 aluminum wheels and 3 electric motors, just cleaning the garage up a bit. I went home with a whopping $20 
not exactly big bucks for that sort of thing either to add to the competition problem.
Man all this talk about car salesmen makes me wonder about the saleswomen 
Good luck, OP. I'd look at flipping cars or even trawling junkyards for parts, a guy I know gets injectors, rear ends, throttle bodies, steering racks and sells them to the yojdm folks on ebay and that's how he makes his living. Started off with what he knew (ae86) and what the SR5 guys used to upgrade and expanded what he sold as he got more knowledge about what OEM parts that crowd was using to hop up their cars.
In reply to DuctTape&Bondo:
I have thought about that though my yard does not get many imports or even many desireable cars. Heck for G bodies I know what to pull. There maybe some rigs I could pull things from but our yard is mostly trucks.
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