We see this all the time here in Upstate SC. Same exact scenario, except with a different twist. The guy I came in contact with said they use the copper for Indian jewelry that they sell on the reservation. They don't rip people off, they are taught how to buy everything from transformers to wire by just looking. No weighing. They flash a wad of cash and offer top dollar. But what they are actually doing is getting the copper for less than you would get if you used a re cycler. I know several motor shops that use them. They can look at a pile of magnet wire that has been burned and know what to offer and what it is really worth. Then they take that to your re cycler and make money. They are very persistent and scary sometimes. But we have found out they are just so good at estimating, they can make money off most anybody.
The only reason some shops deal with them is so they do not need a metal bin and they still get a few bucks, even though it is less than they would get from a reputable scrap yard.
