FAQs
Questions about selling surplus wire
What we buy, how a quote works, what happens at pickup and what condition we can work with. If your question is not here, call or send it with the request.
What we buy
What kinds of wire do you buy?
Copper and aluminum building wire, industrial cable, control and instrumentation cable, low-voltage and communication cable, flexible cable, and medium and high-voltage cable. That covers THHN, THWN, XHHW, MC, AC, tray cable, VFD cable, SOOW, SER, SEU, URD, USE-2, Cat5e and Cat6, fire alarm cable and 5kV through 69kV constructions.
Do you buy used wire that came out of service?
Sometimes. Cable removed from service is evaluated case by case, and the offer depends on how it was removed, its condition and whether any test history exists. Send photos and whatever documentation you have and we will tell you what is realistic.
Is there a minimum quantity?
There is no fixed minimum, but a pickup has to be worth the trip. A single partial reel is usually not, unless it is a large feeder or medium-voltage reel. Several partial reels together often are.
Do you buy wire with no reel tag?
Yes. The jacket legend usually prints the size, insulation, voltage and temperature rating, and that is often enough. Clear photos of the print and a cut end help.
Do you buy aluminum wire?
Yes, especially 1/0 and larger feeders, SER, SEU, URD and USE-2. Small aluminum branch wire in short lengths is usually not worth collecting on its own.
What do you not buy?
Transformers, switchgear, breakers, MCCs, generators, bus plugs, chillers, machinery, vehicles and general scrap. This site is only about wire and cable.
Quotes and pricing
How do I get a price?
Send the wire details and photos through the quote form, or email the same information. Include the type, metal, size, footage, condition and location. We review it and come back with an offer or a question.
What photos help most?
One photo of the reel face with the tag readable, one of the jacket print, one of the cut end, and one wide shot of the whole lot. Those four usually answer everything.
How is the price decided?
Conductor metal, size, footage that is actually on the reel, condition of the jacket and insulation, and how much handling the lot needs. Larger feeders, medium-voltage cable and factory-sealed reels carry more value; short cutoffs and mixed scrap carry less.
Is the first number final?
It is an offer based on what we can see. If the wire at pickup is materially different from the photos and description, we will talk about it before anything is loaded rather than after.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Reviewing a list and photos is free, and there is no obligation to accept an offer.
Pickup and payment
Do you pick up?
Yes. Once a purchase is agreed we arrange pickup or shipping, depending on what suits the site. Heavy reels, dock access and forklift availability all affect how the pickup is planned.
How soon can you collect?
Usually within a few business days of an agreed offer. Reels that need a crane or a flatbed take longer to schedule than a pallet that can be lifted by a dock forklift.
How and when is payment made?
Payment terms are agreed in writing with the offer, before anything is loaded. We do not publish a single payment policy here because the terms depend on the lot, the location and the paperwork the site requires.
Can I deliver it to you instead?
If you have your own truck and it is simpler, say so in the request. Shipping can be part of the arrangement when the lot is large enough to justify it.
Do you need a purchase order or paperwork?
Many plants do. Tell us what the site requires, such as a bill of lading, a vendor packet, insurance certificates or a gate appointment, and we will work with it.
Coverage
Where do you buy in Kentucky?
Statewide. We work most often in the Louisville metro, central Kentucky around Lexington, northern Kentucky near Cincinnati, western Kentucky along I-65 and I-24, and eastern Kentucky from Ashland to Pikeville.
Do you have an office I can visit?
We do not publish a walk-in address. Material is reviewed and collected by arrangement, and quotes are handled by phone, email and the form.
Do you buy outside Kentucky?
This site covers Kentucky. If the material is just across a state line, mention the location and we will tell you whether it fits.
Condition and packaging
What condition is acceptable?
New surplus, unused overstock, partial reels, cancelled-project stock and clean warehouse inventory are the easiest to buy. Sun-faded jackets, writing on reels and opened packaging are normal. Fire, flood or crush damage is a different conversation.
Do the reels have to be palletized?
No, but it helps. Reels that can be moved with a forklift are quicker to collect than loose coils that have to be handled by hand.
Can I send one request for several sizes?
Yes, and it usually produces a better offer. One list covering twelve sizes is easier to evaluate as a single pickup than twelve separate messages.
What if the wire is wet or dirty?
Say so. Surface dirt is usually not a problem; water inside a reel or corrosion climbing the conductor strands is, and it is better to know before the pickup.
Have a lot to price?
Send the details and photos. We will come back with an offer or a single clarifying question.