Episode 5
“Disposal fee? He wants to pay me to take this off his hands? This stuff is practically pure profit! I could get at least 1,000 won per kilogram for this!”
I was floored, but I kept my cool, casually picking up a stainless steel rod as I formulated a response.
This was how the other scrapyard, the only game in town, had been operating all along! Exploiting people’s ignorance to line their own pockets. They were practically minting money with their near-monopoly, and here they were, charging disposal fees on top of it all.
Should I play along and demand a disposal fee? Or should I act like I was doing them a favor by taking it for free?
“I’ll need to analyze the composition first,” I said finally, picking up a few short rods. “Mind if I take a sample? I’ll get back to you with a quote as soon as possible.”
“Of course, this should be enough, right?” Assistant Manager Han said, handing me a few more.
We exchanged pleasantries, and I left the factory, my head spinning.
“Disposal fee… disposal fee…” I muttered to myself. “Those crooks! Taking advantage of people who don’t know any better. Maybe I should take notes. Hmm, but what about professional courtesy? Should I pay them a visit? We could all benefit from a little… collaboration.”
I chuckled, imagining the profits I could make by charging disposal fees on top of the already hefty profits from the metal itself. At this rate, I would be rich in no time.
“I knew this was the right move,” I said, feeling a surge of pride.
I continued my rounds, visiting one factory after another.
Cardboard was still the most common material, but whenever I encountered a company with a good amount of aluminum, copper, or scrap metal, the “disposal fee” conversation came up without fail. I collected samples from each, carefully noting their condition and potential value.
As the day drew to a close, my truck overflowing with cardboard from the last factory, a truck pulled up beside me, honking its horn.
I looked over to see a truck with the words “Changjo Resources” emblazoned on the side. The window rolled down, revealing an elderly man, probably in his late sixties, with a wide grin.
“So, you’re the new scrapyard in town, eh?” he said, not bothering with formalities.
My initial reaction was annoyance. Who was he to address me so casually?
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cha Seung-ho from Changjo Resources,” he continued. “How about we grab a drink, fellow scrap enthusiast? My treat.”
I followed his truck, my curiosity piqued. We arrived at a scrapyard, a large sign proclaiming it as “Changjo Resources.”
Unlike my makeshift operation, this scrapyard was enclosed by a sturdy concrete wall, and the office was a proper concrete structure.
“That lot must be at least 400 pyeong*…” I muttered, my own humble scrapyard paling in comparison.
I also spotted two 1-ton trucks and a small excavator with a grapple attachment.
“That grapple would make moving scrap so much easier,” I thought, envious of the efficiency it offered.
“Come on, let’s head inside and have a drink,” Cha Sajang said, leading the way. “I’ve got a cold one waiting for us.”
As we approached the office, I noticed a Mercedes-Benz sedan parked outside.
First, the owner’s Grandeur, and now this? This guy was swimming in cash!
Inside the office, we settled into chairs as Cha Sajang brought out a bottle of soju and some snacks. He poured us each a generous amount before speaking.
“I was curious about the new kid on the block. Didn’t expect someone so young! Never seen anyone your age in this business. How old are you, anyway?”
“I’m 24 this year.”
“Finished your military service, then? It’s a pleasure to meet you. As I said, I’m Cha Seung-ho from Changjo Resources. You can just call me Cha Sajang.”
“Park Sol, Chunha Resources,” I replied.
“Alright, Park Sajang, let’s have a drink!”
We downed our shots, and Cha Sajang launched into a long-winded monologue. It was mostly irrelevant stuff: his rags-to-riches story, how tough life was, how great the economy was, and so on. I nodded along, waiting for him to get to the point.
“So, how’s business been in the industrial complex?” he finally asked.
“Plenty of work,” I said, exaggerating slightly. “Everyone’s practically begging me to take their scrap.”
Cha Sajang clapped his hands together.
“Exactly! This place is huge, and there’s only been one scrapyard to handle it all. I’m glad you’re here to lighten the load. Even just collecting cardboard here should bring in a decent income, wouldn’t you say?”
Slightly tipsy from the soju, I played along.
“That’s right, there’s no shortage of factories here.”
Cha Sajang’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Which brings me to my point. It’s just you and me here, right? No need for cutthroat competition. How about we divide the territory between us? No need to step on each other’s toes. We both know how brutal it can get when young businesses like ours start undercutting each other. You’re a bright young man, putting your all into this business. You deserve a fair shot. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
He patted my shoulder, his voice full of understanding.
“We each stick to our designated areas, less stress for everyone. What do you say?”
“Sounds good to me. I’m new to this game, so I appreciate any guidance you can offer.”
Cha Sajang beamed.
“You’re in the business now, you know how it works. Volume is key. Ten tons of cardboard will always fetch a better price than one ton, even if it’s the same material.”
“Of course.”
“So, here’s what I’m thinking… how about you handle all the cardboard?”
“Excuse me?”
What was he trying to pull?
“My scrapyard alone can’t handle the entire complex. We each specialize in one material, makes things simpler for everyone. You just collect the cardboard and deliver it to the paper mill, easy peasy. No need to complicate things with multiple materials.”
This guy was a real piece of work.
“Besides, scrap metal, aluminum, copper… those might have a higher price per kilogram, but they require more work, more processing. You’re just starting out, wouldn’t want you to lose money on something you’re not familiar with. Cardboard is easy, just collect and sell, no risk involved.”
He was treating me like a complete idiot. I wasn’t angry, just baffled.
Anyone who had spent even a week in this business would see through his bullshit. Did he really think I’d fall for this?
“Here’s a little tip,” he continued, oblivious to my thoughts. “Before you sell the cardboard, sprinkle it with water and then salt. Adds a bit of weight, you know? So…”
I cut him off, tired of his charade.
“I appreciate the suggestion, Cha Sajang. So, you’re proposing that I handle all the cardboard, and you take care of the scrap metal, aluminum, copper, all the non-ferrous metals?”
“Exactly! You’re a quick learner, Park Sajang! I even have a list of all the factories in the area and their estimated cardboard output. I’ll give you a copy. Saves you the trouble of scouting and figuring it all out yourself. How generous am I?”
“Let’s see this list of yours, Cha Sajang. I’ll give it some thought.”
He eagerly presented me with a detailed document, outlining each factory’s estimated weekly cardboard output. He went on to explain the best routes, pickup schedules, and potential earnings.
The next day, I set out for the industrial complex, a mischievous grin on my face.
“He really thinks I’m stupid, doesn’t he? This is too good to be true. But hey, at least I got some valuable intel out of him. Time to teach this old fox a lesson.”
He had it too easy for too long, enjoying his little monopoly. I chuckled, picturing his face when he realized he had underestimated the new guy in town.
I went straight to Samhwa Metal, the stainless steel rod haven.
“Assistant Manager Han,” I said, striding into his office. “I’ve got your quote.”
“Oh, really? And what’s the verdict?”
“400 won per kilogram. A full truckload should be around 500 kilograms, so that’s 150,000 won.”
Assistant Manager Han frowned.
“That’s expensive. Our previous contractor charged us 100,000 won per truckload for disposal,” he said, frowning.
I feigned ignorance.
“Really? So, isn’t my quote better?”
“What do you mean? 100,000 won is cheaper than 150,000 won.”
“But I’m offering you 150,000 won. That’s more than 100,000 won, isn’t it?”
Assistant Manager Han paused, clearly confused. “What do you mean you’re ‘offering’ me 150,000 won?”
“Exactly what I said. I’m willing to buy that scrap metal from you, at 150,000 won per truckload.”
“Buy? You want to buy it from us?”
“Of course. And I’m confident this is the best offer you’ll get.”
Assistant Manager Han was speechless. He stared at me, trying to decide if this was some elaborate scam. “But… the other company, they charged us 100,000 won for disposal…”
I put on my most shocked expression. “You mean to tell me they charged you a disposal fee to take away perfectly good scrap metal? What a bunch of crooks! No wonder they had this whole place to themselves for so long. They’ve been ripping everyone off!”
Assistant Manager Han’s face flushed red. He had been played. And not just by anyone, by a scrapyard owner.
As I watched his reaction with amusement, a middle-aged man entered the office. Assistant Manager Han stood up.
“You’re here, sir,” he said, addressing the newcomer. “Who might this be?” he added, gesturing towards me.
Han explained the situation, and the man’s gaze turned sharp as he focused on me. He studied me for a moment before speaking.
“So you’re the owner of Chunha Resources?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Park Sol.”
“And you’re sure this quote is legitimate? You’re not going to pull a fast one and try to lowball us later?”
“Absolutely not, sir. You have my word.”
The CEO considered me for a moment, then nodded.
“Manager Han. From now on, hand everything over to this owner here. It’s not like those few pennies matter even if we lose them. They’ve been ripping me off, haven’t they? It’s embarrassing.”
Starting with Samhwa Metals, I went around to all the places where I had collected samples yesterday and gave them estimates. And I told them how unscrupulous Changjo Resources was.
It’s not possible to visit hundreds of companies at once. I quickly went around focusing on places with “metal” in their company names and gave estimates.
It took 3 days for rumors to spread. It took 4 days for President Cha from Changjo Resources to come looking for me.
“······You bastard.”
“Welcome, Cha Sajang.”
Cha Sajang’s entire body trembled with rage. “I clearly offered you a deal, a partnership! You’d handle the cardboard…”
“And I never agreed to it, did I?”
“You little punk! You stabbed me in the back!”
“What are you talking about? Companies asked for quotes, and I provided them. That’s all.”
Cha Sajang exploded. “You think you know enough to be giving out quotes? I’ve been doing this for five years! I know those factories and their scrap better than the back of my hand! Whatever you quoted them, you’re going to lose money, guaranteed! You’re disrupting the entire market! You clueless newbies always come in, slash prices, and end up bankrupt! Do yourself a favor, stop making waves, and go back to those companies and tell them you made a mistake. You can’t afford to take those prices!”
I grinned. “What if I refuse?”
“You little…” He sputtered. “My son is older than you!”
“I’m not your son, am I?” I chuckled. “You should have thought of that before trying to pull a fast one. Anyway, I’m busy. Let’s not make this a habit. Good day.”
I left him fuming in my dust, laughing as I drove back to my scrapyard.