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How do you know if the part you removed and purchased is in fact a good working part? Or, is it a guessing game, and too sad for you if it is not in working order?

In 1972, my sister bought her first car, a 1964 VW Beetle from her boss ($300). It had no bumpers and I told her she could not legally drive it. This, the first time I went to a salvage place and found a set. Put them on the Beetle and it was an appearance improvement! She kept the 1964 for a year and traded it for a new Beetle. I was mad she said nothing to me about it. I would have liked to have the '64. 300 miles on a 10 gallon tank of fuel then for its size engine. This being when the average American vehicle was getting 7-10 miles per gallon at the time!! Then the oil crisis hit the USA!!!!!! Try finding gas.

Refill… been doing it for over 50 yrs… zero failures

Do I remember the Aerostar?! Hoo boy I do! I was a Ford tech in the 80’s and 90’s… so I am well versed in Aerostar. Transmissions, head gaskets, broken head and main cap bolts… brings back memories!

they have been adding ' fee's ' for a long time.. they just added a new fee in the past year....look at the names of the people that own and run pick and pull then you will understand

And the place is a ghost town due to their high prices.

SOMEONE COULD SAY YOURE HAVING A FULL ON CONVERSATION WITH YOURSELF TOO MAYBE THE EMPLOYEE WAS DOING WHAT YOURE DOING OR ON THE PHONE HANDSFREE 86 FOR A BUMBER IS EXPENSIVE ?????? LMAO,,,, GO TO TGHE DEALER

Most yards I've been to are mud holes. The cars were up to the axles in the dirt.

Im in Denver and ive also noticed the salvage yard prices going up. I check online first now and i can usually find what i need for the same price.

86 buck for a bumper is not bad when you consider the cost of a new one. But the pick and pull by me sells the same bumper for $39.95

Entry fee, environmental fee, warranty fee, then the part is the same price or more at most parts stores. Bigger parts are reasonable. But here in Garner NC, LKQ is disorganized and trashed now. Management has ruined it. I haven't been in a couple of years, I went a few weeks ago. I won't be back.

It's been getting outrageous over the last few years. When I started going to junkyards as a teen (so like 2009) the prices were reasonable, I'd pay $14 for a taillight, $20 for a fender, like $12 for a radio, $30 for a seat etc. The prices have quadrupled and they charge you for every bulb, bolt and little trim piece. I needed a single switch for my 94 Corolla and they charged me $25! The same taillight I paid $14 for in 2010 is now $47! Next time that switch is going in my back pocket

One of the biggest inconveniences is when they dont have your car. Even more is when they DO have your car... BUT, All the good parts are gone

That has to be the cleanest junk yard I have ever seen 😂😂😅😅

Where is the Simi valley pick a part

My aerostar story? A buddies folks had one when we were kids. I recall going down the road with his mom driving ,and somehow she managed to snag her droopy sleeve on her coat over the shifter handle as she reached to turn the radio or heat and ended up putting it into reverse 😂 That was fun at about 40mph , it locked the rear tires up for a second before it stalled out. Rolled to the roadside with all of our pants full of 💩,she started it up and off we went. We expected the transmission to be on the ground 😂

The PYP yards in N Houston are a mess. Nothing organized, potholes all over the place. Not a fun shopping experience.

There all over priced here in Las Vegas

Some salvage yards are better than others I have found. More organized, lower prices, better selection. Haven’t been in a while but I bought a ton of items for a truck I bought, my total bill was under $100.

I had to learn the hard way too.

I went to a pick-a-part and noticed all the alternators were still on the engines. Even when they were easy to pull nobody was taking them. I read through the comments and it seems people are saying new is cheaper on line.. I suppose if it is a pain to get to, people go for the security of new. ...I ended up not buying.

Obviously you've never priced a new Factory Fender or a new Factory bumper for a new factory seat I bought Chevy van seats for $15 for 20 years now he's got the passenger seat like brand new you know how much cost to get one recovered right now 350 to 400 not to mention the specialty saw a bolts and screws and fasteners the guy will give you all my hand feels all give me $2 or go to the dealership and they'll charge you $3 a piece if you can get them that's all that was made on that car try and find that original bolt yeah you won't so that them junk yards are a lot of fun too I've gotten radios for 300 bucks for $25 you just you just cheap to begin with

When I was a teen with my first car, 1981, I went to the local scrap yard. You would go around and get your parts. I remember getting a basket full of parts. The owner would look at it and say “ehhh…how about a $20 dollar bill”. That was it. Cheap and very fair. It Sux today. At the You Apart you pay to get in ($2) then get your parts and everything is logged into a computer and you pay about 1/2 of NEW prices!!! This would be fine until you reliaze new dealer prices are horribly over-priced. It’s a bit I of a scam compared to 1981. It’s getting bad enough I’m starting to mostly buy aftermarket parts from China on Amazon. I hate doing that but it’s the salvage yards greed that forces it.

You can loose a lot of money there, later explaining to the wife why. 🥵

I do always and write the date and kilometres on them.

I stopped going to these places in Europe, it was cheaper to buy a whole car for parts and then getting rid of the rest than buying at a wreckers. Nice to see the same problem you have in the US. It's the government that is putting a lot of rules on these places. Now I live in France and it's here the same as Belgium and Holland, Germany and the UK.

All these corporate multi location salvage yards are killing themselves. Guys that used to fix up lesser problems or cosmetics are not bothering anymore because the yards are pricing too high

When you buy a part they charge you sales tax on your entry fee

I have not gone to a junk yard for parts in over 30 years because of the prices are too close to dealer prices and factor in your time and labor. Not worth it any more.

"Interesting people" is an understatement.... Three years ago at US Auto Parts in Sterling Whites MI. We walked around the corner of the isle and found couple vigorously filming a porno in back of a van.... Two go-pros on tripods and they each had the head mount strapped on..... After a couple minutes my girlfriend speculated we might be being filmed in the background. So after a couple more minutes we turned around and walked away.....

Pick-and-Pull was on Stockton Blvd in Sacramento for years and then closed up. Now it is something else. It is better organized and you can check inventory online. Parts are expensive, but you might not have to pay to see if they have what you need. One recent purchase I made was for a passenger side seat belt for a three door chevy silverado 1500. It was 25.00 bucks and worked well. They give you a list and you go out and undo what you want. They will tell you ahead of time what it will cost. I hate going there because some low life might be out front sawing off your converter.

Where you said Simi Valley? Or sun valley? Is there pick a part in Simi Valley where?

A Mazda Trailer Hitch at a Southern California Junk Yard is $180 and a Brand New Mazda Trailer Hitch delivered to my doorstep is $130!?!?

I was quoted $700-1100 for an engine, mid 80s Nissan. Insanity

Thats Sun valley pick a part, not Simi valley!🥳

Only saved about 5 bucks over a brand new underhood engine bay light fixture (2001 GMC Yukon XL) after paying admission and for the part (which they priced many times more at checkout than the quote I was given over the phone when I called and they had originally said "Yeah, we show we have like a half-dozen of those, and they're about $2 ea"). Then during checkout "Mmm, can't find that part listed, so we'll just go with this part description (and pricing)". Not doing that again.

Yes you can talk to your hand. But not your teeth

You can go get new parts for almost the same price.

I remember when it was only $1 admission and they had the 50% off sale each month (usually near the holidays on certain months). It was Pick Your Parts, Ecology, and even the U-Pick U-Save in Gardena where the 91 West ends. It was so much fun and you got a lot for very little money. Nowadays, I believe the only one around is Pick Your Parts and they are all owned by LKQ. Admission went up to $3 and recently $5 or $6 and the prices of the parts aren't as economical/affordable as they once were. Depending on the parts, like you said, it's almost cheaper and easier to buy new sometimes. I don't frequent the junkyard as often as I use to. Unless I need something that I can't buy elsewhere. At the register you have to let them know you don't want warranty; they will automatically add warranty fee to all the parts you purchase otherwise even if it makes no sense (like why would I need a warranty for a used door or fender, it's used and I've already looked at it thoroughly before I pulled it). Great video, thanks for sharing!

My local junk yard has posted prices but their staff usually don't abide by it, for example a cup holder is $5 dollars but they charge it as small trim for $10.

Same in San Diego.

All these hedgfunds, and big corporate yards like yp&p or pick a part yards are crazy high on prices and fees after fees thats why they are empty. I go to private yards or shop around anymore. Some have way better pricing than the corporate rip-offs. I understand cost increases. i own a business, but come on, when is enough enough.

I’m at the salvage yard. I just did it. You were all the help I needed.

Their prices went up when they and ecology merged..and no longer have their 40% off...go u pick up pull...they still offer weekly sales of parts

Its the hunt that counts!

i am restoring a 350 z. i find quite often i can buy new parts cheaper than the junk yard parts now

Wow! The first problem is, you are trapped in California. Carry On and survive with your fellow "DIY car lovers!"

Awesome!

Around here the prices went up when they bought Ecology Auto Wrecking and got themselves a monopoly on self serve wrecking parts. they are as high as the full serve yards in San Diego.

I recently went to get a bunch of parts for my project truck. Thinking I'd be saving money, I was thrilled when I found a usable parking brake cable, so I removed it from the vehicle. Later it turned out that I could have bought a brand new one for less money than this junkyard charged me. Thankfully they accepted it back, but I still wasted my time.