Everyone says “sell at the top.” Pros say “turn the money.” In catalytic converter recycling—where PGMs are commodities that move daily—price is noise, cash flow is strategy. Here’s how the best operators actually win. 

 

The big idea: Profits > Price 

• Converters are a commodity. Prices swing. Chasing “the perfect price” is speculation. 

• What actually matters: getting fair current market value and realizing your built-in margin today. 

• Business vs hobby: Are you trying to time a once-a-year exit, or are you running a business that needs capital back in motion? 

 

Turn the money (and turn it again) 

• Hold a year, sell once at +10% → 1× 10%. 

• Sell monthly at +10% → 12× 10% = 120% on the same capital (simple stacking as discussed in the episode). 

• Faster turns = more chances to redeploy into better deals. Cash flow keeps you in the game. 

 

Why “holding for higher” backfires 

• You know today’s price. Tomorrow’s is a guess. 

• While you wait, opportunities pass because your “powder” (cash) is tied up. 

• Markets can drift sideways or down longer than you can stay liquid. 

 

The compliance time bomb: “Stranded converters” 

New federal rules are heading toward traceability back to the original VIN plus traceable payment. If you’re hoarding with weak paperwork: 

• Those units can become unsellable to compliant buyers (your only outlets then are the worst ones at the worst prices). 

• Action now: turn inventory, and upgrade your records so every unit can be matched stock# → VIN. 

 

Choose partners who de-risk your cash flow 

• Reliable, honest, pays-on-delivery. No “I’ll pay you Monday” or door-price switcheroos. 

• Traceable forms of payment only. 

• Transparent pricing that reflects real market value—not location arbitrage. 

Location matters: A bottle of water is $0.50 at Costco and $5 at the ballpark. Same water, different place. If someone two states over pays more for your part numbers, ship to the market that actually pays—don’t sell to the nearest middleman just because he’s convenient. 

 

Practical playbook (steal this) 

1) Set a cadence 

• Ship weekly or monthly. Treat “turn day” as sacred on the calendar. 

2) Price for today 

• Buy and sell at today’s market. Bank your 10–15% and move on. 

3) Paper the chain 

• Record every unit: stock number, seller, VIN, date, payment method. 

• Store docs so you can pass VIN traceability to your buyer instantly through your stock number. 

4) Keep powder dry 

• Don’t wait on a mythical spike. Stay liquid so you can jump on real +15% deals. 

5) Vet your buyer 

• Same-day payment when delivered. 

• No bait-and-switch. Clear terms. Traceable payments. 

 

Quick FAQ 

“Should I hold until Pd hits $3,000 and Rh hits $20,000 again?”
That’s speculation. Pros make consistent profits by turning—not by hoping. 

“What if I bought high last year?”
Turn anyway. Realize what you can, free up capital, and start compounding smaller, repeatable wins. 

“I only sell a little—do these rules still matter?”
Yes. VIN traceability applies to legitimate buyers. Without it, you risk stranded converters and fire-sale pricing. 

 

Key takeaways 

• Price is noise; cash flow is king. 

• Turn your money—monthly beats annually. 

• Stay compliant (VIN + traceable payments) to avoid stranded inventory. 

• Work with reliable partners who pay fairly and quickly. 

 

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