Is it better to part out an item or scrap it whole?

Scrap value is your guaranteed floor and takes one trip. Parting out only wins when the sold-comp value of the parts, minus marketplace fees, shipping and your teardown time, clearly beats that floor.

How do I find what a used part actually sells for?

Search the part on eBay and filter to Sold items, then take the median of recent sales for the same or a compatible model. Asking prices tell you nothing about what buyers actually pay.

Where should I sell heavy items like engines and transmissions?

Use Facebook Marketplace or another local listing site. Anything over roughly 40 pounds or awkwardly shaped is often freight-only on eBay, and shipping cost usually decides whether the sale is worth it.

What fees should I subtract from a resale price?

Budget for the marketplace's final value fee, which on eBay runs in the low teens as a percentage of the total including shipping, plus shipping materials and postage, and the value of your own teardown time.

Which parts are usually worth pulling?

Small, dense, in-demand components: carburetors, alternators, starters, pumps, control boards and motors. Frames, sheet metal, housings and rusted or model-generic pieces are normally better as scrap.

Does the app tell me whether to sell or scrap?

Yes. A scan returns an estimated scrap value, an estimated parts value, the net after marketplace fees and a suggested plan for what to sell and what to scrap. Every figure is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Sell the Parts or Scrap It?

Most items are worth more parted out — until teardown time, fees and storage eat the difference. Here's how to run the numbers.

Start with the scrap floor

Scrap value is your guaranteed floor: weight times today's posted grade price. It takes one trip, no photos, no buyers, no shipping. Any resale plan has to beat that floor by enough to be worth the extra work.

Then price the parts on sold comps

Search the part on eBay and filter to Sold items — asking prices tell you nothing. Take the median of recent sold listings for the same model or a compatible one, not the highest.

For heavy or bulky pieces (engines, transmissions, frames, appliances), check Facebook Marketplace instead: local pickup avoids shipping, which usually decides the outcome.

Subtract the real costs

Marketplace fees — eBay's final value fee on most categories runs in the low teens as a percentage, charged on the total including shipping.
Shipping — anything over ~40 lb or awkwardly shaped is often freight-only. Price it before you list.
Teardown time — put an hourly number on your own labor. Two hours for a $30 part is usually a loss.
Storage — a part that sits six months has a cost too, in space and in your patience.

Rules of thumb that hold up

Pull the small, dense, high-demand parts: carburetors, alternators, starters, controllers, pumps.
Test what you can and say so in the listing — "pulled working" sells far faster than "as-is".
Scrap the frame, sheet metal, housings and anything rusted or model-generic.
If the whole item runs, selling it complete often beats both parting and scrapping.
Photograph model and serial plates before disassembly; buyers search by number.

Worked example: a dead riding mower

The engine, carburetor, deck spindles and transaxle are the money. The frame, deck shell, hood and wheels are scrap steel. A common plan: list the engine locally, list the small parts online, then take the stripped frame to the yard in the same trip as your other steel.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to part out an item or scrap it whole?: Scrap value is your guaranteed floor and takes one trip. Parting out only wins when the sold-comp value of the parts, minus marketplace fees, shipping and your teardown time, clearly beats that floor.
How do I find what a used part actually sells for?: Search the part on eBay and filter to Sold items, then take the median of recent sales for the same or a compatible model. Asking prices tell you nothing about what buyers actually pay.
Where should I sell heavy items like engines and transmissions?: Use Facebook Marketplace or another local listing site. Anything over roughly 40 pounds or awkwardly shaped is often freight-only on eBay, and shipping cost usually decides whether the sale is worth it.
What fees should I subtract from a resale price?: Budget for the marketplace's final value fee, which on eBay runs in the low teens as a percentage of the total including shipping, plus shipping materials and postage, and the value of your own teardown time.
Which parts are usually worth pulling?: Small, dense, in-demand components: carburetors, alternators, starters, pumps, control boards and motors. Frames, sheet metal, housings and rusted or model-generic pieces are normally better as scrap.
Does the app tell me whether to sell or scrap?: Yes. A scan returns an estimated scrap value, an estimated parts value, the net after marketplace fees and a suggested plan for what to sell and what to scrap. Every figure is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Let the app run both numbers

Scan the item and Scrapper's Delight shows scrap value, estimated parts value, the net after marketplace fees, comps to check, and a suggested plan for what to sell and what to scrap.

Every figure is an estimate, not a guarantee — real payouts depend on your buyer, your yard and current demand. See also scrap metal prices near me.

Scan an item