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Great read! Aside from software development, I run a metal fabrication shop where we purchase and process approx. 20k lbs of steel and aluminum (monthly). Havin

Great read! Aside from software development, I run a metal fabrication shop where we purchase and process approx. 20k lbs of steel and aluminum (monthly). Having been in the industry for the past 10 years, I’ve always referred to all metal suppliers as folks that deal with “funny money”. There’s no transparency in pricing whatsoever. You can’t easily lookup or guesstimate metals prices without having core subject matter expertise that come with experience. It might as well be called an undercover hedge fund market with killer profits!

zafka 5y ago
Are you getting better prices on feedstock as automobile production slows?
selimthegrim 5y ago
Matt Levine's jokes about the aluminum merry-go-round suddenly acquire another dimension.
55555 5y ago
Isn't the markup for a certain product basically it's weight times the spot market price of the metal with an added constant markup depending on how much more complex it is than a lump of ore? I have no idea what I'm talking about but am interested.. Please elaborate!
- dwater 5y ago
  The metal market I go to generally uses prices per pound for the basic shapes of different metal types, and the system lists pounds per piece. But this information isn’t readily available, it’s only after your purchase when you get an invoice that you can see what the cost is. Otherwise you have to stand at the counter and ask how much each different piece is.
  - lazide 5y ago
    Additionally, there is the additional dimensions of grade/composition of metal, heat treating (and heat treatability), dimensional stability/accuracy, and finish (pickled? Oiled? Mill finish?). And that’s just for ferrous. Non-ferrous is even weirder in many ways.
  - TheSpiceIsLife 5y ago
    All the metal merchants I deal with here in Australia will issue quotes upon request, usually replying within an hour via email or immediately on the phone. Prices are typically very stable, and they will notify of predicted significant price changes months in advance. We got notifications late last year of predicted price changes throughout the first half of 2021.
hellbannedguy 5y ago
Could you elaborate a bit more? I've always been interested in the buying/selling of metal.
robk 5y ago
Metalshub is working on this

zafka 5y ago

Are you getting better prices on feedstock as automobile production slows?

selimthegrim 5y ago

Matt Levine's jokes about the aluminum merry-go-round suddenly acquire another dimension.

55555 5y ago

Isn't the markup for a certain product basically it's weight times the spot market price of the metal with an added constant markup depending on how much more complex it is than a lump of ore? I have no idea what I'm talking about but am interested.. Please elaborate!

dwater 5y ago
The metal market I go to generally uses prices per pound for the basic shapes of different metal types, and the system lists pounds per piece. But this information isn’t readily available, it’s only after your purchase when you get an invoice that you can see what the cost is. Otherwise you have to stand at the counter and ask how much each different piece is.
- lazide 5y ago
  Additionally, there is the additional dimensions of grade/composition of metal, heat treating (and heat treatability), dimensional stability/accuracy, and finish (pickled? Oiled? Mill finish?). And that’s just for ferrous. Non-ferrous is even weirder in many ways.
- TheSpiceIsLife 5y ago
  All the metal merchants I deal with here in Australia will issue quotes upon request, usually replying within an hour via email or immediately on the phone. Prices are typically very stable, and they will notify of predicted significant price changes months in advance. We got notifications late last year of predicted price changes throughout the first half of 2021.

hellbannedguy 5y ago

Could you elaborate a bit more? I've always been interested in the buying/selling of metal.

robk 5y ago

Metalshub is working on this