This rating is based on customer reviews, inventory size, pricing, and service quality
Sutter Metals in Lacey, WA shows polarized feedback—about 69/100. Many highlight friendly, professional staff who help sort/unload, fair-to-good pricing, a clean, organized yard, and quick payouts; first-timers feel guided. Common complaints center on pricing transparency (quoted vs. paid gaps, limited scale visibility, and cash rounded down unless taking a check), occasional rude interactions, confusing parking/signage, long waits when busy, and sporadic access issues. Some mention environmental/noise concerns. Inventory/parts details are scarce, so uncertainty remains. Morning visits often mean faster lines.
They do not pay as much as where I normally turn my metal on at.
I lost about fifty bucks by NOT spending the additional ten bucks it would have cost in fuel to drive to Fife where I normally go.
There system in processing each customer is not very time efficient but they did seem to improve the flow of traffic from previous visits here.
The staff are nice but not very attentive.
The parking situation is a bit confusing with poor direction. The lot boy definitely low balled me on the rate of exchange for my metals. So, a bit disappointing on the ease of access and to conduct trade with some young rube that most likely thinks metallurgy is an energy drink.
Horrible experience. Paid less than half of other metals recycling yards, long wait times, the claw and line was long , and also incompetent workers. Avoid at all costs.
They turn away people on foot. I learned this from an older disabled gentleman I gave a ride to. He picks up cans to make a few bucks - but recently Sutter turned him away due to not having the privilege of a car to drive in. Hope you guys have a change of heart and reverse this cruel policy.
In response to managements reply: If the yard is so unsafe to people on foot - then I must be very unsafe every time I have ever visited, as I inevitably exit my vehicle during the process of delivering scrap. Simply designate a walk-in area where there is no "dangerous" machinery running, seems pretty simple. Until then - you've lost this customer of 7 years.
Julius? Julian? Sorry im forgetting the name but he was super helpful and easy to work with today. First time I came here so I ended up coming to the wrong spot. (Wish there was a sign or something for random people driving in, I didnt notice one). He got me where I need to go and he and another guy helped get me set up with a bin to unload all the aluminum I brought in. He helped get it all unloaded, weighed, gave directions to get paid out.
Terrible place to do business. I have been there three different times with three different amounts of cans. They refused to let me see the scale to verify the weight. They closed the door to block the scale from view. And gave me $13 all three times. Ripoff artists
Approachable, friendly, and professional spot. I was a little nervous about going because I had never been to a scrap yard and didn't know the ins and outs. Everyone there was super cool and walked me step by step on the process, got me my cash and sent me on my way.
Sutter Metals has always been helpful about sorting metal I have tried to grade. The employees are helpful friendly and professional in their dealing with the public. The yard is professionaly managed and clean. A pleasure to be happy satisfied customer
I have always preferred a check.
Had fires constantly, clearly very poor standards and coordination. Being next to one of the largest untouched forests in the city, they need to relocate. Noise & environmental pollution on a daily basis.
(Lacey location)
This business only pays in rounded down dollar amounts. Example $10.99 = $10.00.
On a yearly basis this business is padding their margins. There was a sign stating this during Covid years back because of a change shortage. Sign is now gone and nothing indicates you will get the full amount you expect when recycling with them. I will not be doing business here ever again.
UPDATE:
In reply to Sutter Metals full pament by check their attendant hands you a cash amount with a receipt rounded down to the dollar and never explains their policy of generating a check for your full payment. If you never check the receipt you will never know. In addition all other businesses deal with burdensome change every day and seem to operate a better quality business model since the passing of the Covid epidemic.
I could understand this companies business model if they stated it upfront with a professional sign at the scale shack stating their policy.
"Cash payment is rounded down to nearest $ or full $ amount is paid by check."
Give your customers a choice leaving no doubts as to whether your attendant explained your policy or not.
Understanding it's pennies on the pound per customer, however, at the end of the day it amounts to dollars on the pound for the business.
Always helpful and friendly staff that truly value their customers, in my experience. Transparency in every exchange. Competitive pricing for the local market. Thank you for being a consistent and reliable avenue for metals recycling.
All my experiences with Sutter Metals have been great. Hard working, honest staff, a clean yard with good signage to visit. The office staff is courteous and professional. I have received fair pricing for all my recycling needs.
My 5 yo grandson and I have been using Sutter Metals to recycle our collection of metal from friends and neighbors. He has a good appreciation for the fact that he can earn money with his grandpa and we both enjoy the experience. The smile on his face when he earned his first 100 dollar bill was the best. Great experience, friendly people. Only takes one visit to catch on to their system.
During Covid Sutters had a sign stating that they would only pay out in dollar bills because of the coin shortage, they have removed the sign but are still only paying out in paper money i did checked with the area banks that have stated the coin shortage had ended and business that are still withholding change because of that are being dishonest and flat out lieing. I have two receipts one for 8.05 and 10.99 so they are just adding to their profit by keeping your change
I called a week ago to schedule picking up a wrecked Lexus out of my yard. At first they tried to charge me $50 tow fee but I knew 3000lbs of steel was worth more than a $300 market value tow - so they offered $100 which was fine by me! They showed up on time and the guy to took the car was the fastest/most professional waste-no-time type of person. They're lucky to have the guy.
Ok so let me start off by saying timing is everything. so I got there a little after 3pm and it was extremely busy, people everywhere trying to get there scrap in. After I got all my items processed and got paid it was 4:58 pm. I do not feel as if the weight was accurate, next time I'll scale my materials prior to going in. The scrap prices I received was on par with the prices on I scrap app. So I inquired about the best time of the day to come in and I was told between 8am to noon.
Have had them haul 3 or 4 cars in the last few years. It is probably one of the last places whose cash offers aren't insulting. Plus, they have always been super helpful, always friendly and a few of the drivers are even funny. I recommend them to others all the time.
I came to the yard in Lacey several months ago to drop off aluminum cans an other items. There wasn’t a problem until I got paid. I was supposed to receive $15.75 for the items. When I got to the office the door it was blocked an a guy handed me $15.00 with a receipt out the door. I was told then that they didn’t give change. So in other words they keep the change because they pay to they lowest dollar. I was really surprised an upset that a business with several outlets would do this . When I complained they said there is a sign inside that states this because of a change shortage. The problem with that is you don’t get to go in the building because of COVID-19. If you’re going to take the customers change this should be disclosed or posted at the receiving point before the transaction has occurred, not after the transaction. I didn’t have much material on this trip and won’t ever go back. As I was leaving I seen a guy on a bike pull up with a bag that had cans an some copper. I felt bad for him and all the others that lost money with this company. Do yourself a favor don’t do business with people like this, go to CALBAGS in Tacoma They give the best prices around and have always been fair.
Horrible communication. Apparently the driver calls 30 min before pick up. We were told that they would pick up in the afternoon and then nothing after that. My husband emailed them in the morning and nothing. I call and they are going to be here “closer” to 5:30. Definitely not the afternoon, then the lady says well the driver could be there around 2:30...I would NOT recommend them.
I own a farm and have a lot of unusable farm equipment laying around after emailing I received a prompt reply and Sam came out to look at everything we wanted gone. He was very professional and timely. He removed one piece every other company has turned away and did it safely! He was training a new guy that day (maybe Eric?) and was very informative as the steps needed to get the trasher out safely from the building. We will be using them to clean up the scrap metal on our farm!
Sam Adams was amazing to work with. He was responsive, thoughtful, diligent and respectful of our property. He also had exceptional communications skills. He was a true professional from start to finish.
I would highly recommend the services of Sutter Metals.
Tried to schedule pick ups of scrap cars 2 separate times, days in advance both times. Didn't hold appointment times and basically told us we are SOL and have to schedule again anyway. We had to take time off work to make the rescheduled appointment. First time the driver came out, had an attitude and wasn't able to pick up all the cars that we were told he could on the phone, then got his tow truck stuck and we had to bail them out. Second appointment we scheduled a day in advance and they called us and didnt have any notes about an appointment time being kept. Would not recommend if you are looking for a timely/professional/competent service.
Super easy process. Unfortunately I did not have the title for my vehicle anymore, but they had a process for that situation and it was still no hassle at all. I called them, they had it towed, and I got cash. Everyone I talked to was extremely friendly, and the tow truck driver that came to tow my car was hella chill.
I'm also happy to have that piece of crap car off the edge of my driveway -_-'
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