How a reel pickup works

The five steps

1. 1. Count and photo

   Count the reels by flange size and send one photo of the stack and one of a reel tag.

   Count by flange size, measured outside edge to outside edge. A rough split is fine: "about 20 at 36 inches, 10 at 48, 4 big ones." The photo of the whole stack shows condition; the close-up of a reel tag or stencil shows whose reels they are.

   You: count, photograph, send.

2. 2. Sort by tag and condition

   We read the tags and photos and tell you which reels we buy, which are returnable and which look like recycling.

   From the photos we can usually spot returnable reels (stencils, tags, bolted builds) and reels past reuse (sagging staves, split flanges). We reply with what we expect to buy, route and recycle, and a quote for the buyback reels.

   You: confirm the count.

3. 3. Route each reel

   Every reel gets one exit: buyback, maker take-back, recycling or resupply.

   Buyback reels are paid for and loaded. Returnables stay with you, listed for their maker's program. Reels past reuse are loaded for recycling. If you need reels, resupply runs on the same truck.

   You: keep returnables apart.

4. 4. Schedule by corridor

   We put you on the next corridor day in your area, or send a truck of its own for a big lot.

   Corridor days run region by region, so small lots ride with bigger ones nearby. Before the day, stand reels on edge, chocked, on dunnage, with an aisle for forks and the returnables in their own row.

   You: stage reels and give access.

5. 5. Load and settle

   The driver checks each reel, loads, and leaves one ticket showing what was bought, recycled and left.

   At the stop the driver checks each reel against the quote, loads, and leaves the ticket. Payment follows the ticket. If the count or the condition differs from the photos, the driver says so before loading.

   You: open the gate, take the ticket.

After the truck leaves

The ticket shows every reel and what happened to it. Reels we bought are on it with their sizes; recycled reels are listed; returnables left behind are listed by maker and reel number. If something on the ticket doesn't match, reply to the email it came with and we sort it out.

If the yard will fill again, ask about a recurring yard pickup.

Paperwork, tools and timing

Nothing needs printing. Requests come through the form or by email; the reply, the quote and the ticket are all emailed. Drivers carry a tape, a flashlight for reading faded stencils, chocks and straps, and a phone for photographs of what was loaded.

Timing depends on the region's corridor day. Inside a region, stops are ordered by geography and by dock hours, so mention any window you must keep.

What changes for big lots

For a few dozen reels the steps above take a few days end to end. For hundreds, step four becomes a plan: a truck of its own, sometimes two, with forks and trailers matched to the sizes. Data-centre campuses, warehouse fit-outs and plant shutdowns usually work this way.

For a single spool, the steps shrink to a photo, a ZIP and a corridor day.

What we need from you, all in one place

• A count by flange size, measured outside edge to outside edge.
• A photo of the stack and one of a reel tag or stencil.
• The site ZIP, the address and how reels load: forklift, dock or by hand.
• Gate hours, safety rules and a contact for the day.

Questions

How do I stage reels for pickup?

Stand them on edge, chocked, on dunnage or firm ground, sorted by size, with returnables in their own row and an aisle for forks.

How long does a pickup take?

With a forklift, a few minutes for dozens of reels. By hand, longer, depending on size.

Do I need to be there?

Someone needs to open the gate or dock. If the reels are outside and reachable, a phone call on arrival is enough.

What comes back after I send a request?

A reply with what we expect to buy, route and recycle from your photos, a quote for the buyback reels, and the next corridor day for your area.

What if the reels on the day don't match the photos?

The driver tells you before loading, and the ticket reflects what was actually collected.

Can I see an example ticket?

Ask in your request. A sample shows the layout: reels bought by flange size, reels recycled, and returnables left with maker names and reel numbers.

Reel words on this page

Reel tag

The label or plate carrying the maker, the reel number and sometimes the return terms.

Flange

The round side discs that hold the cable in. Flange diameter, edge to edge, is the size a reel is known by.

Returnable reel

A reel its maker expects back, usually stencilled or tagged to say so.

One-way reel

A reel nobody is collecting. Once empty, it belongs to whoever holds it.

Drive hole

A smaller hole off-centre in the flange that a drive pin uses to turn the reel.

Nailed vs bolted

Nailed reels are held together with nails and built for one trip; bolted reels have through-bolts and steel plates for many.