Here in Fresno, I can go into a junk yard and take my time seeing if stuff from other vehicles will fit onto my Bronco, but in a few areas of the country, I wasnt allowed in. I had to tell the attendant what part I wanted and he'd get it.

Is this the norm in most of the country??

That's horrible, if so!

 

Depends on the junkyard. Around here in KC there are big pick-a-part places with fixed prices. There are also both kinds of lots like you described. I stay away from any that I can't go in and browse.

 

I worked in a salvage yard for a while. One of our competitors had a car fall on a customer and they shut it off to the public. Another was having problems catching 5 or 6 people every day stealing. I don't blame them but it does screw it up bad for everyone else. Especially if you like to "browse" like I do.

 

Most junkyards won't let you brose due to liability insurance reasons & theft.

In the 80's all junk yards would let you brose. I had a 77 Z-28 and I would go to this one junk yard with an almost empty tool box and fill er up with free parts. I would purchase one part but I had a load of small stuff.

I guess I ruined it for you guys. Hey I was a teenager and broke.

 

Most places do not allow browsing because of liability issues, those that do, set up the yards differently to protect the public from safety concerns and they pay more for insurance.

 

I don't know of any around here that you have to tell them what you want.
Atleast not in my general area, but I do know of one in the whole state that way.

One guy in particular will let you look around all you want...... but you have to walk in, or drive one of the "go getter" cars. He won't let you pull your own vehicle into the lot. Keeps you from stealing bigger items

I do however, take what i pretty much want from a junkyard that I go to quite frequently. I don't take big items, but if its a ****, or a emblem i want for the garage wall... or what knot... they always let us have them for free cuz i know the guy. So I just carry them up there and show em.
Not a biggie.I dont guess it's stealing, but im not paying for it either

I would try and avoid any junkyard that wouldn't let you atleast go look.

 

Last time I was looking for something for a 71 Cougar the counter guy was positive that there were NO 71 cougars in his junk yard. But yet sitting in plain site of the front door was a car with the exact parts I wanted. Turns out they had three Cougars that I bought parts off, once I was able to check the whole yard out myself.

Around here you can't just go look for the parts yourself, let alone remove them. Insurance is the reason, so they say.

 

There's a couple yards around here, most are not "official" scrap yards, but with no zoning no one can say no to a stock pile of cars, they just can't sell, or at least can't let anyone important know that they sell parts. I like these the best, they are laid back and relaxed just like I've heard it used to be(since I wasn't there then myself). One guy even lets you take up a tab, so you don't have to pay on the spot. One place though, best place around for newer parts is a legal junk yard and they are ******. You can go back and look/browse, but they'll drive by you about 10 times a minute in their little yard truck.....and don't think they'll help you with heavy parts(ie engine) with that yard truck....heellll naaa, do it yourself- you have 2 arms and 2 legs. I got so ticked I went out, got my truck, pushed the chain link gate open, and drove out there....I was escorted out and then never went back!!! But I got lucky b/c as I was arguing in the office with the yard boys my buddy was able to hoist the engine into my truck and we got it "on the house"!!! Best choice I ever made was to get kicked out of that yard because after 2 years of hard core off-roading the engine still runs like a scalded weasel....
Scott

 

There are a couple around here that you can walk into, but you have to pay $1 just to get in.

 

In the greater sacramento area we have pick and pulls. And there still are lots of junkyards that will let you wander, also lots that won't. Used parts is a huge business.

 

We had that $1 to get in bull poop here also at one yard.
This yard never really had anything any of us here would need.
The $1 thing lasted 6 months, then they took it away because they lost a lot of business.
I do like that place because twice a year they have a "Iron Man" type thing
Whatever you can wheel out in a wheel barrow is 50 bucks

 

Around me they have a 29.99 all you can carry. whatever you grab you have to be able to carry under your own power for 20 feet. they allow lifting starps and canvas bags, but you gotta move it.

Justin

 

There is a self pull place right near where I live. I have only gotten a couple things off them, because now I drive mostly newer stuff. When I was a kid, about 7 or 8, my father took me to a yard somewhere in Pennsylvania. I was awestruck. Some of the older cars had trees growing up through them. It seemed like the place was 5 million acres, to a kid. I'd love to go roam through a huge yard just to gawk. Heck, I'd even pay to do so.

 

There's a place a little ways south that hosted a grand opening "all you can carry for a buck" It is mostly newer imports, but my friend pulled an engine for his Toyota Paseo, and called one of the yard boys and convinced them that if he could wheel it to the gate, and carry it the 5' through the double gate, he could have it. He did it, and I was amazed as heell! It's amazing what motivation money is!
Scott

 

they let you in at cophers u pull it here in Fl you bring tools and pull your own parts....pretty sweet deal, oh yea they do check your tools in and out of the place so dont put anything in the box you dont wanna pay for....i managed to get a complete minus accessories like alternator, and ps pump 95' 5.0L H.O. engine for $250... it runs too....i dont think its worth stealing from them as they will pretty much let you have smaller things no charge, i got out with a distributor for my old toyota 4x4 for free cause the guy wasnt sure if it was gonna work or not...it did and the next trip through i tried to pay him he wouldnt hear of it.....good guys over there