1. Send the count and sizes
Use the request form on this page or email info@dallaswoodenspools.com. What helps most:
- How many reels, even a rough number
- Flange diameters, the outside size of the round ends, in inches; a tape across the flange is enough, and our guide to measuring a reel shows where
- Build, if you know it: nailed wood, plywood with bolts, plastic or steel
- Condition: sound, a few damaged, or mostly broken
- Where they are, with the ZIP code, and how a truck gets to them
- Photos, two or three of the stack from different sides
2. We reply with a quote
The reply says, in plain words, which reels we'd pay for and roughly what, which we'd take for recycling, and whether there's a charge for the pickup itself. Small loads far from other pickups, or loads that are mostly broken, sometimes carry a charge; big loads of sound reels usually don't. If something's unclear from the photos, we'll ask before quoting rather than change the price at the truck.
3. We agree a date
We plan routes by area, so a pickup in the Mid-Cities may be timed with others near DFW Airport, and one south of Dallas with stops along I-45 and I-35E. If you have a hard deadline, a closeout or a lease handback, say so and we'll work to it. Site rules on gate times, badges, escorts or safety gear go into the plan at this stage.
4. The truck collects the reels
The driver checks the reels against the quote, loads them, and leaves. If the count or condition is very different from what was described, the driver will say so before loading, not after. Payment for reels we buy is made as agreed in the quote. Afterwards you can ask for a written note of what was collected, by count and size.
Paperwork you might need
Most pickups need nothing more than the email thread. Larger companies sometimes want a vendor set-up form, a certificate of insurance, or a purchase order before a truck can enter their property. Tell us early which documents your procurement or safety department expects and we'll supply what we genuinely hold, so the paperwork doesn't hold up an otherwise simple job.
What changes the price
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flange size | Some sizes have steady buyers; very small and very large ones have fewer |
| Build | Nailed reels in good shape resell best; damaged plywood is mostly recycling |
| Condition | Intact staves and round arbor holes mean the reel can carry cable again |
| Count | Bigger loads spread the cost of the truck |
| Access | A forklift and a clear lane make loading quick; no equipment means more time |
| Distance | A pickup on a route with others costs less than a lone trip to the edge of the area |
A worked example
Say a contractor in Grand Prairie has 40 empties left after a warehouse fit-out: about 25 reels at 30 to 36 in, ten at 48 in, three big 72 in drums and two with smashed flanges. They send the count, a ZIP and three photos. The quote comes back listing the 48 in and most of the 30 to 36 in reels as reels we'd buy, the two broken ones and a few weathered plywood reels as recycling, and the 72 in drums as one or the other depending on how their arbor holes look up close. They pick a Thursday; the truck arrives, the driver checks the drums, and the yard is empty before lunch. No two pickups are identical, but most follow that shape.
What we won't do
We won't load reels you haven't agreed to sell, take cable that's still on a reel without your written say-so, or quote one price and pay another without explaining why first. And we don't publish a price list, because two loads with the same count can be completely different jobs.
Questions
How long does loading take?
For a stack that's reachable with a forklift, usually well under an hour. Big loads without equipment take longer, and we plan for it.
Do I need to be there?
Someone who can open the gate and confirm which reels go needs to be. They don't have to help load.
What if it rains on the day?
Rain rarely stops a pickup. Very wet ground can, if a loaded truck would sink, so we'll check with you if the forecast is bad.
Request a pickup or a quote
Count and flange size are the two things that matter. The rest helps us plan the truck.