A scrap agent works for a seller or a buyer who would rather hand over the describing, listing and dealing. You do not buy or store material. You earn the commission the hirer sets when they hire you. This guide walks through one job from the agent's side, using the stages ScrapTrade publishes for how hiring works. It covers what to confirm, what to record and where agents go wrong. It makes no promise of income, and we have no earnings data. We have a commercial interest in the scrap trade.
Before the first job
- Register and verify. Create a free account and complete the identity check. Start from Become a scrap agent.
- Learn to describe material. Clients want accurate type, grade, quantity and condition. See scrap material categories and Scrap Metal Types and Grades.
- Know the price range. Use the live prices so you can tell a client whether an offer is sensible.
- Read the fee page. Agent fees and commission explains who pays what.
The seven stages of a job
The process is the same whether you work for a seller or a buyer. What differs is what the client hands over.
| Stage | The client | You, the agent | The platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scope | Decides what to hand over | Confirm what you can do | n/a |
| 2. Hiring agreement | Sets the commission and confirms | Accept the role | Records the agreement |
| 3. Preparation | Confirms ownership or authority and shares access | Gather details, photos, quantities | n/a |
| 4. Listing or request | Checks what is published | Create the listing or request | Displays it |
| 5. Offers and negotiation | Decides the terms wanted | Handle questions and offers | Provides messaging |
| 6. Payment | Receives or makes payment as the deal requires | Do not handle the deal money | Processes payment |
| 7. Completion | Pays the commission when payment settles | Report and close out | Shows each party's breakdown |
Stage 1: agree the scope
Three common scopes exist. Listings only: you describe, photograph and publish, and the client handles buyers. Deal only: the client creates the listing and you handle questions, negotiation and collection coordination. Listing and deal: you do both. Say in writing which one it is. A vague scope is the most common cause of a commission argument.
Stage 2: the hiring agreement
The agreement records the hirer, the agent, the commission, the scope, the confirmation date and the status. The commission starts from a 5% default that the hirer can change before confirming, and it is locked once confirmed. A different rate needs a new agreement. Use the hiring agreement checklist, and check four things: that the right parties are named, which amount the percentage applies to, what happens if the deal does not complete, and what you can see in your breakdown.
Stage 3: preparation
Confirm the client owns the material or is entitled to sell it. Get access, quantities and photos. Do not describe what you have not seen. A listing that overstates the material causes disputes.
Stage 4: the listing or request
Write the description a buyer would need: material, grade, estimated weight, condition, contamination and location. Add clear photos. Ask the client to check what is published before it goes live, if your agreement says so.
Stage 5: offers and negotiation
Answer questions promptly and pass on offers. You negotiate for the client, so know their limits before you start. Do not promise a price. See How to Negotiate a Better Scrap Metal Price.
Stage 6: payment
You do not need to handle the deal money. Payment is processed by the platform, with escrow protection from confirmation until pickup or delivery is confirmed. Be careful of any request to move payment outside the platform, from a client or a buyer.
Stage 7: completion
When payment settles, the commission is paid. Report to the client, keep your records, and ask whether they want a second lot.
A worked example (invented)
A seller hires you to sell a lot and the buyer pays US$1,000. At the 5% default, your commission is US$50 and the seller's proceeds before platform charges and taxes are US$950. Platform charges and taxes sit outside the commission and appear in the payment breakdown. This is an invented example for arithmetic, not a price guide.
Where agents go wrong
- Promising a price or a fast sale. No agent can. ScrapTrade says to be wary of anyone who does.
- Working for both sides without telling anyone. Disclose if you act for the other side.
- Taking payment outside the platform.
- An unclear scope or commission basis.
- Describing material you have not seen.
Where to go next
Also read How to Set Your Scrap Agent Commission and How to Make Money on ScrapTrade: 5 Routes. In Australia, rules on dealing in scrap vary by state, and we cover them in Scrap Business Rules in Australia by State. scrap.trade describes itself as a global marketplace, and we cannot confirm availability in every country or that your country's law allows a given deal.
What we could not verify
- What agents earn in practice.
- Platform fee percentages and payment timing.
- Whether your country treats an agent as a licensed dealer. Ask your regulator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to be a scrap agent?
The pages set no experience requirement. In practice, clients want someone who can describe material accurately.
Who sets my commission?
The hirer, from a 5% default, before confirming the agreement. It is locked after.
Do I handle the money?
No. The platform processes payment and shows each party's breakdown.
Sources
- ScrapTrade, How hiring a scrap agent works, Scrap agent fees and commission, Scrap agent hiring agreement checklist and Become a scrap agent, as read in October 2026.
The worked example is invented. This describes ScrapTrade's published pages and is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. ScrapTrade operates a scrap marketplace and has a commercial interest in the scrap trade.