Sims Metal - New Haven, Connecticut at 808 Washington Ave, New Haven, CT 06519

I drive past three other junkyards just to get to this one. It’s not even close on price, and they move quicker than anywhere else. Worth the extra eight miles every time.

I get that some places like to keep prices flexible, but it’s weird they’re not listed anywhere—not even on the website. Seems like a missed opportunity to pull in more people who just want a quick idea of what they’re dealing with. The yard itself is neat and easy to navigate, and the staff were actually helpful when I asked questions. Still, if I’m driving out there, I’d rather know upfront if I’m wasting my time or not.

Needed to clear out some old junk from the yard, and this place made it stupid easy. No waiting in line, got right in. The guy at the counter was cool, no hassle, and they took cash for the car and boat batteries I dragged in. Simple, fast, done. ---

Honestly, this place was a lifesaver for a mom with a bored toddler. We had a random half-day off school, and instead of staring at the walls, we swung by here. My kid lost his mind watching the big machines do their thing from a safe distance—like his own personal construction show. No whining, no meltdowns, just pure entertainment. (If you’ve got a Blippi fan, bring the album. It’ll make it even better.) ---

Hadn’t been to SIMS in probably eight years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I rolled in this morning. Turns out, I’d forgotten how smooth the whole process is. The cashier was patient and walked me through everything step by step. The guys working in the bay? Friendly, no-nonsense, and actually helpful—no eye-rolling or attitude. In and out in 20 minutes flat. Stopped back at the counter on my way out, and honestly, I was impressed. Good service, no fuss. Thanks for making it quick. (And yeah, I was there at 10 a.m.—no crowds, no wait.) ---

Look, I’m a regular here, and I *should* be used to the runaround by now, but it still pisses me off. Every single time, something goes wrong. Either the customer service is straight-up miserable, or I’m stuck waiting forever for some tiny, pointless issue. Or—my personal favorite—the inspectors act like they’ve never seen a line of cars before, leaving everyone twiddling their thumbs while they “figure it out.” And don’t get me started on the petty crap they pull. One time, they told me they couldn’t take a long-bed truck because it was “too long.” Bro, you’ve got *giant* machines here that crush cars like soda cans—what’s the difference? Then there was the time I showed up 15 minutes before closing, already half-done with my scrap, and they sent me packing. Like, do you people even *care* that some of us have jobs and schedules? ---

Brought in a ton of aluminum—like, *a lot*. We’re talking almost $400 worth, or so I thought. They weighed it, then some guy took another look and said, “Nah, it’s dirty.” First time here, and I made that clear, which I guess was an open invitation to lowball me. Ended up with $160. Oh, and the fun part? While I’m standing there, the staff inside is whispering and smirking at each other, calling my haul a “gold mine” like it’s some inside joke. Real classy. Heard from other scrappers that this place pays top dollar and plays fair, but I guess that depends on who you are. Won’t be back.