Pick N Pull is a big box brand self-service auto parts salvage yard. They are one of the biggest auto recyclers there is; recycling over 350K vehicles/year and servicing more than 5.4M customers/year. All their yards are self-service, which means you pull your own parts and only pay for what you take. Aside from saving money on parts, they have a great warranty program, a rewards point program, and price match discounts. In this article, I will discuss where to find a Pick N Pull, how the yard operates, what they buy and sell, the warranty program, and various ways to save more money. I will also share my experience with the Pick N Pull Near Me.
Map of Pick N Pull Near Me
For “Pick N Pull Near Me”, see the map below…
There are 46 Pick N Pull Locations in the US and 4 more in Canada. They are part of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., which is a Fortune 1000 company. Why that is relevant is because since they are so large, they can afford to pass on extra savings to you that smaller self-service salvage yards can’t.
How Does The Pick N Pull Near Me Operate
Pick N Pull, an industry-leading chain, operates by allowing customers to salvage car parts from junk cars at convenient locations.
Pick N Pulls is a franchise automotive junkyard chain. They sell junked cars and salvage auto parts that can be reused. You can often find parts that are 75% or more off from standard retail. Most yards will charge a few-dollar entrance fee to walk around and look for parts. When you find the parts you need, you use your own tools and labor to pull them off the vehicles. You only pay for what you take.
Where do Self Service Salvage Yards get Vehicles From
The Pick-n-Pull near me purchases junk vehicles from various sources like salvage auctions, insurance companies, business liquidations, charities, tow truck companies, and private owners. When they purchase a vehicle they will either sell it as a used car or sell the individual parts based on the condition of the vehicle. The Pick N Pull near me keeps about 500+ vehicles on the lot at a time and all their locations have hundreds of vehicles if not more.
How Do They Process Their Vehicle Inventory?
When a junked vehicle arrives at a Pick N Pull, it isn’t just laced out in the yard for the public to pull parts from. There are environmental regulations that dictate how certain hazardous fluids must be handled. For example, oil and gas need to be drained and recycled. Certain liquids like washer fluid will be drained then rebottled and resold secondhand.
They will often pull parts like batteries and alternators. Those parts tend to deteriorate fast when left in the elements. By pulling those parts first they can preserve the condition and maximize the secondhand resale value of them.
Additionally, the vehicle gets labeled, tagged, and entered into the online database. This critical step of the process allows customers to search the inventory online.
Once the prep work is done the vehicle can be placed in the yard for the customers to pull parts from them.
How The Yard is Arranged?
Pick N Pull is known for having vehicles placed in orderly rows grouped by make and model. It makes it much easier to find what you need. What is also helpful is that at the Pick N Pull near me, the moment you get there, they hand you a map of the yard. You can see which sections are where.
If a vehicle has been sitting in the yard for a long time and is pretty well-stripped, it will be removed. When they remove it, they crush it and sell it for scrap metal. Since they are a subsidiary of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., they get premium rates on scrap metal.
By regularly checking the inventory like this, they can make room on the lot for more vehicles on the lot. This means the inventory is turning over often and offering customers more fresh options and parts to pull.
What Makes Pick-n-Pull Different?
As opposed to visiting a mon and pop salvage yard, Pick N Pull is a bit more polished. Here are some benefits to visiting a Pick N Pull:
- Have an online searchable inventory to find which salvage yards have the vehicle(s) make/model you need.
- They give you a map of the yard when you arrive.
- The yards are organized neatly in rows grouped by make and model.
- They have a computerized Parts Interchange System to show you other vehicles that have the same exact parts you need.
- All the vehicles are sitting on supports to lift them off the ground for quick and safe access.
- Every Pick N Pull offers free use of wheelbarrows and engine hoists.
- Parts are often up to 75% off.
- They have coupons and price matching.
- 30 Day free exchange on parts and you can get an additional 1 year warranty coverage if you purchase it.
Does the Pick N Pull Near Me Buy Cars?
Yes Pick N Pull has a cash for junk cars buying program. They typically buy vehicles of the following types:
- Passenger cars
- Crossovers
- Minivans or Vans
- SUVs
- Trucks (like pickup trucks, not semi-trucks)
It also doesn’t matter the make, model, or if it is a foreign or domestic vehicle. It can be running or not. If your vehicle is running, you should try and negotiate a higher sales price for it.
How to Sell Them a Vehicle:
- Get a Quote, but submit your vehicle’s information via an online form.
- Once you accept the offer, you need to provide the title in order to prove ownership.
- You can drop off the vehicle to a local Pick N Pull or arrange towing if you are within acceptable proximity to a yard.
- You get paid once they have the vehicle and title in their possession.
Here is a list of the most popular cars that Pick N Pull’s buy:
Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Ford F150, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Sentra, Ford Expedition, Ford Mustang, Honda Odyssey, Dodge Durango, Dodge Ram 1500, Nissan Frontier, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Tahoe, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Sienna, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Toyota 4Runner, GMC Yukon, Toyota Pickup, Nissan Xterra, GMC Suburban, Honda Passport, Nissan Frontier.
Before You Sell Them a Vehicle:
If you are planning on calling them to sell a vehicle you should be prepared to negotiate. While they claim to pay top dollar for junk cars, in my experience the first offer they make is for the scrap value of the vehicle. If your vehicle still runs or was recently taken off the road, you should consider negotiating a higher sales value. you can do this by mentioning the vehicle runs and listing out any quality parts that are still attached. For better negotiation tips, read this.
Pick-n-Pull Coupons, Discounts, Rewards and Events
One of the best parts about this brand is that it operates like any kind of franchise. They have extra deals like coupons, discounts, award programs, and special events. All of these things are designed to help save you more money on used auto parts.
Their rewards program called, ToolKit Rewards, gives you the following benefits: Get 1 Point for every $1 spent, earn 350 points, and get a FREE $20 reward certificate, and exclusive events for only registered Toolkit members.
Another cool perk is that they are one of the few auto salvage yards that have coupons. You can check their Specials and Events page for Pick N Pull Coupons. A deal they have often is for price matching. If you find a part anywhere with a lower price they will match it and give you 10% off. They run this a few times a year so you should check back often.
The WarrantyPlus Program
Aside from the 30-day free exchange program, Pick N Pull has a WarrantyPlus program. This program allows you to get 1 year of coverage on the parts you purchased. When you purchase the warranty it starts after the 30-day exchanger period so technically get 13 months of coverage.
The way it works is as follows:
- If you have a part you purchased and it fails within the coverage period, they will replace it.
- Any parts that you modified or disassembled after purchase are not covered.
- The program only is for the parts you bought and does not cover any labor costs you incurred.
- If they don’t have the replacement part you need, they will give you a store credit instead (no cash back).
- Only certain parts can have the WarrantyPlus purchased to cover them.
What Kind of Used Auto Parts Can You Find?
These lots have it all and are mostly for the most popular makes and models of vehicles. Some of the parts I find to be the most common at these salvages are A/C Compressor, Alternator, Axle C.V., Brake Master Cylinder, Cylinder Head, Distributor Engines, Heater Motor and Fan, Fenders, mufflers, radiators, Airflow Sensor, Power Steering Units, Rear Axle, starters, Auto Glass, Window and windshield wiper motors, seats, wiring harnesses, and transmissions.
For tips on pulling used parts at a salvage yard, read this. Additionally, you should also be aware of parts you should never buy from a junkyard.
The Pros and Cons of Purchasing Used Auto Parts
No matter what brand of automotive salvage yards you visit, there are pros and cons to buying used auto parts.
Pros:
- Saving money.
- Finding OEM parts at huge discounts.
- Ideal place for finding parts for an auto restoration.
- Benefits the environment and supports the recycling industry.
Cons
- Potential for low-quality parts that fail.
Pick-N-Pull Locations
Pick-N-Pull is open 7 days a week except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Each location may maintain different hours so it’s best to check the individual locations’ websites or call ahead.
You can find Pick-N-Pull junkyards in the following states:
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
They also have locations in Canada: Alberta and British Columbia.
Pick N Pull Near Me Conclusion
I do like this chain of salvage yards. I often find them to have fair pricing, well-organized yards, and good customer service, and I dig their warranty program. If you are doing a restoration though, I find smaller mom and pop salvages to be more helpful. Pick N Pull’s great for finding replacement auto parts for newer or more recently manufactured vehicles. This is what I have learned from my experience with the Pick N Pull near me.
