Why 1-800-GOT-JUNK Charges Premium Prices
Why 1-800-GOT-JUNK Charges More… And Gets Away With It
Let’s be honest: it drives every small business owner absolutely insane. You’ve got a perfectly good junk removal service, maybe you’re even cheaper, and yet people still go for the shiny, overpriced 1-800-GOT-JUNK.
Why? Because people are idiots.
There, I said it.
Well, that’s part of it, but the reality is there’s more at play here. Much more.
First off, I’m tired of hearing junk removal guys talk about being shocked at how much 1-800-GOT-JUNK charges. Are you kidding me? Have you taken a look around? This is a company that’s been rolling in it for the past three decades, and it’s not because they’ve got magic trucks. It’s because they don’t just haul junk—they haul business. Big, franchise-building, McDonald’s-style business.
Ryan Scudamore—yes, that’s his name—isn’t just some guy with a pickup and a trailer. The man’s built an empire. Started 34 years ago, went from hauling trash to building a multimillion-dollar franchise model. He didn’t just think about getting a few bucks from some old sofas and washing machines; he envisioned systematic dominance. The guy looks at junk removal the same way Ronald McDonald looks at hamburgers: as a way to get people hooked on consistency.
Let’s break it down. Scudamore isn’t your typical small business owner. He’s got that entrepreneurial mindset—something 99% of junk haulers don’t have. There’s a great book about this called The E-Myth by Michael Gerber. If you haven’t read it, go get it now, because you’re probably stuck in that “technician” mindset. You’re doing all the work, thinking you’re building a business, but in reality, you’re just building yourself a shitty, low-paying job.
Here’s how most junk haulers think: “I’m gonna charge less than 1-800-GOT-JUNK, show up on time, do a good job, and people will love me.” Wrong. They’ll use you when they can get you and then still call 1-800-GOT-JUNK because they’ve built something you haven’t—a brand.
People pay more for a brand they trust, even if it’s overpriced, even if it’s run by a bunch of corporate suits who couldn’t tell the difference between a box spring and a box of donuts. Look at Nike. People drop $150 on a pair of Nike shoes. They are just shoes, right? They could get a pair of shoes at Walmart for $30, but they don’t. They get the Nike’s Why? It’s a brand. And so is 1-800-GOT-JUNK.
Here’s another thing Scudamore did: he built a system. Like McDonald’s, he’s got his process down to a science. Every driver wears the same uniform, every truck has the same logo, and every customer gets the same scripted phone call, whether they’re calling from L.A. or Timbuktu. People know exactly what they’re getting, and that predictability is worth its weight in gold.
And what about you? Are you running your business like a finely tuned machine, or are you just winging it day by day? Because I can tell you this: if your customer service is hit or miss, if you’re showing up in sweatpants, and if you’re quoting prices based on how your back’s feeling that morning, you’re not competing with the big boys.
This is why you can charge $200 for a job, while 1-800-GOT-JUNK charges $500 and gets it. It’s not because their junk trucks are made of gold; it’s because they’ve built a system people trust and recognize. People know they’ll show up on time, haul the junk without a hitch, and leave without a mess. You could offer to do it for free, and there are still people who’d pick 1-800-GOT-JUNK just because it’s easy.
Look, I get it. It’s frustrating. You’re the better deal. But until you stop thinking like a guy with a truck and start thinking like a guy with a business, you’re going to keep losing out. You need to systematize, you need to brand yourself, and you need to offer more than just junk removal—you need to offer trust and reliability.
That’s why 1-800-GOT-JUNK can charge what they charge and still rake it in. They’ve built a brand people recognize, created a process that’s easy for both customers and franchise owners to follow, and wrapped it all up in a pretty blue uniform. People don’t care about saving a few bucks when it comes to junk—they care about the experience. And until you understand that, you’ll be left hauling scraps and wondering why you’re still in the same place you were three years ago.
But hey, maybe you like winging it. Just don’t come crying to me when Scudamore buys his fifteenth yacht while you’re still trying to scrape together gas money.
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