Truckeesurplus

The joy of making something old, something neglected, shine like new for a happy customer. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria

An incredible morning set.

On the pick with the old school Euro bling. 1975 MBZ 450SEL.

truckeesurplus

Foundational principle that shapes Truckee Surplus company culture.

Before and after body repair and installation of a Truckee Surplus OE driver side wheel arch molding on customer’s Bullnose truck in Northern California.

What he had to say:

“Great seller. The part was in good condition as described. Quick shipping and packaged excellent! Very happy.”

truckeesurplus

Spring closing in. Final touches on rebuilt OBS Ford finish panel.

Physical strength, endurance, and flexibility are also components of my work. I derive ultimate satisfaction knowing all are required with Truckee Surplus and must be well-maintained to perform. I compromised much of myself during my 18 year career in the office but I always built a fort around my fitness. Choosing the gym over happy hour with the team was normal for me back then. When asked to attend the yearly corporate tradeshow, I was on the treadmill instead of at the networking banquet. I did not expect this commitment to reveal itself in my work beyond age 50. I knew those workouts were impacting my upward mobility and likability in the corporate office. I have come to realize my unique mashup of personal faculties was made possible by my space in time and the region of the world I was raised. Leveraging this circumstance is a key factor in maximizing my utility.

Automotive Shredder Residue
ASR or Automotive Shredder Residue is jargon for the byproducts of the automotive metals recycling process. These byproducts include all the materials deemed useless within the industry such as foam, plastic, rubber, and glass. What tailings are to an ore miner, ASR is to an automotive metal recycler. For some, ASR is just what it might look like at first, trash.

I've always thought “trash” or “residue” are callous ways to refer to the parts I place great value on and direct so much energy toward. The same parts that many others also derive joy and satisfaction from whether that be in automotive repair, maintenance, preservation, or restoration. It's my belief such material is best re-marketed upstream from the shredder than immediately assumed to be downstream waste that the environment must be forced to deal with.

The rate at which ELVs or End-of-Life Vehicles are recycled means there is no shortage of A-Grade used auto parts I can bring to market. When the industry says “foam”, I think obsolete window seal. When the industry says “plastic”, I think rare center console. When the industry says “glass”, I think discontinued vent window. And the beat goes on and on, as does the opportunity for greater mitigation of automotive shredder residue.

Self-Service Auto Recycling
I am not the only person who regularly follows his urge to scavenge the inventory of a Self-Service Auto Recycler (SSAR). For many men, and certainly some women, this action taps right into 1.8 million years of human evolution subsisting as hunter-gatherers. A way of life only recently displaced by agricultural, industrial, and technological forces. Within this context, SSARs provide a unique opportunity for every degree of automotive enthusiast and mechanic. There is an allure to the acres of ELVs that even the most modern retail store cannot replicate in terms of customer experience and retention. I appreciate the energy put forth to set these vehicles to the retail floor, SSARs provide one of the very systems for which I depend to source my products. I believe I have done and am doing my part to help them persist well into the 21st century.

SSARs are an impressive river of high volume and standardized processes driven by the global appetite for the key ingredient required to produce consumer and industrial goods, steel. They were recycling before recycling was cool. The famous quote by Greek philosopher Heraclitus applies perfectly to a SSAR facility; “No man steps into the same river twice”. This has kept me and many others coming back for more treasure since the proliferation of the industry-changing SSAR model around 1984 in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. Personally, it was a natural progression to migrate from hiking the East Bay hillsides in search of artifacts left by early settlers and the native Ohlone to foraging my closest self-service yard, the Newark, California PICK-n-PULL. That is, once I was determined have my first car at around age 17.

The Earning Years
My working life after college coincided with the dawn of the internet, it was 1996. Rather than having any sort of career plan, I simply let the current economy and other people's objectives dictate my path. I went along for the ride. My attention to detail and ability to organize information in a pleasing manner lead me to work in “graphic design”, although I had no education in this area. I never saw myself as a legitimate graphic designer although that is how I was often titled. Really, I was just good at arranging text and images to achieve an optimum “visual hierarchy” in whatever medium was required. It wasn't my passion but it came natural. Since my name was on it, I was serious about it.

I moved from job to job in an upward progression. I started doing catalogs, then websites, then apps as the media industry rapidly evolved from desktop publishing to web development. The market’s need for “User Interface Design” quickly outweighed its’ need for “Page Layout” as the dotcom boom was beginning to ramp up. I adapted with each new challenge, again with no schooling. To this day I am proud to claim I performed all the requir

Duane was in San Jose on a road trip with Tony Robbins learning and practicing the art of motivational speaking. We proceeded to workout for the next hour while carrying a light conversation between sets. Not one guest entered the gym that entire time. Our conversation was relaxed and like most people who encounter a celebrity, I felt he was surprisingly down-to-earth. I did not realize at the time how this chance encounter would positively impact my life. Besides, this was a little more than an encounter, it proved to be more like a short therapy session.

I knew it was coming and I cringed when Duane inquired about my mode of living. I mean, this was a guy that for all-intents-and-purposes was a badass. While I have always been physically fit and generally athletic, my association with tech made me soft in comparison to a guy who served time, actively pursued serious criminals, and had his own TV Show. I kept my answer simple in order to maintain the reciprocal conversation we had going.

Dog: "So what do you do?"

Me: "At this very moment? (sigh) I'm lost. I'm in technology. I design catalogs, webpages, things like that."

Dog: "What do you mean by lost?"

Me: "Well, my business partner and I just sold our little creation, it was a website magazine sorta thing. Think Hot Rod Magazine, but for the internet. Got a fair deal but now I don't know what the * #^$&*! to do. It all happened fast."

Duane: "So you guys created this outta nothing and another business found enough value in it to just buy it? A website? Haha.

Me: "That just about sums it up."

Duane: "Just do it again. I don't know #^$&*! about computers. Never graduated High School."

The contrast of this character advising me to simply "just do it again" within the context of the hallowed ground of computer history for which we stood, had impact. Apple, eBay, Google, and Adobe Headquarters were within a 15 minute drive and here I was taking unsolicited but welcome career advice from a guy that ran away fr

I would be specifically listed as “inventor” for this concept within all the contractual documentation written by Schnitzer legal counsel, although that title unsettled my conscience. I just went with it because now, finally, I could quit my day job to be a full-time entrepreneur. This felt like a huge achievement for me, I could finally work when I wanted and where I wanted. My first week I polished up my home office, had a beautiful reproduction of American Progress framed and hung it on my home office wall. The classic image depicted Westward Expansion showing the angelic image of Columbia carrying a schoolbook while stringing telegraph wire across the United States. I found inspiration and connected metaphors between this artwork and what we were about to build. I was full of energy.

We called it ROW52 since that was the row I was on at the Sparks, Nevada PICK-n-PULL the day I found the 1979 Fairmont. And from there a 6 year saga began that would take me on a wild ride exposing me to powerful corporate executives, trademark lawyers, and global business consultants. More people I can count wanted their part and influence into what they called an invention, but found the person behind it like a very demanding Forrest Gump. For corporate types whose careers depended mostly on quarterly performance metrics, my allegiance to a customer base made up of scavengers like myself may have seemed too ideal and silly. This was not Silicon Valley venture capital, this was the U.S. Steel Industry. I was ignorant with how business was done at this level and I refused to adjust my values and commitment to my vision.

In the end, both Chirag and I were forcefully bought out of ROW52 by our investor, Schnitzer Steel. My phone no longer rang. Almost every contractor and agency we had hired was and still does work on ROW52 for Schnitzer, but I was now irrelevant. They had done a clever job of convincing me they found no value in the product citing that their customer base doesn’t u

If you serve an ungrateful master, serve him the more. Put God in your debt. Every stroke shall be repaid. The longer the payment is withholden, the better for you; for compound interest on compound interest is the rate and usage of this exchequer.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Should the meaning of Emerson's philosophy be too cryptic to comprehend, I interpret it this way; If you feel you are controlled by a cruel person or have been wronged by anything, continue to serve them in a divine manner. Don't expect an immediate return on services rendered or appreciation. Be content if your payment is beyond overdue and you are ignored. Why? Because when you are finally paid, in this life, your reward will be exponentially greater than you ever imagined.

It was at this point, almost 10 years since I had discovered the market opportunity on row 52 of the Sparks, Nevada PICK-n-PULL, that I decided to try again. This time however, it would be done without investors, partners, or anyone to critique my ex*****on. I needed to do this alone, I needed to go full out, and most importantly I needed to get primal. It meant unlearning how I had been conditioned to approach work in the digital world. I felt an energy in my decision to go analog.

proceeded to neatly sever the few graphic design clients I had left and I bought a 2003 Mazda B2300 to begin making parts harvesting runs from Reno into the Sacramento Valley to turn my eBay store in something much more serious. My loved ones cautiously supported me. It did not matter either way, I had to do this.

Conclusion
In the 3 years since I committed myself full time to Truckee Surplus I have shipped over 35,000 pounds of used auto parts that would have otherwise become automotive shredder residue. My absolute commitment has earned me volume buyer status at two self-service recyclers giving me access to 25 retail locations within the Northern California and Northern Nevada region. Each location within the circuit having its' own unique inventory offering, nuance, and reason to stay spiritually grounded. A critical resource in this endeavor is the same entity that forced me out of my own company 7 years ago, PICK-n-PULL. A master I now serve with contentment.

The Story
“You must be unreasonable because logical practical thinking says, you can’t do it today. But if you want to produce unreasonable results in your life, like living your dream and taking charge of your destiny, you’ve got to be an unreasonable person” - Les Brown

Introduction
My name is Jon, I am the sole operator of Truckee Surplus. I have been drawn to used auto parts since I was a teenager. At 51 years of age, I am liberated in my work as I apply my innate and learned skills to mitigate the losses of useful auto parts to the massive West Coast automotive metals recycling industry. What you find for sale on this website as well as my eBay store are the parts I harvest in my daily hustle that covers most of Northern California and Northern Nevada. Although it took decades to overcome self-doubt, failure, and the opinions of others, today I live a working life on my terms. I operate like an eagle. That is, mostly in solitude, with total focus, perched only to consider my next move, and in harmony with all that share my environment

The journey that brought me to this point of vocational clarity is told below for those who have expressed so much curiosity about my unusual mode of living. A way of life that represents a 180 degree turnaround from my previous career as a misplaced graphic designer in Silicon Valley. An ironic comeback story after being forced out of my own startup company, ROW52.com. But most importantly, the account of how one man's inner voice finally defeated the preconceptions of what constitutes a valid career and silenced the noise of external influence.

I am hopeful my personal triumph inspires those just getting started or anyone feeling that soul-crushing despair from a job out of tune with you. For my customers, I extend a special thank you. We are connected through the auto parts we save together. It is important for me to express that from the moment I begin removing a part, I am imagining you perform the installation.

What is Wealth?
For some wealth comes in the form of money and status. For me, wealth is incorporating patience, wisdom, and spirituality into my work. Wealth is waking up invigorated at 5:00 am each day, measuring my environment, developing a plan over good coffee, and taking consistent action at what I term “3/4 Throttle”. Wealth is being free to say, “This isn't working right now, I'm going to apply my energy to something else”. Wealth is taking a one hour run on a moment’s notice knowing the action will provide the energy I need to work with greater clarity. Wealth is understanding the observations I make in nature add value to my business in civilization. Wealth is having faith that my idiosyncratic tendencies are my competitive advantage. Wealth is working from my conscience without requesting authorization or seeking consensus.

While I work alone, I am not alone. I am indebted to the organizations that provide the systems that make working in a fashion consistent with my spirit possible. I consider the employees of these organizations my coworkers. You are all integral to my sense of wealth.

Personal Ideal
Every core business function including parts removal, inspection, cleaning, listing, and fulfillment are my daily responsibilities at Truckee Surplus. Surrounding those duties are customer service, restoration, research, data analytics, strategy, traveling, website development, and managing my eBay store. No function here is subject to disenfranchised or offshore labor. This means should you ever have a question or concern with Truckee Surplus, I am your fully-vested point of contact.

Despite societal work pressures to specialize, scale, and analyze the cost-benefit of every decision and movement, at Truckee Surplus I hold myself to my own ideal; “Fragmented routine labor is the enemy of personal dignity and time is only an ingredient in imperfect work.” By creating my own work, each day gives me the opportunity to blend analog trade skills with the technological benefits of data-rich mobile applications and the global reach of e-commerce.

80-86 Ford F150 F250 Bronco Lock Unlock Switch with Harness OE
$119.00+ $31.42 shipping
Condition Used

78-82 Chevrolet Van Lower Dash Steering Column Cover Molding Trim Blue OE
US $199.00
Condition Used

80-86 Ford F150 F250 F350 Bronco Kick Panel Passenger Right.

$139.00+ $184.74 shipping
Condition Used

Fits all 80-86 F-Series. Very nice Northern Nevada brightwork. Please see photos to verify mounting location. Only minor road wear, includes proper OE hardware. Trusted eBay seller.
$159.00 plus shipping
Condition Used

1971-1996 Chevrolet G10 G20 GMC G1500 G2500 OE Door Handle with "CHROME BUTTON" 335741
For all hinged doors (driver, passenger, side, and rear). Inspected, cleaned, re-greased, and re-assembled. Could show just minor weathering from age.

Contents: (1) Door Handle, (2) 1/4"-20 Mounting Bolts
$69.00 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Quantity

1980-1986 Ford F-Series Bronco OE Instrument Cluster and Bezel
Excellent condition. Could show only very minor flaws normal for a respectfully pre-owned OE auto part. Carefully removed and carefully shipped.

Contents: (1) Instrument Cluster (1) Instrument Cluster Bezel

$400.00 USD
Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

92-96 Ford F-SERIES Truck Bronco OBS FORD Vent Wing Window Glass (PAIR)
Bolt up to all 1992 thru 1996 Ford F-Series. Respectfully pre-owned. Corrosion-free frame. Supple rubber gaskets. No tears, cracks, or dry rot. Lever assembly rebuilt to ensure smooth operation and tight seal when closed. Part Numbers F2TZ1521408A F2TZ1521409A F2TZ1521406A F2TZ-1521407A.

Contents: (1) Driver Window, (1) Passenger Window, (4) Tapping Screws (2) Bolts

Regular price$339.00 USD
Shipping calculated at checkout.

97-14 Ford Econoline E150 E250 E350 Cup Holder Front Center Storage OE Grey
$249.00 plus shipping
Condition UsedUsed

88-91 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Front Grille OE

$199.00 plus shipping.
Condition UsedUsed

80-86 Ford F150 F250 F350 Conventional Cab Bench Seat Belt Set Tan (COMPLETE)

$259.00+ shipping
Condition Used

75-91 Ford Econoline Van E150 Combination Vent Light Wiper Switch Bezel Black

$99.00+ $78.23 shipping
Condition Used

72-73 Ford Gran Torino OEM Body Door Molding Trim Lower Driver

$159.00 plus shipping
Condition Used

1987-1996 Ford F150 F250 F350 OE Tailgate Trim Finish Panel Aluminum (A Grade)

$439.00 USD
Shipping

1998-2000 Volvo S70 V70 XC70 Rear Shock Absorbers PAIR Sachs Nivomat 9200014
$359.00 USD
Shipping

1992-1996 Ford F150 F250 Bronco RED & BLUE ,Center Console

Regular price$ 259.00 USD

truckeesurplus

My wife driving the obs Silverado while we fix her '17 Explorer. #1 support that enables me (Jon) to go full out with my life's purpose building Truckee Surplus into year 5!