Short answer. Quick Sale gives you free pickup and no say in the price. A listing gives you bids and control, but takes longer. Choose by whether speed or price matters more.
ScrapTrade offers two ways to sell copper, and they trade off against each other. This page compares them honestly so you can pick before you start. ScrapTrade is itself a scrap marketplace, and that gives it a commercial interest here.
Quick Sale
- Free pickup on most loads across Australia.
- The value is assessed against current prices after collection.
- You do not set the price.
Your own listing
- You add photos, grade and weight, and verified buyers bid.
- You can chat with buyers and accept the bid you want.
- The buyer's 5% deposit is held in escrow once you accept.
- It is free, with no commission.
How to choose
If you have a small or awkward lot and want it gone, Quick Sale removes the work. If you have sorted copper and a view on what it is worth, a listing lets bids compete. To work out what a fair bid looks like, use the arithmetic in How Much Is Your Scrap Copper Worth?.
Whichever you pick
Sort by grade first, because a mixed lot may be priced at the lowest grade in it. The checklist is in Copper Scrap: How to Get the Most for It.
Where ScrapTrade fits
Both routes are on ScrapTrade. Create a free account to try either.
What we could not verify
- How Quick Sale valuations compare to listing bids.
- Pickup timing in each region.
- Current rates.
Frequently asked questions
Does Quick Sale cost anything?
Pickup is free on most loads, but you give up control of the price.
Which pays more?
We found no sourced comparison.
Sources
- ScrapTrade, How It Works and Trust & Safety pages, accessed November 2026.
General information only.