How to Use a Master Catalog to Buy and Sell Catalytic Converters

When you’re buying or selling scrap catalytic converters, a master catalog is a referencing tool that can help you make the most informed choices. To help you understand how to use a master catalog and why it’s beneficial, tune in to our video or keep reading.

Understanding and Using a Master Catalog

A master catalog is a converter price reference tool that allows you to find the value of a converter using its serial number. With this catalog, you can explore the refined value ranges and average assay returns for a specific serial number.

For example, PMR’s master catalog has more than 30,000 units that we’ve analyzed internally. If you have the converter’s serial number, you can access the average value for the total units we’ve assayed with that specific serial number.

Equipped with the average assay returns for a given converter, you can then make informed decisions when buying or selling. But it’s crucial to remember that each converter has lived a unique life, affecting its value. Let’s explore why the value of a converter varies when recycling.

Vehicle Lifecycle and How it Affects a Converter’s Value

The scrap price of a converter depends on the remaining precious metals once the unit is recycled. Factors such as vehicle mileage, general wear and tear, weather, and emission standards impact the quantity of precious metals left in a unit once it enters the recycling stream.

For example, a car with high mileage and more accidents will likely have less precious metal content left in its converter compared to a newer car with lower mileage. Converters from vehicles driven in colder climates generally contain lower precious metal content than those from warmer regions.

This explains why your converter might have a different value than the average displayed in a master catalog. That’s why it’s important to use the price in a master catalog as a reference rather than an absolute value, ensuring that you can make competitive and profitable moves when buying or selling.

How to Use PMR’s Master Catalog

To access PMR’s master catalog, log in to your Supplier Services Platform (SSP) and select the Master Catalog tool. Ideally, you’ll enter the entire serial number, but if you don’t get a match, start deleting numbers from the end of the serial number until you get a match in the system. You can also enter the first 4 digits of the serial number.

It’s important to remember that if there are no exact matches for the serial number you have, the average price displayed won’t be as accurate.

As demonstrated in the video above, taking a Honda AGM2 as an example, the system displays the average assay value of 4 AGM2 converters analyzed over the years. It’s important to note that the price shown reflects current market values, which change with the market. This real-time information keeps you competitive and allows you to price converters based on the latest prices.

In this industry, knowledge is power. That’s why it’s crucial to have pricing information you can trust. If you want converter purchasing, evaluation, and tracking tools, contact one of our representatives today at 1-855-901-5050.

For more information, visit PMR’s Resource Center.