Does it matter whether I call it "wire" or "cable" when selling, or are buyers pricing them the same?
Short answer: The terminology itself doesn't change the price — buyers care about actual construction (single conductor vs multiple conductors bundled together, insulation type, gauge) rather than whether you call it wire or cable. Using accurate, specific descriptions when talking to a buyer — conductor count, approximate gauge, insulation type — gets you a more accurate quote than the general term alone.
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List Free →Why the label matters less than the description
“Wire” and “cable” are used loosely and inconsistently across the industry — what matters to a buyer is the actual physical construction: how many conductors, what gauge, what insulation and jacket type, not which generic term you used to describe it.
What to describe instead
Mentioning whether it’s single or multi-conductor, roughly how thick the conductors are, and whether there’s an outer sheath in addition to individual conductor insulation gives a buyer far more to work with than “wire” or “cable” alone.
Why this avoids a lowball estimate
A vague description tends to get priced conservatively, since the buyer has to assume a worst-case yield until they can actually see the material — a specific description narrows that uncertainty and often gets you a better initial quote.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
ScrapTrade listings let you describe conductor count, gauge, and insulation type directly, so buyers quote based on the actual material rather than a generic label.
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