Our apologies if this comes across as boastful. It is not intended to be so in any way. But in a service-led business such as ours customer say has a huge effect on everyone.

We have worked hard over 15 years to satisfy our customers. We have been fortunate to receive positive reviews and constructive feedback too. But when our customers leave such powerful reviews it impacts us deeply. These words can hardly capture it, but everyone at Junk It has felt such an enormous boost.

A response to our follow-up email

We send every customer an email asking them if their job was carried out timely, and if the experience was satisfactory. Very recently, we heard back from one of our customers after his bin had been removed. His response was in relation to this questionnaire and we are reproducing it for you unfiltered.

1 – Yes, the bin was placed where I had requested, and arrived on time.

2 – Yes, I would definitely use this service again.  The gentlemen on the phone was very helpful, applied a discount that I had asked for that was offered online, and was friendly and courteous.  In today’s world, brands are defined by the experience they provide (not the product or service they offer).  Junkit shows that great service drives loyalty, which then will drive retention and growth.  It’s the new paradigm and junkit already has it mastered.

– KT

A truly humbling response. Especially considering this is a paying customer and we are not digging around for compliments just feedback.

Our core service mission

Let’s be honest. Even with our best efforts and 99 of 100 customers being satisfied with our service, there will be at least one instance when we have let our customer down. Whether it is our failure to meet the expectations we set, circumstances conspiring against a smooth job or just not being able to mitigate deficiencies in service are, however rare, a reality. Make no mistake, such failure is a great teacher.

And that’s why customer recognition such as this is so important for us. It makes us want to do better. It energizes our entire operation. We are charged up to ensure that great value and service experience are assured for all our customers.

Bin rental is a very service-led business

Ours is a very customer-centric business. Dumpsters and garbage bins are purely utilitarian tools. If you wanted the hassle of finding, placing and removing a large dumpster then you would have done it yourself. If you are renting a dumpster from us, we understand you want convenience and seamless service.

We work on the knowledge that it’s the care we take that will make the difference in your experience. And that’s why you’ll want to work with us again. We don’t teach our employees and managers that the customer is always right. That’s doesn’t capture the spirit of what we want to offer. We don’t want us to react to customer’s demands.

No, we proactively make sure that every one of our customers receives the best service and care from start to finish. Objectively, we have to provide a good deal to customers.

From everyone at Junk It our sincerest thanks to KT for taking the time for the response. It has been a huge boost for everyone. Be rest assured we will only aim higher.

Get in touch with us to get a quote for your bin rental and find out how we’ll make the whole experience really easy for you.

Those old sneakers you’re about to throw out might be worth more than you think. If you’ve hung on to your old Nike shoes and are questioning whether or not to throw them out, you might want to give them a closer look.

These days, shoes can increase in value like collectibles. Because Nike shoes have had a distinct history and evolution in designs, many find it worth paying a high price for some of the classic models.

What Makes Some Shoes Valuable?

What sets Nike shoes apart from the rest is the iconic role they’ve established in popular culture. With big name sponsorships linking the company to some of the best players in the world, their shoes have become a symbol of athletic excellence.

They’ve also become a fixture in the fashion and music industries. Popular artists have worn some of the classic Nike shoes, making them even more popular than they already were.

But the shoes that are most sought after are those which are unique in design. When it comes to collectors, the quality isn’t necessarily the most important factor. Rather, the uniqueness of the object is what makes it valuable.

The shoes that made a dramatic impact are the ones that have stood the test of time. Nike shoes on eBay are being sold for thousands of dollars, underscoring the value that they still have in Toronto and worldwide.

Do You Have a Pair of These?

Not all Nike shoes are equal. Throughout the years, only a handful has reached the status that commands high dollars for those lucky enough to own them.

If you’ve got a pair of vintage Nike shoes on your hands, you might want to consider whether or not they fall into that category. The following are the most sought after vintage Nikes being sold today:

These are the most sought after Nike shoes on the market. Many premiered with new features such as air bubbles, materials including suede and silver nylon, unique logo designs, and associations with top players of the day.

Unfortunately, the chances are rare that you’ve got any of these. But if you do, you might consider putting them up for sale on eBay.

Otherwise, it’s best to get rid of your old sneakers. They might have sentimental value to you, but you’ll likely get very little if you do try to sell them. And if you’ve got a lot of them, you might as well just hand them off to the junk removal company. It gives you an opportunity to start your collection all over again. Maybe this time, you’ll know exactly which shows might become classics one day.

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is one of the most popular game consoles in the history of the industry. It arrived on the heels of what many thought was a dying industry, and revitalized video games while making history in the process.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System

As a result, many of its games are now valuable collector’s items. Some are valued in the tens of thousands of dollars. But what are the chances that your games are among them? Are your old Nintendo games junk? Or should you consider putting them up on eBay?

The Legacy of Nintendo

The NES was introduced in North America in 1985, along with Europe and Australia releases the following years. It was an 8-bit console for video games that was designed by Nintendo.

It became the highest selling console during its time. More notable was the fact that its success came about during what many considered to be a crash in the video game industry. In 1983, many considered video games to be a fad that was quickly dying out.

It revolutionized the gaming industry by giving third-party developers license to design its games. This has now become standard practice in the industry.

The NES has been named the single greatest video game console ever.

What NES Games Are Worth?

As with any collectible, not all Nintendo games are valued equally. However, some games have reached astronomical price values due to their rarity and historical significance.

For example, the game titled “Stadium Events” has been sold for the highest price ever for a video game. In 1987, this game had a limited release. It’s one of the most rare Nintendo video games, as only 200 copies are known to exist. It’s valued at over $43,000 CAD.

Another sought after game is “Nintendo World Championships Gold”. Valued at approximately $19,000 CAD, this game is considered the ultimate collectible among enthusiasts. It is a gold cartridge and was given away at Nintendo’s World Championships in 1990.

Are Your Games Junk?

Clearly, Nintendo games can be highly valuable. And if you happen to have a copy of one of the above games, or just a handful of others that are almost as popular, then you might want to hang onto it.

But more than likely, your games are of little value if they’re anything outside of a limited edition. Toronto video game enthusiasts generally throw out their old Nintendo games.

And if you no longer have a working console, they’ll do you little good. Pass them on to your local junk removal service, along with any other games that no longer hold any value for you or any collector.

Toys have long been highly collectible items. In recent years, the Super Soaker has become highly sought after among collectors, and rare models have begun to appear on eBay and around the Toronto area for hundreds of dollars.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Soaker

If you’re wondering what to do with your old Super Soaker, the following will help you decide if you need to hand it off to the junk removal service, or hang on to it for an interested buyer.

What is the Super Soaker?

The original Super Soaker water gun appeared in 1990. It was invented by Lonnie Johnson, and used air pressure to allow it to reach longer distances with greater accuracy. It also produced a level of power that had yet to be reached with traditional water guns.

Its popularity grew, and the toy ultimately received the “Outdoor Toy of the Year” award in 2011. It’s still one of the most popular toys today, with enthusiasts around the world building their own collections.

The Value of Your Super Soaker

The Super Soaker has increased in value over time. Much like other collectibles, Super Soakers can be found in a variety of conditions, which impact its value to buyers.

Because many of the terms used to describe the condition of a given item can be subjective, it’s difficult to know how your Super Soaker can be classified. Many sellers offer Super Soakers that are still in their original package.

This can be misleading, as even those that have been stored over time may not be fully functional. Issues with the gun’s valve trigger have been seen with such models, and exposure to heat or sunlight can compromise the gun’s performance.

What to Look For

Knowing what to look for in your Super Soaker will help you decide to keep it or add it to your junk removal.

If you’ve got a Super Soaker, you most likely have already used it. If so, chances are that it’s got some wear or damage. If this is the case, then there’s little reason to try and sell it. Only those that are fully functioning, and have original packaging and labels can demand high prices.

Your Super Soaker has surely brought you plenty of value and enjoyment. But if you no longer use it, and its condition doesn’t warrant your selling it, it’s better off going out the door. Your local Toronto junk removal service will gladly take it, along with any other items that need to go.

One of the most famous and loved toys is the Easy Bake oven. It has been on the market for over 50 years and has been a part of the lives of generations of children.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easy-Bake_Oven

If you’ve got an Easy Bake Oven you’d like to get rid of, but aren’t sure if it belongs in your junk removal pile or in your home, the following information will help you make the right choice.

The Easy Bake Oven

The Easy Bake oven first appeared in 1963. It was originally manufactured by the Kenner toy company, and is currently a product of Hasbro. The oven has evolved over the years as a result of technological advances, leading to a number of existing models.

The oven used an incandescent bulb as a heat source in its original model. It includes pans and a cake mix used to give children their first experience with baking. Over 16 million units were sold by the year 1997, making it one of the most popular toys in history.

Although its original design resembled a conventional oven, newer models resemble today’s microwave ovens.

Safety Issues

The Easy Bake oven has had its share of problems with defects. A recall was put in place in 2007 as a result of an issue causing children to get their hands and fingers stuck in the opening compartment.

In addition, serious burns were reported, raising the concerns of both Hasbro and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The result was a recall of just under 1 million units. All Easy Bake ovens that were sold from May 2006 are included in the recall.

Junk or Not Junk?

As beloved as the Easy Bake oven is for generations of children, vintage units generally sell for anywhere between $16 and $26 CAD. This is not a significant increase from its original price, and therefore makes it unlikely that you’ll want to keep it around.

Toronto junk removal services see a wide range of toys make their way out of homes. If you have an Easy Bake oven, you’ve likely used it, and the unit might show some wear and tear. This is all the more reason to put it in the junk pile.

Although there are sources available where you can find manuals and parts for vintage models, only ovens that are in their original package have been able to demand higher prices on eBay and other places. In that case you might want to keep it for your own personal use if you still can’t bear to part with it.

For Father’s Day 2012, my wife and kids bought me a home brewing kit. I thought it was the perfect gift. I loved beer and the technical aspects of making it. I was going to make it my hobby and spend lots of time experimenting with various styles.  Sharing it with my friends and family would make me a popular guy.

I researched for hours on the web about the various methods of making styles of beer. I found a Youtube channel created by a Hamilton Ontario gentlemen called Craig Farraway. He was an interesting cat. Stay at home Dad, gourmet cook, avid home brewer and musician. He has quite a following and posted a video on how to make home-brew easy. I started my first batch using this video.

I brought my iPad down to the basement and started the process. I decided to make a Czech styled Pilsner. I was surprised that it was quite easy. I had a 5 gallon pail that I used to ferment the beer. I then waited for about a month to bootle all the delicious beer. I remember tasting it for the first time. It was heaven. I always loved beer but making my own was almost a spiritual experience.

I loved it so much that my beer consumption went up and so did the size of my belly. I never abused the stuff but I was drinking more beer than I usually did. The pounds started packing on and I made a decision: I need to stop home brewing or choose a healthier hobby. I know many of you are going to say that I should just practice restraint, but I couldn’t. It was just darn good.

One day I was surfing the web and came across a website called Breadtopia.  I thought it would be cool to make my own healthy, organic, artisan bread. We had a bread maker that we bought some time ago gathering dust in the basement. I pulled it out and started the process. I was going to use yeast for a different purpose this time.

My first recipe was organic spelt bread. It was delicious hardy and healthy. My kids and wife went nuts over it. The house smelled so good. It was healthier then beer. There was no downside! This would be my new hobby.

Running Junk It can be stressful. We have lots of customers, employees and logistics involved with providing junk removal in Toronto. I need a hobby to decompress and reduce my stress. Bread making fits the bill and my wife thinks it’s pretty cool that she has a husband who is a bread baker.

By Christopher Luciano, CEO of Junk It!

We are delighted to announce that our company, Junk It! has just won a HomeStars ‘Best of 2013’ Award! This coveted award goes to the one company in each category in our city that earned the highest reputation ranking last year, based on thousands of reviews made by homeowners on the homestars.com website. We also have some reviews on our website.

These awards began in 2008 to distinguish the very best home improvement companies from the rest. According to HomeStars Founder, Nancy Peterson, “We created the Best of Awards to recognize the best-of-the-best in each category. These awards help us achieve our mission to be the most trusted source for homeowners so they can have the best home improvement experience – before, during and after the work is done.”

A special note to our valued customers: If you took the time in 2013 to write a review on homestars.com about the service we provided you – a big thank you! Because your review helped us win the award. And if you did not write a review yet, it would be greatly appreciated since it helps build our company’s online reputation.

We invite you to see all our homeowner reviews by going to Homestars.com and then typing Junk It! into the search bar at the top of the page.

Recently we decided that cross training should be completed between our office and field staff here at Junk It!®.  We felt it was important that all our office staff understood the entire customer service process from start to finish so we sent John Wheeler our Customer WOW specialist here at HQ to ride along with our full service crew for a day. I also asked him to write about the experience. Here it is in his own words:

“Woke up, fell out of bed

Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup”

A day in the life from the 1967 Album Beatles album St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

5:45am: Alarm goes off.  I’m rather slower than usual getting out of bed considering its 2 hours early. Today, I’m going to be trading in my business casual for the JuNK iT! uniform and get my hands dirty with a day in the field with the Full service crew.

6:15am: Up and out the door. Leaving from Burlington to drive into the yard in Toronto to meet the member of the team that I am working with for our start time of 8:00am

7:00am: Traffic sucks. My normal commute on a bad day is 15 minutes. Earning more respect for our drivers as the minutes tick by.

7:45am: Arrived at the yard. Parked my car and got out. I see Jawaad, the JuNK iT! worker that I’m going to riding with for the day. He looks at me smiles and says “I thought they were kidding” I’ve talked to Jawaad on the phone and know that he is a joker. This sets the tone of the day and put my mind at ease.

8:00am: We are rolling. Jawaad is driving on the highway with a lot of confidence. I’m in awe of how he is handling this monstrous truck.  Chatting back and forth about the day’s events and what I should expect.

9:15am: We arrive at our first job. It’s a business in Mississauga. Jawaad backs the truck in beside a cement truck that is unloading into the unit next to where we are working. We see what we have to do and give the customer our no obligation estimate right on the spot. She agrees to the price and we start working away.

It was a pretty big job for our first one of the day. Moving office material was interesting. While working away I found out different things about each jobs. With office jobs, there are usually long corridors and small elevators. These were things that I had never considered before. We are 15minutes into the first job and I`m learning new things as I go.

10:00am: Job is finished, I’m sweeping up and Jawaad is writing up the customers invoice. I take a step back and admire what we both have accomplished. We have helped clear out an office that was under renovations, did it in a timely matter…and not to mention I’m starting to get a little work out.

10:15am: Back on the 401 heading towards one of the many transfer stations that we use. I’m being filled in on what to expect when we get there and how I’m lucky that it’s not 25degrees out. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but when we got there, It made sense.

10:45am We reach the transfer station and dump our material from the first job. Seeing the truck back up, and how it is dumped was something that fascinated me. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be done, but was amazed with the ease of it.

11:00am We pass by Canada’s wonderland on our way up to our next job. It’s a house with some renovation material.  I’m trying to pick his brain about what to expect and Jawaad responds “I never know what to expect. Sometimes we get to a job and it’s way more than what was expected. Other times, we get there and it’s a lot smaller” With this comment, I start to think about my job and how I book. I’m the middle man. I’m the one that sets these guys up to go to the jobs. It makes me realize that I have a major impact on how their days go.

11:30am: Arrive at our second job. Bags of garbage and some wood from a renovation. We give the customer the estimate and I start to load the truck. Jawaad stops me and says “Let’s put the bin on the ground” Watching the bin come down into the customers driveway was nothing short of a work of art. No damage was done, the wood was put down for the bin to rest on. Perfect drop

12:00pm: Our job is done. The customer shakes our hands and thanks us. We head back to that same dump. I again keep asking all sorts of questions. It’s great to hear about the work ethic of not only Jawaad but about all of our drivers. Jawaad talks about them all and praises them.

12:30pm It’s lunch time. We pull into a plaza and find a spot to park. Jawaad backs in….BACKS IN to a spot between two cars. I’m dumbfounded. (Check out our facebook page for the picture…when I took it one of the cars had left)

1:30pm: Back to one of the transfer stations that we use to get rid of the material from the second job.

1:45pm: Back on the road to our last job of the day. We hit some major traffic so this gives me some time to go over the paperwork that I’m in charge of once it reaches the office. We talk about what works well and what doesn’t on both of our ends. It was good to hear feedback directly from the source who works with our customers.

3:30pm: We arrive at our final job. It’s a big house clean out. Material needs to be taken away from all three of the floors. We get to work. Have you ever tried to take a pool table up a spiral staircase? I have and it was not easy. Couches, cabinets, tables, chairs, you name it we grabbed it. We filled up our whole 11x8x5 truck in 45 minutes.

4:30pm: In order to prepare for the next day, we had to dump what was in our truck. Jawwad stressed the importance of this to make sure the next person in the truck doesn’t have to worry about the jobs that were done the day before. Also in this category is a trip to the gas station. Filling up the truck so the next driver doesn’t have to saves time for the next day. Every little bit helps.

5:30pm: Back at the yard. We go over the paper work, make sure everything is good. We contact the office and tell them that all jobs are complete and then call it a day. I asked Jawaad how I did. He said “You’re dirty and your face got red while lifting some stuff…you worked hard. You did good”

After going out into the field, I have so much more respect for our crews. Interacting with our great customers was also a good experience. Being able to see the people we reach out to and being able to work and sweat with a crew member was extremely exhausting but very rewarding. In talking to our customers we always hear that our boys do a great job, seeing it first hand, I completely agree.

Hey everyone, check out how good our new website looks!

For quite some time now, the web development team have been tucked away in their office, only coming out every so often for food and water.

The Reason?

They wanted to create a brand new website which had the most user friendly experience in the biz for booking Junk removal.

The Result?

They think that they did a pretty good job. And we agree, 100%

The new Junk It! website was launched during the first week of 2013. We have loaded it with new features that make it easier to book junk removal or dumpster rentals. One notable new feature is our live chat feature. You can decide to chat with any of our customer WOW specialists. They are there to help you out and answer any questions you have. We have also aggregated all our social media channels onto one page. You can see all our pages from Pinterest to Twitter all in one place.

We have also re-engineered the online booking system making it easier for repeat customers to re-order. Are you a returning customer? You can sign into Junk It! using your log in information to see your complete order history. Don’t remember which bin size you ordered last time? No problem, just log in and check for yourself.

We have staff bios, customer reviews, tutorial videos and MUCH MUCH MORE.

Take a look around and let us know what you think. Your feedback is important to us, and hey, sometimes we just like for you guys to say hello.

Our first entry in the series of JuNK iT! profiles shines a light on one of our office staff. Heather has been with the company since the summer and has been a valued member of the team, working every Saturday. That’s right folks, EVERY SATURDAY. She balances that along with a full time school work load. She’s quite the employee to have. Here is a quick look into Heathers life:

Name:  Heather Thurlow

Q. What’s your favourite part of the job?

Very relaxed, casual atmosphere

Everyone is really helpful whenever I have questions

Getting to talk with the customers

Q. What’s your most memorable Job that you’ve been a part of here at Junk iT!

Just this one!

Q. What  do you like to do in your spare time? Hobbies?, Interests?

Read
Go shopping
Bake
Watch movies
Play Volleyball

Q. Do you have any pets?

My family has a sheltie named Maggie that I love more than anything!

Q. What hidden talents do you have?

I can play the Piano and Flute.

I’m also a good Kickboxer!

Q. Do you have a nickname? If so what is it?

No

Q. Favorite colour?

Purple

Q. Favorite food?

Anything Italian: pasta, pizza…

Q. What is your favorite music band/artist?

I can’t just pick 1! But a few would be Coldplay, John Mayer, Florence & the Machine

Q. Favorite tv show?

Dexter and Breaking Bad

Q. Favourite Movie?

The Holiday

Q. Favourite  City?

Montreal

Q. Favourite landmark in Toronto / Ontario?

Niagara Falls

Hey the Junk It! team is getting ready for Movember. Check out our company page and please donate!

What is Movember?

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research

The funds raised in Canada support men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives.

The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and our men’s health partner, Prostate Cancer Canada. Together, these two channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals.

For more information on the programs Movember is funding please visit the following:
Prostate Cancer Canada
Awareness & Education
Global Action Plan
Canadian Male Health Network

Thanks for everyone’s support!

Junk It! has just launched a mobile app. Now it is easier to order dumpster rentals and junk removal in Toronto and GTA while on the road. You can book online with ease on your iPhone, Android, Blackberry or any other smart phone.

We have listened to you, our customer. We understand that you may not have access to a laptop or desktop while you move or renovate. Simply go on your smart phone and order a dumpster or junk removal pick-up. It’s so simple and fast.

We welcome any feedback and hope you enjoy!

One afternoon in 2001, Christopher, our founder, was getting a junk pick-up done for some home renovations in Toronto.  The person that showed up was late, had his schedule written on his cigarette package, pick-up truck spewed black smoke and there was no consistent pricing.

A light bulb went off! Then and there was the inspiration for Junk It! and James, our other co-founder, joined to help grow the business. A company that would provide professional consistent service that would wow customers on a consistent basis.

10 years later and over 40,000 wowed customers, Junk It! has grown to be the leader for junk removal and dumpster rentals.

Thanks so much to everyone! We could not have done it without you.

JuNK iT! has been around for almost ten years and we’re proud of the service we provide our community. Customer service is extremely important to us and we strive to provide the best possible experience. Our crew and call representatives are friendly, knowledgeable and polite and are always willing to go the extra mile.

We always encourage reviews, whether they are good or bad, because they allow us to maintain our high standard of service. You can read all about what our wonderful clients have to say about our service at Homestars and Google Local.