Locos Gringos Pick N Pull

East Texas’s Premier Self-Service Salvage Yard

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                       Locos Gringos Pick N Pull is a family-owned self-service auto salvage yard located in Tyler, Texas. Since opening its doors in 2010, Locos Gringos has grown into a regional leader in affordable used auto parts, combining a massive inventory with a friendly, down-to-earth customer experience. Proudly local to East Texas, the company is known as the “Home of East Texas’ largest selection of used auto parts at the lowest prices”locosgringospicknpull.com. Car enthusiasts, DIY mechanics, and budget-conscious drivers alike turn to Locos Gringos for its unbeatable deals and vast selection – a reputation that has made it one of the best pick-and-pull salvage operations in Texas (and even the nation).

Founding and Family History

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                      The story of Locos Gringos Pick N Pull begins with Rick Sage, a lifelong veteran of the auto recycling industry. Rick started his career back in 1985 as a humble parts puller at Troy’s Auto Parts in Tyler. Over 13 years at Troy’s, he worked his way up from the yard to the sales counter and eventually into management, becoming general manager of the facility. During Rick’s tenure, Troy’s Auto Parts experienced rapid growth – a testament to his knowledge and leadership in the business. In 1998, when the large national recycler LKQ Corporation acquired Troy’s and rebranded it as LKQ North Texas, Rick was retained as a key manager. He served as a general manager under LKQ for two years, gaining valuable experience with the “big corporate” side of the industry. By the year 2000, at just 35 years old, Rick decided it was time to take a leap and build something of his own. He left LKQ to pursue his independent vision in auto recycling.

Rick decided to invest in himself and it paid off. Rick & Rhonda Sage decided to purchase Polo's Auto Parts in Tyler, Tx. Immediately changing the name to RCS which stood for his family's Initials. Rick, (Husband) Rhonda, (Wife) Colby, (Son) Chase (Son,) Sage, (Last Name) (Chase the son say's he think's the initials actually stand for "Real Cheap Sh*t" lol. So it became RCS Auto Recyclers, a full-service salvage yard purchased in 2000. Through hard work and a commitment to customer service, Rick grew RCS Auto Recyclers into one of the most successful and well-regarded salvage yards in the region. His experience with RCS cemented his reputation and taught him every facet of running an auto recycling business. Meanwhile, Rick observed an emerging trend in the industry – the rise of “you-pull-it” salvage yards where customers remove their own parts. At the time, many traditional salvage professionals claimed the pick-n-pull model wouldn’t work in East Texas, but Rick thought otherwise. He envisioned a sprawling self-service yard where the public could find the parts they need at bargain prices, and he was confident this concept could thrive in the community.

In 2010, Rick turned that vision into reality by founding Locos Gringos Pick N Pull on a 14-acre property just outside Tylertylerpaper.com. (The memorable name “Locos Gringos” reflects the bold, fun spirit of the venture.) It was one of the first self-service auto parts yards in the area. In the early days, Rick’s hands-on experience and local reputation helped Locos Gringos gain traction quickly – skeptics were proven wrong as East Texans eagerly embraced the chance to pull their own parts and save money. The yard’s combination of vast inventory and ultra-low prices made it an instant hit. By 2015, Rick could proudly say that Locos Gringos had around 900 vehicles on site at all times for customers to pick throughtylerpaper.com, and the inventory was constantly refreshed with new arrivals. The innovative promotions Rick introduced – like the now-legendary “All You Can Carry” sale where, for one day, customers pay a flat $75 fee for all the parts they can carry out – only added to the yard’s growing fametylerpaper.comtylerpaper.com. Locos Gringos quickly became a fixture among local car enthusiasts, known for turning a trip to the junkyard into a fun, rewarding experience.

In 2012, Rick’s son Chase Sage joined the family business, bringing a new generation into the operation. Chase took on a leadership role at RCS Auto Recyclers, helping manage that facility’s day-to-day operations as it continued to expand. Under the combined guidance of Rick and Chase, RCS Auto Recyclers reached new heights – it became one of the most profitable and popular salvage yards in the country, recognized for its quality parts and excellent service. This success did not go unnoticed: in June 2023, after over two decades in business, RCS Auto Recyclers was acquired by Aesop Auto Parts, a national auto recycling grouprcsautoparts.com. The sale (at a premium price) was a testament to the strong organization and value that Rick and Chase had built at RCS. Following the sale, the Sage family decided to focus entirely on their pick-n-pull venture. Rick and Chase became 50/50 partners in Locos Gringos Pick N Pull in 2023, shifting all their attention and expertise to this single flagship operation.

Today, Locos Gringos remains 100% family-owned and operated. The father-and-son team of Rick and Chase Sage lead the company, combining over 40 years of industry experience with fresh energy and ideas for the future. Their shared vision is to continue growing Locos Gringos while maintaining the core values that have defined it from the start: integrity, customer service, and a passion for helping people find the parts they need. What began as Rick Sage’s bold idea has, over 15 years, blossomed into a thriving enterprise – one that proudly serves the East Texas community and beyond.

Massive Inventory, Unbeatable Prices

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                       One of the key factors that sets Locos Gringos Pick N Pull apart is its massive inventory of vehicles and parts. The facility typically keeps anywhere from 750 to 1,500 vehicles in the yard at any given time (about 900 on average), ranging from dusty old work trucks to recent-model cars and everything in betweentylerpaper.comtylerpaper.com. New salvage vehicles arrive daily – often hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, and SUVs each month – ensuring an ever-changing selection for customerstylerpaper.com. In fact, Locos Gringos brings in 300–400 new vehicles every month to rotate stock and replace older inventorytylerpaper.com. Unwanted cars don’t sit around for long; each vehicle has a limited time on the lot (roughly 90 days) before it’s eventually retired to the crusher, making room for more arrivalstylerpaper.com. This rapid turnover means that if the part you need isn’t available on your first visit, it may well show up soon – a big reason customers check back frequently. It’s no surprise that Locos Gringos bills itself as the largest selection of auto parts in East Texaslocosgringospicknpull.com.

Not only is the selection huge, but the pricing is famously low. By operating as a self-service yard, Locos Gringos can offer used auto parts at a fraction of typical retail cost. Customers pay a minimal admission fee (just $2) to enter the yard, grab the parts they need, and pay only for those parts – with no expensive labor costs added, as would be the case in a full-service parts shop. Common replacement parts that might sell for hundreds of dollars new can be had for mere tens of dollars at Locos Gringos. (For example, alternators often go for about $20, and entire engines around $200 during special salestylerpaper.com.) The company regularly runs promotions and sales to offer even greater bargains. The most famous is the “All You Can Carry” sale, an event that has achieved an almost mythical status among local mechanics and tinkererstylerpaper.com. On these special days, hundreds of people line up at dawntylerpaper.com for a chance to carry out as many parts as they can personally heft for a flat fee (historically $75 per person) – leading to spectacular scenes of determined customers hauling everything from transmissions to truck beds on their shoulderstylerpaper.comtylerpaper.com. Creative events like this embody the Locos Gringos ethos: great deals, a bit of fun, and a whole lot of value for the customer.

How the “Pick-N-Pull” Model Works

                       Locos Gringos Pick N Pull operates on a “U-Pull-It” model designed to empower customers and keep costs low. The concept is simple: you bring your own tools, and you remove the parts yourself from the vehicles in the yard. Upon entering the facility, customers are greeted by knowledgeable staff who can provide a printed list of vehicles in the yard that match the make/model or parts they’re looking forlocosgringospicknpull.com. Every incoming vehicle is catalogued by year, make, model, and major components, so if (for example) you need a door for a 2008 Honda Accord, the staff can point you to the row where similar Accords are located. A detailed yard map is provided to help visitors navigate the 14-acre expanse of vehicleslocosgringospicknpull.com. While customers must bring their own wrenches, sockets, and other tools, Locos Gringos supplies free use of wheelbarrows, wagons, and engine hoists to assist in transporting heavy partslocosgringospicknpull.com. For safety and convenience, all vehicles are elevated on stable wheel stands, giving easy access to undersides and engine bays without needing jackslocosgringospicknpull.com. It’s a well-organized system that makes the treasure-hunt of finding auto parts both efficient and enjoyable.

The yard is divided into sections by manufacturer and type – Ford here, Toyota there, trucks in one area, compacts in another, and so on – making it easier to find what you need. Customers are free to roam and remove any parts they can pull. Whether it’s a simple knob from a dashboard or a heavy engine block, if you can pull it and carry it out, it’s yours for the posted price. To simplify pricing, Locos Gringos maintains a standard price list for parts (so a starter motor or a fender will have a set price regardless of the vehicle make/model)locosgringospicknpull.com. This transparent pricing means you know exactly what you’ll pay before you even pull the part. Most parts also come with an optional 30-day warranty for a small additional fee, giving customers peace of mind on their purchases (as noted in the yard’s policies). Overall, the self-service model not only saves money, but it also creates a sense of satisfaction for customers who take pride in doing it themselves. Many locals will tell you that spending a Saturday at Locos Gringos pulling parts is just as much a hobby or pastime as it is a means to fix a vehicle.

Services: Buying Junk Cars & Responsible Recycling

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                       To keep its inventory stocked and the community served, Locos Gringos Pick N Pull offers a valuable service beyond just selling parts: buying used and junk vehicles from the public. The company will purchase cars, trucks, and SUVs in any condition – dead or alive. If you have an old vehicle that you’re ready to part with, Locos Gringos makes it easy. They offer cash on the spot for unwanted vehicles and will even pick up the car for free with their own tow truckslocosgringospicknpull.com. The process is straightforward: as long as you have the title, Locos Gringos will schedule a convenient pickup, arrive promptly, and hand you a cash payment for your vehicle. This service not only helps local residents get rid of eyesores or project cars they no longer need, but it also feeds the salvage yard with a steady stream of fresh inventory. Thanks to offering top dollar and hassle-free removal, Locos Gringos has become one of the preferred junk car buyers in the East Texas area. They pride themselves on offering fair, competitive prices for every vehicle and making the selling experience quick and professional.

Once vehicles arrive at the yard, environmental responsibility and efficiency are top priorities. Every car is thoroughly processed before it ever hits the sales yard for parts. The fluids – gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid, etc. – are safely drained. Usable fluids like gasoline are filtered and reused to fuel the company’s own trucks and equipmenttylerpaper.com, reducing waste. Hazardous materials (such as batteries, mercury switches, and refrigerants) are removed and handled according to environmental regulations. The vehicles are then inventoried and placed on the lot for customer access. Each car stays in the yard for roughly three months, giving the public ample time to pull off any needed parts. After about 90 days, the remaining hulks of the vehicles (now stripped of most useful components) are retired from the yard – but the recycling process doesn’t end there. Before final disposal, specialized machinery strips out any last valuable materials (for instance, copper wiring, aluminum wheels, and catalytic converters are removed if still present)tylerpaper.com. Finally, the vehicle’s shell is crushed flat and sold as scrap metal to be melted down and recycled into new metal productstylerpaper.com. Very little goes to waste in this cycle. “Essentially, we are taking a car that’s dead and making another car out of it,” as one Locos Gringos partner put ittylerpaper.com. This full-circle recycling approach not only generates additional revenue that helps keep part prices low, but it also benefits the environment by reducing landfill waste and the need for raw materials. Locos Gringos is fully licensed and compliant with state and federal environmental regulations for automotive recycling, so customers can feel good knowing that their DIY efforts are part of a sustainable process.

Community Involvement and Values

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                    As a local, family-run business, Locos Gringos Pick N Pull takes pride in serving the community beyond just providing affordable auto parts. Rick and Chase Sage have fostered a company culture that is friendly, honest, and down-to-earth – every customer is treated with respect, and help is always available if you need guidance finding a part or using a tool. The team at Locos Gringos lives in the same East Texas communities that they serve, so they understand the importance of building trust and giving back. This is evident in the company’s various community involvement initiatives. For example, Locos Gringos actively supports local first responders by donating vehicles for firefighter training. Area fire departments – including those in Tyler and nearby towns like Winona – have used cars provided by Locos Gringos to conduct extrication training drills. These exercises allow firefighters and rescue personnel to practice vital life-saving techniques (like using the “Jaws of Life” to cut open a wrecked car and safely remove victims) in a controlled setting. By providing junk cars at no cost for these drills, Locos Gringos helps equip local fire crews with the experience they need to save lives on the highwayslocosgringospicknpull.com. It’s a partnership that benefits everyone: firefighters get hands-on training, and old vehicles get one last purposeful use before being recycled.

Locos Gringos also engages with car clubs, vocational schools, and charity projects in the region. Over the years, the yard has become a gathering place of sorts for car lovers and the DIY community – you might find that on any given weekend, there’s a mix of professional mechanics, young people working on their first car project, and seasoned hobbyists all swapping tips in the parking lot or helping each other pull a tricky part. This welcoming atmosphere is very much by design. “Men love what we do,” Rick Sage once noted during one of the big sale eventstylerpaper.comtylerpaper.com, but in truth Locos Gringos welcomes everyone – men and women, old and young – who shares an interest in cars or just wants to save money on repairs. The company’s customer-first philosophy means staff are approachable and eager to assist if someone is unsure how to proceed. That down-to-earth, neighborly attitude has earned Locos Gringos a loyal following in East Texas.

Being an independent business (not part of a big chain), Locos Gringos embodies the entrepreneurial and community-oriented spirit of East Texas. The Sage family is committed to preserving that spirit as the company grows. They maintain high professional standards – for instance, the business is insured and operates with all required licenses and environmental safeguards – but they never lose sight of the personal touch. Whether you’re selling a junk car, hunting for a part, or attending one of the yard’s famous half-price or all-you-can-carry events, you can expect to be greeted with a smile and treated fairly. This blend of professionalism and small-town friendliness is a core value at Locos Gringos Pick N Pull.

Looking Ahead

                     After 15 years in business, Locos Gringos Pick N Pull is still growing strong and looking toward the future. With Rick and Chase Sage at the helm – leveraging decades of experience and a proven track record – the company plans to continue expanding its services and inventory to meet the evolving needs of customers. There are plans for facility upgrades and innovations to make the pick-n-pull experience even more convenient. But no matter how much the business expands, Locos Gringos will remain true to its roots as an East Texas original: passionate about cars, committed to great deals, and always grateful for the community that made its success possible.

In summary, Locos Gringos Pick N Pull offers a unique and valuable service to the Tyler, TX area and beyond. It provides affordable auto parts through a fun, DIY experience, recycles vehicles in an environmentally responsible way, and actively gives back to its community. From its humble beginnings in 2010 to its status now as a top-tier salvage yard, Locos Gringos stands as a shining example of what a family-owned local business can achieve with hard work, vision, and a customer-centric approach. Whether you’re a seasoned mechanic or just someone who needs an affordable part for your daily driver, Locos Gringos Pick N Pull invites you to come on down to the yard – you’re guaranteed to be treated right and maybe even become part of the ever-growing Locos Gringos family.

Meet The Team