Burtts Corner — Residents of New Brunswick are good at a lot of things: hunting, fishing, collecting E.I., driving under the influence and, these day, selling copper.
According to the Canadian Telecommunications Association, copper wire sales in 2026 have increased 400 per cent in New Brunswick over the same time last year — easily beating out the rest of Canada. Despite internet, phone and power outages that result, residents are proud to be leading the pack.
“I’m a salesman by trade, but some things are harder to sell than others,” said Bobby Quentin, who works at the Brick in the Regent Mall. “I can upsell you to a big reclining leather couch when you came in for a simple loveseat. But selling copper? Those are the big leagues. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that.”
While out driving early this morning, our reporter noticed a gentleman cutting wires from a phone pole in a rural area of New Brunswick. We rolled down the window to ask him a few questions, which he didn’t hesitate to answer.
“They have pretty strict laws against it, so that makes finding a buyer tricky — it’s not like they come to you,” said copper salesman Jeff Coburn of Burtts Corner. “Any copper wire I…find…has to be sold at a premium to make it worth my while, and even some scrapyards are turning me down these days. You gotta be resourceful to make it in this business.”
Coburn, who learned the tricks of outbound sales while working in a call centre, has become so legendary in the aforementioned business that NBCC approached him about teaching a course.
“Yeah, I’m there two days a week talking about ‘copper wire acquisition and sales’ to the next generation. They have a lot to learn — they need to know how to cut wires in places that won’t really notice the lack of internet so much. You don’t do it right in Fredericton.
“Another skill they need is knowing how to spot the difference between copper and fibre optic cables. And you need to know what areas are another salesperson’s territory, where security cameras are located, and lots more.
“Now, if you excuse me, I’m off to Best Metals for a little transaction.”