Curbside Shopping

[Fierce Critter]

I brought a beautiful, brand-new beachcruiser bike back from NC with me, paid $75.00 for it at a yard sale. And it turns out, the damn frame is too big for my shortness. :doh So I've been wishing for a cool mountain bike - one with all the shocks & stuff.

Well, for less than $3.00 worth of gas, Jon and I found me a gorgeous, X-Games mountain bike in metallic red & yellow with shocks in places I didn't know bikes could have. All it needs is a chain, some Mother's Polish and switch the seat from my other bike and I'm good to go. I'll sell the beachcruiser online or something.

The very Sunday I got back from NC, we went "junking". In the first couple nights, we got the following:

Computer desk (left ours in NC)

Antique dresser

Monitor (left ours in NC - this one's better)

Solid maple dropleaf dining room table in perfect condition

24-sheet full-sized Xerox document shredder (needs a touch of work but DOES function, and I left a cruddier one behind in NC)

Beautyrest California King Mattress (owner of the house came out to tell us it'd been used less than a couple months and they just didn't need it)

5-piece dining room set - a bit dated in style but in perfection condition, table & 4 chairs (Freecycled it after we found the maple table)

13" TV/VCR combo - perfect condition

We've been doing it off and on (as gas allows) in the 4 weeks I've been back, and also got the following:

Kitchen trash can in perfect condition

Step ladder

Unused bathroom rug (using it under litterboxes)

About 30-40 unread hardcover books of various genres (freecycled most)

Standing bathroom cabinet (needs a bit of work but solid)

Microwave cart/cabinet (left ours behind in NC, this one is better)

A Native American quill-design box worth up to $400 on eBay

And things we didn't bother picking up included:

A brand-new outdoor furniture set that HAD to be less than a season old, with gorgeous cushions that matched the included umbrella (Labor-Day week and trash pickup was staggered, so they put it out too early. Thankfully, someone did take it all)

Some 1950's classic furniture that I'm sure is making someone $$ on eBay right now (I just don't have the capability to deal in large items like that)

A classic Garland stove - again, worth $$ on eBay

A classic 1950's 3-piece sectional set (did bring it home, but I've decided I don't have time to do the reupholstery job on it, so I'm gonna freecycle it)

2 Entertainment centers (needed one, but we were already full-up)

Numerous bookshelves (waaaaay shouldn't have passed those up. Grrr...)

And so on and so on.

We did this very regularly before we moved south. We can't do it as much as we'd like now due to gas prices. And it's how we started on eBay - the first few auctions we had were all stuff we'd salvaged from the trash, enough to buy us our first computer & digital camera.

Ahhh, I love Michigan.

But you know, since I've been on Freecycle now, and since I had the occasion to actually have to drive ON a landfill in NC, this also disgusts & sickens me. We pass by furniture DAILY, bikes poor children would LOVE to have, toys, clothing, decorations, etc.

I just don't get it. Our family NEVER threw ANYTHING out. It all went to St. Vincent De Paul or Salvation Army. Sure, I'm benefitting from these people whose wasteful mindset I can't fathom. But I just wish EVERYONE were required to take a drive ONTO a landfill ONCE in their life like I did. Perhaps it'd change a lot of people's ways.

[Brenda Starrr]

Awesome!!

My son has a tendency to "dumpster dive." He calls me to tell me what's there and what condition it's in. We live in an apartment complex, and a lot of the tenants put some really sweet stuff out there. I don't have any "dumpster goodies", mainly because other people beat me to it. I always feel kind of weird about it.

[Fierce Critter]

I always feel kind of weird about it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I/we used to. To different degrees. For instance, Jon's always been reluctant to stop if there are residents of said house out and about.

We're both still kinda shy of that. But in some circumstances, it's a benefit. For instance, the guy who told us the details about the mattress. Made it easier for us to decide it would be alright to take it. Even helped us get it up on the truck.

But I think people should feel funnier about throwing such good things out.

[Msterbeau]

I'm trying to simplify... If I have anything worthwhile to get rid of FC, I'll let ya know.

[Fierce Critter]

Thanks, MB. I have a loooooooong list of things we left behind in NC we still need to replace. If you want it, I'll PM it to you.

And I can freecycle what I can't personally use myself. =)

[Msterbeau]

Thanks, MB. I have a loooooooong list of things we left behind in NC we still need to replace. If you want it, I'll PM it to you.

And I can freecycle what I can't personally use myself. =)

Send me da list.

[ZhukovCodeslinger]

let me know when you get books to Freecycle (i may even pay for them if they are books I really want)

[Shade Everdark]

Ditto what the Codeslinger said.

If you dislike how wasteful Americans can be, you'd loath the Japanese. A fellow in my apartment complex ended up with a brand-new television, because it had gotten a short and the original purchasers didn't want to deal with having it repaired, so they threw it out. The fellow brought it home, contacted customer service, and two weeks later, new hi-def TV in his apartment.

I myself got a rice cooker (still have it), toaster, microwave and a couple of blankets for the chillier months. It's sick how much NEW stuff they toss, because it has some little defect.

[PhatGoth]

damn, i be doin trash-can-shoppin for years

i gets donuts at tim horton's every nite and some fine furniture that way

[Fierce Critter]

ZCS & Shade - I'll do that re: books. This wasn't a typical finding, but something we have seen repeatedly in the years we've been doing this. Ordinarily, we don't open trash bags. It's potentially messy, dangerous (in our early days, Jon cut his finger on a bagged knife requiring an ER visit & stitches), and rude - we like to observe some code of ethics when doing this, which mostly includes NOT making a mess of other civilian's curbside.

Anyway, sometimes we see a pile that reads "someone died here and they didn't bother selling anything off". Sure enough, it'll be bags and bags and bags of things like books, clothing, etc. In cases like that, we'll usually just grab entire bags/boxes and stick them in the truck, take them home and THEN go through them. That's how we got the books this last time.

We've found incredible things that way. Silver jewelry, watches, antiques, etc. I don't understand it - I just don't. If you can't handle the pain or bother of an estate sale, why not just call up a charity and ask them to come get it all? Why throw it out?

If you dislike how wasteful Americans can be, you'd loath the Japanese.  A fellow in my apartment complex ended up with a brand-new television, because it had gotten a short and the original purchasers didn't want to deal with having it repaired, so they threw it out.  The fellow brought it home, contacted customer service, and two weeks later, new hi-def TV in his apartment.

I myself got a rice cooker (still have it), toaster, microwave and a couple of blankets for the chillier months.  It's sick how much NEW stuff they toss, because it has some little defect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That kinda surprises me. I would think the Japanese would be more sophisticated about that sort of thing.

The 27" TV we left behind (no room on the truck) in NC was the first one we'd ever purchased new. We've had a dozen TV's besides that one, and every one was found on the curbside - including a 32" one with a slight "blue" problem. Most of the time, the problem is an over-worked circuitboard area where the AC cord goes in. A little solder and voila - free TV.

Gas money right now is tough, so we're not junking every night, Sunday through Thursday, like we used to. I wish we had a moving truck for the nights we do, though. You should see all the furniture we pass up that could be used to re-outfit houses for Katrina victims. It's sickening.

[Homicidalheathen]

I like garage sales for craft supplies. I made a coat rack look like well....its now a herb rack and painted with little tiny roses...I think It now looks like it cost 50 bucks it cost me 10 to make.

[gothicmom]

I used to go junking all the time. It would bug my husband so I quit showing him my finds! They would just show up!

In Grand Rapids you have to pay to put out your trash, so no good stuff out to the road. BOO-HOO

[Fierce Critter]

OMG - I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

There's this computer desk at Big Lots for $80. I wanted it so bad, not that I like it style-wise, it's very modern. But functionally, it would be perfect. But we couldn't afford it.

WE GOT ONE OFF A CURB TONIGHT!!! No kidding! The same damned one!

And the people who had it out there even came out to joke and say if they'd known we wanted it, we could have come earlier and helped them get it out of the house.

Turns out they got it from Office Max, and it was a heck of a lot more than $80.

On top of that, Jon got a full set of weights, so now he can pick up one of the better weight benches we see all the time (they had one, but it was cheesy, so we'll find another).

Got myself a new cart for carrying eBay boxes, too - a good one with large wheels & stair runners.

Man, I love this...

[bean]

Sometimes I will drive through the ritzier neighboorhoods to look for stuff. Those people throw out brand new things! It is sad to see though, because there are the less fortunate out there that could benefit from the perfectly good things people throw away.

[Lilith]

I have been sticking adds up on craigslist just like this one "Garbage and Junk" "old worthless items" (it my add )

any how i was trying to gather some items i wanted to keep, gather items i could sell at ebay, and gather items i could either donate to katrina or for people and family memebers i know who need.

Yestarday was the fisrt day i went to pick anything up form any one and i got 3-4 baggs of cloth only a handfull are being kept, the guy had a couple pairs of dockers that fit lestat in the waist and are a bit too long but he needs them so i plan to cut em down, some left over bath supplies, pool toys, etc....... any how out of the car load i got from the lady 3 full white trash bags are of cloths are going to be given to katrinia as well as some walkmans and phone chargers purses hats and some very warm fuzzy shirts i just thought how those people are going to freeze there bottom off here this winter.

I guess my point is i am saving things from landfills getting items i can use to make $$$ and giving people things they need, gesh she had a whole stack of t-shirts that have never been unfolded look like they came straight from the maufacture box those are going to katrinia.

I get things from the trash all the time while i was in the neighbor hood picking up other stuff they had the warren throw everythng out day and it will get picked up, i picked up one of those racks for those metal pans they use in buffets, and a $144 Bunn stainless steal coffe maker, does not pump water but i plan to call bunn and get the # of a repir shop if it only costs me $10 - $20 to fix i am soo set with a kick ass coffe meaker maybe i can just buy the part and further save me $. I also got a back board off a freestanding BAsketball hoop set, the lady told me the pole was borke buthe whole set up cost $1300, i took the back board casue the wind had knocked over our cheap miejer $80 set up and broke the back board i had, any how looks like i can figure soemthing out and the kids have there basket ball back.

All three of my kids comp desk are trash finds, as well as some of the computer parts we just stuck in there "new" machines. LOL hell right now my kitchen cabinets although ugly are trash finds and do the trick i need them to right now and because they are metal when ever get a garage built they will then go to the garage.

Allot of my halloween decor is trash finds people will throw away good things that just need a new bulb to work again or a fuse.

Also if you are short on cash you can collect alluminum as well as other things and sell them to scrap yards for a few cents per pound, may not seem like allot but if you have the means you can make a fourtune, lestat and some old co workers used to do this to feed there break room fridge with pop and stuff.

Gosh we have gotten so much stuff, at time the trash has been a huge god send.

FC send me a list of things you need and if i find it and i can fit it in my car i will gladley pick it up.

But it sounds like your garbage is way better then mine normally the bike we find in the trash around here is already stripped of all good working parts

[Brenda Starrr]

Wayne brought in a really nice wood and upholstered desk chair. I never in a million years would have expected it.

[Lilith]

i dont have any fencing around my yard yet and it is really far off in my plans just not that important but when i do get fencing and withte smal amount i will need i wanted to get iron, welllllllll.................. yesterday we found two gates and some smaller peices of iron fencing in the trash. I was soo happy :grin

i just wanted to ad dthat they are not up yet and will be some time befor they get put up as we need ot buy other supplies, but fro mwhat i can tell, the gates CREEK.......

i am so excited to have creeky old iron gates ughh ya just dont know how much

[Adriel1]

I think it great to go junking I've done it myself. Gotten sweet books like my first edition Interview with the Vampire still brand new and with the cover, got a some really old coins before too.

[gothicmom]

I used to pick up old junk and repaint or decorate it for resale. I have pics of a few things. I'll see if I can get them resized then post them somewhere.