I'm in college, so I've definitely done a lot of picking up stuff like this, or Craigslisting. It works quite well, as long as you're choosy and you check stuff out. I'm not sure I'd trust a couch or anything, but I've gotten lamps, jewelry, and books before.
Would you go dumpster diving?
08/08/2010
Quote:
Stuff like that might almost be worth picking up just to sell on eBay if you had the extra time, wow
Originally posted by
Victoria
We totally put about 25% of the leftover stuff from our yardsale last weekend on the curb --- and it vanished! I didn't even have to list a 'Curb Alert' on Craigslist
I think refurbishing and re-using is great.
We live ... more
I think refurbishing and re-using is great.
We live ... more
We totally put about 25% of the leftover stuff from our yardsale last weekend on the curb --- and it vanished! I didn't even have to list a 'Curb Alert' on Craigslist
I think refurbishing and re-using is great.
We live between University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, so every May there is endless furniture on the curbs all over this neighborhood. Some legendary finds that myself and friends have come across over the years: a trash bag full of change (dimes, nickels, quarters etc)that added up to $160 - yes, someone literally threw away money, books of stamps, a Palm Pre, 3 iPods, cases of beer, new beds still the plastic bag, unopened DVD player new in box, so much like-new furniture it's ridiculous, a roll up metal window ladder (for fire escape), tons of clothes with the tags still on them, piles and piles of books, desktop computers and flatscreen monitors, beerpong tables, bikes that look new, helmets, roller skates, tents, sleeping bags, rugs, all manner of kitchen appliances and utensils. These kids just don't care - a lot of them have rich parents so it means nothing to them to throw away things that are pretty much new. This phenomena is referred to as "Second Christmas" here in West Philly, and is much beloved by the young and broke
Yeah, so, there's some local flavor for ya. less
I think refurbishing and re-using is great.
We live between University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, so every May there is endless furniture on the curbs all over this neighborhood. Some legendary finds that myself and friends have come across over the years: a trash bag full of change (dimes, nickels, quarters etc)that added up to $160 - yes, someone literally threw away money, books of stamps, a Palm Pre, 3 iPods, cases of beer, new beds still the plastic bag, unopened DVD player new in box, so much like-new furniture it's ridiculous, a roll up metal window ladder (for fire escape), tons of clothes with the tags still on them, piles and piles of books, desktop computers and flatscreen monitors, beerpong tables, bikes that look new, helmets, roller skates, tents, sleeping bags, rugs, all manner of kitchen appliances and utensils. These kids just don't care - a lot of them have rich parents so it means nothing to them to throw away things that are pretty much new. This phenomena is referred to as "Second Christmas" here in West Philly, and is much beloved by the young and broke
Yeah, so, there's some local flavor for ya. less
08/11/2010
Quote:
Hell yeah, I do it all the time!
Originally posted by
El-Jaro
So, you see a couple of average every day neighbors come out of their apartment or house and put a decent couch out to the curb or by the dumpster. You think it's kinda neat looking. Would you go out and grab it?
Has anyone ever done ... more
Has anyone ever done ... more
So, you see a couple of average every day neighbors come out of their apartment or house and put a decent couch out to the curb or by the dumpster. You think it's kinda neat looking. Would you go out and grab it?
Has anyone ever done this? Find something cool? Did you have to get shots after finding something you didn't want in a slightly used chair you found? less
Has anyone ever done this? Find something cool? Did you have to get shots after finding something you didn't want in a slightly used chair you found? less
08/27/2010
This family next door, throws away htings with TAGS still on it. So... sometimes I take t.v.'s or AC's... or desks and chairs.. never clothing or anything though.
08/27/2010
I will not go searching within someone's garbage can, but whenever I'm driving, I always find something cool on the side of the road that someone wants to throw out. I've found matching bedside tables, an old wooden chair, a vanity chair, retro bikes, and other things. Granted, they all need a little TLC, but it is definitely worth it considering the styling, the rarity and the price.
10/22/2010
We have too much stuff already. I'm more likely to be the neighbor putting furniture out to the curb. We need to downsize.
10/23/2010
You can get awesome stuff! Especially at colleges. When it was move out season, those COMPLETE idiots were too lazy to donate their stuff so they just dumped everything in the dumpsters near the apartments. I got pie plates, pans, mugs, silverware kits still unopened in their packages, new drapes, chairs, a tent, Gucci handbag... there was a fair amount of black widows, but hey, a little danger's the spice of life, eh?
10/24/2010
Nope, I enjoying throwing stuff away, not throwing myself away...
10/24/2010
Nope - I'm not interested in other peoples trash.
I tend to be a little stuck up that way but I don't look down on anyone else who chooses to do so.
I tend to be a little stuck up that way but I don't look down on anyone else who chooses to do so.
01/02/2011
Glass, metal, plastic or wood. Nothing that has fabric. Icky icky bacterias!
01/02/2011
As long is it could be disinfected! I have and would again.
01/02/2011
Sure. I'd love to do it.
01/03/2011
I wouldn't get soft furnishings such as a sofa or anything, because you never know if there's some reason they're throwing it out rather than donating. But if it was something wood or metal that can be sanitised, or a piece of artwork, I might consider 'recycling' it.
01/04/2011
Yep. I've gotten a lot of awesome, delicious and perfectly good food out of dumpsters. Panera is especially good for dumpster diving, actually. Hmmm delicious Asiago bread....
01/04/2011
Around here, people put unwanted furniture out under tarps with free signs all the time. I've gotten rid of stuff that way, and if I saw something I wanted, I'd feel no shame in taking it.
01/04/2011
Quote:
A lot of my furniture in the past year has been the result of me seeing something nifty on the curb; a nifty blue curve-backed nylon chair (a little rip in the center), a pretty set of drawers (needed some new nails to hold it together), some small tables & shelves, etc.
Originally posted by
El-Jaro
So, you see a couple of average every day neighbors come out of their apartment or house and put a decent couch out to the curb or by the dumpster. You think it's kinda neat looking. Would you go out and grab it?
Has anyone ever done ... more
Has anyone ever done ... more
So, you see a couple of average every day neighbors come out of their apartment or house and put a decent couch out to the curb or by the dumpster. You think it's kinda neat looking. Would you go out and grab it?
Has anyone ever done this? Find something cool? Did you have to get shots after finding something you didn't want in a slightly used chair you found? less
Has anyone ever done this? Find something cool? Did you have to get shots after finding something you didn't want in a slightly used chair you found? less
When we get it home I wipe it all down with clorox wipes and fix up whatever needs to be done, then it's time to find a place for it. I usually don't keep the stuff for long. Sometimes I put it back out on the curve after a few months, give it away, or even sell it at a yard sale.
I never take more private stuff (silverware/dishes/bla nkets/pillows/etc) that might be a little more...icky, but large, impersonal things that look good are usually a great find.
01/04/2011
I would never takes someones couch or mattress because I dont know how clean they are for all I know their cat probably pissed on it for years or it could have bugs. But my boyfriend did see an old microwave on the curb one time so he took it home and we still use it to this day. I has worked fine.
01/04/2011
I'm poor...I do all my shopping at salvation army anyway.
01/05/2011
Quote:
This +1. I might take something like a microwave, but not a couch.
Originally posted by
RomeroB
I would never takes someones couch or mattress because I dont know how clean they are for all I know their cat probably pissed on it for years or it could have bugs. But my boyfriend did see an old microwave on the curb one time so he took it home
...
more
I would never takes someones couch or mattress because I dont know how clean they are for all I know their cat probably pissed on it for years or it could have bugs. But my boyfriend did see an old microwave on the curb one time so he took it home and we still use it to this day. I has worked fine.
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01/05/2011
I've never done it, but my dad and step-mom use to do it to get cans to turn in when money was a little tight. I won't elaborate on that, but they would sometimes come back with some cool stuff. It's how we got a good chunk of our sega genesis games, and our nintendo 64, which had Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Mario 64 with it.
01/05/2011
I have done it, but I am selective. NO furniture! I did get a great oscillating pedestal fan once that was just missing a pin for the oscillating arm, and it worked just fine.
I worked with a guy who once used to work for a trash collector, and he said that he actually built a couple of complete computers from junk that people threw out. (I'm not sure I'd put anything TOO important on one of those computers.)
I worked with a guy who once used to work for a trash collector, and he said that he actually built a couple of complete computers from junk that people threw out. (I'm not sure I'd put anything TOO important on one of those computers.)
01/05/2011
I definitely couldn't take a couch or anything upholstered...I have severe allergies and if I brought something into my house that a cat had been on I'd be a mess but wood, metal, glass etc are all fair game to me.
01/05/2011
Quote:
same here, can't risk having my own upholstery for fear of dust let alone trusting something from a stranger. I would take something I felt I could clean thoroughly if I needed it.
Originally posted by
BadassFatass
I definitely couldn't take a couch or anything upholstered...I have severe allergies and if I brought something into my house that a cat had been on I'd be a mess but wood, metal, glass etc are all fair game to me.
01/21/2011
I've been dumpster diving before. I couldn't pass up mannequins. It was such a great find!!
01/22/2011
iv picked up tables, chairs, computers(asked before i took), tvs and some other good stuff i cant think of lol my bro once found a ton of pc parts and 2 new in box mac osx operating systems he sold some of the stuff online and made $200 but stay away from beds and things cuz thats just ewwww lol
01/22/2011
I got a computer once that someone just threw out. The motherboard had fried, but all of the other parts were just fine. We used it to upgrade my old computer. I don't think I'd take a couch or something like that, though, just cause I don't know whose naked butt was on it.
01/23/2011
My husband has done this
01/23/2011
I am way, WAY too much of a cleanliness freak to do this. If I pulled something out of the garbage, I'd constantly worry about where it has been...this could just be related to me being weird, though.
01/23/2011
maybe
01/23/2011
I've gotten half my furniture from dumpster diving! The best time for furniture is when all the students move out for the summer, they throw out ridiculous things!
I also regularly dive at the craft store dumpster. They throw out perfectly good things, and there's no food so the dumpster hardly smells at all. I haven't tried diving for food yet, I'm a little wary of it.
I also regularly dive at the craft store dumpster. They throw out perfectly good things, and there's no food so the dumpster hardly smells at all. I haven't tried diving for food yet, I'm a little wary of it.
02/11/2011