posted on February 20, 2001 10:31:19 AM
I live in an apartment complex and I've seen people digging in the dumpsters at night for cans to recycle (we dont have a recycling program where I live so not everyone does so). I can't imagine doing it to find stuff to sell on eBay though. Ew.
posted on February 20, 2001 10:48:57 AM
We have gone into the coardboard box dumpster looking for boxes for my business after the store who owned the dumpster ok'd it. This is a recycling dumpster, though so no yukky stuff was in it!
posted on February 20, 2001 10:57:03 AM
You can't have any pride when dumpster/trash can diving. I was at a meeting in the building where I work. During the break I was in the area right outside the conference room door. There I spied a trash can full of pink bubble wrap. Without blinking an eye or wrinkling a brain muscle, I started going through the trash. A guy that was visiting from another installation came over and asked me what the heck I was doing in the trash can. Of course you have to imagine me all dressed up for this meeting rumaging through the trash. I looked at him matter of factly and told him that there was good bubble wrap thrown away and I wanted it.
posted on February 20, 2001 11:13:06 AM
I am sure some folks do find things to sell from dumpsters, but on this board, the dumpster diving usually refers to getting shipping supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts. Certain stores are best for certain things, drugstores usually have alot of small boxes, while furniture stores usually have plenty of foam and/or bubble wrap. Dollar stores are usually pretty good as well.
posted on February 20, 2001 11:42:41 AM
I have you know my Sister-In-Law takes alot of pride in her dumpster diving,in fact she is Queen of the dumpster divers in her area,thats why she belongs to the Dumpster Divers Of American Association.
posted on February 20, 2001 12:09:32 PM
Some posters have found things that sold for hundreds of dollars in dumpsters. Nothing wrong with that except that it wasn't me that found it.
posted on February 20, 2001 12:10:55 PM
Get over yourselves!!, I can't believe that ANYONE would find anything wrong with it! In this day and age when Americans are the most wasteful people on Earth and we're being choked by all the garbage we throw away, how could anyone find something wrong with saving something from the ever growing landfill!!
I find stuff in the trash ALL the time,I've made THOUISANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars from stuff that people have thrown away for one reason or another. I was taking a load of goods to the auction just last week and on the way stopped to pick up a floor lamp and an oak dresser (that someone had already took the hardware off of) and added to my lot. The lamp brought $22.50 and the dresser got $45.00. Took 3 minutes of my time. Try to do that on ebay.
Somer of the best antiques I've aquired came from the trash. My favorite was a toy chest that probably wasn't touched since the 40s. It was filled. They must have been twins because there was two of everything. Mammy dolls, Akro dishes tin cars, etc. I amde HUNDREDS from it selling at the flea at that time and I know I gave some stuff away. I kept the better of each item and still have them today.
My best find came last year, and I could care less if you believe it or not, which was a painting by a locally famous artist from the 20s. It was beat, with a rip , punctures , and mildew. I got $2300. for it. The buyer gave me an extra $300 the next week with the explanation that he did "very well with it". I've heard rumors that it was restored and recently sold in excess of 20,000. Believe it or not, I could care less. But you can believe that I'll jump in any trash pile that looks promising and you guys can watch in amazment or digust or whatever.
Are you dumb enough to think that nothing of value ever hits the garbage can?. That someone who would sell a $500 object at a yard sale isn't also ignorant enough to toss it?
posted on February 20, 2001 12:31:44 PM
Ahem...er...ahem...I am a dumpster diver.
Not a full-on-livin'-off-the-land sort, just a person who has many opportunities in my burg.
I live in a city loaded with univerities, so when school is out, it's like these folks just don't know what a Good Will is all about.
Plus you can find things all over. In some neighborhoods folks put larger items out on the curb. My friend remodeled her bathroom and now has a clawfoot tub..thanks to some monster remodel a mile away from me.
I don't do it so much as I used to, but there are some SOP's that you must follow, and of course, depending where you live, it can be illegal.
Reads like a page turner of a wacky, wild libertarian tract full of practical advice on diving.
Not all of which I agree with, but hey, it's the book to read. Plus most libraries have it.
The only thing I can add is that you have to know your market because storage and hassle are, well, hassle.
And who needs 87 mass market paperbacks?
Sometimes I feel the angels talking over my shoulder saying "don't let it go to landfill! Donate it!" So I whip it in the trunk and ferry it to Good will.
You would be surprised how much pristine or hardly used items just go to landfill. I have found books, import items, kitchen accessories, appliances, electronics, clothing (I wonder what drama made someone throw away their nearly new Lucchese cowboy boots - look that site up, these are $$$$$ boots! - that was a while ago, hehehe).
Anyhow I am rambling. I wouldn't suggest trying to make an ebay career out of it, but nothing like checking out the back of a retail strip for some amazing finds!
Oh yes...and I never have to buy shipping supplies...ever.
Capriole...now see why I'm anonymous!
typo edito
[ edited by Capriole on Feb 20, 2001 12:34 PM ]
posted on February 20, 2001 01:21:30 PM
It depends on where you live really.
I used to live in Boston off Comm Ave.
To the left 2 miles away Boston College
To the right 2 miles away BU (Boston University)
A few train stops away 100+ other colleges and universities.
a quarter of a million kids arrive with whatever they can fit in their cars in Late August/ Early September
By late next July/ Early August those same quarter of a million kids move out with whatever they can fit in that same car.
Every last one of them bought all kinds of small kitchen appliances, books, decorative items, furniture etc etc.
At age 26 I was easily the OLDEST person in my building
After the dumpster filled there was so much nearly brand new perfect condition stuff piled in front of my building that the city slapped a fine on the front door.
Every building for miles around had the same dilema.....mountains of nearly brand new perfect condition stuff just left in overfilled dumpsters and sidewalks in front of them..
Too damn bad for me I was not yet selling on Ebay but I did find a few things I wanted for myself.
For any serious Ebayer or used Item store/ flea market seller it would be worth a 100 mile drive with a truck to collect the goods.
This mass exodus of students all happens on the same weekend as does the massive migration of new sudents arriving the next month.
http://www.lovepotions.net
posted on February 20, 2001 02:25:59 PM
Wow. Well, I could definately be convinced to dig. Especially after what I have heard here.
But how do i find out if it is illegal here? I would hate to go dig and find $20-30 worth of stuff but end up with a fine fat fine, or jail time. Gee that would suck!
posted on February 20, 2001 02:27:56 PM
When I first rented a temperature controlled room for storeage I was worried about the additional expense. The first week I sold items out of the dumpster for $610.00 I kept a couple thousand bucks of stuff for myself.
At various times I have gone there to find it FULL of copper pipe to take to the scrap yard. key boards and monitors, collector edition books, antique post cards, an engraving machine, a 3 axis table top milling machine with CNC software and tooling, asperin by the case, beanie babies, hocky sticks, fans, floor scrubbers, golf clubs - - memory actually fails me. My neighborhood is similar. There are a lot of 300 to 500 thousand dollar homes and people throw away tool boxes- computers- air conditioners- solid oak furniture. You don't usually have to dive. The heavy stuff they are to lazy to lift in so they set in beside.
posted on February 20, 2001 03:37:33 PM
i live in a nice neighborhood and people are constantly putting out great old stuff by the curb on trash day. I don't go out specifically looking, but if I see something that catches my eye on my way to the grocery store, I get out and throw it into the back of the truck, sure! Whe I lived in an apartment with a community dumpster, I would take out anything that looked good, as I was throwing my own trash in. Many things in my home come from stuff thrown away at the end of the day at flea markets---many one timers don't bother to pack up what they don't sell---and my home is considered very artistic and attractive, not junky and nasty at all.
I see nothing wrong with active digging and diving, but I don't do it myself, because I do not have time or energy. However, if I am driving behind a store for some reason and happen to spot a huge box of bubble wrap or some piece of furniture I like, I'll certainly stop and take it.
Regarding legalities, my relatives here in my hometown are in law enforcement and they have told me that the codes vary from place to place. Some places are very strict, others do not care. Where I live, there's "nuisance" enforcement only---which means that the police would only get involved if someone were making a mess or a noise that disturbed people, or if they took something that wasn't actually trash (a bike left out by the trashcan by a kid, for example). So, find out from your local police department what the policy is in your community.
posted on February 20, 2001 03:51:08 PM
I live in an affluent neighborhood. Treasures we have found include like new pool loungers, new Vans skateboard shoes in exactly the size my son wore, a new area rug that had coffee spilled on it (cleaned up with Little Green Machine), and a new office desk that the homeowner discovered didn't fit in office.
I just grab stuff I happen to see, I don't make a habit of cruising around looking for stuff.
posted on February 20, 2001 04:49:52 PM
Among the hundreds of items I sold on eBay over the past year which came from dumpster diving were the following -- by the way, though these were all scrounged, I have very rigorous standards for what I sell, and these were all definitely fine condition & clean items, just turned out someone else's junk was my good luck.
How about these?
The Who 1972 Tour flag, a box full of old Alcoholics Anonymous Books (over $200 in eBay sales), 1911 Gold King George Medallion, set of Any Rand's early Objectivist Forum magazines full 1st 3 years, Ray-Ban sunglasses (several), 1911 Coronation pinback button, Mannequin head, mint condition postcard folder from Laguna Beach, box full of surveying tools from the 1950s (sold all for over $1,000), rare Hard Rock Cafe shot glasses, film crew gear from television series, WWII flag, press kits, WWI Bronze medals, original artwork by 1920s artists, Palenske mint condition Cowboy prints, and so much more!
I enjoy it, it's a nice supplement to my income at a real GOOD price (just some walking around time), and I actually feel really good when I "rescue" something that would otherwise have just been destined for burial in a landfill. You truly cannot believe what people discard & have no idea of the value of. And I'll tell ya, the best stuff doesn't even get near the stores!
posted on February 20, 2001 04:52:20 PM
Oh yeah, and in 3 years + on eBay, over 3,000 shipments worldwide, I have never paid for store-bought boxes, bubble wrap, foam peanuts. And have never had a single complaint from anyone about the packaging materials I use, they too are clean, and free! That alone represents thousands of dollars I could have laid out for those things, but didn't.
posted on February 20, 2001 05:53:21 PM
Apartment buildings are great places for finding good stuff. I wouldn't dig through a dumpster, too disgusting, but I have no problem taking things next to it. If it's in the garbage, it's open field as far as the law is concerned.
posted on February 20, 2001 06:34:08 PM
In our area a lot of people throw the patio or deck furniture away in the fall and buy new in the spring. We are not talking junk. We are talking about a $600.00 set of chairs and lounges. It is just too much trouble to clean it up and store it. They would rather have bright and new even though the stuff is so new it has no damage at all. A little brushing with a hub cap brush and rinse off and it looks like new.
posted on February 20, 2001 06:36:16 PM
Far fetched as it may sound, we had a GARBAGE CAN (full of garbage) stolen from the curb (this was where we used to live). I can understand taking something in clear sight on the curb, but once you go rooting through someone's garbage bags (had that happen too), I think that's a wee bit much.
