MurphyBird
|
posted on July 29, 2001 05:19:19 AM new
I've heard this mentioned before, and I have ageneral idea that it means going through someone elses garbage. Do those of you who do it only go through businesses garbage or is anything fair game?
What tips/advice would you have? Any bad experiences?
|
gravid
|
posted on July 29, 2001 06:29:55 AM new
I rent a heated and cooled storage room and the dumpster at the facility more than pays for the rent. I have found it just full of sellable items many times. I have made as much as $600 for a single item. I also got a 3 axis cnc mill in working order with the tooling and software I kept to use.
Very few businesses here allow access to the dumpster but the town is rather expensive and the things people put out on the curb would surprise you. I have stopped and picked up 17" monitors, solid oak furniture, store maniquins, older computers (working), working air conditioners, tool boxes. I would never really DIVE in but I will use a hook on a pole to get stuff.
|
ZiLvY
|
posted on July 29, 2001 07:12:19 AM new
LOL Gravid You and my guy must have gone to the same survival school...shortly after we got in this business he made a rake handle into a "Grabber" with a hook on the end so he could get the cool stuff out of the dumpsters. It does make it kind of hard to say to some potential buyer who wants the stuff for free...what do you think I found this at the side of the road, or in a dumpster? He sold an item that he picked up at curbside for $85. We had had the same item for 5 years and finally I sold it for $40. I had paid $30. for it...doesn't that beat all?
|
rancher24
|
posted on July 29, 2001 08:03:14 AM new
Many people in my area throw out what they no longer want or have a use for..Personally I try to sell/give away/donate anything that still has some life left in it, but some folks just can't be bothered with that. Myself & several of my friends are "pickers" as we like to call ourselves and have NO problems whatsoever stopping at curbside to pick up an unwanted treasure. Just two weeks ago I retreived an old wardrobe cabinet and within a matter of hours had it cleaned and installed shelves and it found it's new home in my pantry!...The week before that on an antique store run, I had seen the same type of cabinets running about $250 and up!....
My friend is really into searching and has picked up wonderful treasures, she couldn't afford otherwise. She's gotten furniture, rugs, pool parts/toys, bikes, an inflatable boat (retail cost approx. $300). She picked up a new front door, replaced her old one, put the old one at the curb and it was gone in a matter of hours!....We even had one of our friends put a patio table curbside and another friend come along and take it home!...
I'm not one for hittin' the dumpsters, but I did have an uncle (may he rest in peace) who's life revolved around diving. Stores will throw away items because boxes are ripped or crushed or because the item was returned or didn't sell at clearance. ALOT of good usable stuff! The items he brought home were used by us or sold on a regular basis. Oh, how I miss him & his "found treasures".....
It is a wonderful way to recycle and save our landfills at the same time!....We've got folks around here who pick up to resell, pick up to use, even pick up to bring to the local recyclers for $$$. A life cycle of stuff, if you will!
~ Rancher
|
gaffan
|
posted on July 29, 2001 09:32:13 AM new
My dumpster diving career has been largely limited to a group of 'em on the loading dock of the building I used to live in. There's a major computer rental outfit in the building; Friday afternoons were usually worth a look. Best single-day find was a half-dozen powerbooks, two of which had nothing more complicated than a blown fuse wrong with 'em.
So it can certainly be a lucrative passtime, even if it's a little lacking in glamour. 
-gaffan-
(waiting to find out what I can put in my sig file)
|
hepburn
|
posted on July 29, 2001 12:50:48 PM new
I just grab snorkel gear and dive in. Sometimes, my husband holds my feet while I "fish". But most dumpsters are kinda deep, so make sure the snorkel hose is at least 5 feet long and a solid tube so it pokes out from the top and you can breathe
(Just kidding)
|
gravid
|
posted on July 29, 2001 04:38:17 PM new
Just when you thought it was safe to dive back in the dumpster - dumpster sharks!!!
Well no, but I found 3 young racoons recently who could not climb back out and had to put a board in they could climb out. They looked pretty bummed out. They did not apppreciate me peering in at them with nowhere to hide.
|
rhondalee65
|
posted on July 29, 2001 10:01:21 PM new
I haven't had time to go diving since summer started. But as I'm running out of shipping supplies - I will be taking some dives this week. The "everything for a dollar store" in my area is awesome for shipping supplies. One night will net me enough stuff (peanuts, plastic, bubble wrap) to last over a month and it's FREE FREE FREE!
Rhonda
|
Microbes
|
posted on July 29, 2001 10:14:03 PM new
found 3 young racoons recently who could not climb back out
I've climbed in a few dumpsters in my days, but I think I'd pass if there where 3 hungry coons in it.
[ edited by Microbes on Jul 29, 2001 10:14 PM ]
|
gravid
|
posted on July 29, 2001 10:28:45 PM new
They could be happy for a week with your contribution!
|
nettak
|
posted on July 30, 2001 12:22:59 AM new
Oh I just got home from scounging, and I got some great packing boxes and the best thing I got was a whole lot of huge boxes full of new packing popcorn/peanuts. I went into one of the more expensive department stores (much to my daughter's embarrassment), and asked if what they did with there packing after they had taken the glassware and china out. They just throw it all out anyway, so the very nice lady said I could have all she had, I could only fit 3 big boxes in my daughter's little car. I will have to take my car back in a couple of days to get the rest, then I am going to try another big department store and try my luck, you never know unless you ask. All these goodies and I did not have to climb into one single dumpster. LOL I could get to like this. 
|
Ontime
|
posted on August 3, 2001 02:26:07 PM new
Hi!
I'm a first timer on AuctionWatch and have a funny story to tell. Back in the 1970's my husband, children and I were on vacation in Arizona. It was in the evening and we had stopped at a drug store. My son and hubby went inside to make a purchase and my daughter and I stayed outside. We spied a dumpster with some beautiful crocheted material hanging over the edge. We ran over to it and though how wonderful it was and we just take it back home and wash it and then keep it. Well, we began tugging and tugging on it and it kept coming out (being dark and fairly high we could not see inside) finally when we thought we had gotten it all to the top (which we did) there was a huge RAT hanging onto the end of it for dear life. We were so grossed out, I have never gone near another dumpster since. teehee!! Ontime
|
ZiLvY
|
posted on August 3, 2001 03:26:38 PM new
Ontime You mean you let a "Dirty Rat"
keep you from having that treasure???
|
kraftdinner
|
posted on August 3, 2001 08:35:37 PM new
Ontime, couldn't you have run back to the car for your AK47? 
|
ZiLvY
|
posted on August 3, 2001 08:39:49 PM new
You packin, Kraftdinner? Kinda heavy for dumpster diving, doncha think???
|
KatyD
|
posted on August 3, 2001 09:34:22 PM new
Ontime, were you by any chance in Tucson? Tucson rats are world renowned.
KatyD
|
kraftdinner
|
posted on August 3, 2001 09:45:28 PM new
Ahahahahah zilvy!!! That reminds me when james posted - "always pack heat when you go outside because you never know who you might have to kill"......ahahahahah!
Sorry to get off topic MurphyBird and welcome to The RT Ontime
|
jt-2007
|
posted on August 3, 2001 11:36:59 PM new
We haven't done garbage in a long time. In the city we did, but out here you are at risk of getting shot (ok, maybe just threatened) on residential property at night.
We do get all our boxes from a dumpster.
Stores will throw away items because boxes are ripped or crushed or because the item was returned or didn't sell at clearance.
My new fedex rep told me something odd. He said that a big Wal-Mart distribution center (ah-ha! explains the thousands of trucks!) sends all their stuff to their own vendors because it's cheaper with their volume account to ship it than to pay a disposal fee. Whoever is in their vendor database may receive huge packages and when opened may contain anything from 2000 fishing lures to cases of hairspray, to 300 pairs of toddler shoes. He said the recepients are ALWAY calling Fedex to say they received something like 800 plus size bras or 50 swimming pool liners in error. Fedex tells them, "No, no error. It is a gift from Wal-Mart."
I want to know how to get on that list!
T
|
gravid
|
posted on August 4, 2001 01:13:30 AM new
Rat story - When we had a plumbing business I was younger and ALWAYS carried a pistol. Most of the time a Singer (Colt) .45 but sometimes a small Pietro Berretta with switch barrels.
Once a customer insisted on showing me a commercial job on a Sunday and I had the small gun in my jeans - and my hand just kind of naturally would go on it - while we were looking at the work in some open connected basements - no floor on the foundation yet.
His Rottweiler was nosing around and we heard this terrible low growl and through the doorway came this enormous rat with the dog about 3 inches behind trying to catch him.
As they ran past about 20 foot away along a concrete wall I drew the PB with the 3 inch barrel on and shot the rat once through the body which rolled it over a few times and splattered blood all up the wall. In those bare concrete walls the short barrel sounded like the end of the world and the dog thought HE was dead and ran off going yik, yik, yik.....
Standing there with the smoking gun in my hand I became aware that the owner was almost as bad off as the dog. I think he needed to
move real careful to see if he needed fresh shorts. I mumbled some incoherate apology about the mess, but I don't think the man was ever relaxed around me again. He was too much of a grass eater to not be twitchy wondering what I was going to do next when we were together.
[ edited by gravid on Aug 4, 2001 01:19 AM ]
|
MurphyBird
|
posted on August 4, 2001 04:10:43 AM new
Kraftdinner:
I don't mind getting off topic, I've read this board before so I knew that the chances were high!
Besides, sometimes the "off topic" conversations get more interesting than the original ones.
|
sadie999
|
posted on August 4, 2001 06:46:42 AM new
Somehow, seeing this thread, even just the title for a few days has inspired me. So, on the day before garbage day, I'm going out to see what the neighbors are tossing. Dumpster diving around here might not be great as most of our "industry" is comprised of restaurants and bars.
|
Linda_K
|
posted on August 4, 2001 08:32:55 AM new
Okay....this is your mother speaking.....(so if you're used to ignoring your mother, please feel free to do so with this advice)
All of you who are dumpster diving, PLEASE be sure you're updated on your tetanus shots. Those dumpsters are full of bacteria and the smallest cut or scrape can cause serious illness.
|
ZiLvY
|
posted on August 4, 2001 09:00:19 AM new
Thanks,MOM!
|
gravid
|
posted on August 4, 2001 04:08:47 PM new
Advice to go with Mom's - If it smells sour don't dive - don't dip - just go away.
|
Ontime
|
posted on August 4, 2001 08:24:15 PM new
Hi!
Thanks for the welcome to AuctionWatch! No it was not Tucson, it was a small town and don't remember the name of it. It was really, really big rat though!!! It could have easily weighed 15 to 20 pounds!!! Boy was it heavy!! I was not packin' heat that day. I only just got my permit to carry a couple of years ago!! I have not been dumpster diving since that experience. Ontime
|
MrsSantaClaus
|
posted on August 5, 2001 08:30:48 PM new
Hey -
Perhaps Dumpster Diving could become an Olympic sport. Finally, a sport that pays off!
tee hee hee
BECKY
|
rhondalee65
|
posted on August 6, 2001 02:23:14 PM new
My sister and I are going diving later this week. Tonight I'm going to finish my "Diving Hat" - like a miner's, but with an old cap and small/medium flashlight. This way I'll have both hands to dive and/or beat off any rodents!
|
