Dumpster Diving?

[Mermaid02]

When my husband sees something out for trash day and he thinks it's worth it, he picks it up. Right now we have a pretty dresser with an attached mirror that someone was throwing out- we could probably sell it for at least $200, we also have an upright piano, same scenario and worth at LEAST as much and we have a lovely chair that my husband re upholstered, I don't know what it's worth, but it has inlaid woodwork in it- it's gorgeous.

He does take stuff from the dumpsters at work, one is for metal and one is for wood. He'll repair something here and say, "all it cost was my time, got the materials from the dumpster at work."

 

[chrissyk]

I did a dumpster dive at my church thrift shop. Noticed several pieces to a climbing set. I went inside (the store, not the dumpster) and asked them if I could take it and they said I could.

Turned out to be a Kangaroo climber---at the time about $150..had the ladies figured out how to assemble it--they could have made good money on it.


(The container was used solely for the thrift store cast offs...they had a separate dumpster for "trash").

Want an experienced "diving buddy"? Seriously, you're right about the separate dumpsters...MOST stores have merchandise dumpsters. No worries about getting dirty...this is CLEAN "trash"!

BTW, my best find ever was my KitchenAid Professional 6 mixer, brand new. I guess it was a return. The store cut the cord and tossed it, still in the packaging. My DH bought a $6 cord and replaced it. When he was done working on it, he came upstairs and said "that's a really nice mixer". Yeah, no kidding It's the $500 version of the KitchenAid mixer...now there's something that should have ended up in a landfill...NOT!!!

 

[pjlla]

I think that the term "diving" is a bit misleading. Most of us have been able to find great things in the trash without actually DIVING into a dumpster!!...............P

 

[GoofieRuthie]

When I was 7 we used to set up at the fleamarket every weekend. My stepdad would make my stepsister and I do the "diving" for him. He was an alcoholic and not always very nice. My final "dive" was when I finally said NO! There was a dead basset hound dog in the dumpster that had a very nice black leather collar with studs. He told me to get in the dumpster to get it off of the dog. I started crying and begging him not to make me. He got mad and picked me up and threw me in the dumpster. I was screaming and trying to get out, but he kept pushing me in. Finally, my mom realized what was going on and came to my rescue. I jumped out of the dumpster and my SS got in and proudly got the collar off of the dog. I can still see that dead dog plain as day in my mind. For YEARS, I would not even pick up anything on the side of the road. I finally did last year, but it was a really nice shelf with a sign that said, "Free, please take me".

My story is extreme, and I have no problem with others doing it. They are right, you can find lots of new or hardly used stuff. I have friends that get cool stuff all the time from behind stores.

 

[Skatermom23]

That's just gross.....

 

[Shugardrawers]

In our complex we set things that we think someone else might be interested in outside the dumpster. Dh is notorious for making the rounds weekly. He usually brings home crap we already have, don't need etc. Occasionally it's a really cool table or something. The last time he brought home an unopened box of a full set of corning wear. That one I was quite pleased with. I refuse to let him bring in anything he actually got from inside the dumpster though.

 

[chris1gill]

BTW, my best find ever was my KitchenAid Professional 6 mixer, brand new. I guess it was a return. The store cut the cord and tossed it, still in the packaging. My DH bought a $6 cord and replaced it. When he was done working on it, he came upstairs and said "that's a really nice mixer". Yeah, no kidding It's the $500 version of the KitchenAid mixer...now there's something that should have ended up in a landfill...NOT!!!

Can I just say I love that mixer?? I'd push my DH overboard just to get it!! LOL... don't tell him though okay?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Never have; never will. There's a reason why stuff is thrown away...

 

[Hercules10]

Used to as a kid. Paid off to. This one couple got into a nasty divorce and basically threw everything away. Her 1-carat diamond ring, good china place settings (yup---plates, cups, stemware the whole 9-yards), golf clubs, etc.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Never have; never will. There's a reason why stuff is thrown away...

That's what I tell Dh. I certainly don't throw out perfectly good stuff for no reason. I'll never understand people who do.

 

[NCDisneyMom]

The only "dumpster diving" we've done is for lumber. We are in a new subdivision, and as the houses around us were being built, the builders would throw out tons of great lumber, nails, etc. We were actually told by the sales rep that, once it's in the dumpster, it's fair game. Even HE had taken stuff out of the dumpsters. Keep in mind, these dumpsters were used for building materials only, so there was no "gross" stuff in them. My dh got some great 2X4's, and plywood, to build some shelves in our garage.

Our street has been "almost" done for almost a year now. But, we have one empty lot accross the street, which is about to start being built. All of the neighbor men are just waiting for them to start throwing away some more good lumber for their projects.

 

[Disneyrsh]

Do you guys remember the Volkswagen commercial where two guys drive by a cozy chair sitting out by the curb, back up, put it in the back of the car and drive away. A few minutes later (accompanied by the "Da Da Da Da" song) they start sniffing, look at each other, and then at the chair. The chair winds up back on the curb as they drive away. Da da da da.

Well, my MIL loves "sidewalk surfing" and everything she brings home smells like pee! I'm fairly sure she's had a go at dumster diving, too, and she's wealthy! I'll never forget the year she brought me a giant wreath that, yep, smelled like pee! Ewwww, no thanks!

 

[C.Ann]

Never have; never will. There's a reason why stuff is thrown away...

-----------------------------------------

You are 100% correct.. And the reason usually is because we have become a "throw away" society.. Nothing wrong with the items - people just want something "new" and it doesn't matter if the item they're tossing is 2 years old, 2 months old, or 2 minutes old.. Gotta have the newest, shiniest, most up-to-the-minute item that's available - regardless of cost..

 

[hugsquared]

I think that the term "diving" is a bit misleading. Most of us have been able to find great things in the trash without actually DIVING into a dumpster!!...............P

Exactly! I have an absolutely beautiful sideboard in my dining room right now that was "rescued" from the dumpster area in an apartment complex I use to live in. In that same area, we found an antique desk that we used for years as a computer desk until we both went with laptops. Then we sold that desk for $100. I don't actually crawl into a dumpster but you would be amazed at what people throw out. You know what they say. One mans trash is another mans treasure.

 

[C.Ann]

I'll never understand people who do.

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Me either - but there are millions of them..

The computer I have up to the lake was picked up from the curb by my son-in-laws friend.. Nothing wrong with it - someone just wanted the "newest" model.. I've been using that thing for at least 6 years now and I have less problems with it than my SIL does with the brand new one that he bought a year ago.. LOL

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do you guys remember the Volkswagen commercial where two guys drive by a cozy chair sitting out by the curb, back up, put it in the back of the car and drive away. A few minutes later (accompanied by the "Da Da Da Da" song) they start sniffing, look at each other, and then at the chair. The chair winds up back on the curb as they drive away. Da da da da.

Well, my MIL loves "sidewalk surfing" and everything she brings home smells like pee! I'm fairly sure she's had a go at dumster diving, too, and she's wealthy! I'll never forget the year she brought me a giant wreath that, yep, smelled like pee! Ewwww, no thanks!

I remember that.

I have a phobia of used furniture and anything that cannot be washed.

We have had used sofa's for years--but knew the origination of him (one, hubby's parents and the other a good friend).

Finally got new sofas this year. .

I don't know what it is--but I cannot do used furniture.

 

[C.Ann]

And speaking of dumpster diving.. There is a dumpster at my old house right now.. My son-in-law put my granddaughter's old booster seat in there because I didn't need it anymore.. He's been telling his boss about all the work he's done on my house so one day his boss took a ride out there while my son-in-law was up to the lake.. This man owns a multi-million dollar company - and is also the recipient of a multi-million dollar inheritance.. Imagine my SIL's surprise when he went into work the following Monday and his boss said to him, "I hope you won't think any less of me, but I took that booster seat out of the dumpster because my granddaughter just outgrew her car seat..."

Truth of the matter is, that's how most people become (and stay) millionaires - by not spending money they don't have to..

 

[Disneyrsh]

I don't throw a lot out, I either sell it on ebay (you'd be amazed!) or give it to charity. If it makes it to the trash, man, you DON'T want it.

 

[chrissyk]

Can I just say I love that mixer?? I'd push my DH overboard just to get it!! LOL... don't tell him though okay?

You know where I found it, too You should send him by...see what else they're tossing these days!!

 

[piratesmate]

This thread made me think of something that happened years ago. DH & I had really good friends who lived next to a doctor who had been widowed for a number of years. My friend would spend all summer going to yard sales looking for bargains & re-sell at her own yard sale in early fall.

Well, when the doctor finally decided to give up the house & move to an apartment he had a dumpster brought to the house. As he was going through things he'd occasionally bring something to my friend & ask if she'd want it. However, he was also making good use of the dumpster!

For several days my friend watched the doctor tossing "good yard sale stuff" into the dumpster. When she finally couldn't stand it any more she started sneaking over when he'd leave the house to grab the goodies. LOL

The last 2 days before the company was coming back for the dumpster the doctor didn't leave the house - just worked steadily. We got together with our friends for "game night" the evening before the dumpster was supposed to be picked up. By this time my friend was extremely frustrated at the thought of missing all of the good stuff he was tossing out.

She convinced our husbands to go over & grab some of the trash bags - "just the ones on top". For some bizarre reason they took our car over - I guess so they could get more bags?? It was literally next door & in town, but on an alley.

While they were there, a woman walking her dog went by. She acted like she thought they were "up to something" which made the guys nervous. So they just grabbed a couple more bags, tossed them in the car & drove off.

The next thing we knew, the police knocked on the door asking if we'd noticed anything out of the ordinary. The guys showed up after about 40 minutes and brought the bags in. When we opened them, they were full of.....yes, trash!

The best part was the next day when the doctor came over with the stuff he hadn't tossed out. He asked if they'd seen the police the night before. He told them he'd been sitting in the dark, with just the TV on - in his underwear - when the police came in with guns drawns! Thank God he didn't have a weak heart!

So no - I don't trash pick or dumpster dive.