Neighbors trash / others treasure

[cinderellamom123]

Here is a question for you all. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood. To help afford it, I run a daycare out of my home, clip coupons etc. I am thrifty but not cheap. I do not typically trash dive etc. However, The other day while driving down the street, my neighbor had put out some items by the curb it appeared they wanted to get rid of. One was a toy for the daycare, a pretend washer/dryer set and another was a new LLBean infant sled. The stuff was beautiful. Since she was a neighbor, I went to the door to ensure she was indeed gettig rid of the stuff and she said yes, please take it. So I did.

The next day she put out a dyson vacuum. Normally, I would never stop for a vacuum but since her previous items were pretty much new, I stopped for the Dyson and this also looked new.

Here is my question

Re: the LL Bean sled. This item appears to be never used. I thought it would be great for the daycare However, on the side where the baby holds on, the wood is not finished and there is a sharp piece of wood on it. When I brought it to LL Bean to see if I could pay to get it fixed it, they did not have the item in stock so they gave me a gift card for $130!

Re: the vacuum. It is a dyson that was pretty much brand new. However, there was no suction. I called the company and it is still under warrenty! They talked me thru some actions over the phone and I was able to clear a blockage. Now I have a new $400 vacuum.

Should I be feeling guilty about this? I totally benefitted from her junk pile. It was going out in the trash but I did totally benefit from this. Should I send her some flowers and just say thanks?
I would be so embarassed to tell her about the gift card and that I got the vaccuum to work. What are your thought?

 

[ilovemk76]

Here is a question for you all. I live in a pretty nice neighborhood. To help afford it, I run a daycare out of my home, clip coupons etc. I am thrifty but not cheap. I do not typically trash dive etc. However, The other day while driving down the street, my neighbor had put out some items by the curb it appeared they wanted to get rid of. One was a toy for the daycare, a pretend washer/dryer set and another was a new LLBean infant sled. The stuff was beautiful. Since she was a neighbor, I went to the door to ensure she was indeed gettig rid of the stuff and she said yes, please take it. So I did.

The next day she put out a dyson vacuum. Normally, I would never stop for a vacuum but since her previous items were pretty much new, I stopped for the Dyson and this also looked new.

Here is my question

Re: the LL Bean sled. This item appears to be never used. I thought it would be great for the daycare However, on the side where the baby holds on, the wood is not finished and there is a sharp piece of wood on it. When I brought it to LL Bean to see if I could pay to get it fixed it, they did not have the item in stock so they gave me a gift card for $130!

Re: the vacuum. It is a dyson that was pretty much brand new. However, there was no suction. I called the company and it is still under warrenty! They talked me thru some actions over the phone and I was able to clear a blockage. Now I have a new $400 vacuum.

Should I be feeling guilty about this? I totally benefitted from her junk pile. It was going out in the trash but I did totally benefit from this. Should I send her some flowers and just say thanks?
I would be so embarassed to tell her about the gift card and that I got the vaccuum to work. What are your thought?

1) Sled - you were wrong to take money for something you did not buy or receive as a gift.

2) The vacuum you fixed.

 

[mom2d&b]

No reason to feel guilty. The neighbor made the decision to get rid of the items. Maybe they tried to fix them, maybe they didn't.
As far as the sled, you did not go to the store to ask for a refund or credit, just looking to get it fixed. Nothing wrong with that. I say, it was your lucky day.
Enjoy your new stuff.

 

[libraryfreak]

Both items would of ended up in a landfill, you took the time to see what could be done to fix them. In the sleds case, you got a gift card. Dyson was able to help you get their product working. A total WIN! Good for you! I wouldn't mention it to the neighbor though.

 

[brekin67]

The neighbor could have done the same thing you did, but she didn't. She was throwing the items away. Enjoy.

 

[cinderellamom123]

1) Sled - you were wrong to take money for something you did not buy or receive as a gift.

2) The vacuum you fixed.

Re the sled, as I mentioned, I was willing to pay to get it fixed but the woman stated that it was def. defective and per their satisfaction guarantee that since they couldn't fix or replace it that that the policy was to give a credit.

 

[MinnieForMe]

It was her trash and you went a step above and asked if it was okay, it's yours! Besides, no one throws out a vaccuum without already having a new one purchased.

 

[Tistal]

one man's trash is another man's treasure

Your neighbor obviously wasn't willing to put in the time to get it fixed, but you were.

 

[DisneyNut4Life]

No need to feel quilty!! Enjoy your finds and I wouldn't say anything to the neighbors..they had it out for trash! btw...I would love to have a dyson!! Great finds!!

 

[tlbwriter]

Your neighbor threw that stuff out because she didn't want to deal with it. There is nothing wrong with you deciding you are willing to deal with it. The items had value, and if it was too much trouble for her to get that value out of them, no harm, no foul.

 

[tlbwriter]

1) Sled - you were wrong to take money for something you did not buy or receive as a gift.

Why do you say that? Are you never allowed to sell anything you might find in someone else's trash?

 

[BBandDisney]

 

[si-am]

I put two vacuums by the curb a few weeks ago with a "FREE" sign taped to them. They are both relatively new and decent brands (Dirt Devil, Eureka) but both had lost suction.

They were gone within an hour! If whoever got them manages to get them fixed up... more power to them! At least I didn't have to deal with it.

 

[JamesMom]

1) Sled - you were wrong to take money for something you did not buy or receive as a gift.

2) The vacuum you fixed.

By her asking permission from the neighbor to take the sled, it became a 'gift'.

Congrats on the great finds! I once drove through the nieghborhood and saw a great playset on the curb. By the time I got a car that could haul it -it was gone. oh well.

 

[apnep]

Wow! Congrats on your finds! Lucky two days in a row! Don't feel guilty about anything. You already asked her if you could have it and I think that was nice of you to do.

My neighbor threw out his stainless steel grill and it's nicer than mine. I also stopped to ask if it was OK to take the grill. All it needs is some new burner covers on it and to be cleaned up and it's good as new. I am amazed at the things people toss out and don't feel bad picking up finds from neighbors because like someone said, one man's trash is another's treasure. Why feel bad about recycling that stuff?

Good for you I say!

 

[NaLisa]

I wouldn't tell the neighbor about the windfall, but I would give her my number and tell her to call me anytime she needs her "junk" hauled away.

 

[ChattaAlley]

You were absolutely NOT in the wrong for taking the GC. This lady was throwing this stuff out. This said that she could not be bothered with trying to get it fixed. Maybe she has more money then she knows what to do with, maybe someone gave it her, etc. Fact is, it was going into the trash. Enjoy your finds and DON'T feel guilty or allow anyone to make you feel guilty..

 

[hsmamato2]

you shouldn't feel guilty- your neighbor didn't want to deal with the stuff...you did,and were rewarded! I have so Many items in my home/yard,that I found,brought home, gave it a little TLC,and have used for YEARS more... why should I feel guilty that the other person didn't want to use it,yet I love these things?
just yesterday,I got a nice SOLID cedar adirondack rocking chair set and table from the curb...I'll do a bit of sanding,and apply a pretty shade of spray paint,and use those chairs for the next 10 years!
people toss great stuff all the time! Op,enjoy your stuff!
if the company chose to give you a gift card...that's their call-not yours.

 

[holycow]

You shouldn't say anything. She was throwing it away!


Enjoy your SCORE!!!!!

 

[allison443]

Wow I can't believe someone would throw away an almost new Dyson without trying to see if there was a blockage...I think they even give you a booklet that shows you how to fix that!

OP good for you! Especially since you asked before taking the items, I don't think you should feel guilty!