Neighbors trash / others treasure

[ceecee]

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.

I used to put stuff out a day early, hoping someone would take it and they usually did. I felt better knowing someone could use it rather than it ending up in the landfill. No reason to feel quilty.

 

[Ephany]

You took the items after asking, she obviously didn't want to be bothered; no need to feel guilty. You did the work, so the reward should be yours. My mom once found a Fisher Price baby item at a yard sale and took it home to clean it up. There was one small piece broken (like the battery cover) and when she called to order and pay for a new part, they sent her an entire brand new item. She told them it was a yard sale find, but the representative said that didn't matter, the piece shouldn't have broke. Sometimes good things happen, be happy.

 

[swilshire]

If it would make you feel better and you know her well enough to know what she likes, take her a small gift. Maybe some homemade bread or a bottle of wine. If you're not sure, a basket of lotions and soaps or the like might be nice.

Just tell her you appreciate the recycled items. Maybe she'll take the hint and call you first next time. I have a neighbor who always calls us when she has something to sell or give away. She gave my mother-in-law a very nice television because it pleased her to see someone enjoy it.

Sheila

 

[avic77]

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.

I agree she asked she was "given" the item = GIFT

 

[WeLuvDCL]

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..

I agree! I just posted a thread yesterday about my curb find.

Good for you for taking the time to make some money!

 

[brerrabbit]

Two good friends of mine that live near Dallas refer to the items thrown away by others and recalimed by them as "swag". Twice a week they are out early looking for their swag.

 

[Friendly Frog]

You kept items out of the landfill and you were rewarded for your efforts.

If you want to do something or give her something, that is nice but I would not tell her the whole story...just say "thanks". She might feel bad (or her husband might get upset) if they found out the items could be fixed for free. Why make her feel bad?

I often place things out for others, or give them away free on craigslist. I am happy to do this. If I ever received a thank-you note or gift I would be delighted. Still, I am not so sure I would want someone to tell me how much the sold the item for, how cheaply they fixed it, or even how much it was really worth. lol.

 

[cinderellamom123]

The older kids are making her thank you pictures for her. I will probably gather them up with a nice hand towel and hand soap from Bath and Body works and drop them off. I will be keeping the details to myself but tell her they were greatly appreciated.

 

[semo233]

If it would make you feel better and you know her well enough to know what she likes, take her a small gift. Maybe some homemade bread or a bottle of wine. If you're not sure, a basket of lotions and soaps or the like might be nice.

Just tell her you appreciate the recycled items. Maybe she'll take the hint and call you first next time. I have a neighbor who always calls us when she has something to sell or give away. She gave my mother-in-law a very nice television because it pleased her to see someone enjoy it.

Sheila

I agree!!! Make sure she knows how much you and the children are enjoying the items. No need to mention the $$$/GC, but flowers or a small gift would be very nice.

 

[QVCshopper]

I don't know... The vacuum is fine to me; you went through the steps to fix it. The gift card, though, goes a little too far from what I'm comfortable with. Honestly, you didn't buy the LL Bean sled, so I don't think you should have contacted them... Unless you told them that you got it out of the garbage in the first place.

I have gotten LL Bean stuff used and don't feel right complaining to them. But when my son's zipper broke on his slightly used coat that I had just bought, then, yes, I did complain. They were able to look it up in my purchase history and gave me back the amount I paid.

I'm a garbage picker, too, but I guess I have limits with what I do with my finds.

 

[basketkat]

Wow great finds!!!!

 

[Mom2Ben02]

My friend and I go shopping...I mean, junkin', a lot on garbage nights. I have gotten things that I fixed and used (my latest greatest was a porch swing, just needed staining and a $20 stand!), and I have gotten things that I gave away (a sand and water table, to my niece) - I have never felt guilty. I LOVE shopping for free.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I think I need to move to your neighborhood... I see no harm in it, she was throwing it away, she said you can have it. It's a win for everybody.

 

[C.Ann]

Less stuff filling up the land fills = a good deed, IMO..

As for the gift card, there are some companies that extend warranties and such for life - regardless of how many owners the items pass through.. You were willing to pay to have it fixed - they instead chose to stand by their product.. Nothing wrong with that..

Enjoy!

 

[Retye81]

I say good for you! Our neighbors across the street threw out a perfectly lovely coffee table that needed a bit of work last week. We asked if we could take it, they said yes, we bought a five dollar can of spray paint and refinished it. It looks like brand new after an hour of work and we are really enjoying our "new" coffee table.

 

[brat]

sled was gifted to you to you and you wanted to pay to make it safe, company gave you giftcard because repair was not avalable.nothing wrong there.

vaccuum she may not have been able to remove the clog or she might have tossed it because it kept clogging.My Mom got rid of more than one because of clogging frustration.She was no longer able to deal with them clogging every time she used them.

I saw a very nice sofa along with other furniture sitting at a curb next to trash cans this morning it had a sign on it. Read the sign on it from out van.Trash! only take if you want the bedbugs in them. When I read the note I was so gratefull this person put others before their own embarrassment to keep them from having to deal with the bugs as well.

 

[hsmamato2]

I say good for you! Our neighbors across the street threw out a perfectly lovely coffee table that needed a bit of work last week. We asked if we could take it, they said yes, we bought a five dollar can of spray paint and refinished it. It looks like brand new after an hour of work and we are really enjoying our "new" coffee table.

my kids call me the 'spray paint queen'

 

[erincon23]

Yesterday, my neighbor had what I think was probably a plant stand sitting on top of her garbage pile -- I considered asking her if I could have it. By the time I can home from picking DS up from school, it was gone! Someone beat me to it.

My older son's bandmate's dad is a "swagger" -- whenever he finds musical things, he gives them to my son -- he found a really nice, completely working guitar amp (son said it was an expensive one), and an electric keyboard. DS uses the amp regularly, and we sold the keyboard at a garage sale, with the money going toward paying for the band doing some recording!

I think I'll have to be more vigilant as I drive around!

 

[Mickey527]

When I was growing up I wanted a certain toy that Santa never brought me. There were 6 of us and we didn't; get toys that were that expensive, I understood as I grew but still always thought of that toy. It was called "Swervy Curvy, Topsy Turvy,Flipsy Skipsy, Doodle". No lie, that was the name written on the bottom of the toy.
I was driving by a pile of trash a few years ago and saw THAT toy. I asked the owner who was moiwing the lawn and he said it was trash. I brought it home and showed my sons. I used the toy few times but with my neuropathy I felt unsteady on it.
Someone must have seen my post then about my find and asked me if I would sell it to them. I got $50 for it, probably worth more if I had done some research on it since it was a toy from the early 60's but $50 for free was great to me.

 

[seashoreCM]

Don't talk to your neighbor about the items. YOu don't want the neighbor to ask you what happened to it and then you must tell a (white?) lie.

I have picked up stuff before, I don't first talk to the person who discarded it except to confirm that the stuff was indeed discarded.

Once I cut through a neighborhood to avoid traffic on the main street and picked up a set of dining room chairs that I later sold for about $100.