Electronics Deals @ Thrift (second hand) Stores

[Mallow]

I went cruising around Fort Worth/Dallas area last weekend looking for a costume for a production I'm going to be in and I saw some crazy prices on electronics. I saw practically new HP printers for $10-$20, my personal scanner for $15, lots of monitors for between $5 and $15. I have a couple trash systems I use for trouble shooting and a cheapo monitor works great for me. Berry Second Hand is where I saw most of my stuff. I guess these stores get this stuff free or very cheap and want to get ride of it, thus the very low prices.

This is very YMMV but you never know, you might get lucky

Happy Hunting folks!!!

 

[dwil]

I have bought $3 floppy drives at Goodwill.
The ones I have bought get a swipe with alcohol and they have worked just fine.

Saw a CISCO DSL modem for $10
Full systems for $10-$15 (486 / Pentium)

Always a good time surfing someone's cast offs.

 

[flythunderbird]

Originally posted by: dwil
Always a good time surfing someone's cast offs.

Heh, that sounds like me; my last two systems were built out of used parts. They weren't hot rods, but I was low on funds and they got the job done!!

 

[Mallow]

yep, those cheap systems... gotta love 'em.

 

[Smolek]

Some will be cheap, some wont. Some places will mark something cheap just to move it but other see it as a electronic and charge prices similar to when it first came out, not taking into account that items value depreciate

 

[jpitblado]

You can find good deals on DVDs also. I picked up a copy of the Criterion version of Armageddon for $3.

 

[Dea]

Whre are you guys. Here in Sotuh Florida (West Palm to be exact) thrift stores are a total rip-off. In most of them you see stuff for more than you would pay on a good sale new.

 

[MikeMike]

well up here in northeast cleveland, if you go on mondays it half off at the thrift store

so you go figure

 

[Mallow]

In Texas there are deals to be had

 

[arcanum]

I hate to spoil everyone's fun, but I just have to say this:

Think about why the stuff at thrift stores is so cheap. The stores are intended to provide extremely low-income families with a greater chance of a somewhat normal life. The prices on everything are so low because otherwise many of these stores' patrons would be left out in the cold. So when we hot-deal hunters swoop down on all of the electronics sections of thrift stores, we reduce the chances of someone who really needs a hot deal getting one. I know I sound preachy (in fact, I guess I am preaching), and you can flame me all you want, but I just felt too strongly about this stay silent.

 

[Nitetrain]

Well,our local thrift stores sell the stuff to buy things for the needy.

I'm quite sure others do as well.

Take a pill man...

 

[CFI]

I can see both sides, but does one really NEED a computer? I know, it's like giving up smoking or drinking and might make life harder, but I personally still define a computer as a bit of a 'luxury'.

Broadband, once you get a computer, now that's a nescessity.

 

[ericlp]

My Local Good Will sells computers in the 200-300 dollar range. Dunno, Yeah, they are complete systems... But, I could build better computers then that for the needy and cheaper.

Dunno about you but I see advertisments all the time on TV. And if we did not shop there then I am sure that the goodwill would not exist. Mostly it is for Providing Jobs for low income people.

Granted I only go there to shop if I am extremly bored. It's like going to the last garage sale. I've seen modems 2400 go for 19.99 and 56K modems priced at .99 cents. I got a print server there for .99 cents!!! One of those really small ones that plugs into the printer. Super small I doubt that they even knew what it was! But beats paying 50 bucks for it.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Ahh i miss the goodwill computer works in austin, 10 buck atx cases with PS, Reflection (a very very nice terminal emulation program), the Sims, and other misc software 10 bucks or less.... just random goodness

 

[ncalsurfer]

Thrift and 2nd hand stores are great for deals to be had. And having managed one myself, I know very few who's sole purpose is to provide stuff for the needy at reduced cost so they can enjoy life like those with money. Thrift stores are a business like any other - they have to make money to stick around. In CA and OR most thrift stores I know look for electronics and antiques to place in special sections where they are specially watched and marked at a HIGHER price so they can make money.

The needy come in when the corporation as a whole (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Kiwani's) offers goods and services to the needy through other outlets besides the thrift store.

So, head on out to your local thrift store and buy buy buy because by buying you actually are helping the needy!

Cheers

 

[Mallow]

thx for the tip surfer!

The thrift store in fort worth I was refering to all proceeds go to a womans shelter

 

[thinlizzie]

Well the Goodwill store here in Batavia, IL has excellent deals on stuff. Wealthy people living in Geneva and St. Charles are foever dropping off stuff they don't need. I picked up a 17" Gateway monitor for $6, an HP Laserjet 5si for $10 (toner was basically new) and countless other small items. Systems here generally go for no more than $20, but most of them aren't worth the space they'd take up in a landfill either.

Computer deals are fewer and father between - there are guys that camp there now waiting for stuff to come out from the donations area.

As is always the case --- YMMV greatly!

 

[T2T III]

Sounds like I need to hit the thrift stores. I've visited pawn shops before - but, wasn't too happy with their prices. Sure, the pawn shops might allow some negotiation, but still the prices were way up there.