eBay

back-spin · ‎12-05-2018

Has anyone had any good experiences being able to find or get free stuff for selling? I'm trying to figure out the best way to catch people who may be planning on throwing something away that may be broken so that I can see if it has any profiable replacement parts.

coolections · ‎12-05-2018

It's best to leave those items where they belong in the landfill. Ebay has enough junk on their site as it is.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎12-05-2018

@back-spin wrote:
Has anyone had any good experiences being able to find or get free stuff for selling? I'm trying to figure out the best way to catch people who may be planning on throwing something away that may be broken so that I can see if it has any profiable replacement parts.

Hi, depending on what area of the country you live, people who have garage sales with items left over will sometimes give those items away to those willing to haul them off. I'm in Texas where garage sales can happen year round, otherwise this would be a seasonal undertaking.

emerald40 · ‎12-05-2018

Best free stuff - a college town in May.

Many kids put their items at the curb rather than have to ship it across the country.

yuzuha · ‎12-05-2018

Let your friends/relatives know that you're happy to take stuff they want to get rid of off their hands. I've had friends bring me boxes of things they didn't want anymore because it was easier than driving it all out to Goodwill.

reallynicestamps · ‎12-05-2018

If you are willing to put your back into it, you could start a local business clearing homes for estates or when Mother goes into the Home.

The job is to sort the contents of the house or apartment into Keep/Family, Trash or Donate.

You will need a truck.

You will need a strong back.

You will need rubber gloves and sometimes a hazmat suit.

But you get in at the beginning and the family will pay you to clear the house ready to sell.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-i-pack-up-peoples-lives-for-a-living-its-a...

emerald40 · ‎12-05-2018

A friend I know - her husband did that to make extra money.

It can be brutal in the 100 degrees of summer clearing out an attic.

back-spin · ‎12-05-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
Best free stuff - a college town in May.

Many kids put their items at the curb rather than have to ship it across the country.

Yeah. I have a college in my town. I've seen that stuff on the curb near their apartments. At the time I didn't think much of it. I'll be checking this May.

mudshark61369 · ‎12-05-2018

@back-spin,

Have you ever looked at the Free listings on Craigs list? I've come across some great items people want to just give away. A few months ago there was someone giving away a DeWalt 12" Board planer w/ box accessories & instructions I turned it for $200 within 24 hours.

For the really good stuff you have to be fast though.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

membersinceaug2001 · ‎12-05-2018

Also drive around the rich part of town on heavy trash pickup day. Those people throw away all kinds of good stuff.

soh.maryl · ‎12-06-2018

You need to be careful about that though. Some towns, and mine is one of them, will fine trash scavengers if they see them doing it. Yes, my theory would be that, if it's out there on the curb, it's fair game, but sometimes there would be bags broken open and trash strewn around the neighborhood which means someone, probably the home owner, had to go out, gather it up and re-bag it.

Not trying to discourage anyone here. Just make sure it won't cause you more problems than it's worth.