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My first foray into Thrift stores was less than memorable!

I know you are all sick of hearing about this...

The thrift store find, nay, score, that got me good was when I was looking at a pair of older speakers and an employee brought out a mint Kenwood KT-8300 and KA-9100! Needless to say, had he not placed them directly into my hands, they would have vanished before my very eyes.

Although stories like this are rare, when it happens you will think about how all your time and trouble was worth it, if even only for that one find...
 
Its like playing golf, you have one good shot in a round and that is the one you remember and talk about afterwards (rather than the other 110 crap shots) and what keeps you going back for more!

I remember my first real thrift find, I had yet to really come away with anything but I kept going regularly like the veterans told me. One day I walked in and there was my Pioneer sx-850 sitting there. I walked right up to it, picked it up, and went directly to the register without even looking at what else was on the shelves! I felt almost like I was stealing it. No subsequent finds have made me nearly as happy as that first decent "score".
 
So far, my thrifting has turned up nothing, but it is fun to look. The last time I left one of the GWs in my area, I noticed there was another man walking in, and sure enough, he went right to the 'tronics shelf as well. There is a lot more of us looking for gear than gear to support us. :(
 
It is very hit and miss. The more places you go, and the more you go to them, that's what increases the possibilities.

The last couple years I have noticed a drop-off. I think more people are putting their own stuff on ebay, rather than donating it to the needy (spelled "us"). I have also noticed people who have no interest in this stuff whatsoever buying it up, for no reason other than to flip it on ebay. I THINK the real glory years may be passed, but there is still some stuff out there.

Somebody has to figure out a way to crack the retirement communities. THIS is where I think some of the gold is. If they worked dilligently their whole lives, saving enough to afford retirement homes, these just may be the guys who bought tube Marantz in the late 50's, early 60's. The stuff is in there. I know it.
 
Toasted Almond said:
Somebody has to figure out a way to crack the retirement communities. THIS is where I think some of the gold is. If they worked dilligently their whole lives, saving enough to afford retirement homes, these just may be the guys who bought tube Marantz in the late 50's, early 60's. The stuff is in there. I know it.
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I'm not too sure about that. I'm not too fond of condo estate sales because lots of the good gear (big speakers, records, the electronics) got sold when the folks scaled down and went condo. Didn't want to lug it, especially if it had been banished to the garge or basement already. :yes:

Same could hold true with the retirement communities. But what the heck, all it takes is one nice Marantz, Scott or JBL to change all that, doesn't it??
 
Toasted Almond said:
Somebody has to figure out a way to crack the retirement communities. THIS is where I think some of the gold is. If they worked dilligently their whole lives, saving enough to afford retirement homes, these just may be the guys who bought tube Marantz in the late 50's, early 60's. The stuff is in there. I know it.
Click to expand...

Spot on there, TA.. There are 2 Sun City retirement communities, pretty up-scale, in this Valley (and when I say "communities", I mean as large as a lot of Towns). I would love to figure out if they ever have giant community sales at Sun City Anthem because I know those houses have treasure..........


:yes:
 
If they're that big, check out the neighborhood sales and estate sales when they happen.

Or go a step further and run some ads in the community newsletters about wanting to buy old gear. Sound like you could find some nice stuff; if it survived the WAF and move. :yes:
 
i scored 2 denon DVD players...

for 50 bucks...one was 19.99 and the other was 29.99...the thirty dollar one listed for 499 new and the 20 buck one listed for 200+....I give one to my son for his room and the other I use for ripped cd's as my Parasound won't play them....not the greatest score but it made me happy...BTW most of me deal come from picking up vinyl for under a buck each. Also if anyones interested I've got 400+ LP's I'll sell for a buck each plus shipping....(it's time to MOVE them and make room fer more!


Peace, Pogue
 
Just goes to show ya’… Perseverance pays off. Decided to do a run to our local TS and see what they had. Saturdays are bad due to the volume of folks that hit the TSs. Headed back to the little courner of junk and did my usual 360 to see if anything was new and what did I see… Hmmmmm Wood base…. Hmmmm a TT…. Hmmmm looks like a good one!!!!! $5.00 and it was in my car trunk. While this may not be a Duel, it looks to be one of Kenwood’s better TTs. Even has a Shure M55E cart!!!!! The dust cover has one small (1 ½ inch) crack, otherwise in great shape. Needs a good cleaning. Powers up. Platter did not spin. Hmmmmmmm Took off the platter and the shipping screws were still in it. Will clean it up later…. KENWOOD KD-3033 TURNTABLE

Also a few "Buck-A-Pop" CDs:

Pat Metheny Group
-American Garage
Bright Size Life
Beth Orton - Trailer Park
Genesis - Invisible Touch
Bonnie Mizell - Bonnie
 
The Thrifts around here sure aren't what they were 5 years ago, now most everyones hip to what's what.
My best Audio related score was probably the minty Fisher 500B I got about 3 years ago for $14.95
 
I've yet to find anything worthwhile in the local thrifts. To make matters worse, the most convenient one for me recently changed policy to "no electronics". I live in a densely populated area. I've had great success at yard sales and answering classified ads. I can't figure out where people are taking their discards when they don't want to bother trying to sell them. Should I start hitting the dumps?
 
Guess so. You'll get to meet all the English guys as well while you're there.

I hope you're North Jersey. It's getting to be pretty slim pickings down south here as it is. One more competitor is too many.
 
Lookingglass100 said:
In order to find nice things at a thrift you have to live somewhere where people had the jobs and money to buy them. Economically depressed areas are just that.....
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BELIEVE IT!
There isn't crap in this town. What little I HAVE found that was actually worth the trouble has been entry level models.
 
RastaFish said:
Its like playing golf, you have one good shot in a round and that is the one you remember and talk about afterwards (rather than the other 110 crap shots) and what keeps you going back for more!

I remember my first real thrift find, I had yet to really come away with anything but I kept going regularly like the veterans told me. One day I walked in and there was my Pioneer sx-850 sitting there. I walked right up to it, picked it up, and went directly to the register without even looking at what else was on the shelves! I felt almost like I was stealing it. No subsequent finds have made me nearly as happy as that first decent "score".
Click to expand...
RataFish, I know the feeling!
Exactly the same happened to me. I tried once a week - nothing. Twice a week - nothing. Then for a month I tried every day, at lunch. One day I finally walked in, saw a wood cabinet, speaker connections, RCA jacks, walked over, picked it up, turned it around, saw 'Luxman R-1050' walked to the cash. Kept up the once a week business a while longer and turned up a Marantz MR-1130 (= SR2000) receiver (very dirty), some Energy speakers, and a Luxman T-240 tuner (very low end, but looks OK). Started once a week again, and it's back to nothing on each visit. The feeling of getting that R-1050 receiver has not been beat yet, but keeps me going back!
 
My son worked at Goodwill for awhile and the employees cannot purchase murchandise for 48 hours after it hits the floor. I have gotten Marantz 2270-Superscope(Marantz)TDR-82 Technics SL-QL1 JVC integrated amp Tubetesters
Fender Bassman Amp and all sorts of things. Never over $10.00 for anything. Except for a new 12 volt refrigerator/cooler chest that cost $29.00. You must visit early and often and have lady luck on your side.
Larry
 
When my SO worked at Goodwill briefly here in the Cleveland area and at the time they had a 24 no-buy policy.

Sadly there are about 1,000,000 ways around it.

Pete
 
loopholes a plenty

When I bought some AR-5's at the Goodwill a guy went up to me and asked if I could buy him a cd and handed me a dollar. I asked why couldn't he buy it and he said employees can't buy stuff. So, yeah there are ways around it.
 
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