• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Power cord cutting...?

hbucker

hbucker

Well-Known Member
I saw a couple of stereo components in a thrift store today. I was considering getting them for a song - a matching amp and tuner - but the power cords were cut on both of them. Not big deal. Easy to fix. But I passed because I was assuming there would be more wrong with them that couldn't be diagnosed until I got them home.

Is there any kind of generally understood reason why people would cut the power cord on electronics like this? Or is your guess as good as mine?

thx
 
Register to hide this ad
Because they got problems, usually, done before tossing stuff in the dumpster or selling them for parts. Means they're not worth repairing - at least not cost effectively. Doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it and make it sing again ... long as your fire insurance is paid up anyway. <G>
 
Not so fast there people. Sometimes it's the policy of the thrift store or recycle center that takes the gear in to cut the plugs off. It keeps people from looking all over the place for an outlet and/or zapping the hell out of themselves in their establishment. It's a way of reducing any liability for damage or injury. In cases such as those it has nothing to do with whether the gear works or not and is or is not repairable.
 
sKiZo said:
Because they got problems, usually, done before tossing stuff in the dumpster or selling them for parts. Means they're not worth repairing - at least not cost effectively. Doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it and make it sing again ... long as your fire insurance is paid up anyway. <G>
Click to expand...

This "story" gets posted a lot.
Nothing personal but you may be completely wrong.

I get piles of stuff from a recycler.
A lot of things come through other collection points where they cut the cords for the copper.

Probably a half a penny worth but they fill galores with wire. $0.60/pound.

98% of the stuff I get with a cut cord works.
It's getting to be where I'd rather have the cord cut because those units work. A lot of the big pretty intact stuff with a cord is fried.
 
blhagstrom said:
This "story" gets posted a lot.
Nothing personal but you may be completely wrong.

I get piles of stuff from a recycler.
A lot of things come through other collection points where they cut the cords for the copper.

Probably a half a penny worth but they fill galores with wire. $0.60/pound.

98% of the stuff I get with a cut cord works.
It's getting to be where I'd rather have the cord cut because those units work. A lot of the big pretty intact stuff with a cord is fried.
Click to expand...

exactly right
i used to work at a recycler in trade for gear, all cords were removed from everything, for the copper value.
we had huge shipping boxes of cords, as well as all copper tubing removed from air conditioners and fridges.

nothing is tested there wasnt time for that.
 
I also have to agree with blhagstrom and darkblue94 as about 98 - 99 percent of my thrift finds with cut cords also worked fine.
 
Around here people cut the cords for the copper. Set out any piece of electronics at your curb and soon someone will cut the cord and move on.
 
The good will store here has a couple outlets with timers attached just so you can plug stuff in to see if things work.
 
Government sellers and a lot of bulk recyclers require cut cords as part of their contract. Many don't allow equipment to be resold without testing unless the cords are cut. Smaller shops cut them just to relieve them of any liability and to discourage dumpster divers. It's not uncommon to find the cords tossed along with the units.

So, hey ... six o' one, half a dozen of the other.
 
I only would cut the cord if I felt the item was a potential fire hazard. Case in point, I had an oil filled radiator type heater that when I turned on the heater, I could see a spark inside near the switch. I cut the cord as close as possible to ensure someone would not splice in a new cord, then set it aside for the garbage. Sure enough, someone stopped and took it from the trash.
 
Somebody probably set it on the donation dock out back after hours, and a scrapper-ninja snipped the cord under the cover of darkness.
 
FWIW, I had the idea that even with low copper prices (relatively speaking from the crazy highs), IF I had to handle piles of junk with cords hanging out getting caught and tangled and causing no end of pain in the butt, I'd cut them off just to make life easier.

Cords dangling loose are almost as bad as coat hangers.

They really should be used on the end of rescue ropes, they seem to hook and grab everything is sight.
 
Seems it would be hard to sell something in an thrift store with no cord. Not only can the customer not test it, the store can't even claim THEY tested it. And if the buyer DOES buy it anyway, they still have work to do just to be able to plug it in. I can buy the 'loading dock ninja' theory but if stores are cutting cords off themselves, that's dumb IMHO.
 
The majority of the time that I see the cord cut off, it's cut at the plug, leaving a long dangling piece of copper wire. That would have to be one dumb ninja scrapper. Then there's the fact that I was told by an employee at an electronics recycle center that they are required by policy to cut the plugs off. Thrift stores generally speaking, want working equipment so that they can maximize their profits, often cut off the plugs on the stuff they send to the recycle centers.
 
Last edited:
There was a time when people thought that stereo equipment only lasted so long. So when the equipment did not operate as well as new they'd cut the power cord and put it on a shelf to be rebuilt later and we all know how later affects most people. Then the reason they cut the cord was so someone wouldn't hook it up and start a fire....
 
Buying stuff with a cut cord is the best kept secret in scoring nice stuff cheap, right up there with buying something with missing pre-amp/amp jumper cables.
 
I'm pretty surprised by all the castrated electronics around here too. The way thrift stores are run now, they probably just got tired of it getting tangled in their bins, so off it went into the trash can.

Half the electronics with a cut cord usually work, plus I've yet to have a cord cut item smoke or blow up, I'm pretty surprised by that fact.
 
Just received a tuner that I gambled on buying from a recycler on that auction site. I knew this recycler would have cut the power cord. But they (or someone) also chopped off the AM bar antenna, right where its wiring exits the rear panel. Were they really interested in, what, maybe a couple of cubic centimeters worth of copper from the antenna?!

(The neat thing is that, contrary to what I assumed from what was described as "missing antenna", the articulated mount for the AM antenna is intact!)

Cheers,

chazix
 
In South Africa goods with cut off power cords are seen or are often as stolen goods. I was cleaned out once and all that was left of a component system were the plugs and power cords. Whwen you need to make a quick getaway dangling cords are dangerous
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom