Did you ever take furniture that someone else left out on the curb?

[palmetto99]

I did go dumpster diving for carpet.

The appartment complex I was living in at that time (1989 or 1990) was installing new carpet and padding in all of the units and the contractor was just leaving the old stuff in or near the dumpsters.

I had an old Dodge panel van that had been a floral delivery truck at one time. It was just a metal shell with a couple of seats in the front. I used it to haul mountain bikes around on the weekend and didn't worry about getting mud and dirt in it. But, with it being just a metal shell, it was noisy as #$^% going down the road.

Pulled padding and carpet out of the dumpster and cut to fit the floor from the rear doors to just behind the seats. Helped a good bit with the noise.

 

[Onomea]

...I've heard that some places south of me redo them basically raping them only on the outside...

Good grief!!!!

 

[jkc]

Good grief!!!!

I'm with you --- this mattress raping must be stopped! If it isn't, it can't help but lead to other, more, unspeakable perversions... The extent and depth of depravity is seemingly unfathomable. I'm hoping that you'll step up and lead the charge --- be the "point of the spear", so to speak, in confronting this issue. I, for one, and many others, no doubt, will appreciate your efforts to eradicate this despicable practice. Good luck, and Thank You!

 

[Bert Man]

Couldn't resist.

I saw a guitar case in a trash pile and had to go look.The danged thing was empty.As I turned around to leave the home owner caught me and asked me if I played.I said "yes".She returned with this and gave it to me...A mid '60's Sears silver tone guitar.Not in the best shape but a good wall hanger worth about a $100 or so last I checked.
It's the one on the left.

Deathgrip, that guitar sure brings me back. Had one exactly like it back in the mid 1960's. We started a band in college and I played that Silvertone (called it my poor boy Les Paul) until we made enough money for me to buy a Fender. Wish I had kept it for old time's sake. Mine actually sounded pretty good for what it was and you are correct, it is worth AT LEAST $100.

 

[Beejabbers]

also here in Philadelphia it's shopping season when the college students graduate.They, at least in my area, throw out everything .I guess it make it easier for them to move.
Penmon

One of the local colleges, here in Greensboro, has organized this into a large yard sale with proceeds going to chairity. Keeps their stuff out of the dump and does some financial good for the community.

 

[Frank46]

Just the opposite here in LA. Put out about a dozed pool chemical buckets, work out chain saw, leaf blower and some other junk for the parish to come and pick up. Went out and got the paper and all of the junk was gone. Called up the parish barn and cancelled the pickup. The guy on the phone asked why I was cancelling, told him I put the stuff out and evidently someone liked what they saw and took everything. Frank

 

[DeathGrip]

I'm with you --- this mattress raping must be stopped! If it isn't, it can't help but lead to other, more, unspeakable perversions... The extent and depth of depravity is seemingly unfathomable. I'm hoping that you'll step up and lead the charge --- be the "point of the spear", so to speak, in confronting this issue. I, for one, and many others, no doubt, will appreciate your efforts to eradicate this despicable practice. Good luck, and Thank You!

Oops.When I mess up I do it well.

 

[desi2358]

I have picked up a number of good things over the years, just because someone was tired of something doesn't mean it was junk. Picked up furniture, games, a good bow, lots of other goodies. I've been known to pull over on the highway to pick up a stray tool as well (did you know that Mag-Lite will repair one of their flashlights even if a truck ran over it?) Screwdrivers and hammers seem to show up regularly on the road and someone needs to rescue them! Besides, a slow leak in the wifes tire once turned out to be a snapped off phillips screwdriver! Get 'em off the road!
You can re-gift too. When my kids grew up the table games went out to the curb and were long gone before the trashman came. Basketball poles and other no longer needed items disappear pretty quickly once set out to the curb!

 

[Simmer down]

A man a few houses down had a nice woodworker's paradise in his garage and one day I look out and see one of his big miter saws on the curb. I thought, well if he's tossing it it must be burnt up. Over the weekend I saw several other things go to the curb and then disappear.

I ran into his wife dragging some stuff out and she said she caught him cheating and he's gone. I about got sick after thinking about watching the parade of woodworking tools go by for days. A rare time I showed some restaint on adopting trash.

 

[Alpo]

I had a neighbor who was cleaning out and washing his van. He took out the middle seat and put it on the sidewalk. Woops, he had to run an errand and when he came back the seat was gone. It took him two days and the Sheriff to get it back.

Friend of mine's husband was cutting the grass. Finished and went inside to use the can. She came home to find some people about to put the lawnmower in their truck.

"We thought it was being thrown away. It was at the street."

At the street, still hot from running, covered with grass clippings in a freshly mown yard. Yeah, right, it was being thrown away.

There are some thieves out there.

 

[truckemup97]

Friend of mine's husband was cutting the grass. Finished and went inside to use the can. She came home to find some people about to put the lawnmower in their truck.

"We thought it was being thrown away. It was at the street."

At the street, still hot from running, covered with grass clippings in a freshly mown yard. Yeah, right, it was being thrown away.

There are some thieves out there.

Those must be the same folks who saw my gas can, about 10' from the garage and 40'+ from the sidewalk, while I was mowing around the side of the house. I'm sure they thought I was throwing it, and the gallon of gas in it, away. Same with the small flags I put out at the end of the driveway on Independence Day. They took those, too.

 

[mkk41]

Heck yeah , I'm a trash picker and not ashamed one bit. Part of the reason I drive a pick'em-up truck. Got a beautiful set of early 1950s cherry kitchen cabinets and counter that now hang in my garage. Got some really neat stuff besides furniture. Even got a motorcycle one time.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have a friend in who collects junked kids bicycles, he repairs them and donates them to shelters,orphanages, etc.

I used to take curbside bargains when I was single, but since the matrimony debacle, it is not worth all the highpitched noises.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Over 30 years ago, my father in law brought me an old Singer Sewing Machine that came out of a partially burned house. This was the kind that required the user to crank it with their feet. The oak veneer had curled off and it had smoke damage. I was able to clean up the wood and re glue the veneer back on. Some one had retrofitted it with an old electric motor that looked to be from the 30's. The motor still works. I finished the machine and it is sitting in my living room.

After Katrina, a friend of mine went around Kenner, LA picking up freezers, refrigerators, and stoves. The area where he got then had just enough water in the houses to wet the bottoms but the water did not get into the workings. He used a steam cleaner to clean them up. Several of them are still in use today and I think that he has a few spares.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Truckemup, the solution to people who steal your gas can out of your yard...get one just like the stolen one, put in a gallon of gas and a half pound of sugar and put it where the last one was stolen. They won't be needing any gas for awhile.