The Official "Thrift finds" Thread

[the.golden.ax]

 

one of my exes works at Goodwill if that means anything...

 

 

 

...I'm sorry.

[NIAD]

I keep checking this thread for any pics of that HOT employee of Goodwill. Any news?

 

Nope - up and vanished like a fart in the wind.

Dang-It! I guess my favorite porn website will have to suffice tonight. Hope the wife gets the kids to bed early enough before I fall asleep at the monitor.

[Grig]

OK, so another GOODWILL SUCKS ASS story ...

 

So I'm in Bakersfield for jury Duty, had a few minutes extra at lunch at went to the GOODWILL ON OLIVE DRIVE (just so people know where the entrance to hell is). They had a Vectrex with one controller and two games (Star Trek & Armor Alley) for $99. I took a look. On the top of the Vectrex was their standard EBAY listing as to what they base their price on ($125). I ask to test it out as I was gonna grab it anyway for $99. I test it out. Controller works flawlessly. Sound is good. The screen contrast is a bit low (but looks good) so I turn it up. Viola! a white burned out pixel right in the center and a bunch of white linies coming out of it. So, I tell them that it has a problem but I'd still buy it if they would lower the price. The manager says they will lower the price but THEY CAN'T DO IT DURING BUSINESS HOURS BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST "STORE POLICY". I told them I was from out of town but that didn't help. They said it would be lowered for tomorrow and I could come buy it tomorrow. I told them that they could lower the price right now and I would buy it but they were choosing not to. The manager said she could do that, but then EVERYBODY WOULD WANT THAT AND SHE'D BE LOWERING PRICES ALL DAY! A lady standing by me said, "well, if it's broken or not working properly just lower the damn price and sell it to this guy." The manager re-iterated that she would do it tomorrow. The lady said "I've had it with you Goodwill people. Selling broken things and not being customer friendly." and she walked out. Just as I did.

Edited July 17, 2012 by jtoubeaux

[the.golden.ax]

I found a big box PC game in the glass case at goodwill marked 99 cents day before yesterday (a Sierra title!) they had it taped shut, marked as-is. I asked if I could open it and look inside. The woman says she will check with the person who packed it in the back. She comes back and says "they say it's in there." Well not to be rude, but condition matters. I go to the register and reiterate, "I'm ready to pay. There are no returns, this is as-is. I need to look inside." I get out a key and start to open it. They kindly offer a scissors. The box has no game. Just the manual and empty jewelcase.

[Grig]

I've had that happen before. I always open up the taped shut items. 50% of the time there are missing parts/pieces.

[Chuck D. Head]

I keep checking this thread for any pics of that HOT employee of Goodwill. Any news?

I have been back once and didn't see her. The one who was at the register......let's just say the universe was trying to compensate.

[+FujiSkunk]

I've had that happen before. I always open up the taped shut items. 50% of the time there are missing parts/pieces.

 

Most Goodwills around here don't seem to realize CD jewel cases are just as easy to open from both sides. I usually make sure to check CDs before buying them, even when they are taped. I didn't do that this past weekend and... well, actually I got the right CD and a bonus disc for my trouble. But I don't recommend rolling those dice too often.

 

The smarter Goodwills around here keep the CDs in binders behind the counter, with the empty jewel cases on the shelves.

Edited July 17, 2012 by FujiSkunk

[Grig]

yes, most of them keep the CD's behind the counter in a binder - except they write in permanent black marker ON THE CD FACE what number CD it is!!! bad form!!!

[+FujiSkunk]

yes, most of them keep the CD's behind the counter in a binder - except they write in permanent black marker ON THE CD FACE what number CD it is!!! bad form!!!

 

Eww. Fortunately they're smarter than that here. They mark the binder pages with the numbers and then also write the number on the inside of the jewel case, which is easily replaced for those that care.

[Asaki]

They don't do anything special with the CDs around here. I'm sure they know that nobody cares about CDs anymore.

 

They do ask you to make sure that it isn't scratched up or anything, though.

[Grig]

They don't do anything special with the CDs around here. I'm sure they know that nobody cares about CDs anymore.

 

They do ask you to make sure that it isn't scratched up or anything, though.

 

Some CD's it doesn't matter, but on most of them I would rather not have this big "135" in black marker staring back at me

[Asaki]

Yeah, they don't do that around here.

 

I meant nobody wants to steal CDs, so they don't bother making it difficult.

[Grig]

Yeah, they don't do that around here.

 

I meant nobody wants to steal CDs, so they don't bother making it difficult.

 

Sorry, misunderstood you.

 

I guess in Bakersfield the thieves are a'plenty because almost everything is taped up or behind the counters (at least the Goodwills). I have opened up so many items sold at Goodwill only to find many (or most) parts/pieces missing it makes my head spin and then glad I didn't purchase it. Only other thought is that goodwill is nefarious and they are hoping to get top $$$ for the broken shit they try to pass off as "working" and "in good condition" based on the amount of $$$ they try to gaffle from you (maybe it's just in Bakersfield).

[MagnaFarce]

I guess in Bakersfield the thieves are a'plenty because almost everything is taped up or behind the counters (at least the Goodwills). I have opened up so many items sold at Goodwill only to find many (or most) parts/pieces missing it makes my head spin and then glad I didn't purchase it. Only other thought is that goodwill is nefarious and they are hoping to get top $$$ for the broken shit they try to pass off as "working" and "in good condition" based on the amount of $$$ they try to gaffle from you (maybe it's just in Bakersfield).

 

It's the same deal in San Jose. I always get the inkling that a lot of the discs at the local flea markets are stolen and I attribute this to why the local Goodwills are extremely protective of their disc-based media.

[Asaki]

I have opened up so many items sold at Goodwill only to find many (or most) parts/pieces missing it makes my head spin and then glad I didn't purchase it.

 

Most stuff I find like that, I figure it was donated that way. Board games, stuff like that.

 

I found a sweet four-player version of Stratego (I forget what it's called, but it's like Four Player Stratego, regular, and some other game modes all in one), and only the pieces for two of the teams are in there =| I couldn't not get it, though, I love Stratego.

[orangest]

Walked into one of my regular Goodwills to see that the games, DVDs and CDs weren't in their usual place, and started to bemoan another one lost to shopgoodwill until I saw that they had just been moved to another area...

 

 

Zelda is complete, in great shape and was $5.99. Threads of Fate is also in very nice shape and was $1.99.

[Grig]

That's one of my favorite Zelda games, loved every minute of it!

[rhindlethereddragon]

OKAY............ finally, I have something to post about !!!!

 

Today, at a thrift store, I found an ATARI "VIDEO PINBALL", model C-380 for $5!

 

It doesn't have a battery cover. I'm going to put this through it's paces tonight.

[Fixitguy74]

I had to give up on thrifting for a while. My area dried up for a while on decent stuff, and for some reason I kept getting stuck with stuff I changed my mind on wanting and just couldn't seem to re-sell. So now I'm hung with junk cluttering my gaming shelves.

[theredlineboss]

Not a thrift find or even gaming-related, but I picked up a Rock-Ola 446 jukebox for the princely sum of Free! Granted, the wood's in very poor shape, but it looks like it will work with a bit o' effort. Just what I need, another big coinop machine, lol.

 

-Rob

[Desfeek]

The screen contrast is a bit low (but looks good) so I turn it up. Viola! a white burned out pixel right in the center and a bunch of white linies coming out of it. So, I tell them that it has a problem but I'd still buy it if they would lower the price.

 

I'm sorry to ruin your tale (and make you kick yourself?), but this is NOT a problem with that Vectrex. ALL Veccy's do this when their contrast knob is cranked...if they don't, the yoke is dying and in need of replacement.

 

The trick is to turn the contrast as high as you can, without having that white dot in the center.

 

The 'burned' white dot you've heard of is when you turn on the Vectrex, and nothing BUT a white dot appears on the screen.

Edited July 20, 2012 by Desfeek

[Grig]

Eh, that's OK. I had no way of knowing, and neither did the yucks you work at Goodwill - but thanks for the info. The contrast was still very low and if I'm going to shell out $100 or more I'll just go for a boxed one or as close to NOS as possible - I just don't want to do it at Goodwill. Anyway, thanks again.

[Chuck D. Head]

OKAY............ finally, I have something to post about !!!!

 

Today, at a thrift store, I found an ATARI "VIDEO PINBALL", model C-380 for $5!

 

It doesn't have a battery cover. I'm going to put this through it's paces tonight.

 

Did it work? If so, I'm jealous!

[Asaki]

Found a mid-'60s copy of "Clue", in near-mint condition...or at least as near-mint as a board game from the 1960s can be @[email protected] They even left the shrink wrap still halfway wrapped around the gamepiece compartments.

 

Another "I don't need one of these" impulse buy, hooray. Though our '70s Clue is pretty beat up, and didn't age very well to begin with.

 

Kind of funny that in these old versions of the game, it's still called a revolver, but it clearly isn't one.

 

Also, nothing impressive, but I found Bottle Rocket on DVD. The only Wes Anderson film I haven't seen yet (I've even seen the "short" of it), not counting his brand new one.

[SoulBlazer]

Found a mid-'60s copy of "Clue", in near-mint condition...or at least as near-mint as a board game from the 1960s can be @[email protected] They even left the shrink wrap still halfway wrapped around the gamepiece compartments.

 

Another "I don't need one of these" impulse buy, hooray. Though our '70s Clue is pretty beat up, and didn't age very well to begin with.

 

Kind of funny that in these old versions of the game, it's still called a revolver, but it clearly isn't one.

 

Also, nothing impressive, but I found Bottle Rocket on DVD. The only Wes Anderson film I haven't seen yet (I've even seen the "short" of it), not counting his brand new one.

 

My parents have in upstairs in storage a copy of Monopoly from the 50's. It was my Dad's when he was a kid, and just been gently used. I'm afraid to even touch the thing. Probaly not worth anything, though....I'd wager the first edition set of the three Lord of the Rings books they have is worth a lot more, for example.