I'll Look In The Free Box Every Time

[GarageSaleKing]

So, what have you found in the free box? I always take a quick peek as I am walking by. I have found and sold some toys as well a Playstation 2 console system. Not bad for free. Also, for some reason, I find a particular high level of satisfaction knowing I paid nothing and am making cash.

 

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[SDIceMan]

Went to a sale this weekend with my girlfriend and she found two cases of (24) Maxell 90-minute cassette tapes in a pile of VHS and cassettes that were marked 'Free'. (48) brand new blank cassettes in shrinkwrap. Should be good for $49.99 or so on eBay.

 

[CladSpends2]

I have to admit, sometimes I am too embarrassed to pour through the free pile. Other times, once in particular, I didn't even realize I was in the free pile and made a bee line for an area of a yard sale where I could see all the "old stuff" was gathered. I had quickly identified 4 or 5 smalls that I could easily sell and ship on eBay and went to ask the owner of the yard sale how much. He informed me that stuff was free. I believe I said something about feeling guilty for taking the stuff for free and would "give him something" for the items, but he insisted if I didn't take them, someone else would have. I put those items in my truck and came back to the sale and looked for something to buy. I really don't remember if I found much to "purchase" or not, but I did find a couple of bigger items from the free pile that I knew I could sell one on one, maybe to one of my dealers with a shop. That day was my biggest free pile haul and started out innocently enough.

T.

 

[ethanfez]

I just this week got a Pokémon trainer master board game for free. Hope to sell for about $30. Also got 3 iPhone 4s yesterday for free. My best find would probably be a working snow blower from the free pile.

 

[bigcaddy64]

Not many free piles to be seen in my area by my Dad ended up going to a sale that i spotted on his route home. Turns out it was a older home that had 120 years worth of stuff inside. The garage had a small access path on the side that led to the alley but it was blocked with old boxes and junk. When he inquired, he was told that was all the trash they were going to throw away! He ended up pulling out 3 or 4 pieces of Griswold diamond logo cast iron that was in perfect shape. I'm pretty sure it was a rectangular griddle pan, round griddle pan, 10" skillet and a waffle maker "chimney" with no waffle maker. He also grabbed a case of olive colored mason jars! the garage was full of mason jars, new in the boxes/crates, up in the rafters rotting away. The olive ones were loose and must have spilled out so they were getting tossed.

 

[aa battery]

wife told me to stop

 

[ARC]

wife told me to stop

lol.. heh

 

[GarageSaleKing]

Went to a sale this weekend with my girlfriend and she found two cases of (24) Maxell 90-minute cassette tapes in a pile of VHS and cassettes that were marked 'Free'. (48) brand new blank cassettes in shrinkwrap. Should be good for $49.99 or so on eBay.

Cassettes that are new and sealed are a great way to enhance profit taking at garage sales. I pick up a number of them every year.

 

[GarageSaleKing]

I have to admit, sometimes I am too embarrassed to pour through the free pile. Other times, once in particular, I didn't even realize I was in the free pile and made a bee line for an area of a yard sale where I could see all the "old stuff" was gathered. I had quickly identified 4 or 5 smalls that I could easily sell and ship on eBay and went to ask the owner of the yard sale how much. He informed me that stuff was free. I believe I said something about feeling guilty for taking the stuff for free and would "give him something" for the items, but he insisted if I didn't take them, someone else would have. I put those items in my truck and came back to the sale and looked for something to buy. I really don't remember if I found much to "purchase" or not, but I did find a couple of bigger items from the free pile that I knew I could sell one on one, maybe to one of my dealers with a shop. That day was my biggest free pile haul and started out innocently enough.

T.

I am never too embarrassed to make cash. The free pile can help me do that. I have also, on occasion, bought something else from that persons garage sale as a sign of gratitude.

 

[DFW_THer]

wife told me to stop

haha no entrepreneurial spirit, huh

my woman hates when I stop to go through piles of trash from a house cleanout. I love treasure hunting in those black plastic bags. So much good stuff is wasted.

 

[Fushek]

haha no entrepreneurial spirit, huh

my woman hates when I stop to go through piles of trash from a house cleanout. I love treasure hunting in those black plastic bags. So much good stuff is wasted.

Someone in our neighborhood was clearing out their home and had bags/boxes of trash dumped in their front tree lawn. I was hesitant at first but my wife insisted that we "walk the dog" by. On the initial pass, I picked up a Castle Greyskull box and an unopened Hot Wheels track box. Got them home and realized the castle parts were still sealed inside.

We quickly went back and pulled out many other things including a box of 300 vacation slides form the 40's/50's (sold for $150), camera and video camera (both working!), a new in box perfume set, a box of brand new lightbulbs and many more things. The most amazing thing though was a cigar box FULL of change (came out to $40 worth!) in a bag of garbage. Ended up making around $400 to $500 from someone's "trash".

For that, I'll chance the potential embarrassment of my neighbors watching me trash dive

 

[ivan salis]

ah trash picking can be fun and highly profietible as well...

 

[DFW_THer]

Someone in our neighborhood was clearing out their home and had bags/boxes of trash dumped in their front tree lawn. I was hesitant at first but my wife insisted that we "walk the dog" by. On the initial pass, I picked up a Castle Greyskull box and an unopened Hot Wheels track box. Got them home and realized the castle parts were still sealed inside.

We quickly went back and pulled out many other things including a box of 300 vacation slides form the 40's/50's (sold for $150), camera and video camera (both working!), a new in box perfume set, a box of brand new lightbulbs and many more things. The most amazing thing though was a cigar box FULL of change (came out to $40 worth!) in a bag of garbage. Ended up making around $400 to $500 from someone's "trash".

For that, I'll chance the potential embarrassment of my neighbors watching me trash dive

fantastic work. I find purses from time to time. Wallets even. Never any ID's or CC's or anything, but often there is change or jewelry or even gift cards with balances!! People are crazy.

 

[boogeyman]

fantastic work. I find purses from time to time. Wallets even. Never any ID's or CC's or anything, but often there is change or jewelry or even gift cards with balances!! People are crazy.

Not so much crazy just lazy & tired & bored.

A lot of times, If there's a lot of not free stuff, I'll start putting them with the whole free pile, then ask them how much for this whole thing? A lot of times they'll ask you want these too? And ask for next to nothing for the pile.

 

[Beans]

I have only seen one garage sale with free items. After looking at them I knew why they were free. Guess they just could not bring themselves to putting the stuff in the trash.

 

[thebirdflu]

Cassettes that are new and sealed are a great way to enhance profit taking at garage sales. I pick up a number of them every year.

Not trying to hijack the thread but are there particular brands/types that are worth more than others? I see them from time to time but don't know if they're worth taking the chance on. Thanks.

 

[GibH]

Not trying to hijack the thread but are there particular brands/types that are worth more than others? I see them from time to time but don't know if they're worth taking the chance on. Thanks.

Metal cassettes do very well. I've only found a few of them out in the wild though.

 

[Beachkid23]

In honor of this thread we are having a yard sale in three weeks. I will make sure to do a free pile. And maybe someone will write about it and put it on here. However my sale will start later than everyone else's because I live in a community and I'll be danged if anyone goes to any of the sales before me in the neighborhood that I live in! Haha. The gates open at eight I have an hour and a half before hand to clean house. My dad is in town so he can help set up for everything which we will mainly do on tables the night before. But I plan on having a free box. It may be full of 400 kid toys... and some costume jewelry..

Ha ha I'm just being silly.

I never found anything in a free box that I actually got for free. I guess I never look in them or I don't notice them because I'm always going for jewelry first so I walk right by that stuff. We were helping a friend out and she had a box of free stuff full of rosaries. I pulled out a 10K 9 g pendant and paid her $70. Someone would have been happy. I had to ruin it for them. But they really needed the money so it wasn't worth it to me to screw them out of some cash. Especially when that's why I was called in to help them take a second look and give another eye to what they were selling...

The cassettes I've never heard of. Will check into that though. Thanks Y'all!

 

[SnakemanBill]

Look in the free box? Hell I'll grab all the free stuff. It either goes into a box for my next auction/yard sale, into a scrap bin or I take it to Goodwill and donate it.

 

[cyberdan]

I have bought many cassettes but only if they still have the original plastic wrap on them. Also master packages sell too (10 or 12 in a big plastic wrap) I also buy old film, even outdated boxes, but the box has to be sealed.

When I list the film I ALWAYS give the expire date and say something like "outdated NO REFUNDS" I have never had a complaint or refund request.

These do sell but sometimes it takes a while. I know this is a free in the box topic. I have found cassettes in the free box but most of the time I get at a good price.

What I look for a grab all that I can in the free box are lightbulbs. I do not like these new $5 bulbs the light color is off and sometimes they are taller and stick out the top of a couple of my floor lamps.