Ridiculous Goodwill pricing: everyone loses!

[savv]

I passed by Goodwill right around Christmas and they were selling a pair of Technics SB-L50, a 3 way speaker with one tweeter foam appearing destroyed. Guess how much they were asking: $39.99 PER SPEAKER!!

Click link below to see this speaker:

http://www.shopnsavegoods.com/products.asp?product_id=5859731423

Every week that I drop by they drop the price by $10. And the condition of the speaker surrounds seem to worsen with kids poking their fingers on the surrounds.

Today I drop by and the price is now $9.99 per speaker and still no takers. I doubt if they can sell it and that price and at that condition.

Had GW not been greedy and priced it reasonably they probably would have sold this item immediately. Today I doubt if anyone would pick them up even at $9.99. I am tempted to write my local GW to tell them to get a reality check! :thumbsdn:

Anyone else see this happen in their local GWs?

[geespot]

its not a Goodwill, but at the Unique Thriftstore I pass by on occasion, same thing. $39..9 for a beat to all hell SX-434, $59.99 for a SX-3400 and $149.99 for a BPC Pioneer surround receiver. I remember some KEFs they had with no grills for $99.99/each.

I guess somebody is paying these prices, because they are usually gone very fast.

[SPL db]

Same thing here... saw a real nice Kenwood KR-4070 receiver at a Goodwill, hardly a mark on it.

Then I saw the price... $69.99! :yikes:

Scott

[tentoze]

I am tempted to write my local GW to tell them to get a reality check! :thumbsdn:

I think I'll ring their doorbell and run.

[hakka26]

At least they left them and dropped the price. I was lucky to pick up a SX2150 after I talked the clerk into pricing it and before it got out of the loading area. Try to get by there once a week just in case. Later saw a good Kenwood tuner 6500 for $29.99, almost as much as I paid for the 1250. Went back and the tuner knob was missing-went back and tuner was gone. Same with a single KLH 820 speaker, $39.99 :yikes:.But, what I found out is that one of the clerks comes through and clears the shelves dumping unsold speakers and other things that are a week or so old but leaves BPC, VCR's, clock radios, etc. there for months. Think that's where the Kenny went. They do this without any price adjustment. I offered $5 for a hammered Marantz 2215 or 2216 that I had him dig out of the trash he wanted $10 so he threw it back in the trash :nono:. Did get a pair o fOhms that someone never picked up but by then one of the badges was missing and caps were a little dented,not badly though.
Just tried SA and I'm not sure how they price. Some audio was very high but I saw an H/K PM660 amp with a piece of masking tape on the front with "Price ?" on it. When I asked, the manager let me have it for $10. Went back the next day as the clerk was bringing out speakers and he had some unmarked Infinity Qa's. Talked him up some and he put $10/ea on them. Couple days later I bring the amp in to test and find a price tag of $39.50 on the bottom. Put there the same day I bought it so I don't know what the tape was about. Everything checked out fine. I think timing and store policy plays a big part in whether or not you find something worth buying

[jpdylon]

Same thing here. Most places charge rediculous prices. There was a sx-1010 with a missing am antennna, a few knobs, and it had obviously been dropped. They were asking 80 bucks!! WTF?

I also spotted some larger advents with foam rot and a grill stain and they wanted 100 for the pair. :thumbsdn:

You would figure that these people would be smart enough to know that they will make more money selling lots of fairly priced stuff than a few expensive pieces.

[archie2]

Here too. Salvation Army is asking $40-$45 for really beat up recent models of Pioneer, Panasonic and Fisher speakers. Junk.

[Ghog]

Came out the front door of a local GW early this week and saw a lady unloading some speakers that looked like Pioneer CS series, with the lattice grills. May have been something else, but in any case I didn't want to make myself unwelcome by barging in, so I waited til later in the day and went back to the store. The clerk peeked in the door to the back and confirmed they were there, but not priced or ready to put out. So I went around to the donation door to see if they would let me take a look. They acted like I was peddling pornography or something. I could see them on a pallet and they loooked to be in good shape, but the guy refused to price them and said they were sending them to where they sell all their "junk". Wouldn't even let me step in to inspect. Someone will buy them from the junk pile and throw away the drivers and install some cheap ones from Radio Shack, no doubt. They coulda' had money in hand right then. I was furious!

[MaDHaTteR]

I wouldent be supprized if GW shops are now using ebay as a valuation tool.

[Charivari]

I wouldent be supprized if GW shops are now using ebay as a valuation tool.
They are around here now. The three local Goodwills have recently restaffed their back rooms with new people who are supposedly trained to watch for this stuff. in the back room, there is one computer per store permanently on eBay. If something comes in the back that looks good, they'll look it up and if it went for a decent price, they'll throw (literally) it in one of those big wooden crates for their eBay store. So I've been told by one of the managers when I asked.

What really happens now, though, is that the workers will find that something is worth something and sneak it out to one of their friends who then sells the item on eBay or takes it to an isoldit elsewhere.

Gone are the deals around here, sadly. Well, except for when one of the higher-ups is in town inspecting the store for employee efficiency and honesty, then tons of goodies hit the floor for a couple of days .... to be brought back into the back room after said individual leaves.

- JP

[krimney]

Over the last few years I have noticed a steady decline in decent audio gear in all of my local thrift stores. Prices on the rise too, the pawn shops all have ebay and pricing is based on that.

This may be a good thing as I am spending more time listeneing to gear than buying it.

Although I did get a working SX-680 at GW yesterday....for about 8 bucks US.

[thedelihaus]

Oh, you hit home with this one tonight.

I spent the day today revisiting my old bargain haunts that used to turn up some really nice jewels, only to run across a sickening site- some young kid tearing apart the speaker foams and paper drivers on a set of vintage speakers at a Cambridge Salvation Army. Couldn't really get near the kid to see what he was wrecking. But here's the cream in this coffee- get this- his mother was standing LESS THAN FOUR FEET AWAY!!! The behavior was completely ignored by/permitted by the mother. RIP RIP RIP!!!. It really bothered me to see her allow her child to cause this destruction, whether it was to a speaker, a toaster, a dress, a dollhouse, whatever. Here the child was destroying something of possible value to another. And there is another cost- a loss of monetary value attached to said item which was now destroyed. Funds from this purchase are aimed at helping another person/persons out. The speakers looked like a solid, well-built set of vintage gear. Anyhow they were totally desecrated, absolutely wasted.

Another joint, this time a Cambridge Goodwill, turned up a set of what were some old vintage speakers, some sort of an offshoot or collaberation of a Bose company , as the back label boldly claimed (sorry cannot recall the brand) with the grill cloth ripped and hanging from the front, torn open in order to inspect the drivers (?), the woodwork damaged in the process as well.

A jackal urinates on its kill after it eats its own share in order to spoil the meat for others.

I spent a few years away from these joints (not by choice) only to return to see that most AmVets and Salvation Armys have been priced out of the locations due to jacked rent costs in the Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts locations. Stores that remain are few, so the items are packed into these remaining stores and are subject to sometimes greedy clerks, uncaring employees, and disrespectful customers and their children.

Another privately-run donation joint, Hassadah (sp?) claiming longstanding religious ties to Jewish organisations has gone kazoo over pricing. This comes as a new introduction into the store owners' family via marriage is now in charge of pricing. And she is a greedy, rude one with a taste for the $$$ and a personality as warm as a Sleestack. Items here, unless absolute trash seemingly farmed from someone's wastepile, were priced on par with an antique store I also visited, the four-story Cambridge Antiques Market ( really nice employees there, FYI) across town where I expect the sellers to be a bit more aware of what they have and the value of the item, albeit a bit high in final pricing. By the way, that jaunt turned up what appeared a fairly beat vintage $55 Sony amp and a vintage pair of bose, no visible pricing, both passed on for someone else to latch onto if they choose.

Online auction sites offer many benefits- getting items you otherwise couldn't get your hands on being one of them. With that benefit comes a price however, eh? I'm thankful for being able to find the gear I want through the channels the internet have opened up, but I sure miss the fun bargain hunting at yard sales and flea markets, when my beloved Technics SA-80s have gone from $9.99 for a good example to $75 for a knackered unit that has most likely sat out in the treehouse for the last 15 years, currently being offered on the Boston Craigslist, because now EVERYONE is an expert on pricing, and every turd, as long as it's a vintage turd, is valuable.

Back to the antique store- my friend was informed the price a Barbie pocketbook (doll-sized) would set her back sixty bucks, and the folded paper advert inserts that came with the Barbie packaging, $4.99 each piece, though they looked like very tattered, torn, used sheets of toilet paper. Except with Barbie's face and latest fashions printed on them.

Overall a dissapointing day at the market. The only thing that brought a smile to my face (until the price was announced) was a bed headboard with a built-in pair of metal-grilled speakers and an am/fm dial and 8-track built in, at the antique shop.

Oh, the going rate you may ask? $185.

I'm whistling myself to sleep tonight, instead.

[bozak ron]

I've been thinking about this subject lately since its seems like the stereo equipment at Goodwill and other thrifts are priced closer to market value than most other things in the store. For instance, my wife bought a complete set of holiday dishes made by a top notch company for some ridiculous price of $5, far below its price on ebay. I bought a brand new belt for $2 that retails for almost $100. But Goodwill wants $35 for a Pioneer sx-737 with severe internal problems and a cabinet with the veneer almost completely gone plus several major gouges. Thanks to these posts, I realize that Goodwill, etc. probably has someone do a quick ebay check to establishing a basic price regardless of condition. That's why garage sales will end up being the last great place to get great audio gear at an amazing price.

[gyusher]

I really dont know why we are bitching. . .After all who taught them?? We did. . . It dont take a rocket scientist to figure out after hundreds of people come in looking for vintage gear. . . I mean supply and demand. . .

Good stuff at Thrifts are still cheap when you think about it. . .

Who here would think about selling their 1250s for 50 bucks??
100 bucks ??

150??

250??

350??

[jbpollock]

My local thrift has gone up on the prices of receivers because they have found they can sell them for the higher prices. ($39.00 sx-580....dirty with no veneer sold). Turntables and other components still at rock bottom prices.

The slightly higher prices are ok with me though. I don't have the time to go by every day and if the prices are higher there is a better chance that I will get to buy a unit that I want. Sure beats someone else buying, taking it home, and throwing it away when they find there is static in the controls.

[hakka26]

Re. thedelihaus
Saw a pair of Advents, 5002(?), months ago at a GW at $20 a pop. Checked 'em out and decided I didn't need another refoam project. Passed by a month later and took a look. Woofer was all bent up and dc's all pushed in. The kicker, there was only one.

[SixCats!]

Hi all,

Well...I have to agree...GW/Salvation Army/etc. have gone NUTZ on their pricing. Every once in a great while, I might find something decent at a fair price...however...it would appear that the days of finding items such as the POLK MODEL FOURS in MINT condition for $8.00 the pair, the PIONEER CS 88's for $12.00 the pair, the VECTOR RESEARCH DIRECT DRIVE QUARTZ TT for $10.00 and countless other Audio items are a thing of the past. Ahhhh...I miss the good ol days! Oooh...I could I forget...my DYNACO FM 3 Tube Tuner for 99 cents! lol

Regards,
SixCats!

[subdermis2000]

Here the starting price at Goodwill here for bookshelf's is $30 per pair no matter what they are. I have seen HK-20 's for that price as well as the nasty all plastic mass market no-names. The Sally Ann seems to have gotten out of the vintage electronics biz as the only thing I have seen in a while was a Sony 2 way mass market cabinet without drivers for $10.

[hakka26]

It appears that electronics here got an across the board increase. It doesn't matter if it is a Pioneer SX434 or Yamaha CR620 the starting price is now $69.99 if it has wood on it. My last purchase was a Sony 7055 for $29.99 several months ago (just $5 less than my SX1250!). I don't mind a reasonable price, would've happily paid more for the 1250, but the it should be relative to the piece. Although, the CR620 was sold. But as Bozak ron states, other things are priced far below market especially on daily specials. I walked into SA the other day and heard the specials: lps .50, computer programs $1. Picked up a sealed retail copy of Windows 2000 Pro.

[20to20]

It appears that electronics here got an across the board increase. It doesn't matter if it is a Pioneer SX434 or Yamaha CR620 the starting price is now $69.99 if it has wood on it. My last purchase was a Sony 7055 for $29.99 several months ago (just $5 less than my SX1250!). I don't mind a reasonable price, would've happily paid more for the 1250, but the it should be relative to the piece. Although, the CR620 was sold. But as Bozak ron states, other things are priced far below market especially on daily specials. I walked into SA the other day and heard the specials: lps .50, computer programs $1. Picked up a sealed retail copy of Windows 2000 Pro.


Something is goofy at the GW's. I went out to one today and found a middle of the road Panasonic 4 piece system from the mid '80's each piece had $40 on it. I asked a guy who was working there if that was a price for each piece or did each piece have the entire system price stickered to it. He didn't know for sure but he thought it was for the entire system. THAT made sense, but he couldn't confirm it. So... what may be going on is that some "IDJITS" are actually carrying 1 piece up to the counter and buying it for the system price, leaving the rest behind, and making it look like a leftover piece was priced out of the ballpark.

There was a "rat'sass" MCS 3-way speaker system there with no foam on the woogers, caved-in dust covers, and no grills, for $60. That just don't make any sense at all. I think they had to have been leftovers and the DA's that work at the GW never went back to reprice the P.O.S.'s for what they were.

[hakka26]

Local thrifts I've been to do have "1 of 2" on some stickers. What I do notice is that most anything black is priced lower (I believe this benefitted an AKer in another thread) as I see a Sharp amp, large boxy thing, for $34.99 along with the Yamaha CR620. Sharp is still there. Sort of why I think there is a Mcintosh, Adcom, Carver etc. bargain out there somewhere :thmbsp:.

[SoCal Sam]

There is lots of competition around here and that is driving up prices. I know of at least three hardcore audio collectors in my area and several other ebay pros that troll the GW, SA, and thrifts on a daily basis. Worse are the swappers who buy and then resell at the weekend flea. They do not take the time to wipe away the thrift prices and you can see the markup. And, the gear gets beat to hell buried underneath all the junk in their "Sanford and Sons" truck.

The best stuff gets picked off before it even reaches the floor. I see these guys talking to the managers and clerks all the time. I am sure they are telling them about the hot vintage market. "You can much more for so and so..." The worst offender is the SA in Downey that had several really small Marantz's in fair condition for over $200 each.

[caygees]

Yep, GW has gotten silly with their prices. I tend to go to the Blue Hanger in Austin where it all ends up when it doesn't sell in the stores. I got a 4.5 digit Keithly TRMS bench top multimeter still in cal for $.49, not to mention all the speakers (JBL, AR2s, old KLH, CSI ) and such for $3 each. Just have to pop in regularly to see what the illigals (many of them make a living reselling stuff from GW, obtaining friendly relationships with some of them can be rewarding) haven't scarfed up...

[madpioneer]

caygees
Whats the Blue Hanger? :dunno:

[davidb]

Last week I went to the thrift twice. The first time I picked up a pair of Klipsch KG-4s for $20. Later in the week went by and snagged a pair of Infinity RS-6s for $10. But went by today and they had a pair of cheap fishers on pedistals for $50. I hope this pricing strategy continues. Good ones cheap and cheap ones expensive.

[TrexT]

Those "Ebay:reselling thrift stuff" infomercials don't help either.

[Divotdog]

The local SA here has gone nuts on LPs, I'm sure they are using the mint goldmine prices, thriftstore albums should be $1.00 no more :nono:

[ARguy]

It has gotten bad around here in SE Wisconsin too but I keep looking. :thmbsp:

[20to20]

The local SA here has gone nuts on LPs, I'm sure they are using the mint goldmine prices, thriftstore albums should be $1.00 no more :nono:

I never find any decent LP's anyway. If I have to touch one more Ferrante and Teicher or Chrismas with the Crosby's, they'll have to create a new name for someone who goes ballistic after thumbing through GW LP's.

[gamalot]

Might flare a few nostrills here but why do we think the thrifts should sell stuff at rediculously low prices just so we can go in and buy an SX 1250 to flip it on ebay and make a tidy profit.
Their purpose is to make a profit from donations so I don't care if they have a knowledgable individual do a bit of research and price something accordingly to make the profit.
I do despise the thrifts that allow the good stuff to go out the back doors or decent stuff to be destroyed because no one cares or customers and kids have no respect.

These places in my area are totally corrupt and do more for the crack heads that work in them then for the poor folks they are supposed to be helping.

I would take my stuff to the landfill before I would donate it there so the help could get a fix!

Gary

[tentoze]

I would take my stuff to the landfill before I would donate it there so the help could get a fix!

Gary

Nominated for Community-Involvement Compassionate Post Of The Week.

[20to20]

Might flare a few nostrills here but why do we think the thrifts should sell stuff at rediculously low prices just so we can go in and buy an SX 1250 to flip it on ebay and make a tidy profit.
Gary

What is ANY piece of electronics worth when it's in unknown condition to the buyer? It's not like they set it up a demo it for you or give you a written description of the operational test.

$20 is max for just about anything.

[gamalot]

What is ANY piece of electronics worth when it's in unknown condition to the buyer? It's not like they set it up a demo it for you or give you a written description of the operational test.

$20 is max for just about anything.

Boy do you need to get slammed on this one!
I have seen the volume and tunning knobs for a sansui G 8 or 9K bring over $50 just by themselves, Check out the parts prices at Oaktree.com.

I agree you are almost always buying a Pig in a Poke at GWs but face some facts as to what premium parts will bring.

Gary

[20to20]

Boy do you need to get slammed on this one!
I have seen the volume and tunning knobs for a sansui G 8 or 9K bring over $50 just by themselves, Check out the parts prices at Oaktree.com.

I agree you are almost always buying a Pig in a Poke at GWs but face some facts as to what premium parts will bring.

Gary

There are exceptions, of course. How much would you give for a GW "G" without the knobs? And you weren't a restoration specialist?

[20to20]

Boy do you need to get slammed on this one!
I have seen the volume and tunning knobs for a sansui G 8 or 9K bring over $50 just by themselves, Check out the parts prices at Oaktree.com.

I agree you are almost always buying a Pig in a Poke at GWs but face some facts as to what premium parts will bring.

Gary
There's a G-5000 on 'Bay right now for BIN $120. It has a bunch of knobs and buttons and a case and meters and glass... You could piece it out for $10,000 if you find the right buyers.... :banana: :banana:

[gamalot]

The 8 & 9K models have some similarities in parts but I am not sure of the lower models.
Member Rstsgas was just faced with the problem of searching for a volume pot for one of his and found it near or impossible to get an exact replacment.
I needed a simple thing like the volume control stop that goes behind the knob and had to buy an entire parts unit to get it.

I am not a restoration expert by any streatch but I do know if you find certain units at GW or other rediculous prices you are a fool not to spend the few dollars for such scores. Any member here would gladly take most Sansui Gs, most Pioneer SXs, most Marantz's, most Yamahas and many other higher end Vintage pieces of gear you find, and you won't loose a penny and probably make a few bucks in saving them from the landfill.
You pass up a SX 1980 at GW in rough shape because it is priced at $25 and the best advice I will give you is DON'T POST IT HERE!
You will be laughed off or properly flogged.

Gary

[hakka26]

Unless you know the history of the unit at GW, SA etc. it's a crapshoot. That is to say did it come from the warehouse or was it a dropoff. Seeing things stacked in shipping bins is a horror. I was pretty sure that my SX1250 was a dropoff as is was sitting by the door and not in the regular staging area. And, yes given the value of parts I would not have passed at twice the price. I had set my target at $150 only because that is what one sold at locally. Not that i was looking specifically for one. The one I bought for $34.99 is far from my best overall buy compared to PP's. I just paid a PP $40 for a non working SX1250 knowing that I can part it out for much more (this from someone who just bought a SX1980). The attraction of silver faced audio has increased but we all know it's not created equal though the thrifts now price it as such. But, there are neophytes who will buy a $70 CR620. If they plan on reselling they may be in for a rude awakening. I have mentioned to managers that the longer something sits the more beat up it gets. Just a waiting game. If they price another SX1250 at $70.00 then :thmbsp:.

[subdermis2000]

Here the starting price at Goodwill here for bookshelf's is $30 per pair no matter what they are. I have seen HK-20 's for that price as well as the nasty all plastic mass market no-names. The Sally Ann seems to have gotten out of the vintage electronics biz as the only thing I have seen in a while was a Sony 2 way mass market cabinet without drivers for $10.

Thought I'd follow up.

The same HK-20's are still there for $30 but I did see a Pioneer SA-6500 II for $40 - sitting right next to the Lloyd's all-in-wonder for $30.

I have also noticed another trend: If a pair of big cabinets come in they are priced at anywhere from $60-150 regardless of what they are and what shape they are in are and they are subject to the weekly price markdown. Bookshelfs, on the other hand, stay at the same price until they have too many and then the dodgier of those are marked down to $10 per pair. I saw 4 sets of the mighty Lloyds and 2 sets of Candles at that price today.

[JimmyNeutron]

There's a G-5000 on 'Bay right now for BIN $120. It has a bunch of knobs and buttons and a case and meters and glass... You could piece it out for $10,000 if you find the right buyers.... :banana: :banana:

Bad way to look at things. :no: Some people see garbage where other people see opportunity. Just this month alone I have cleared $1800.00 NET by buying stereos at GW and flipping them on you know where. A lot of us do that - it sure does help pay the bills. You pass up an old vintage stereo at $40.00 when a little research will show you that the going rate is double that would be absurd! If the unit doesn't work when you get it home then you have 2 chioices: sell it for parts, or 2: return it. GW will refund your money if brought back within 2 weeks - that's better than Best Buy.

Some people need to be taught a lesson on want and demand. Many, many people want those old stereos - 8-tracks, cassettes, TT's, etc, and they'll pay big bucks for them. To some people, like me, that's the difference between making the mortgage payment and moving to skid row.

Jimmy

[subdermis2000]

I have also noticed another trend: If a pair of big cabinets come in they are priced at anywhere from $60-150 regardless of what they are and what shape they are in are and they are subject to the weekly price markdown. Bookshelfs, on the other hand, stay at the same price until they have too many and then the dodgier of those are marked down to $10 per pair. I saw 4 sets of the mighty Lloyds and 2 sets of Candles at that price today.

I've rethought this after the last few weeks trolling and have now decided that they price by weight/size. They have a pair of gutted low end no-name faux PA cabinets in there right now for $85. ~40" x 16 x 10.

[noprayer]

It has gotten bad around here in SE Wisconsin too but I keep looking. :thmbsp:
Not only have prices gone sky high and the selection thinning, there is one idjit that i see every time i go to a thrift that will barge his way past everyone when the store opens and then RUN for the electronics section. I'm always tempted to trip him.

[StarMover]

The guy at the local GW won't put audio electronics on the floor unless he has a reciever and speakers (A set as he calls it). One time he had pair of disposable YORK speakers connected to a 135WPC Technics reciever. I bought the set and then turned around and donated the speakers back to the thrift store for a $25 tax credit.

I've noticed that the pricing goes in cycles. When new managers come in, they want to change the world, eventually they realize that most of the crap coming in is junk and the important thing is just to keep it moving so the prices cycle back to reasonable.

I also think that most thrift operations are corrupt as hell. Here they serve as a halfway house for people getting out of jail. If the management isn't skimming the good stuff, some scumbag in the back is. I've also known thrift employees who make side deals with individuals, saving the good stuff for them for a little kickback $$. On Fridays the SA has a warehouse auction. They pile items in bins and most go for $20 or so. I've seen someone buy 6 pairs of vintage speakers for $20 while lesser quality speakers moved inside the store are going for $40.

[KingBubba]

I have noticed that thrift stores that have women pricing in the back tend to have lower prices on the gear we like, especially the independent thrift stores, who are having a hard time surviving rent increases as previously mentioned. Pretty soon the big name stores will be our only choice. Sad.

[cosmicdust]

Hiya,

There is a Clothes Closet about 3 miles away (a non-profit store) usually run by 3 or 4 ladies. We go there at least once a week. Household stuff that we don't use anymore usually ends up there as donation. They have Lps and some audio equipment. I have bought lps, radios, cassette decks, cassettes, 8 tracks etc. from these ladies. There is a good looking silver faced Emerson sitting there right now; one of their better models and works perfectly. There is a Kenwood and some NADs. If I want these I can have them but I take just exactly what I need.

When I am around there I usually check all of their equipment to make sure they are working so that they can price it accordingly. They charge others what they deem as fair price. If I buy anything they almost give it away for free!

So we should give .. give .. give .. give .... Then when you take .... people will be falling all over themselves to give :-)

Basic economics teaches: fall in Supply increases Demand and vice versa as GY Usher pointed out. That holds good for the basic needs in life i.e. food, water, shelter etc.

Vintage stereo equipment is not a need but a want. Want is closely connected to greed. Therefore there should be a new chapter in Economics which teaches: Greed increases Price. When Price is reduced all over the Planet for say the famed SX-1980 then everybody is going to want one. This want which is Greed will in turn create a price hike automatically!

As GY Usher says, "We taught them."

About children misbehaving, I cannot for the life of me imagine any child to misbehave. They have no values. An adult has values, imaginary, bloated, superfluous values. When we impose these on them the Nature in them retaliates. As Nature is also Destructive; this explains their behavior.

A child just is. It is up to the adult to teach. Carry a bag of sweets in your pocket. Go over, put on your best smile and offer the child one.

Danke :-)
cosmicdust

[Celt]

Since the creation of "Dollars and Sense", this thread really belongs there, so I'm moving it. Play nice with one another.

[thedelihaus]

About children misbehaving, I cannot for the life of me imagine any child to misbehave. They have no values. An adult has values, imaginary, bloated, superfluous values. When we impose these on them the Nature in them retaliates. As Nature is also Destructive; this explains their behavior.

A child just is. It is up to the adult to teach. Carry a bag of sweets in your pocket. Go over, put on your best smile and offer the child one.

Danke :-)
cosmicdust

Great food for thought. An honorable approach, my friend.

As to crazy goodwill pricing, if the Goodwills want to sell closer to market value, I think that is fine.

But yeah, many price a pile of tin at pristine, tech-inspected prices.

And the items sit on the shelves, have knobs pulled off them, domes pushed in, get scratched, and then trashed.

So the thrifts don't get the price they were asking, the items get mangled/manhandled/destroyed, the charity loses out on a sale, landfills swell, and collectors go without.

[thedelihaus]

My neighbor has a 1971 Cougar sitting in a field, since 1985. Weeds are growing up through the non-existant floorboards. Front end is mashed from a head-on collision. Frame is bent in front. frame is rotted out in back. It's sitting on the ground- the tires and rims are long gone. The body and floor has sat on earth for 20 years. So the sheetmetal is rotted 6"-8" all around. The engine is seixed, and the top end has been off it for at least those 20 years. So no, it doesn't run.

He put it up for sale recently.

$5000.

He says that there's a car show on TLC that buys wrecked cars and turns 'em into $40,000 super-musclecar drivers.

I say "$5000? But it's rotted, and the engine is seized and half-missing."

He says, "But it's a Cougar".

[cosmicdust]

Hiya The Deli Haus - I hope I got that right :-),

The Seller must have a robust heart. If not; even if he/she is selling something expensive for cheap I will not buy from him/her. Such item only brings a lot of burden with it.

If the Seller has a robust heart; and item is over-priced; you can always talk to him/her. There could be many reasons. He/she maybe in need of the money or simply lack knowledge.

Follow thine heart :-)
cosmicdust

[tankdonovan]

The neighbor with the Cougar is nuts!

eBay and places like AK has caused the prices to go up on vintage gear. Is that good or bad? It is according which side of the fense[buyer or seller] you are on.

Goodwills/thrifts in my area have been going up in the last few months, but I still find a bargin now and then. I seem to do better at Estate Sales and Garage Sales.

The thrill of the hunt is even greater now when I score!

TankDonovan

[thedelihaus]

Cosmicdust,

I know the seller well. In my opinion (and most likely others), he's being a bit unrealistic from watching this car show on cable where the guy is paying lots of cash for quite beat junkers, and then restoring them and selling them for a fortune (at this point the cars are really transformed into a jewel).

I don't want the car- the frame is ruined, front and rear, and being a uni-body, not an easy repair. Engine is half gone and seized solid. Floors are rotted out. Body panels would need patch panels at best luck, full panels most likely.

I just wish for his benefit he'd either part it out, or be a bit more realistic with his pricing. He could maybe make $500 to $600 for it as-is, or with a bit of work maybe make $1000 to $1500 by parting it out, or he can let it rot in the field another year, in which he loses, the car loses, and any potential interested party loses. :tears:

My point was sometimes people are a bit unrealistic at times. In this case, very unrealistic. It's that bad, really. Trees are growing in it. If the car was in better condition, and the engine was complete, and the frame still together, and not rotted through or twisted, maybe he'd get that. And I'd be happy for him.

He says "It's a Cougar."

I say "It's what's left of a Cougar."

Buy I like your outlook on life, Cosmicdust. You seem like a real positive, nice fella. I bet you're a pleasure to be around, sipping some lemonade with. :thmbsp:

[cosmicdust]

Hiya The Deli Haus,

I have a poem for thee which I penned :-

Birds all around;
Chirping quarrelling.
What about and what of ??
A piece of bread .. one week molding!

I would love to have that lemonade with thee :-)
cosmicdust

[thedelihaus]

Hiya The Deli Haus,

I have a poem for thee which I penned :-

Birds all around;
Chirping quarrelling.
What about and what of ??
A piece of bread .. one week molding!

I would love to have that lemonade with thee :-)
cosmicdust

How'd that sound with a bassline, and through some HPM-100s? :yes:

[VQLT]

Local salvation Army raised the price of LP's. use to be a buck a piece now they want two bucks. They also have a self-proclaimed audio expert who inspects, test, and prices all equipment. he is under the impression that systems sell better than separates. He will take a classic Advent speaker and pair it with a cheap stereo and cd player. You have to buy the whole system just to get the speakers. I'm giving up on thrift stores

[boyon00]

good call gyusher... you are too right!!!! :thumbsdn:

[tankdonovan]

Yea,.."times are a changing" at thrift stores.


I stopped in a local GW today after work. No vintage grear but I did pick up a set of speaker stands for $5.98 plus tax. Optimus SS-10 / 7". In like new condition. I can really use them.

The hunt is getting harder.

TankDonovan

[jacksonalan]

good morning everyone...dropped by my local thrift yesterday and found a beautiful but dirty 434...case and cosmetics were perfect....after talking with the only sales person on duty walked out with a bill of $5.00...replaced some dial lights cleaned her up and it was amazing how good it sounded...did not need another receiver but like most people on this forum the addiction kicked in....I tend to stay away from the bigger more well known shops due to the prices going crazy and all the E-bayers are camping out in the parking lots...I really think E-bay ruined this hobby for most and you really have to watch out for people selling some real stinkers...got burned on a NIB Pioneer PL-71 that had been in a flooded basement....the pics were of stock photos he downloaded...so the search continues for those little onknown thrifts...

[mxlews]

At my Goodwill, electronics can be outrageous. The manager, this dumb lady, prices the electronics insanely high. The people pricing stuff in the back are a little better though, and thankfully deals can still be found there. The other day when I was in the store, there was a vintage Fisher receiver/tape deck all in one. It didn't look too hot, but I figured I'd ask how much she wanted anyway. She takes a look at it. "$199.99". I said "no way" and walked out. Some people...

Damn it, forgot to look at the date of the thread. Sorry guys. :withstpd:

[Saratoga48]

My job takes me past 3 different Salvation Army thrifts about 3 times a week. The one closest to my office, is in a very affluent area, way more donations comming in than they can sell. 3 trucks a day are usually filled for other SA, outlets. The electronics are usually very reasonable, (yesterday picked up a Scott 375-r about 80 wpc in nice shape, for $11.00).
The other two thrifts on my "route" are usually 3 to 4 times that in pricing. I still stop in and have found a few pieces that are worth the price. On records, I still find lots of good LPs, for the $1.00 price, and they do run the 1/2 price senior day (I'm 59) so lots of times I can pick up 20 or 30 LPs, for next to nothing.

[tgunner]

At my Goodwill, electronics can be outrageous. The manager, this dumb lady, prices the electronics insanely high. The people pricing stuff in the back are a little better though, and thankfully deals can still be found there. The other day when I was in the store, there was a vintage Fisher receiver/tape deck all in one. It didn't look too hot, but I figured I'd ask how much she wanted anyway. She takes a look at it. "$199.99". I said "no way" and walked out. Some people...

Damn it, forgot to look at the date of the thread. Sorry guys. :withstpd:

After she says $199.99, you stand there for a few seconds, seeming to be in deep thought... you rub your chin, start to speak. Stop. Look at it, look at her; look at it, and then look at her.... "I'll give $10."

That would be the most comical way to go about insulting her than just saying "no way".

[arrow 68]

At least they left them and dropped the price. I was lucky to pick up a SX2150 after I talked the clerk into pricing it and before it got out of the loading area. Try to get by there once a week just in case. Later saw a good Kenwood tuner 6500 for $29.99, almost as much as I paid for the 1250. Went back and the tuner knob was missing-went back and tuner was gone. Same with a single KLH 820 speaker, $39.99 :yikes:.But, what I found out is that one of the clerks comes through and clears the shelves dumping unsold speakers and other things that are a week or so old but leaves BPC, VCR's, clock radios, etc. there for months. Think that's where the Kenny went. They do this without any price adjustment. I offered $5 for a hammered Marantz 2215 or 2216 that I had him dig out of the trash he wanted $10 so he threw it back in the trash :nono:. Did get a pair o fOhms that someone never picked up but by then one of the badges was missing and caps were a little dented,not badly though.
Just tried SA and I'm not sure how they price. Some audio was very high but I saw an H/K PM660 amp with a piece of masking tape on the front with "Price ?" on it. When I asked, the manager let me have it for $10. Went back the next day as the clerk was bringing out speakers and he had some unmarked Infinity Qa's. Talked him up some and he put $10/ea on them. Couple days later I bring the amp in to test and find a price tag of $39.50 on the bottom. Put there the same day I bought it so I don't know what the tape was about. Everything checked out fine. I think timing and store policy plays a big part in whether or not you find something worth buying

"Yes", to the last sentence.

[Heavy-D]

This is a good thread! I've learned alot. I like most need to earn extra income it's not easy but it can be done. Fortunatly I'm not doing this to become rich. LOL

[Inkara1]

I checked both GW stores and the pawn shop in my area... one GW had a BPC Technics CD changer from sometime in the 90s with no remote... $50. Fuck a bunch of that. Otherwise, all I found at all three places was a scattering of used VCRs and DVD players.

I did go to another thrist store and found a BSR CD player from 1986 for $4. It works OK but seems to have trouble tracking on a bouple of CDs. the Deftones I can understand since it's an enhanced CD... but the Ministry CD is a regular disc, that carries the standard "compact disc digital audio" logo. So there doesn't seem ot be much to be had at the local thrifts at any price.

[hello9821]

Around where I live, it seems like they randomly pull numbers out of their heads. I have a Pioneer SX-9500, TX-9500, and SG-9500 that were originally labeled $479.99, but after about two weeks they were down to $199.99 so I bought them, with all the knobs intact and a few very minor scratches. Another instance at the same store, a pair of Sony speakers were $59.99 with a cone tweeter and 6" woofer. I bought a pair of AR TSW-610s that need refoam for $29.99! And at another one, there was a Marantz 2225 that wasn't priced. I went back the next day and the guy told me "it didn't work so we sold it for 99 cents"!

[Fisherdude]

It's always a crapshoot.

Keep in mind, they're trying to make money, and that's fine. Also, they don't know much about audio gear, so they're simply guessing. They certainly know about eBay, but when they look things up, they may or may not find a comparable item, so they guess.

What irritates me is when they're rude, or when they'd rather throw something away than sell it cheaply.

My local SA is filthy, smells, and prices are high.

My local GW is a completely different animal. I've been there when I couldn't find a place to park. 90+ cars in the middle of the week. They just added a fourth cash register line to handle the crowds. Clean, friendly, low prices, and they even change their displays of clothing, etc., to go with current seasons and holidays. It's like a regular store.

Within the last few weeks I picked up a perfect Concept 2.0, and just last week a Sherwood S-7100A. Both work perfectly well, and not a scratch on the cases or anywhere. $9.99 and $6.99.

I was talking to one of the managers about vintage audio gear. He was really an HT guy, but knew just enough to have a feel for things. He told me that one day he came to work and found a pair of Maggies on the floor priced at $4.99 each. The person who put them out thought they were those things you hang your clothes on. He repriced them at $200, and they sold within a day.

Ya just never know.

[jedo1507r]

Today was "everything 50% off" day at Clarksville's GW, I could get cracked on this, but I bought a set of Kenwood HTIB speakers by parents' request - and they found out about the frequent customer card ($20 redemption with x-amount of stamps), so I had to redeem it. The GW in North Clarksville had the set of speakers in decent condition for $80 - so got them for $40, with redemption, $20+tax. There are no carts to be found, but managed to get one from a customer that checked out, and someone was waiting for me in the parking lot - to use that cart :D. There were four lanes opened, maybe fifteen to twenty per lane. I posted in another thread that the store's management believes that Streisand and Jimmy Swaggert LPs were made of gold ($4 - instead of the humble $0.69 at the GW in South Clarksville). I had a good experience there back in October when I bought that G-801 receiver, which was on a Tuesday, got a good amount of loyalty stamps (I think it was eight stamps out of ten), and was from point A to point B in that store without waiting - and the price was right ($50).

Well, I went to the South Clarksville branch earlier today and picked up a CED videodisc (just for fun) at a decent $1.50, as well as the misc. goods. Lines aren't as long, less people in the store, prices aren't in the stratosphere, and the staff isn't as rude as the North Clarksville joint. Only five years ago, the prices were acceptable at the North Clarksville location. The South Clarksville location didn't exist until late '04 and they've got a good rep.

Probably the most positive aspect today was that I had to show someone how to operate a two year old Multi-System television at that awful North location (pressing channel buttons on the unit turns the set on).

[willyrover]

My local SA is filthy, smells, and prices are high.



It's funny you say that. My local SA is also filthy and smell like decomposing fruit. There is also a continuous 60hz hum that drowns out the local easy listening station they play in the store.

[vanman]

one of my local TS uses ebay to evaluate items. They even print out the ad for people. Most memorable was an old organ that had a price of 599.00 becasue that was the starting price on eaby. and guess what No bids. and then there was a bedroom set That was price at the starting price of the same brand of stuff on ebay. It didnt even look the same. Yet i have gotten bose 901 projects for 10 each and a pair of jbl homebrews for $29.99. where is the logic?

sorry for the rant.

steve

[Fisherdude]

one of my local TS uses ebay to evaluate items. They even print out the ad for people. Most memorable was an old organ that had a price of 599.00 becasue that was the starting price on eaby. and guess what No bids. and then there was a bedroom set That was price at the starting price of the same brand of stuff on ebay. It didnt even look the same. Yet i have gotten bose 901 projects for 10 each and a pair of jbl homebrews for $29.99. where is the logic?

sorry for the rant.

steve

Not a rant, makes me crazy, too. This is a common issue with everybody who uses eBay as a reference. All that matters is what it sold for.

[steelhead97]

I think a lot of these GW store managers know about Ebay and the internet so they go on there to get an idea of how much something is worth and price it that way. Of course there's the deals but from what i see there's hardly any consistency in their pricing and what really irks me are these XXXholes who are dustcapophiles who like to just open up a pair of speaker and press in the caps...WTF is that about??? I recently picked up a pair of speakers brought one to the front to ring up and came back and saw that the other pair which 1 minute ago was good now had the mid caps smush to hell. I wish i had caught that SOB... okay enough ranting.

[capeman51]

I've been going to the 2 Goodwill stores in my liitle town in Pennsylvania now for a couple of months. I've been checking almost daily, sometimess more than once. I've yet to find anything that even RESEMBLES the types of "bargains" that I read about in these posts. I sometimes think some of these stories are akin to that of PENTHOUSE FORUM. A lot of fantasy! I just can't believe some of the tales I've been reading now. Guys finding TWO 2385's in one day at different stores. Some guy moves out of country and gives guy $5000.00 worth of equipment FREE cause he don't want to hassle with it. I could go on. Thousands of dollars worth of equipment for a couple bucks. I'm not saying that everyone in here in lying, just maybe a little "embellishing" is going on.

Sorry, that's just my opinion.

[mxlews]

Good deals are out there. It's all about being at the right place at the right time. It's truly a crapshoot.

[Fisherdude]

I've been going to the 2 Goodwill stores in my liitle town in Pennsylvania now for a couple of months. I've been checking almost daily, sometimess more than once. I've yet to find anything that even RESEMBLES the types of "bargains" that I read about in these posts. I sometimes think some of these stories are akin to that of PENTHOUSE FORUM. A lot of fantasy! I just can't believe some of the tales I've been reading now. Guys finding TWO 2385's in one day at different stores. Some guy moves out of country and gives guy $5000.00 worth of equipment FREE cause he don't want to hassle with it. I could go on. Thousands of dollars worth of equipment for a couple bucks. I'm not saying that everyone in here in lying, just maybe a little "embellishing" is going on.

Sorry, that's just my opinion.

Well, speaking for me personally, you have no right whatsoever to make that comment.

You've been to two in one small town, for a couple of months? I've been going for five years. There's one on the way home from where I work, and I usually hit it every single day. The GW I've been going to is in a very affluent community, and the donations reflect it. A double-lane donation drop-off, full of Mercedes, Lexus, and Escalades. When I visit my father in law in Lewiston, Idaho, we always hit the local GW, SA, and other thrifts. I've never found a thing other than some lp's. It just depends.

Your comment was completely out of line.

[OLDTIMESOUND]

don"t get me started on this one. both goodwill and s.a. moved out of local downtown areas to high visability highway locations. goodwill priced themselves out a long time ago. i MIGHT find somethig at s.a. but its getting harder. i don"t understand there package deals. a decent item with totally garbage stuff thrown in. some local church stores can still yield something decent for the price.

[tankdonovan]

My local GWs had the 50% off yesterday. Wow! The three area stores was packed. I did get in one to have a look see at the audio gear and found nothing at all worth a second look.

I do understand how you feel capeman51 about all the great finds[by AKers] at GW. But I do believe there are/were great finds out there. I have never found what I would say are fantastic ones but I have found some pretty good gear. One thing for sure is that you must go a lot to make the finds.

Some GW finds for me are: Dynaco A25 speakers / Pioneer SX-780 receiver / Yamaha YP-B2 turntable / [2] Dual 1242 turntables[sold on eBay] / Realistic speaker stands / Technics receiver[can`t remember the model / I gave it to my brother-in-law] and a few other items I can`t recall. Most were in very good to excellent condition. I don`t think I paid over $10 for any of the items.

I do think eBay has had an effect on the crazy prices seen at the GWs. I think eBay has become their[GW] bible.

TankDonovan

[Andyman]

I've been going to the 2 Goodwill stores in my liitle town in Pennsylvania now for a couple of months. I've been checking almost daily, sometimess more than once. I've yet to find anything that even RESEMBLES the types of "bargains" that I read about in these posts. I sometimes think some of these stories are akin to that of PENTHOUSE FORUM. A lot of fantasy! I just can't believe some of the tales I've been reading now. Guys finding TWO 2385's in one day at different stores. Some guy moves out of country and gives guy $5000.00 worth of equipment FREE cause he don't want to hassle with it. I could go on. Thousands of dollars worth of equipment for a couple bucks. I'm not saying that everyone in here in lying, just maybe a little "embellishing" is going on.

Sorry, that's just my opinion.

Sorry, but Clay's right.
Just because you haven't been fortunate, doesn't mean other haven't. I scrounge ALOT and know the deals and freebies happen; they've happened to me.
So if someone posts that they've found or bought something wonderful; I'm just glad it found its way into a good set of hands, rather than getting tossed in the landfill.
FWIW, sometimes you have to look in the right places; you can't catch fish in the desert if you get my drift.........

[bowtie427ss]

Gee, if i were to embellish on any of my finds, it would be to downplay them, I don't see how logging onto a public forum that's viewed daily by thousands of people with a common interest and "blowing my horn" about where, when, and how i score the items i do is going to be in any way advantageous to me.

Finding good deals revolves around 3 basic keys, location, timing (early bird gets the worm), and persistance.

Every guy that posts on here about his incredible score at the local GW/SA, has more than likely traveled several miles and spent much time coming up empty handed prior to making that score.

I live in the poorest, most economically deprived county in new york state. This greatly reduces the likelihood of ever finding many local great scores. The flip side of that is that most people don't have any idea what the stuff is when it does turn up, and it can usually be had for next to nothing.

It's just like Dad always said "there'll always be deals".

Since i'm in a location where there just isn't much decent audio gear going to the GW's, i have to improvise. My business puts me in contact with a lot of people in the antiques, and auction businesses. I infact work with a couple of "pickers" who know what i'm interested in, so these days the potential deals come to me. I treat these guys fairly, and when they show up with an "exceptional" item, i let them know what it is and an approximate value. If it's an item i want, i inform them what it is an ask them to give me a price based on me keeping it. Items of significant value that i'm not interested in, i sell and we split the take, this keeps them bringing me more, and encourages them to go a little more out of their way when they see audio gear, and the other items that are of interest to me.

There are many ways to find deals, sometimes you have to improvise. After trying many different approaches over the years, i've finally found a system that works for me, even saved myself the "footwork"

I have yet to see anyone mention their local auction house, in the past i've had some incredible scores there from items in the "did not sell" pile, edison diamond disc phongraph 5 bucks, RCA LC1A coaxial in a Karlson cabinet 10 bucks, Akai gxc 737 RTR not working 10 bucks, just to name a few.