No more Tvs at Goodwill
 

This was on the news here tonight. Everything I like is slowly going away.. Well I mad a video that would have made this thread much more interesting but it will not work for some reason, I think the file became corrupted somehow. Anyways, they are not accepting tvs at the goodwill after the digital switch. Instead, they are going to partner up with a recycling facility to take care of them. They say they do not want to be inundated with what they call "useless tvs". This sucks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss15_B-okhw

Wow, thats some bad news. I would make friends with the guy in charge at your local Goodwill and see if maybe the old sets can still be saved before they go to the recycler. Long shot though, since they might have the EPA or sanitation department on their case...

I'm afraid that will happen at our local SA. That will be bad if it does happen because the local SA has been my source for vintage TV's here lately. The manager did tell me that they have been selling most of the working TV's that they get. Of course, that could all change in a few months. I plan on staying on top of them and maybe I can prevent the vintage sets from getting crushed.

My main local thrift is an independent charity so they have no plans to turn away ANY donation items. I did inquire about the TV transition. The man in charge assured me there are still plenty of people in need of an older TV. He says I'm not the only guy who goes in there and buys the old sets. (competition?!)

I made up a flyer early in the year with a photo of a roundie, basically a 'wanted' poster. Sent it to all the thrift stores. I figured that would at least let them know I was interested. The only response I got was from a volunteer at an independent store who had a few 'black box specials' in her garage. I took them, because I didn't want to get the reputation for being too picky!

This weekend is our local electronics/hazmat dropoff day. I sent one of my flyers to the coordinator (we had met once, which helped) and he called me. They have a contractor who handles the electronics but from the sound of it they aren't too crazy about TV sets and won't take wood cabinet models at all. (he was hoping I would be willing to take them; just what I need, a yard full of 90's Zenith consoles!) Anyway, it never hurts to make contact. He is adding me to a list of "landfill alternatives" for people looking to get rid of old sets; I don't expect much, but who knows?

I'm not an old TV nut like you guys, but that makes no sense. If it is hooked up to cable it works fine. I would think most folks have cable these days and don't want to spend 250 bucks or more on a bedroom TV. We are looking for one, but hoping a HD CRT comes through. I know it is a longshot, but to the thrifts, an old TV is an old TV.

I got the video working, it needed to be re-uploaded. I totally agree with you VinylHanger, it really doesn't make sense at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss15_B-okhw

I think the answer to this is to take it a step further... Find out who the recycling contractors are, and get with them. They get paid by the pound (at least here in CA it's 42c/lb, I think). Just offer them 10x whatever they get from the government, and I bet they'll be all ears! And, you won't have to go to all the different charity thrift shops.

Charles

You hit the nail on the head when you said "bullshit" to the guy talking about the "unusable TV's". I am so sick & tired of everyone making out like the old TV's will be totally worthless after 2/17/09. Most of my TV's are connected to cable and Comcast claims I'm not going to miss a beat. I currently have two converter boxes and will obtain more boxes as the funds become available.

Yeah it sounds like semi politico/eco stunt. Every week i see old Kodak instant cameras all over the place and they haven't made film for them in over 20 years.

This is horseshit.

Guess I better start looking for my Trinitron STAT.

I hope it does not come to that. If my old CRT bits the dust, I rather get a old CRT and a digital converter box than buying a new flat screen monitor.

Very good point.

On the surface, this sounds like a bad deal. I see a lot of people buying the old T.V.'s at GW. Not everyone can buy a new one when their old one dies. Hell, GW will probably have the converters on their shelves by March.

I agree, this is bad news. Not sure about you guys, but its been quite a number of years since I found a "vintage" TV at the resale shop. Anything with tubes that is. Estate sales are your only chance at saving whats left!!!!