Found a tube Zenith console at the "bargain" store today (rant)

[ablethevoice]

radiotvnut, I'm not sure where you are, but the thrift store in your 1st post sounds suspiciously like the one in my town. Those folks have mostly clothing, but the "electronics" they try to pass on to unsuspecting boobs have preposterously high prices and it all looks so bad even the local dump wouldn't take it...for that matter, everything in the store besides clothing bears a startling resemblance to garbage-beds, kitchen items, books (such as the selection is), kid's toys ...everything! I have to stifle my laughter when I go in there and see some POS boombox with no CD player, the cassette deck whose door won't stay closed, missing the battery case cover, looks like it was drop-kicked off a 5 story building, no remote and has a $60 price tag on it. Sheesh! Oh, and when I walk in, I get a *look* from all the employees which amounts to "WTF does THIS guy want??"


Now, pawn shops are a different story. Not too long ago, I selected several items at a pawn shop (a B&D recip saw, a Stihl 024 chain saw with a 20" bar and a 12K BTU AC unit) which totalled $200. I told the guy I'd give him $100. He said no. I said, "OK, I guess you don't want to make any money today," and turned towards the door. He stopped me and said, "$100 plus tax?" I said, "Now, you're talking!" and got all three items for $107.76. I've bought a lot of good stuff from pawn shops and I've NEVER paid sticker price. I'll hardnose the piss out of a pawnshop because I know no matter what I end up paying, it's WAY more than he paid the poor sap who sold it. My Ensoniq Halo was another hardnose pawn deal. They were asking $300. I offered 100 and got it for 135 plus tax.