New thread, regarding TV's in thrift shops.

[dieseljeep]

I looked up the GW location, cited by VK member, WISCOJIM!
The GW in question, located in Appleton, WI. is considered a training center, as well as a resale shop.
Maybe, that's the reason, they continue to handle TV sets. Training people how to operate electronic items is part of the program.
I personally think, the refusal to accept TV's is a store-by-store decision, suggested by corporate! The were sold for like, $1.00 to $10.00 or so, even less at times. I'm watching an RCA stereo 20" that tunes digital OTA and cable digital channels, I paid $0.88 for it with my senior's discount.
I also think, people were returning them because they couldn't get them working OTA.
BTW, Did I mention that people are their own worst enemies!

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I looked up the GW location, cited by VK member, WISCOJIM!
The GW in question, located in Appleton, WI. is considered a training center, as well as a resale shop.
Maybe, that's the reason, they continue to handle TV sets. Training people how to operate electronic items is part of the program.
I personally think, the refusal to accept TV's is a store-by-store decision, suggested by corporate! The were sold for like, $1.00 to $10.00 or so, even less at times. I'm watching an RCA stereo 20" that tunes digital OTA and cable digital channels, I paid $0.88 for it with my senior's discount.
I also think, people were returning them because they couldn't get them working OTA.
BTW, Did I mention that people are their own worst enemies!

Well Maybe that's the case I don't know but all I know is that the stores in my area no longer take TVs of any kind anymore and lots of other people on here reported the same thing including another thead on here that was entitled "I saw this coming a mile away" that was posted by a fellow VK'er who reported the same thing I did about Goodwill no longer taking TVs so its not just me reporting this issue, but others on here as well.

So please don't be hating on me just because I report what I hear and see. And like I said in my previous post on my one thread regarding this issue, the Goodwills in my area have no problems with TVs being taken from the front of Dropboxes because they're just going to be recycled anyhow, and if one can save a perfectly good CRT TV from being smashed by the recycler then I say go for it!

I'm sure if someone were to see an old Zenith Porthole TV or an old Color Roundy in the Goodwill dropbox area you would be all over picking that thing up if its for trying to save it from being recycled!

[rca2000]

IN this area,,,the GW do NOT have many--often ANY--tv sets...once in a WHILE --one does, but NEVER any "vintage stuff".

BUT....a few thrift stores around here DO. IN ONE...I have come across a NUMBER Of nice old tv sets..A 4-tube Zenith color, a "tin can " Zenith BW set, That 16 inch RCA I had and sold at the swap meet, that GE I had there, A porta=-color set in GREAT physical shape---that I also passed on to another here, A "philco" branded Sylvania 13" E-21 chassis set I think, A 77 13" Zenith BW set, side mounted cold chassis, 1989 Sears 20 inch color like I worked on back then, a 13 inch cold Zenith 89 color, and maybe a few I have forgotten.

ALSO...once in a while--they have decent HI-FI stuff. I got a big RCA console stereo console--NOT in good condition, BUT with a P-P 6BQ5 amp...for LESS than $ 1!! Needless to say--I saved that amp and tuner . The speakers were ALREADY totally trashed--looked rat-eaten, but the amp was ok.


I usually find MUCH more there--than in the garbage these days. Most "curb finds" today--are flat panel sets..since i do NOT normally pick up BPC/SPC CRT sets...

[etype2]

From the previous thread:

"

Originally Posted by etype2

Goodwill is a non-profit organization founded by a Methodist minister. Local Goodwill stores are "community owned" or franchised. Goodwill's policy is to prevent perfectly good items from reaching the landfill. Goodwill encourages that items that cannot be sold in stores, be creatively recycled so that funds can be generated from those items.

So, following these guidelines, individual local Goodwill store managers are most likely using descreationary options on how items are disposed of or recycled. I would expect that some store managers see value in CRT televisions.

"

The point is televisions or anything else dropped off at a Goodwill location is their property. Before taking private property, you should ask for permission first. You don't know what a given Goodwill managers intention is as to the disposition of an item dropped off at their store. They may take the item to a recycle area, they may take the item to a salvage center. They may get reimbursements for items sent to recycle centers or salvage centers. They may even use this money to help pay expenses and train the employees they hire. Goodwill is a non-profit organization seeking to help the communities they serve.

[rca2000]

STOP !! beating a "dead horse "!!!! THIS thread is about stuff garnered from thrift stores and such. Your point was WELL discussed--on the other TWO threads !!

[Electronic M]

Goodwill here has enough dumb people that even STORE policy is routinely disobeyed by employees.....A good example: Goodwill here recycles computer towers. They can sell everything computer related that does not contain memory (a tower, tablet, etc. contains memory so they won't resell it due to liability of info theft*)....But I've bought a hard drive from them, multiple used memory cards, and even an XP era HP tablet computer.

*I'm surprised they do not just pull the hard drives and ram, put them on the floor, and let the buyer deal with that....

@ etype2, Stop feeding the trolls.

[Jon A.]

I saw a console stereo that was probably from the early 60s at the Salvation Army once, even though there was a sign saying those were unacceptable donations. That unit wasn't in nice shape, didn't work and had some loose wires underneath, yet they realized it would have value to someone. Things that go straight to the trash there, no exceptions are mattresses, helmets and certain baby-related items, i.e. cribs and car seats.

[rca2000]

ANd THAT--"sleeping/siting items NOT being sold--is VERY likely-=-due to the bedbug issue..

[etype2]

A new Goodwill store had a grand opening this past April which is in a retirement community very close to me.

http://www.visions4.net/journal/wp-c...s/image37.jpeg

I went there this afternoon, here a few of the offerings.

http://www.visions4.net/journal/wp-c...s/image38.jpeg

http://www.visions4.net/journal/wp-c...s/image39.jpeg

I asked to talk with the store manager today. His store is one of 62 stores in Northern Arizona. He said the stores in Southern Arizona have a different policy. The manager said every store is independent and his store policy was to accept everything. One of the things he won't sell in the store for example, is mattresses because of health reasons. He still accepts them and they break them down and recycle the materials and generate funds in doing this.

This subject is important to me. I'm retired and my wife and I work with charitable organizations. I work with the Red Cross, I am on the Board of Directors of our HOA, I am on the neighborhood watch committee, my wife and I do volunteer work for a local Golden Retriever rescue. I also work with the local Sheriff possee.

[Captainclock]

I once bought an early 1960s vintage Magnavox console stereo from Goodwill and it was missing its amplifier tubes and they had it priced for $10 and it was still in reasonably good shape yet so I went ahead and popped on it and I was able to get it for $6 and some change when I donated a dollar to them so I brought it home got some tubes for it and got a different turntable for it (which was from Dave the one who started this thread) and I got the thing going for less than $50 and I could easily flip it for well over $100.

Then there was a time that I saw a 1930s vintage Truetone Console Radio in the local Goodwill for $99 which I was surprised that they were wanting that much for it considering the cabinet wasn't in very good shape anymore and it was missing some knobs and pushbuttons and the speaker and grill-cloth was torn to shreds and the power cord was dry rotted to the point that there was bare wires exposed. Needless to say I passed on that unit because they were wanting too much for it considering how much work it needed. And then I went back the next day which was a 50% off day and saw that the radio was gone, so more than likely it went to someone who was going to gut it out and make a fish tank out of it...

So those are my vintage finds from Goodwill they don't happen very often like RCA2000 pointed out but when they do its a pleasant surprise.

[dieseljeep]

BTW, I'm going to take a ride to the Appleton, WI GW, just to see what they offer. My resi is about 50-55 miles from there.
I'll report back on my findings.

[Olorin67]

if you go to Appleton, there are other decent thrifts along highway 41, too, and a Half Price books

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

BTW, I'm going to take a ride to the Appleton, WI GW, just to see what they offer. My resi is about 50-55 miles from there.
I'll report back on my findings.

You go do that, although I'm sure they aren't going to have much probably mostly BPC sets or maybe if you're lucky some 1980s vintage RCAs or Zeniths but that's about it, I bet anything older than that they'll probably junk because they probably think that anything that isn't cable compatible isn't worth their time messing with.

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

BTW, I'm going to take a ride to the Appleton, WI GW, just to see what they offer. My resi is about 50-55 miles from there.
I'll report back on my findings.

For TVs you'll see just what was in the picture I took yesterday. This is a Goodwill outlet center where they sell "last chance" items. These are items that were previously in regular Goodwill retail stores, but didn't get purchased through their regular shelf life cycle (the color codes for different weeks). If you ever wondered where that stuff goes after it gets culled out of the stores, it is to places like this, where it is often sold by the pound. It's kind of fascinating to watch the scrambling through the large bins when the fresh product comes to the floor every half-hour or so. (Bring a set of gloves, or you can buy a pair there).

Here's a video showing what to expect there: https://youtu.be/CGSg1SXF-yM

Goodwill Ralph B. Shiner, Jr. Center
1341 W Spencer St.
Appleton, WI

I picked up a Simpson 454 dual trace scope when I was there Thursday for $19.99.

And if you stop by the Neenah retail store, there were two portable CRT TVs on the shelf there yesterday morning.

But there are a whole lot more TVs to see in my storage bins just north of Appleton.

.

[rca2000]

We have one about 40 miles from here. Every so often...I DO find something there. A few receivers, radios, and even a 42 inch flat panel set--for $10, which I fixed and it did NOT have a busted panel.