A few other people have mentioned this weakness already, but I’ve got a weakness for clearance items. I walk in and always have to check for clearance items. And then stand there and try to think up uses for the crap if I bought it. Tools, materials, plants…whatever. If it is marked down enough, I’ll probably consider buying it. The $90 BA faucet for $15. The $250 garage door opener for $119. The $40 level for $9.
Current item was another kerosene heater for the project house. Lowes full list price was $138. Depot has it online for $119. Lowes clearance price was $35. You can never have too many clamps or portable heaters (in a cold climate).
So what clearance/markdown/dinged/etc items have you scored lately?
jt8
“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Replies
You know, there are those of us who already take medication to try to alleviate this issue and here you go asking us to expound on its virtues. Man I tell ya what. It just aint right. Its like taking a really nice single malt and setting it in front of a guy trying to get over bein an alcoholic.
At 35 bucks, i'd have bought it too. Thats a dandy price. Hmm, lessee, good deals,
Fein Supercut with about 20 freebie blades $300. A great big squirrel cage fan on wheels (this thing is about 2 ft wide and 3 ft tall) $10. I got a 20x20 stage deck last summer about two days used for $350. PC drywall sander and vac, two boxes of disks, from a guy really really mad he couldnt make it work right (used about 2 hours) $300. Its been awhile, but pretty much the only reason I have a Senco Duraspin is I saw the thing sitting new at HD, with the rotozip thing they were giving away, cordless, mismarked for like 100 bucks. That was back when they were still kind of novel.
Thats a whole nother topic. Big box store cashiers. Man they screw things up more often. You have to watch them like a hawk. The stuff I dont mind is when they goof in my favor. Last weekend she missed several pieces (I have no idea how) of metal shelving - that gorilla rack stuff, which I discovered when I was putting receipts into QB. That saved me about 50 bucks.
Ok, time for the haldol. I'm getting jittery.
"A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." -Bert Taylor
I was in lowes recently and they were closing out a bunch of Bosch and Hitachi cordless drill/drivers. The sealed packages were 25% off, display models were 50% off. I wanted the display Bosch 14.4 volt as it was around $65 with no case. When the guy tried to find the batteries and charger he could only find one of the batteries. So he said he would make it 75% off which was $37 so I jumped on it. I paid and was walking out when he came running up to me and said he had found the extra battery. I said I had already paid the $37 so he just gave the battery to me. Sweeet. Now if I can just find a case.
john- have you used that kerosene heater yet?
I once bought one similar if not the same and it ended up being a POS.
'Nemo me impune lacesset'
No one will provoke me with impunity
I've got another of the same brand Dyna Glow or some such. It doesn't like to turn off, so I usually have to hit the trip. But it burns ok which is what I need it for.
In the old days, I think the 'good' brand was Kerosun -sp-. Don't see them any more.jt8
"Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
You have been WAAAAAAY too quiet about recent bargain scores. I know you've got it bad. I remember your multiple truck loads of scrap lumber.
Go ahead... tell us what deals you've found lately. You will feel better talking about it :)
jt8
"Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
2 weeks ago... 28 fire rated doors still on the pallet 3' 6'8 $10 ea... If anyone is sicker than me I want to find em... i have over 40,000 sf of warehouse that you can't walk thru... pallets of baldwin brass locksets the big $400-$1000 kind i've never taken the time to even look at... but i'm getting better... if i think i'll have to move it more than 2x before i can use it... I don't get it... last year at an auction i had to take a whole LOT of 16 pallets to get what i wanted... so i tossed over 200 of what I later found out were clean room filters @ $1275ea... kept a few cause they looked cool... sold em on ebay ...
i love a discount rack...
p
Well if anyone comes across 3 8' X 7' garage doors that are carriage house style (the ideal ones would have a double row of lights and either a Z or X brace look) and are close to central Ohio, let me know.I've got really cheap Clopay garage doors now. No insulation. And there are plumbing lines in the garage.But the doors are there, and they work. Hard to justify replacing them unless I can get a really good deal.Really cheap would be, say, $400 or less each, for reasonable quality and insulated doors.
Good to see someone else has it worse than me:o)
Well you remember those doors from the school that got torn down last summer I put in an old post?
At that same auction there were 6 Mac computers that didn't work sitting there. I bid and got them for $30. The ones that are all contained in one unit. No towers. From a few years back.
Put 3 in the hands of my 16 year old nephew thinking he could mess with them. The other day he used parts from two of them and got the third up and running! Cool beans! I'm going to say goodbye to microsoft.
Let's see, stopped at Lowes last week hunting for a lumber clearout and someone had already beat me to a cart of 1xs. Bummer 'cause I'm out of 1x8s.
But there were boxes of these metal connectors for fences they were closing out. Kind of like a Simpson plate only for smaller lumber 2x3s maybe and suddenly I got to thinking about future dome experiments. Roar!
So I asked how much for all, like around 200 of three types.
$10 and tax.
be ahhh, I DO feel better
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Edited 3/8/2006 12:40 am ET by razzman
Needed a new pair of metal tongs the other day. Then slot at Lowes was empty. I asked the tool guy when he might have some more. He wasn't sure, but took the time to look around to make sure there weren't any anywhere else. We found a pair the next aisle over with out any packaging and of course no UPC. He asked how much I normally paid for them and I thought I paid about $30 for the last pair, but that was several years ago. He looked at the rack we were near and there was some kind of tool for $4.98. He copied the UPC from that on a tag and said "How 'bout $4.98?" Done deal.Birth, school, work, death.....................
http://grantlogan.net/
Grant,
Have you ever used the Fairmont tongs?
Sphere and I talked about them in a thread a week or two ago.
They won't be $4.98 but I bet you'd love the feel and balance of the angled set.
Best wishes,
Walter
Yeah, I saw that discussion - I've never seen Fairmonts - must be a regional thing.Birth, school, work, death.....................
http://grantlogan.net/
Oh man, you are making my credit card fingers itch just by talking about this.
Sears Hardware was getting out of the kerosene heaters, and I picked up two - similar to yours - for $10 each. I would have gotten more but I didn't have the room.
HD was tearing up and old deck display, made up of redwood 2x8 and DF 4x4 and 4x6. I picked up a ton of pricey wood that day for $25.
Just happened to catch their Husky walk up adjustable platforms down from $139 to $69.
I love shopping for clothes at the Gap and Kolhs - they have great clearence racks. Buy cloths by the bail, heck buy them for shop rags.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Edited 3/7/2006 12:38 pm ET by xxPaulCPxx
I gotta quit the good deals, really. I have more stuff than anyone ever should, but hey, it was a great deal. I got it worse than Rez.
Last fall at HD, 10pm at night....store empty....I'm eyeballing a delta table saw (reg $549) on clearance for $299. Naw...too heavy I tell myself.
Walk into the tool coral, and the tool mgr walks up to me and says...."saw you looking at that saw, only got two left, might want to grab it."
I respond, you mean those two hugh boxes blocking you isles marked $200?
He looks at me, laughs, and says....$200, you really want it?
For $200.....maybe.
So now I gots me a big ole table saw. Have not set it up yet, still in the box.
Planning on doing a "wood shop" in a 12 X 14 shed my SIL built for me, but got to get electric to it first. The SIL also scored me a free used 40" high drill press (got it w/ a joiner he bought) to park next to the saw. I'm really starting to like that kid.
John, some of us have higher priorities...thankfully.
I probably wouldn't even take that heater free if HD offered it. My priority is getting rid of stuff, not accumulating it.
I did walk through the clearance section when I was in there buying some paint to repaint my condo. I'll admit I did buy some sort of book for my wife that helps her to plan her next house's colors. It was a great markdown and I was thankful for the savings but my real motivation was that I was tired of her not understanding how colors work and this particular book had a lot of information and a way to organize the entire house.
So, my suggestion is to reset your priorities: if you don't have a place to store it, don't buy it.
I knew that would fall on deaf ears LOL!
blue
So, my suggestion is to reset your priorities: if you don't have a place to store it, don't buy it.
thats my problem is that I do have a space... the 40000sf is just one building i have full, i have another 10,000 with pallet racks set up as isles 16ft high... i have to clear the isles to get the forklift around to move anything... but I'm getting better that space was 20k until someone begged and signed a long term lease for 10k of it... took over 60days to clear it out and get now to the now 10k...
I always hung around old Italians & jews when i was a kid (or more of a kid) they were all merchants... or bookies... but they always knew the value of everything and i heard 1000x "you make your money buy'n" they also use to say when someone would offer to buy something they had .... "then what am i going to do with the money... I got no use for money if theres not something i need to buy"
I know I'm on the far extreem edge of have'n "stuff" and It has to be a sickness... but i know/have a feel for what i'll need 2 years down the road... I don't buy or hord "junk" 75% of what i have is new... i have bunks of OSB 7/16 to 3/4 purchased the 3/4" 3-4years ago 2 truckloads @ $4 a sheet think i have 4-5 bunks left but it makes me feel good to have what i need when i need it... i have 16' 1x12 #1 pine i got 5-6yrs ago... must have 2000 boards... i know i have over 200000ft of different mouldings... i have the space... but i've been real good the last 2 years... it just takes so much time to move stuff I really slowed down and have turn down some great deals...
I have even sold stuff this last year... have good guy that works for me that loves to list stuff on ebay... which works real good cause i love to buy stuff on ebay... and...did a first for me... got rid of 3 pickups... one to my electrician, one to a day labor guy who helps me some and gave one to an old guy who just shows up and likes to help me weld... before that i had about every truck i ever owned.... like i said I'm a sick puppy... just look'n for a 12 step program
p
You are a sick man indeed Ponyti! Your first priority has to be to sell the building, and move into a condo- a small condo.
blue
I probably wouldn't even take that heater free if HD offered it. My priority is getting rid of stuff, not accumulating it.
You must have your eye on retirement or something? Been looking at 40' motor homes lately? Or are you more of a plane/cruise type... ;)
So, my suggestion is to reset your priorities: if you don't have a place to store it, don't buy it.
The lack of space has kept me from really getting gung-ho. I have a couple uncles who made a very comfortable living from buying and selling junk. I don't necessarily have the selling side down, but I can usually find a bargain (even if I can't always take advantage of it).
jt8
"If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying." -- Coleman Hawking
You could turn that fro $75 at a garage sale in Novenber. Buy ten and make enough to fly to vegas for a weekend
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I got a 40' Werner extension ladder (250lbs rating) from lowes for $50.
Somebody bought it evidently to paint something up high, spilled a little paint on it and returned it. Lowes couldnt sell it as new so they gave it too me.
I walk in and always have to check for clearance items
Talk to me when you start making speacial trips on the weekend just see what they put out on clearance.
That said, I don't buy much that I see, has to be a great deal on something I might use in the next 25 years...
but no one has Rez beat
but no one has Rez beat
I don't know, it sounds like Pony has Rez beat. 50k feet of warehouse filled with 'stuff'. I couldn't even afford the 50k ft of warehouse space.
jt8
"If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying." -- Coleman Hawking
I'll sometimes ask my wife if she minds running by Lowe's for a minute while we are out running errands on Saturday. She just smiles and says it wouldn't seem like Saturday if we didn't.
HEHE
"Just got to grab a reverse thread bolt to fix the brackafratx on the worm drive saw" honey......
She sounds like a keeper.
jt8
"If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying." -- Coleman Hawking
I got 15 wiss fixed blade utility knives for $9.00. Why? Don't have any idea.
I don't know. Think it must be up to the definitions of amateur and professional.
Being a little frog in a little pond and out of the ponytail, VaTom, junkhound etc. status, I am luckily limited in involvement by financial restraints that successfully keep me in check to a degree.
If I had access to a 20,000 sqft storage warehouse I know would fill it. It's in the blood, poor soul.
Think of the workshop you could put in one end. Trade in yer little Delta planer for one of those old tanks they use to have back in shop class.heh heh
I'd prob end up having some kind an architectural salvage yard and piece out whole victorians as they ready to get demoed.
Although a bought another cart of culled lumber today for no particular reason except it was there, there is a drawing to a close the end of the auction era. I-I-I-I-I-I have spoken!
Got doing a mental calculation of what all I recall having in these sheds gathered from throughout the years and it started getting ridiculous.
I remember buying a beercan collection, a hanging traffic light yep redyelloowgreen, who knows how many of those old '30s'40s metal floor lamps, old metal electrical tools that belong in museum instead, friggin doors and windows of variety I mean ya never know right? yada yada on and on...
I refuse to think what might be in the metal storage drums as I vaguely recall books going into one and who knows the others after all those years. Probably open them and flies will come out. Roar!
I gotta stop.
Dang man, this thread is scaring me.
be I mean c'mon, culvert pipe and antenna towers?
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Edited 3/9/2006 8:42 pm ET by razzman
c'mon, culvert pipe and antenna towers?
Point taken,
I think it's mostly a function of space...
If I had, I would fill it.
Ever think you might be looking at it wrong? You keep talk about trying to get it under control.... but... but... what if you just went ahead and fully unleashed the monster? Embrace it. In this case I'm talking about finding some clearance deal on a warehouse/old-commercial-building/old-industrial-building/etc... And then going to whatever darn auction or demo that you want.
As I've already said, I have two uncles who made a comfortable living selling junk. And this was LONG before junk became fashionable/collectable. If you think that widgit is worth $1, maybe you can find someone who thinks its worth $2 (or $10).
So look at your deals in a different light. Maybe that $50 truckload of lumber can be turned into $200. Line up enough of those deals and you're making a living. And never be afraid to mark stuff waaaay the He11 up if you think someone will pay it.
I've heard people say you should follow whatever you have a passion for.jt8
"If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying." -- Coleman Hawking
you have it all wrong.... we don't want to sell this stuff... we like have'n it...
I at one time had 3 pawn shops... nice places clean good mix of new & used inventory custom made showcases... everything was checked out cleaned cords replaced... had a Jeweler on site, an electronics tech onsite... well lit nice fixtures... you could get a 3ct diamond, a harley, a backhoe, any musical instrument known to man and a new tv all in one stop... but.... you couldn't buy a good watch or a good tool because I kept em all... or a made in the USA before 1975 guitar... or a... or a...
we gather... very hard to sell.... not say'n we don't just to support our habit but 90% of what i do part with i have either 10 more or I know who ever got it needed it alot more than me... I love someone getting something i have or saved that really needs or loves it...
#1 rule is whatever we part with today will be the exact thing we'll need sometime within the 72 hours...
i have tons of stuff loaned out just so it'll be used and in a safe place... about to go pick up a hossfield bender that a friend has had for over 10 years... i just hope he remembers it's mine...
but you are right... I was told you've never seen a poor junkman it's kinda like the scrap metal dealer... they are buy'n money for 20 cents on the dollar all day long...
p
Ya but...
Then you get payments.
Then you come up with a monthly every month.
Then you gotta get a certain amount of income to cover every month.
Then you gotta get a more regular job like normal people.
Then you gotta get up every morning regardless.
The you start living the same ratrace as everybody else, and for what? So you can sell junk.
I'd have to really get the passion to be wiling to pay those kind of costs.
I ain't willing. Money isn't that exciting to me yet. If I was going to do that I would have started playing a different game a long time ago.
be 'course, might be fun tho'. :o)
wonder if I could make a floor out of 2x3s?
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Edited 3/10/2006 1:00 am ET by razzman
wonder if I could make a floor out of 2x3s?
Joists or finished floor? :)
jt8
"If you don't make mistakes, you aren't really trying." -- Coleman Hawking
Both.
be a shed
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Nail 3 together. Have a 2x9.
Or make an osb I-beam.
be putting an elephant on there
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
Nail 3 together, have a 3x6, nominal o-course. Might hold a little elephant.
ya know, I still hav 10 sewagepump housings left.
be thinkin'
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity