View Full Version : Steel sources and prices
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TheKid
05-04-2008, 04:05 AM
We find so many of those things in people's trash. The problem is, it's so easy to sell them for 10 or 15 bucks to second hand stores or even more on craigslist. I like to work with 6' long or better lengths, so I never consider using them for frames. We're trying out a new theory for bikes left in the trash. Some of them could easily be sold for $50 or more on craigslist, so I get to keep the ones in not so good shape, and we split the money on the ones we sell. That's what I'll use, in theory, to fully fund this hobby. Meanwhile, my LWB dealer called and said he had 3 bikes that were left by his customers. I'll be going there on Monday to hack 'em.
SirJoey
05-04-2008, 04:08 AM
I know I'm being redundent here, but...
Hey, thanx for that redundancy, Papa. The occassional reminder is always welcome, by me anyway. Good tip!
trikeman
05-04-2008, 05:03 AM
I find it hard to even give away exercise machines. I was once turned down by my local thrift store on several my wife bought and used once or twice. Long life the TV Infomercial!! Its amazing how little people use them once they find out its work lol. I have "flipped" a few thrift store bikes on craigslist for a nice profit though.
TheKid
05-04-2008, 05:42 AM
It's amazing how little research the thrift shop people do. I saw a Giant about a year and a half ago for $10. I quickly grabbed it and sold it for $100. At the same time, they had a Makita 10" table saw with a stand for $20 which I kept. I guess they figure if someone is selling it cheap, it must be junk. We do well with musical instruments at one of these stores. The guy just doesn't know what he has. We see him all the time out picking garbage, which is where he gets a lot of his stock. If we ever go into that business, most of the stuff we find would go on ebay or craigslist.
trikeman
05-04-2008, 08:36 AM
My best thrift store score was a really nice oscilloscope. I am not sure they knew what it was. They had it marked $9, so I bought it. I had no need for it at the time, so I sold it on eBay for the final bid of $350. Never again in my lifetime I am sure.
TheKid
05-04-2008, 11:38 AM
That's a real good one. You never know, another like that may come along. My friend found 2 Gibson guitars in the trash, an SG and a Les Paul. Being a guitar player, he kept them. Most of the competition in the garbage picking business comes from second hand shop owners and antique dealers. Chances are, that oscilliscope came from someone's trash.
AtomicZombie
05-04-2008, 12:32 PM
"other people's trash...."
Yes indeed! When I was young, I used to ask all the electronics repair places for the "junk" VCRs and things. I was just a poor student trying to learn electronics I told them. I would get them home and usually have 90% of the "non repairable" items for sale in my weekly garage "yard sale" hut within a day or two.
Made a lot of cash, especially on the VCRs, which usually only needed a really good manual head cleaning and alignment - something they for some reason did not understand.
Oh the good old days.....
Wait, I still do this!
Brad