Wow, after the response from my last posting (in case you missed it, I was questioning whether I could still use my student ID to get discounts) it seems there are many strong opinions out there about the ethics of frugality! Just to perpetuate the fun, and hopefully open the floor to some good discussion, I thought I'd throw a new topic out. So, the topic for today is dumpster diving.
Personally, I am conservative about this and would only pick up someone elses' "trash" if it happened to be something I really needed; for example, someone in my old apartment complex threw out some nice woven baskets and I took them, cleaned them a bit, and used to for storage and even as gift packaging. But that's about as far as I'd go. In other words, if it's out on the curb, and no one is around AND it is something I will use, then I'll (timidly) take it.
I have read stories of some peoples' amazing dumpster finds- expensive, working computer and computer parts as well as electronics found in the dumpsters of those well known electronic giant superstores, for example. Incredible....and a bit worrisome, in my mind. Again, if the person needed to fix their computer, or their friends, and they found the working part in the dumpster, then I am less conflicted about it. But if they are just grabbing this stuff and reselling it to make a profit....eh....ok, I sort of see it as an act of "revenge," sort of "sticking it to the man" (or in this case, electronics store) and beating them at their own game. Still....
What I find intolerable is when dumpster divers take advantage of the situation. There are certain people who scour yard sales and the like with only the intent of reselling things for profit. On one forum, I was angered when one woman bragged about returning to people's yard sales when they were over, offering to buy up all their unsold clothing for a ridiculously low price (like $1) and then going straight to ebay or a thrift store to make a profit. Smart, some people will say. I say, sordid. What about donating that bag of clothing to the homeless or battered women's shelter? What if the family holding the garage sale needed that cash to pay some debts or bills?
Every dumpster diver has their own story and situation. I'd be interested to know what other people think.
Dumpster Diving: Yay or Nay?
November 3rd, 2006 at 01:30 am
November 3rd, 2006 at 01:48 am 1162518533
Japanese housing tends to be small and over stuffed. A lot of people throw away completely good items with some of them in mint condition! So once a month you can go out on 'large-item-garbage-collection' day and take home an usable microwave, etc.
It is actually quite popular here, though, Japanese people tend to be rather timid overall, so it is best to sneak to your neighbor's yard early the the morning.
As for profits? I have no idea what people do with the items afterwards. So I really can't say anything. I have yet to experience the whole dumpster phenomenon myself, so I'll let you know if I eventually get around to it. hehehe
Have a good day!
November 3rd, 2006 at 01:57 am 1162519054
My vote would be thumbs down on this one. (oh boy, I hope Im not in for a public flogging now!!)
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:07 am 1162519633
i driven by while a man was cleaning his garage and piling stuff at the curb. i asked if he minded if i looked everything over cause there were tools and luggage and lamps and whatnot. he very happily agreed b/c he wasnted as small a pile as possible for the trash guys! in the end we did sell some of the tools i pulled from that pile, but that wasn't the intent when i went digging. we just later needed the money more than a rotary sander (yes, the man was throwing away a perfectly good sander).
the college i went to was full of some rather well off people as well, and when it came time to move out they would pile clothes and furnishings outside their doors, pack up and head out of state. i was working 3 jobs and going to school full-time: you're darn right i dug through those piles!
granted, i have never actually 'dove' into a dumpster, and don't think i will. but i firmly believe someones trash can be someone elses treasure. as for the lady offering a $1 for a bag of clothes: the folks selling them had the option of turning her down and donating the items to charity themselves. instead, they chose to accept a dollar.
sorry, end of my rant *sheepishly grins*
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:09 am 1162519774
Depends on whether you like it rough?
I actually don't have any moral objections to this. While I would rather not have someone rummage through my trash, as far as I know, the act itself isn't illegal. Better yet, when I was clearing out our old house for sale, a neighbor stopped by and politely asked if they could have some of the stuff I was planning to throw out. In short, she helped me cleaned the house, which was just fine by me.
Of course, offering it to charity is better, but using these methods to make a dollar seemed fair enough to me. I mean, I suppose one could argue that if we wanted these things to go to charity, we should just donate it ourselves, rather than throw it out?
Well, that's my personal opinion of it anyway. I think the most important thing here is to communicate and ask the people you are planning to rummage through first, to see if they are OK with that?
Oh, and let me just add that, as a rule, I do not dumpster dive. I'm not above it, but I also prefer to live as clutter-free as possible.
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:10 am 1162519834
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:25 am 1162520722
Off to the gallows...to await my cyber noose.
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:38 am 1162521539
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:48 am 1162522100
November 3rd, 2006 at 02:59 am 1162522775
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November 3rd, 2006 at 12:39 pm 1162557595
November 3rd, 2006 at 07:54 pm 1162583663
November 6th, 2006 at 04:55 am 1162788933
personally, i have taken advantage of various "moving sale" and "garage sale" of acquaintances. i have found rarely used and near-perfect items for 80 to 90% off. it's a win-win, since the sellers get rid of stuff and i get things i need. however, back in the college days, we actually went to empty dorms to collect things people left behind...
November 6th, 2006 at 04:57 am 1162789067
November 7th, 2006 at 04:26 am 1162873613
In the past, I've picked up 3-ring binders, bestselling novels, baskets and lawn furniture. Of course, I would never pick through a closed garbage bag - these were all items left out in cardboard boxes marked 'free.'