NEC APC available

From: Mike Ford <mikeford_at_socal.rr.com>
Date: Mon Oct 16 04:52:04 2000

>>I rarely even bother to look anymore, better sources, less wasted
>> time.
>
>How about Salvation Army thrift stores?
>
>Occasionally, I go "junk sailing" (sic). There are a cluster of
>thrift stores around Canoga Park, quite a few along Main Street
>in Ventura, and still more in Santa Barbara. (Rich people's junk!
>Whoo-hoo).
>
>Another "junk store trail" is via the Inland Empire, hitting
>stores in Covina, Azusa, Pomona, La Verne, Fontana and Riverside.
>
>Sometimes the most "classic" thing in these stores is an old
>8-track compact stereo that doesn't work. But what you can
>find may surprise you. I found an old Commodore Pet (with the
>tiny keyboard) in one of these places (but they wanted way too
>much--like $60...)

I'm disgusted with the garden variety of thrift store these days. Prices
often stink compared to sources with pallets of computers, but worse 90% of
the time you walk into a Salvation Army type store and they really have
NOTHING of any use, or just bits. Too many yard sale/swap meet sellers shop
the thrifts for bargains to last.

People I know have taken the time (I haven't) to jump through all the hoops
and get "vendor" status at the big thrifts. They go in once or twice a week
to areas off limits to the public and buy all the computer etc. stuff in
bulk. The dirty secret of most charities is that "most" of the donated
items are sold in bulk to vendors. In Santa Ana a store buyer bids right
along side swapmeet people to get certain types of things to sell in the
Goodwill stores.
Received on Mon Oct 16 2000 - 04:52:04 BST