Dumpster Diving

[Sanchez_Machine]

I'm not too sure if this belongs in Bad Ideas or not, but it seemed maybe there's some legalities I don't know about it. Anyway...

I hear lots of talk around my friends about dumpster diving, and that every Sunday businesses will dump all of their old merchandise in their trash cans, since it won't sell. I
've heard about a friend who found a big screen TV outside of a Best Buy. My friend, as well, used to work at a Spencers Gifts, and he said they would just toss out non-selling merch, and he would constantly be coming home with goodies. What I've never been able to make clear on is -

~What times they dump merch.
~If it's legal to dig through the big blue trash bins (since it's on their property).
~Tips or advice for the best dumpster diving loot.

Any help?

[Saren]

A lot of the times, Dumpster diving is legal, just frowned apon. Also, in certain places its considered trespassing; however, all of that really doesn't matter if you do it well, does it?

A friend of mine did it a lot, so I joined one night. Party City had all kinds of stuff, even a darth vader costume in the middle of Summer! However, a cop pulled up- so, the friend decided we should act like we were fighting. So, we did, and acted just about better than we ever had before, and got away with it scott clean; luckily we got in the car right when he pulled up, and it was a young looking cop who simply didn't want to have to deal with any annoying shit.

Dunkin' Doughnuts dumps their doughnuts nightly; all in a completely seperate bag from their garbage; get there right after they dump it and you've got a full bag of warm doughnuts! That was often a midnight "we're bored what should we do" run.

Also, a few tips- if you're squimish about germs, either suit up with gloves or don't do it. it's gross, yes, but you can get used to it quickly. And seriously, take a shower when you get home. Common sense, I know. Also, Pet stores are VERY BAD to look through; for good reasons. Just get to know your own local stores, seeing as each of them are just a little bit different.

[MunkeyQ]

Careful about the food thing. Over here, supermarkets throwing out food have sprayed it with some foul tasting chemical because they got all shitty about liability which is a shame. All that food gone to waste...

The laws around it are hazy - I've been told to stop or get arrested by the police before. Once one even threatened to call for backup. Not quite sure what he was thinking two calm and polite teenagers were about to do...

If you've got loose morals like me, charity shops are a good place too. People tend to dump donations by the back door when it's closed, so you get first picks if you're willing to dig through bags of piss-soaked pensioner clothes. DIY stores often have lots of timber offcuts, damaged boxes of tiles and other goodies.

[Syphilis]

Avoid food.

If the bin is on private property, you can be charged with trespassing.

[Benjamin Linus]

Hey, that shit about the big screen tv's outside of Best Buy is true. The Best Buy location near me has a semi trailer (no doors on the trailer) out behind it. They use it to store the items they remove from your house when they deliver the new one. Apparently when it gets full they take it to the dump or maybe an electronics recycler. Mostly old washers and dryers, refridgerators, but also televisions. Big ones! I've gotten 3 60" inch tv's, 1 40" and 1 36". 2 of the 60's just plain didn't work. 1 worked for about a month before it went out. the 40 and 36 still work to this day (about 2 years so far). The 36" is a damn nice tv to. Zenith. Great picture (advanced video imaging. Pre-HD maybe?) and the speakers on it rock louder and cleaner than my $400 home stereo. I use it in place of my stereo alot as a matter of fact. Just hook my laptop up to it and play my mp3's

And since it is basically trash, I'm not sure how much trouble, if any, you'd get into if caught. Although I suspect some trouble would be headed down the pipeline if you did.

[Mirana]

Just make sure you're out of bum territory, they'll fucking stab you if you dig through their careers. And I'm serious, popcans are nice and all but so is pawn shop merchandise.

[Mr. White]

I have tried to go dumpster diving but seeing as I havnt got a car coz Im still only a kid, I can only look in places in the city so that I dont have to travel far. Ive looked in alley ways here and there but can only find old food scraps out the back of restaurants and shit, I wish I could find a few good stores to check out their rubbish