Used Radio stuff at REstore?

[Skyd]

I wasn't sure the best place to ask this question, I tried a search but searching both here and in google mostly returns results about RESTORING, not the RE-Store which if you are not familiar is a habitat for humanity store that sells lots of useful used goodies.

SO, that being said. I'm wondering if anyone has seen these places have radio equipment before. I've not actually looked myself, I'm usually in there looking for old tools but it occurred to me that it might be a good place to pick up all kinds of old RF stuff (maybe?). Scanners, CBs, Ham stuff, power supplies, etc.

So before I make the 45 minute drive and burn copious amounts of gas in my Jeep that gets 16 mpg, I figured I'd see if anyone has any insight.

 

[RaleighGuy]

RE-Store which if you are not familiar is a habitat for humanity store that sells lots of useful used goodies...I'm wondering if anyone has seen these places have radio equipment before. I... So before I make the 45 minute drive and burn copious amounts of gas in my Jeep that gets 16 mpg, I figured I'd see if anyone has any insight.

This is a great question for the New Hampshire thread so you get the best answers. While RE-Store is nationwide I'm sure each one is different in what it carries and what is available from time to time. What policies the NH store has may be very different than the NC stores, where I am.

If you do decide the NH forum would be better, please do not start a new post, as double posting is discouraged. Just click report button in lower left corner and ask the mods to move it.

 

[R8000]

Kind of like a pawn shop, each is different.
However, I did score a RS Pro 668 for $100 at Pawn America a few years ago. It had all the accessories with it. I sent it into Whister to be upgraded for DMR.
Sometimes you find a good deal, sometimes you don't. A local thrift store had a Kenwood TS430 several years ago for $1000. I told them they were about $750 too high, but they didn't care.
You just gotta check out what is in stock. If they have a website with inventory, that helps too.

 

[trentbob]

I wasn't sure the best place to ask this question, I tried a search but searching both here and in google mostly returns results about RESTORING, not the RE-Store which if you are not familiar is a habitat for humanity store that sells lots of useful used goodies.

SO, that being said. I'm wondering if anyone has seen these places have radio equipment before. I've not actually looked myself, I'm usually in there looking for old tools but it occurred to me that it might be a good place to pick up all kinds of old RF stuff (maybe?). Scanners, CBs, Ham stuff, power supplies, etc.

So before I make the 45 minute drive and burn copious amounts of gas in my Jeep that gets 16 mpg, I figured I'd see if anyone has any insight.

So I have one of those RE stores nearby, I wander in there every once in awhile as it's only about 10 minutes away.

It's been open a number of years, I have never seen any useful electronic equipment but every once in awhile you might see an old AM tube radio. I bought one once not caring if it worked, just so I could get the ferret bar antenna out of it LOL.

 

[Skyd]

Interesting - ya I thought about putting this in the NH forum but it's a nationwide store and while regions may vary in what they have I thought it better to get a general consensus - which so far seems to be that its' not worth the drive unless I'm already looking for other stuff.

Side note - we really don't even have pawn shops around here anymore. I've never thought to look in a thrift store of which my town has many - perhaps too many LOL

 

[a417]

The local REStore charges prices that are only 10 or 20% below MSRP for many of the items they sell, despite age.

burn copious amounts of gas in my Jeep that gets 16 mpg

Maybe this should be re-evalulated, as well?

 

[Skyd]

The local REStore charges prices that are only 10 or 20% below MSRP for many of the items they sell, despite age.


Maybe this should be re-evalulated, as well?

On the contrary, I picked up a crap load of tools at my REStore for next to nothing. Perhaps the pricing depends on where you are. I'm not talking about new stuff anyway I mean old used stuff in various conditions.

And you're right about re-evaluating the Jeep, I think I'll go up to 35" tires next time. That ought to bring me down around 14mpg's

 

[a417]

I'm not talking about new stuff anyway I mean old used stuff in various conditions.

When we moved, brought a variety of things to the local ReStore (to check it out and)to donate them. They had an 11 year old gas dryer listed for approx $800. They had used exterior house lighting fixtures for $40/unit. The Home De(s)pot 300 yards away had larger, newer dryers for $999, and the same fixtures for $45/unit. Didn't see a single 'deal' in the store, and left. Been 5 years, haven't been back. I agree, it's probably driven by the clientele and the location,

 

[ecps92]

Plenty of them in Salem, last time I went to HRO

Interesting - ya I thought about putting this in the NH forum but it's a nationwide store and while regions may vary in what they have I thought it better to get a general consensus - which so far seems to be that its' not worth the drive unless I'm already looking for other stuff.

Side note - we really don't even have pawn shops around here anymore. I've never thought to look in a thrift store of which my town has many - perhaps too many LOL

 

[Skyd]

Plenty of them in Salem, last time I went to HRO

Never been to HRO - of course Salem is closer to a 3 hour drive for me. Further if you mean Salem Mass

 

[GlobalNorth]

I went to one in a nearby town. Since there are a significant number of new age and self styled hippies in the area, I was curious to see what was there. For the most part, it looked like several T.G.I. Friday's restaurants had gone out of business and all the wall hangings ended up for sale there. Lots of crafts and macramé as well.

The only electronics were mostly tube televisions and one early plasma set.

The prices were no bargain.

 

[KevinC]

I went to one in a nearby town. Since there are a significant number of new age and self styled hippies in the area, I was curious to see what was there. For the most part, it looked like several T.G.I. Friday's restaurants had gone out of business and all the wall hangings ended up for sale there. Lots of crafts and macramé as well.

The only electronics were mostly tube televisions and one early plasma set.

The prices were no bargain.

Interesting. The ones by me won’t take tube type TV’s. I did some cleaning and had a couple of tube TV’s and I couldn’t find any place that would take them (well Best Buy would if I paid them $20).

I just put them out on trash day and the scrapper that comes by snatched them up.

I tried to be nice.

 

[a417]

I just put them out on trash day and the scrapper that comes by snatched them up.

That's a nice scrapper. The ones around here break the business ends off the tubes and rip all the copper wiring out and leave the hulk sitting there.

 

[GlobalNorth]

The ones by me won’t take tube type TV’s.

This was in Yavapai County and those tube TVs looked like they'd been there for a very long time.

I couldn't give away or recycle an older LCD TV in Maricopa County. Based on what I've seen four wheeling there, many get taken into the desert and shot up as impromptu targets and left there as memorials to littering.

 

[ecps92]

But google tells me NH is prime with Pawn Shops - two rapidly found for Grafton Cnty (Plymouth and Bristol)

Never been to HRO - of course Salem is closer to a 3 hour drive for me. Further if you mean Salem Mass

 

[Skyd]

But google tells me NH is prime with Pawn Shops - two rapidly found for Grafton Cnty (Plymouth and Bristol)

Hmm Plymouth is where the REStore is also. Will have to keep that in mind. Most stuff like that is going to be a drive for me, at least 45 minutes. When you live above the notch you just have to accept it.

 

[smp928s]

I have been to the Restore in Albany, NY many many times and a few others in the Upstate, NY area, the Albany store being the largest. It is always hit or miss what you might find there, like most thrift type stores. I would say that it is more likely you'd find some older stereo equipment rather than portable or table top radios, CBs or scanners. I have never personally seen anything in that regard that I considered buying. Those stores are generally more geared towards building supplies, fixtures, furniture etc. and while I have seen some good deals on some items, in my experience the prices do tend to be on the high side. All that said, it is entirely possible that you could find something interesting there but I wouldn't drive 45 minutes and have high expectations just for that store. Perhaps map out a number of other stores like pawn stores, thrift shops and antique shops in the area and make a day of it. I recently bought a GE Super Radio from an antique mall that I would not have expected to have something like that so you never know!

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

That's a nice scrapper. The ones around here break the business ends off the tubes and rip all the copper wiring out and leave the hulk sitting there.

Same here in my neck of the woods.