Random Thoughts Thread

[prfsnl_gmr]

Get lots of small bills and change. You also might be surprised how much money you make. (When my wife and I moved in together, we made nearly $1500 at our 2-day massive yard sale. It was awesome!)

Good luck!

[Luke]

Itemize your stuff and donate it. Sure, cash is better, but a large tax deduction and giving to those in need is also a way to cash in.

[dsheinem]

Itemize your stuff and donate it. Sure, cash is better, but a large tax deduction and giving to those in need is also a way to cash in.

A big impetus is that my son wants to try and get some cash for old toys and wants to run a lemonade stand. He enjoys going to yard sales with us all the time and has been asking to host one all summer as he's saving up for some giant monster truck. Besides, there are things I'm willing to sell that I wouldn't feel right giving to a charity (e.g. an old broken laptop, computer parts, books in poor shape, etc.). I'll sell those things for dirt cheap, but no thrift store would want them.

[Luke]

A big impetus is that my son wants to try and get some cash for old toys and wants to run a lemonade stand. He enjoys going to yard sales with us all the time and has been asking to host one all summer as he's saving up for some giant monster truck.

A Lemonade stand that spells Lemonade with a backwards E will always make more money than its competitors.

Duder, I started saving for a DeLorean when I was six years old. I delivered papers, sold my "comics" and illustrations door to door, and by the time I was ten I had saved about four bucks.

But! One of these days...One of these days...

[RCBH928]

Do you guys think its a good time to get a ps3 or should I wait for a price drop when ps4 gets out?

I am kind of not convinced to pay $300 for a 6.5 technology...especially when I factor in the price of games...or building a gaming PC as an alternative

Wait it out like a few months after release. That's when people, scratch that, idiots on the fence sell their current gen for next and a price collapse happens.

More trade in/selling does not equal a price collapse. If Sony is still selling for $300 stores will not drop used prices just because they have MORE stock to make a good profit on. If stores still sell their used systems at X amounts Joe Blow on craigslist isn't dropping his price either just because.

My advice is to just buy a used PS3 when you find a deal you are happy with. There is a huge backlog is games at good prices and the PS4 won't be backwards compatible, you'll essentially get that investment back. If you aren't happy with the prices though, just wait it out a bit. There may not be a price drop but there will be holiday sales to make the PS3 move a bit with the PS4.

When are we expecting a price drop? Do they usually drop the prices pre-release of next console or do they drop the price right as the PS4 is released? Or do they keep the prices the same and wait to see if demand falls and then decrease the price?

Also, how much price decrease are we looking at? I can be wrong but I think the ps2 was like $100 at ps3 release. I will not wait for $50 drop to be honest. Looking for at least $100.

As for used games prices, from experience when I first got the 360 I got a bunch of oXbox games because I missed that generation. Prices were ranging $10-$20 per game. After something like couple of years was the real price drop. Most games were around $5.

[jinx]

How do you get shit on the paper towel dispenser!?

I work with a bunch of disgusting slobs... ugh.

[Luke]

The people who work in retail in my city simply don't seem to give a hoot. A few examples:

Best Buy: Me - I think this movie is on sale at Target for $5.99.
Cashier - Okay. $5.99 it is.

Kohl's: Me - After only one run, I need to return these shoes. Not comfortable.
Clerk at customer service: Here is your refund of $72.83, and keep the shoes. We don't accept to take back used merchandise.

Michael's: Me - The matting you did looks terrible due to scoring.
Framing department dude: Our equipment is old. Full refund, keep the matting and board.

Bed Bath & Beyond: Me - This iron I bought is awful. It sticks to shirts, and steams even when I set it to NO STEAM.
Cashier - I apologize. Pick out any iron you'd like as a replacement, and here is a ten dollar gift card towards your next purchase.

Belk: Me - I think I have an e-coupon for 60% off on my mobile phone.
Cashier - Don't bother, I'll just mark it down for you.


I'm not complaining, but I do wonder if any store manager cares that their employees are giving stuff away.

[Jmustang1968]

You have returned more stuff and visited more stores than I have in the past 5 years lol

[dsheinem]

Yeah, those are not my experiences at all with returning stuff. I wonder if it is a cultural/regional difference in how customers are perceived...

[Luke]

I wonder if it is a cultural/regional difference in how customers are perceived.

Definitely.

Although, I am the son of a man who has returned movies to Best Buy because he didn't like them.

Yes, I do "work" them a bit, but I "get" customer service and cashier around here. Find a common ground, express that you don't want to complain but "given the circumstances", and "I'm sure you could understand that..." and so on. Be approachable, smile, and give an "aww shucks" attitude instead of demanding a return and you are likely to get great results. Like free shoes.