Freecycle for good karma (see Gratefull Dead -Live- Collection post))

[galaxyoilcan 88]

A little background just to fill you folks in on how I came by this collection of Grateful Dead tapes. With over 19 years with JVC selling boxes of consumer electronics to the military exchanges, I had collected one territory after another as the company shrank it's ales force. I soon had responsibility for most of the Western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. Being into collecting vintage audio gear and other old and interesting stuff, I would visit pawn shops near the military bases I visited. G.I's as a group travled overseas and many bought some pretty neat high-end stuff. When money would get tight they would often pawn their gear for quick cash. In the early years (before internet and epray were popular) I came across some pretty good finds. If I couldn't carry it back I would ship it home to myself. Beacuse of Kraig's list and epray less and less good quality stuff could be found in the pawn shops so I started looking in local classifieds (and Kraigs list). I found a few good items that way and was able to bargain a good price on them most of the time. Then a girl in Seattle I would often spend time with when I was in that area turned me on to a new deal on the internet called Freecycle. She was a bit of an earth first greenie type and recycled everything she could So people sign up for Freecycle and use it to list stuff they want to get rid of instead of just tossing it. Then locals who also signed up could reply to the offer and pick up the item. She showed me the one she had signed up for and the stuff listed was mostley housewares and junk, but then I saw a Rega turntable listed.(with no belt or feet but hell, it was a Rega!) I was to late to claim it (first come first served) but it got me interested.. I started signing up for free cycle in most of the areas I frequently visited and while I was killing time in the hotel at night I would get on and see what was being offered. Most people list offers in the evening after dinner or at night before bedtime so that timing worked out for me. Over the years I was able to score a few sweet freebies. In the L.A. area the best area for me has been North Hollywood. I had already got a great deal on a nice pair of Blonde 2.5 Maggies from Kraig's list for $100 (they need at least one ribbon so that  will be another $100). Then North Hollywood Freecycle got me a pair of Boston Aucoustics A100 that need to be refoamed, a nice full size vertical window air conditioner to fit my vertical slide windows and these tapes. I have also scored other less impressive speakers, computers, cameras, camcorders, turntables, reel to reel decks, cassette decks and receivers. If they work but I don't want to keep them, and no one I know wants them, I will give them to the Purple Heart Thrift Store to support veterans or Goodwill. Stuff that has issues that I don't want to deal with either go back on Freecycle here in San Diego as "for parts" and local fix-it dudes will usually snag em'. So my message is to get on Freecycle in your town, give stuff you don't want away for good karma and keep your eyes peeled for good stuff most folks don't even recognize as worth anything to snag yourself some good deals.