For all you Blockbuster dumpster divers...

[MOVIEGEEK]

"Can you get in trouble for doing this if you're seen? "

No...but you will be embarassed if a friend sees you.

[ZAPPER]

Dumpster Diving 101 An introduction to the world of finders keepers.

The hardest thing to learn about dumpster diving as in life itself is to use common sense. Your safety is as always your primary objective. Wear proper clothing, such as long trousers, long sleeve shirts and sturdy shoes and gloves. Proper clothing can help keep you safe from minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes from rough dirty edges of the dumpsters and objects in and around them. All sorts of critters can be found in dumpsters such as cats and rats and elephants. But mostly insects and good heavy cotton clothing is your first line of protection.

The law!: Hell, I don't know for a fact what the laws are anywhere about dumpster diving! But I bet that if a little common sense is used you will get by just fine. If the sign says "NO" then it might mean no. If it is locked then maybe whoever locked it doesn't want you in there. If they chase you away one time don't go back, that is tresspassing! I have never heard of anyone getting the electric chair for dumpster diving. More than likely what will happen if caught by the law you will get run off. But being the smart asses that alot of people are and mouthing off to the Barney Fife can lead to un-needed fines, court cost and maybe a good old ass kicking! Common sense says that when dealing with some psyco with a gun strapped to his side, Yes Sir and No Sir are your best choices for verbal answers.

Technique: Avoid climbing into dumpsters. Avoid diving into dumpsters too. Never get inside of a compactor! If I ever see anybody in a compactor other than a service tech working on it, I will push the button myself to rid the world of one more stupid person. A compactor is a machine. It can not think. It does not care what it is crushing. It will not feel sorry for killing you. The compactor may be faulty and could start at any time. It could be on a timer (I have never seen this, but some clever idiot could wire it to be). It might be a sinister machine just waiting for a victim. Or I might be near by waiting for a victim! Back to technique. Use a stick. A stick with a hook or suction cup. Use two sticks like chop sticks. Tongs are good. Long tongs are good too. Longer tongs are even better. Tongs on a stick are the best! Are you catching the drift? Avoid going into dumpsters especially without back up. You never know what might be in there. These are modern times and with these times come some modern problems. Medical waste, junkie waste, terrorist waste and anything under the sun. Discover a body in a dumpster with a stick and you have done the world a service. Jump on a body in a dumpster and you have tampered with a crime scene.

I was going to go on and on, but I am running out of steam. There are many treasures to be had in dumpsters. I have heard that there are web sites and books on the subject. I have done some diving myself. I work in retail construction and you would not beleive the stuff I have seen. Anyhow hold your head up high and walk like a man with a purpose!

[madmoose]

Yeah, i'm in the State of Hockey too and I haven't seen a junkie since Prince was in town doing a concert at the Xcel center

[ZAPPER]

Junkies are like roaches. Just because you can't see them, it doesn't mean that you don't have them.

[smearbrick1]

That's because they are all hanging out behind IKEA evidently. I knew it!!!

[ZAPPER]

Another dumpster diving tip: Empty your shirt pockets before leaning into a dumpster! It is a bitch when your Zippo lighter and Montblanc pen fall out of your pockets and down to the deepest parts of the dumpster!

[handyguy]

Best dumpster: Computer store.

[housepig]

I really think you need to stop this madness. The poster warned that if a junkie throws his stuff (e.g., his HIV-infected needle) in one of your targeted dumpsters, then the trade off of free DVD cases versus a case of AIDS really sucks.

are you serious?

shouldn't we be more worried about discarded needles in pay-phone coin return slots? or movie theater seats? or maybe gas station pump handles? or the ever popular playground ball pits?

I'm exponentially more worried about having a heart attack or a car accident then I am with catching AIDS from a discarded junkie's needle in a dumpster behind Blockbuster.

tinfoil hats, anyone?

[Tommyknocker]

Have it your way, and yes, I was serious. There is no telling what's in a dumpster. I do hope nothing is in there bad for you who decide to take chances like that.

[housepig]

I had a totally different response written, but I think I'll just say thanks for your concern, as needless as it is - the odds against injury are overwhelmingly in my favor.

[QuaiBoy]

Have it your way, and yes, I was serious. There is no telling what's in a dumpster. I do hope nothing is in there bad for you who decide to take chances like that.

x2. I personally can't see risking injury for, of all things, DVD cases. Good luck to you adverturers, see ya in the evening news.

-Evan-

[Bearbegr]

I Went to both of my BB stores, and one manger was a real BI***... The onther just calmly said she could not do it... Argh!!!! I could really use some... I went to the dumpster and it has one of those bar things on it so you cant get to it! Anyone have a BB store where there are soooo many they do not take them all??? Anyone want to send them my way? I will gladly pay... LMK

[ZAPPER]

Has anybody found a Zippo lighter? I can't seem to find mine.

[smearbrick1]

This whole thread (at least the second half of it) just drips with irony. We're discussing the possibility of finding used needles in a DUMPSTER!! Wouldn't it be a shame if we were to happen to jump into dumpster and find someone's refuse? My god, what is this world coming to? What happened to the good ol' days when junkies weren't responsible with their used needles and just kept sharing them instead of depositing them in a garbage dumpster? This world is going to hell in a handbasket. (Watch your fingers kiddies. There maybe needles in THIS handbasket.)

[FulciLives]

I've seen one too many horror films to actually do this. Chances are you will be swarmed over by deadly stinging fire ants from some 3rd world country.

That's of course just one scenario that COULD happen. I shudder to list the other possible injuries or deaths that could await dumpster divers!

But for those that do it and actualy get usefull clean product (like empty DVD cases) then I salute you ... for I surely don't have the guts to try it myself!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[skeg64]

This thread is hilarious. I can't believe you all think it's worth it. Anyway, I work at a blockbuster and whenever someone comes and asks for cases I give them a whole crapload of em. I'm not a manager so I couldn't care less. The reason you may be finding some stores throwing a lot of cases out is they are changing the cases over to the ones that are lockable with security tag thingys. Some stores I guess have already done this so you might have missed your chance. There shouldn't be any reason for them to throw out cases otherwise, unless they are damaged and you don't want those.
Besides, the used cases that I throw out daily are not worth keeping. Once they have been rented out a few times they come back broken, bent until they are unclosable, and worst of all scratched. Most are so scratched that you wouldn't want them on your shelf. They look really ugly.
If you want free rentals, cases, and endless covers to scan how about getting a job there?
Oh yeah and the reason they lock the bins is to stop other people dumping their trash in them! They cost money to have emptied, and they tend to fill up quicker when left unlocked!

[gnslinger]

Well, just to let everyone know, I went by both the Blockbuster near where I work and the one near to where I live and got a total of 54 cases! Woot! I got about half that take double discs and half that take singles, all in excellent condition. There were even quite a few that have the insert for Butterfly Effect in them (and one that had a Cool Runnings insert, LOL). As I said before, I work the late shift and got off at work at 3am, so I didn't have to worry about people seein me dumpster divin. I did have to jump inside to get them, but it was no big deal cause it was nuthin but a bunch of office supplies. I'm really not worried about needles, the Blockbuster at work is too much out in the open for junkies to be hangin around, and the one near my home is in a small town and I can't say we have much of a junkie problem there, heh. I really don't see why people think it's such a big deal to do this, I'm not fearing for my life or anything here. And it's definitly worth it, cases of this quality normally sell for around .50 a piece after shipping, so on this trip alone I saved over $25.

[Tommyknocker]

I really don't anyone can pay me to jump in a dumpster for $25.00. But then again, some people do go cheaply.

[gnslinger]

Like I said the dumpster was in no way disgusting or anything, it didn't even stink. But I guess I can understand how society has put it into everyone's head that dumpsters are nasty, vile, and disease ridden. In fact, I encourage that idea, it means no one will get the cases before i do! LOL

[dosun]

Regular Double Disc .25 each
Slim Type Double .25 each

Is it really worth it to go through a dumpster at night (even though its just filled with office supplies) looking for used cases when new ones are 0.25 each?

[housepig]

There shouldn't be any reason for them to throw out cases otherwise, unless they are damaged and you don't want those.

haven't sorted the last batch yet, but the batch before was 110 total, about 70% brand new cases (most with the inserts still in them), 15% used cases with the BB "new release" sticker on them, the other 15% being brand new double-disc cases, odd colors, or Playstation cases.

the one near me... every second or third time I check, another 60-120 cases. usually already bagged for me, so I don't even have to get in.

@Tommy - well, that's your comfort level. if you saw a trash bag full of dvd cases sitting on the sidewalk, would you take them?

[Bearbegr]

There shouldn't be any reason for them to throw out cases otherwise, unless they are damaged and you don't want those.

haven't sorted the last batch yet, but the batch before was 110 total, about 70% brand new cases (most with the inserts still in them), 15% used cases with the BB "new release" sticker on them, the other 15% being brand new double-disc cases, odd colors, or Playstation cases.

the one near me... every second or third time I check, another 60-120 cases. usually already bagged for me, so I don't even have to get in.

@Tommy - well, that's your comfort level. if you saw a trash bag full of dvd cases sitting on the sidewalk, would you take them?

You are so lucky, my crappy blockbusters dont let me get crap as I stated before... Want to get some and send them my way? lol..

[gnslinger]

Is it really worth it to go through a dumpster at night (even though its just filled with office supplies) looking for used cases when new ones are 0.25 each?

Those double cases aren't the kind I want though. The ones I got have the hinge in the center of the case that swings back and forth. Plus those don't have a place for an insert.

[handyguy]

Be sure to get your shots too.

[Tommyknocker]

There shouldn't be any reason for them to throw out cases otherwise, unless they are damaged and you don't want those.

haven't sorted the last batch yet, but the batch before was 110 total, about 70% brand new cases (most with the inserts still in them), 15% used cases with the BB "new release" sticker on them, the other 15% being brand new double-disc cases, odd colors, or Playstation cases.

the one near me... every second or third time I check, another 60-120 cases. usually already bagged for me, so I don't even have to get in.

@Tommy - well, that's your comfort level. if you saw a trash bag full of dvd cases sitting on the sidewalk, would you take them?

Sorry, no. I still have the ones I ordered earlier online sitting in my basement.

[ZAPPER]

Ain't no shame in dumpster diving. If you can save a few bucks here and there good for you. I have more respect for a guy with the balls to have a little adventure and jump in after something, than I do for the guy who spends hours at his PC searching the web for a ten cent saving on something he could buy at the corner store in five minutes. Who picks up pennies off the ground anymore? I do. (but only if someone is watching, otherwise it stays for the next guy to decide on)
Bargan hunting is kind of subjective. For some it is needed to get by. For some, it is an ego trip to win or get over on someone else. For some, the price of their time is more important than the cost of the item. And for me, I like free stuff and killer buys, but I am too dumb and too lazy to put a whole lot of effort into it. Judging people by how they are with money is wrong. (But it ain't going to stop me) If you can't afford your hobby then find a cheaper hobby or get a job. If you got the money and are to cheap to spend it, drop dead! At least that way when the government takes their cut some fat cat politician can blow it on booze and whores.
As I have said before I work in construction. I use dumpsters every day. But they are the big 40 yard open tops. We often use them like the recycle bin. Throw everything into it that we think we don't need right now and go get it out when we find out that we need just a little more. Construction dumpsters are great when you need that small peice of sheet rock to patch the hole in the wall that you just cut wrong or for that two feet of trim that just got fucked up. We use them for demo too. You would not belive what gets demo-ed. Office supplies are some of my favorite.
As for the safety of it. I would say that you are more likely to get killed in a car than a dumpster. I would stay away from the slimey, smelly dumpsters.(I have also worked in the backs of restruant kitchens that are as bad as dumpsters) I think that the odds off getting something from food waste are pretty low until you start eating the stuff and even then you probally couldn't hold down anything that would kill you. As for construction dumpsters, they are full of sharp pointy things and chemical solvents and such, but again if you watch your step and don't drink the paint thinner you will probally live.
The best dumpster story I have is this. A 40 yard dumpster has a large door at one end. It is used to dump the contents at the fill. If we are loading the dumpster by hand(wheelbarrow) we open this door and load the dumpster from front to back to get as much as we can into it and to avoid having to throw stuff over the top. Well this door usually has a chain or some kind of lever-cam to hold the door open or closed as needed. So one day a day laborer goes out to the dumpster and opens the door 180 degrees and leaves the door sticking out into the travel lane behind a big strip mall. As he is standing there at the end of the dumpster two semi trucks traveling towards each other (at a rate of speed probally faster than needed for the site) have to pass each other at about the location where the dumpster door is sticking out. Are you getting the image of what is about to happen? Yep. One of the trucks clipped the door. The door slamed shut so hard that it actually bent the steel tubing that reinforces the bottom of the door on what was left of his legs between the feet and knees. Holy shit! It was not one of my men and it was not my dumpster. I was just a sub on this job. But it just goes to show that in construction as in life, "Anything you do can get you killed, including doing nothing!"

[DaveS]

did he die?

[sssax2003]

"One man's trash is another man's treasure" 8)

[ZAPPER]

DaveS: I don't really know for sure. I mean that he didn't die right then and I am sure that he made it to the hospital. I didn't know him and only heard rumors of the law suit that was sure to follow. I would guess that he probally lost his feet. His legs were flattened to about a half inch thick for about eight inches or so. It looked like his pants were the only thing holding his boots to the end of his legs. It is a bad thing when your bone marrow gets exposed to the open air and big leg wounds can be slow to heal. I have heard of infection in legs that take years to heal or kill. Being that he was a day laborer I doubt that he had good enough insurance for the best of care. And workmans comp is a joke. If they did a clean amputation at the ER he probably did OK (If loosing your legs is OK) Even if he got a big settlement lawyers get 40%+ right off the top and then they take out for the med bills that insurance doesn't cover and you are left in debt for the rest.

When I said that anything can get you killed I meant anything can happen at any time. Karma, fate, act of god, bad luck, Mr. Murphy, Shit happens, call it what you want but I say "That's just the way it is"

[DaveS]

When I said that anything can get you killed I meant anything can happen at any time. Karma, fate, act of god, bad luck, Mr. Murphy, Shit happens, call it what you want but I say "That's just the way it is"

very true. I'm in NYC every day - very easy for a bike messenger going the wrong way to wack you - your melon hits the pavement and it would be lights out..bummer for that guy - you gotta be careful out there