Bargain Braggers on Social Media

[4season]

Recent alley finds include a Dyson upright vacuum, a late-model Samsung LED TV, another older LCD TV with "working" sign, and a pair of small Radio Shack metal box speakers which appeared to have been used outdoors. Assuming that the vacuum cleaner was in working condition, I'd want to sterilize before allowing it into my place, because who knows why it was being discarded. Had no use for the other items, so I didn't take them either, but no worries because others are searching the alleys, so not a lot actually gets trashed.

Did take an Oriental Bambino automatic wristwatch, debating whether I care to learn watch repair. New, it's something like $75, with a reputation as a decent affordable watch.

 

[redbandit]

alot of the "bragging" you see on websites is more of the nature of

"i spent 600$ on a functional mamiya 645, so i bought a junked one for 100 for the lens and showed my wife the nice 600$ camera with the lens and put an ebay reciept for a 100$ mamiya 645 camera in her hand."

 

[aw614]

I've still been able to find decent gear at thrift stores and flea market, but its a lot of effort and a lot of times it's a "while you are already in the area" kind of thing. Like I am already in the area for other things and I might as well make a few stops at the thrift store or flea market nearby. At least for me I can find interesting stuff outside of the main city areas. For instance Im in Tampa, FL and I know if I'm outside the general area and into more older suburban spots or rural areas of Florida, thrift stores and flea markets seem to have more items I would be interested in and with cheap prices. T

It's how I've been able to find a cheap 10 dollar 4g iPOD, 5 dollars himatic af2, 15 dollar OM1, etc. This year. The flip side is, you still have to devote time to make sure the stuff works and some of the items are kind of nasty and dirty so the first thing I need to do after making sure they work is a thorough cleaning (The himatic af2 works great, but was nasty lol). And for say the iPOD, I had to do a battery replacement. The 15 dollar OM1? shutter was jammed and required resetting that gear and spring and additional work like light seals and shutter speed testing, so it's been a good first experience taking it apart and learning how to fix some of the issues. The 50mm 1.4 glass was clean made it worth it to negotiate that price

I doubt I'll find a cheap 20 dollar Leica like that one guy wants, but finding a cheap SLR or internet favorite point and shoot I still think is possible.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I look around the charity shops locally, but have never really seen anything of much interest in terms of photographic equipment; although you do see the occasional 35mm compact or basic SLR zoom lens etc. if that is your interest. Given that some good photography related books can be found, I'm not sure where the equipment is going, direct to eBay, car boots, or dealers perhaps?