# Functional things you can't even give away **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504 "2013-01-08T17:43:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/21 "2013-01-08T20:30:30Z")
Cats ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/22 "2013-01-08T21:09:28Z")
I second the CRT TV thing-here, no charity organization will take them…also older computers. What you also see is coffee makers-why anyone would buy an old one is beyond me. OLd CB radios are now showing up in antique shops-along with 45 RPM records, old encyclopedias, sewing machines. As an aside, there is a shop in my town where a guy sells used hand tools-he asks insane prices for old, worn-out junk. I once wanted to buy a hammer (mine had a broken handle)-he was asking maybe 10% less than the price of a new hammer. He’s got tons of old bit and brace drills-many in excellent condition-does anybody se these anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/23 "2013-01-08T21:28:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A neighbor has a huge barn where she holds monthly garage sales monthly during warm weather. Proceeds benefit a local animal shelter. We donate things to the sale rather than bothering with Craigslist, etc. > > People buy _anything_ as long as the price is right. Chipped dishes, old furniture, ashtrays, broken lawnmowers, stained doilies, you name it. > > Except for TVs. We finally upgraded to a flat-screen, and automatically hauled the 450 pound old TV (fully functional) to the sale site where we found a “No TVs” policy. Seems she cannot give them away. > > What else doesn’t anyone want, even if it is free? Heh - we have a 13 inch tube-based TV that I tried to donate to Goodwill - they didn’t want it. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/24 "2013-01-08T21:59:56Z")
I have seen restrictions on computers. CRT TV’s make sense since the switch to digital TV, there are so many TV’s that people need to get rid of. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/25 "2013-01-08T22:49:21Z")
I have a 5 disc home theatre with the speakers. Crickets on Craigslist and my local pawn shop wouldn’t even take it. I suppose I could try eBay but it would be expensive to ship. Can’t imagine anybody wanting to pay that much for it. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/26 "2013-01-08T23:02:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We finally upgraded to a flat-screen, and automatically hauled the 450 pound old TV (fully functional) to the sale site where we found a “No TVs” policy. Seems she cannot give them away. TVs have toxic chemicals which require special handling, so it costs money to dispose of them. That doesn’t stop me from dumping broken monitors into the trash, though. > [@drewtwo99](#): > > How about used toilets that are still functional? I never heard of a market for those! I was about to chime in with used toilet paper, but that’s not very functional. (Unless you fold it _just right_…) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/27 "2013-01-08T23:11:41Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > How about used toilets that are still functional? I never heard of a market for those! I put one out by the street with a sign that said “FREE!” and it was gone in an hour. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/28 "2013-01-08T23:18:18Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Here’s a list of shit that’s in my house that, so far, I haven’t been able to give away. Holler if anyone wants any of this crap: > > •Old car stereo speakers > • AM/FM/Cassette receiver/head unit for a car > •100 watt pre amp for a car stereo system > • An ancient HP PC that runs Windows 95 IIRC. > • Old boom box unit that has a double cassette and CD player. > • Mismatched used socks (I keep 'em for dusting) > • An old radar detector from the early 90s. OMG… Does the boom box work? Have you seen this video? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UVjOoJaWGo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UVjOoJaWGo) I would love to have an old boom box that I didn’t care about! I’d even wire in the other speakers and set up an entire danceline! ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/29 "2013-01-08T23:21:27Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Steel desks. There’s one where I work. Put up a picture of it on any homesteading site as something that can be converted to raise pigs or used as a play house for in a goat pen. I bet you’d have someone hauling it out of there in no time. If you were near me, I’d pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/30 "2013-01-08T23:29:39Z")
For those with speakers and phones… post on alternate energy sites, some people want them for the magnets. Other people will take them to attempt to pull the metals out of them or reuse some of the circuits in their projects. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/31 "2013-01-09T00:05:45Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > Put up a picture of it on any homesteading site as something that can be converted to raise pigs or used as a play house for in a goat pen. > > I bet you’d have someone hauling it out of there in no time. If you were near me, I’d pick it up. Are you serious? This is an old steel desk, gunmetal gray, the kind they had in government offices in the 40’s and 50’s. One person can’t even lift a corner of the darn thing. If you’re in central Iowa, I’ll put your name on it! ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/32 "2013-01-09T00:38:38Z")
Some vacuum tubes used to be fantastically expensive, like the 7591A before the prices it they were fetching were noticed (even unmatched ones testing weak were going for over $75.00) and they were put back into production again. But old TV type tubes, especially for series string sets are absolutely worthless. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/33 "2013-01-09T01:06:20Z")
CRT monitors. I have a 19" ViewSonic monitor that I haven’t been able to get anyone to take. I may have finally put it in the trash. Sofas are tough. I tried to sell a well-made, recently reupholstered, clean queen sleeper. No luck. I finally gave it away to a couple who were looking for something for the husband’s “man cave.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/34 "2013-01-09T01:26:49Z")
Best Buy will also take monitors and TVs up to 30". You have to pay them $10 per screen but they hand you a $10 Best Buy gift card in exchange (per screen). ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/35 "2013-01-09T01:26:54Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > How about ironing boards? You can still buy new ones, but they never wear out and the style doesn’t change. So anyone who wants one will already have one. They get donated and disappear fairly regularly at one thrift store near me. I saw that they had several, went in to buy one and they were gone, but they have more now (of course - now I’ve bought a crappy one from Target). ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/36 "2013-01-09T05:17:40Z")
Last time I checked, probably a year ago, Salvation Army in Chicago would still take CRT TVs. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/37 "2013-01-09T05:24:46Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > How about used toilets that are still functional? I never heard of a market for those! I had heard of people going to junkyards to find older high capacity toilets, since apparently they can’t be bought new any more due to low flow toilet restrictions. Is that just an urban myth? ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/38 "2013-01-09T07:50:43Z")
Readers Digest condensed books, the hard cover types are not accepted at any thrift store I know of (unless they get snuck in under other books) and are not accepted at any used book store “Friends of the Public Library”, book sale or anything. Of course the old style monitors and tvs are worthless… beyond worthless. People on craigslist in vancouver are PAYING people to take them away. Big old couches take for ever to move here, because everyone has tiny little apartments. Nobody wants silver plated tea services. If it is a decent quality silver, maybe they will take them for the melt value, but if it is plate it just sits. I’d kind of like some of the silver that’s been in my family for generations, but I have no where to store it and the idea of polishing it even once a year makes my hands flare up with itchiness. Used box graters never seem to sell in thrift stores. They get surface rust, nothing serious that a bit of steel wool and a light coating of olive oil can’t fix but no one wants them. ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/39 "2013-01-09T09:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Most of the charities that accept used clothing accept used underwear Yes, you can donate ripped, torn or otherwise damaged clothes to charities, and they’ll turn into rags or insulation for houses in Africa (I think I read that) or otherwise get recycled. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504/40 "2013-01-09T11:58:38Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I had heard of people going to junkyards to find older high capacity toilets, since apparently they can’t be bought new any more due to low flow toilet restrictions. Is that just an urban myth? When my brother remodeled a home in Michigan, he drove into Canada to get the super-flushing throne for his bathroom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/functional-things-you-cant-even-give-away/646504.md?page=3)