# I got something for nothing! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 11, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-something-for-nothing/108415 "2002-05-11T01:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![njufoic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@njufoic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njufoic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-something-for-nothing/108415/1 "2002-05-11T01:38:34Z")
I walked into the lounge in my dorm today, and found that somebody had left a Panasonic portable CD player with the note, “Broken – does anybody want the parts?” Well, I have one just like it at home, but the anti-shock doesn’t work (that is, it skips constantly). Figuring that I could piece together one working unit with the two of them, I took it. Well, what do you know, I put fresh batts in this one, and it works fine. I’m listening to it right now. Somebody would feel like an idiot if they knew they gave away a perfectly good CD player. I love free stuff 😃 -Andrew L ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-something-for-nothing/108415/2 "2002-05-11T01:47:16Z")
I love “shopping” at the recycling center. 1/2" Black&Decker drill one week, John Deere string trimmer the next. Just a little TLC and they were just as good as new. ---
**Author:** ![njufoic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@njufoic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njufoic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-something-for-nothing/108415/3 "2002-05-11T02:25:53Z")
Booker- Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ve got all kinds of stuff that I found in people’s trash. I live in Morristown NJ, which is next door to Harding Township, which is one of the wealthiest towns in the state. Twice a year they have a “big trash” day, and all kinds of useful stuff gets thrown out. So I drive my station wagon over there and load up. Once I got a nearly new, perfectly working Magnavox VCR. I guess someone switched to DVDs and just tossed it. -Andrew L ---
**Author:** ![Neptune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@Neptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptune)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-something-for-nothing/108415/4 "2002-05-11T02:38:39Z")
Hey, look. Susan forgot her favorite CD player in the lounge. Let’s put this note on it saying that it’s broken and watch the hilarity ensue!