# Things that are expensive new, but can be gotten free used (still in good condition) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597 "2014-03-01T15:14:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/41 "2014-03-02T21:46:02Z")
Last night I was dropping of waste oil at the landfill and I saw a father/son duo loading a medium duty truck with discarded doors. They wanted them for their own use, but said similar finds could frequently be found due to remodeling. Which brings me to hotel castoffs… A friend just picked up all sorts of commercial furnishings when a hotel decided to remodel. Several lamps and such were unused and still in original packaging. Technically she did pay as these were items donated to the local humane society thrift shop, but hotel employees here get this opportunity every few years and often get first grabs for free. ---
**Author:** ![bartleby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bartleby/32/10491_2.png) [@bartleby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bartleby)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/42 "2014-03-03T22:02:07Z")
See, the whole free piano thing is something of a myth. I should know I’ve been trying to get a [expletive deleted] piano for almost 6 months… We scoured Craigslist for free or cheap ones, but the “free” ones weren’t anything you would want. Dead keys cost the EARTH to fix, and if you add in moving costs, tuning, etc, “free” becomes, oh, $300-$400 easy. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/43 "2014-03-03T22:08:32Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Cats. I got a 7-year-old cat from the shelter. He’d been there for months, 'cause who wants a 7-year-old cat. He turned out to be the best - and smartest - cat, by far, I’ve ever had. Not exactly free, but well worth the price. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/44 "2014-03-03T22:18:48Z")
Books, thanks to Kindles. CDs, thanks to downloads. Movie DVDs, thanks to Netflix. Wedding rings, thanks to divorces. Art supplies, film cameras, slide rules, typewriters, musical instruments, computer monitors, drafting tables, . ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/45 "2014-03-03T22:23:37Z")
Couch. Sofa. Futon. Lovechair. Sectionals… to the point where you can’t even give it away. DC craigslist is amazing. I got a full set of golf clubs for free (listed for $40 but the guy was super nice and just gave them to me after meeting me). Luggage, too. Just a ton of middle-age professionals moving in and out, and a glut of young professionals all too eager to take things off their hands. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/46 "2014-03-03T22:46:37Z")
_Especially_ the kind of couch that has a fold-out bed inside. They are insanely-heavy and absolutely horrid to move, so many people will give them away to anyone who will take them. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/47 "2014-03-03T23:20:01Z")
> [@bartleby](#): > > See, the whole free piano thing is something of a myth. I should know I’ve been trying to get a [expletive deleted] piano for almost 6 months… We scoured Craigslist for free or cheap ones, but the “free” ones weren’t anything you would want. Dead keys cost the EARTH to fix, and if you add in moving costs, tuning, etc, “free” becomes, oh, $300-$400 easy. Seconded (based on personal experience). Free pianos? Sure. Free and in good condition? No way. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/48 "2014-03-03T23:36:32Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > _Especially_ the kind of couch that has a fold-out bed inside. They are insanely-heavy and absolutely horrid to move, so many people will give them away to anyone who will take them. Pro tip if you’ve got a sofa bed and want to take it with you when you move (and you’re doing your own moving): the bedspring innards unscrew from the outer sofa frame, so the whole thing comes apart into (a) sofa cushions, (b) outer sofa frame (large but light), (c) bedsprings, and (d) the mattress itself. It takes about 45 minutes of pain-in-the-neck work with a crescent wrench to detach the springs from the wooden outer frame (and probably an hour re-attaching when you get to your new abode - putting things together is almost always more challenging than taking them apart), but if you really want to take the sofa bed with you, it’s time well spent, and each of the pieces can be moved by just one person. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/49 "2014-03-04T02:09:55Z")
> [@bartleby](#): > > See, the whole free piano thing is something of a myth. I should know I’ve been trying to get a [expletive deleted] piano for almost 6 months… We scoured Craigslist for free or cheap ones, but the “free” ones weren’t anything you would want. Dead keys cost the EARTH to fix, and if you add in moving costs, tuning, etc, “free” becomes, oh, $300-$400 easy. It cost us $400 to move our player piano last time - I don’t think we’ll be moving it again. It has a dead key, too - it’s the full package! Are you sure you wouldn’t like it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/50 "2014-03-04T02:39:28Z")
You have to budget at least $500 to get your free piano. The move, tuning and repairs will cost that much at least. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/51 "2014-03-04T02:59:36Z")
nm ---
**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:** [March 4, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/52 "2014-03-04T03:03:01Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Maybe you got the superduper model, but I got one of those, new, in 2010 for $1000 including the shipping. It’s a different brand, but it’s essentially the one on the left [here](http://www.rainbowplay.com/view-swing-sets/) with some minor additions and subtractions. > > And your kids’ MMV, but the Firebug turns 7 this summer, and I expect this is the last year he’ll spend significant time on it. Geez, you forgot to spit on my shoe. Ours was 3x the size of the one you got and we still only paid less than $2000 for it. And someone else put it together. Also there’s a huge difference in brands - Gorilla is the lower end you get at the Home Depot while Rainbow is the brand you get at a dealer. They don’t have prices online for Rainbow in the US but I did find a price sheet from a store in Canada when I was researching the deal and it was over $9000 MSRP. I don’t see any sets on their list for under $4000 CAN. So like…I dunno do you want to come over and see it and let me know if it was a good deal for for under $2000, or should we all just come play on your son’s awesome set cuz he’s about to grow out of it? Not sure what we’re trying to prove here. I’m sorry I didn’t get a cheaper and less-fun swingset for my nieces. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/53 "2014-03-04T03:34:08Z")
Large CRT TVs. We just had our bulk trash day and there were many TV’s out the curb with “Still Works” signs on them. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/54 "2014-03-04T12:56:11Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > You have to budget at least $500 to get your free piano. The move, tuning and repairs will cost that much at least. Free motorcycles are similar - getting them home and getting them running is a few hundred bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597/55 "2014-03-04T15:44:59Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Books, thanks to Kindles. > > CDs, thanks to downloads. > > Movie DVDs, thanks to Netflix. All of those things can be had for cheap (Amazon was flooded with penny books almost from the beginning of the Marketplace), but free is another story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-are-expensive-new-but-can-be-gotten-free-used-still-in-good-condition/682597.md?page=2)