Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Bins

Have I told you about The Bins? It's the place where stuff goes after it hasn't sold in the Goodwill retail stores and before it goes to the dump. It's a sort of junk purgatory, if you will.

You literally paw through the goods which are in large blue bins; hence the name.

There are bins of books...I have found some fab vintage children's books here.

Furniture, electronics, sports equipment and "art". I normally don't visit this section. Anything bigger than a bread box shuts me right down.

Smalls...my personal favorite. I have found many treasures in these babies over the years.

Clothes (and bad 80's angel crafts) I used to look in here until I once found a pair of used men's briefs. Uhhh, no thanks!

Except for the big stuff, everything is sold by weight. It's set up so you can roll your shopping cart right onto a big scale on the floor by the checkout. Please don't tell Child Services Division, but I used to bring my daughter here when she was a baby. I must have ruined her; now when I junk, she refuses to even get out of the car.

8 comments:

Diane Gilleland said...

Junk purgatory? Nay, junk heaven! And you're right about the clothes - risky. But I just found a perfect Lands End cashmere sweater there last week! I always bring hand sanitizer. :-)

julie said...

Oh, my goodness, I love the Goodwill Outlet! I've found books printed in the 1800s, vintage map of the world puzzles with each ocean in the entire world its own little piece, a He-Man bedspread, marble mazes and building blocks and all kinds of awesome toys for my kiddos--just everything!

Carole said...

Is this the one in Milwaukie, near Sellwood? I was there yesterday. lol

I don't go often, because quite frankly I hate the digging around and the crowds of people that are often there, but once in a while it's fun.

I've been kicking myself for months now about a cool dictionary that I passed up. It had embossed ABC's on the cover, but at the time I had no idea that hb books only cost $1. *Sigh* Live and learn.

anythinggoeshere said...

Wow! I never knew there was a place after the Goodwill except "rag out" and a container "overseas".

akawest said...

Ooooh, I want to go to junk purgatory. That looks like my kind of place. My daughters hate Goodwill, even though they like when I bring them gifts that I find.

EverydayMe said...

hope you got lots of 'treats'... and don't worry about your dd... she'll come back around... when she realizes the deals that are out there...

{{HUGS}} Michelle

RITA DECO - Vintage and Fabulous Finds! said...

How come the better stuff seems to be in the bins and not in the store? All the stuff in the stores seems "80's" and overpriced.
Yes to digging.
I love dumpsters and stuff people leave on the curb.
Oh....it's getting to be that season!

Unknown said...

I found an entire bolt of lime green silk shantung in the clothing bins... and it's the perfect place to find wool sweaters for felting and cashmere men's coats for quilting :)