Karma can be a very sweet lady sometimes.

So, I gotta start by saying I'm very blessed. I got a decent job, my wife has a VERY good job, we have our health... we got it pretty darn good compared to many. I only scrap part-time for goofing-off money. My ""problem"" (such as it is), is that I just keep getting too much stuff to break down in the allotted time I'm willing to put in each week to scrapping. I insist on having a life outside of laboring for a dollar, and I think 15-20 hours a week is plenty for what's supposed to be a hobby. It's a rough problem to have, I know.

So I've tried to be more selective at curbco... I've pretty much stopped stripping wire unless it's THICK... I've quit tearing apart those tiny yellow-taped transformers... just basically streamline my time & focus only on the most profitable stuff. Well, I still have (err... had) a garage full of stuff backed up. I took a four day weekend this weekend to get a handle on it, and today was inventory day. I separated out all my stuff, pulled it out onto the driveway so I could really get a good look at it, and made 2 piles: one I was keeping, and one to go on Craigslist. So, the CL pile ended up with 30-some vacuums (cords removed, of course) a couple of electric weedwhackers, & a few other odds & ends that take a lot of time, make a lot of trash, and don't generate a superhuge amount of goodies. I almost threw in a dozen CRT TVs/monitors, but I decided to keep them.

Anyway, on to the karma thing.

I put in the ad that it was first come and no holding, and that I'd remove it as soon as humanly possible when it was gone, so of course I got inundated with emails asking me to hold it until they could get there after work, from across town, etc... I replied to each that I would not, but the stuff was still there as of now.

Short story long, a young couple showed up & started loading their car. We got to talking, and he really NEEDED those vacs a lot more than I did! He & his wife had been out of work for a bit & were just trying to make ends meet however they could. I told him about this forum, of course, & showed him a few things/tips/tricks I knew.

Well, I've posted before about the thrift shop that gives me stuff... I HAVE TO go every day, though, so I don't screw up that deal.

I got there today, and was loading up the 2 totes of small electronics they had for me, when one of the guys asked me if I wanted that bedframe over there.

I looked where he was pointing, and lo & behold a twin sized solid BRASS bed.

At least 50# of sweet yellow goodness.



Yeah.... karma is a sweet lady sometimes.

I share that exact sentiment! I firmly believe I am helping sustain my environment, helping the scrap buyers, helping refiners, etc. No one benefits when things go unrecycled!

I do think it was nice what you did though Auminer. I have a similar story. I answered a craigslist add for a free power wheelchair. I was the first one to respond and had never seen one from a scrap perspective before. Very excited as it had 3 batteries, VERY heavy, lots of SS and aluminum, etc. Get talking with he guy and he tells me about all the people that wrote him about the chair. One lady in particular really needed it but he told me he was a man of his word and he said I could have it so he saved it for me. I ended up not only telling him to go ahead and give it to the old lady but also told him if she needed it delivered, then I would do that as well. We are like you you sir, blessed and I had a moment of gratitude that allowed me to look past the money. I still wonder what it would've brought though

Well, I put a $72 deposit in the karma bank today...

I found a small water heater while out & about, and I normally wouldn't take JUST THAT, but I was driving right past my yard on the way home so I decided to pop in & drop it off.

So, I ran the scales, threw it in the pile, ran the scales, got my ticket, 100#, which seems light, but whatever.

So I go to the pay window & it's the owner. He types it all in, and hands me the printout to sign & it says $80 for 1000#.

I looked up at him and said... "Man, I could really use the extra 72 bucks, but take another gander at my ticket."

Guess he knows my face for sure now!!