Thread
Dumpster Diving at CompUSA
CompUSA is closed now and they cleaned out the store and threw everything away. This is all from the dumpster, for free. We filled up almost two cars with stuff.
- We got about 10 of these Monorail brand PCs that look like small black iMacs. Some are crushed LCDs, etc. but others are in good condition. They appear to be about 10 years old, Windows 95 or 98, etc. but have an interesting novelty value. PM me if you're interested in buying one of the good ones - super cheap, just pay shipping and materials and a few dollars for my time.
- Various keyboards and mice. One mouse even new in package.
- Windows 95 CDs new in package.
- Vista & XP CDs
- iLife '06 poster in good condition
- iMac Core Duo poster in poor condition
- Random papers, possibly confidential stuff.
- Brand new white envelopes.
- Lots of little random cables still in the plastic.
- 3 ring binders
- Power cables
- Speakers, at least 6 sets of your basic powered PC speakers.
- Some hubs
- What appears to be a crushed white MacBook. The screen is gone, we have some plastic and part of a logic board, and a defaced keyboard.
- At least 10 of the old style CompUSA mousepads that say "The Computer Superstore" on them. I bought at least 10 in the stores before they closed so I have a nice collection of these mousepads. Not only are they good mousepads, they represent CompUSA from a better time.
After we got this we drove to the other CompUSA to discover that they put all their trash in a compactor which we can't access from the outside. There was a big Penske van pulled up to the back. The van was full of fixtures (furniture, etc.) that had probably been sold to someone.
I'm glad I got a few Apple posters. The asshole in the store said all the posters were going to be destroyed and he could not let me have any. They did not appear to actually destroy any posters, just simply threw them away.
We may have missed some trash, that was thrown away Sunday and picked up Monday morning, I don't know their trash schedule. We might go back tonight to see if anything else was thrown. We managed to dig through most of the bin and could only find the few Apple posters so either they were thrown away before OR not yet thrown away. There's still a few staff working there just cleaning up and stuff like that.
- We got about 10 of these Monorail brand PCs that look like small black iMacs. Some are crushed LCDs, etc. but others are in good condition. They appear to be about 10 years old, Windows 95 or 98, etc. but have an interesting novelty value. PM me if you're interested in buying one of the good ones - super cheap, just pay shipping and materials and a few dollars for my time.
- Various keyboards and mice. One mouse even new in package.
- Windows 95 CDs new in package.
- Vista & XP CDs
- iLife '06 poster in good condition
- iMac Core Duo poster in poor condition
- Random papers, possibly confidential stuff.
- Brand new white envelopes.
- Lots of little random cables still in the plastic.
- 3 ring binders
- Power cables
- Speakers, at least 6 sets of your basic powered PC speakers.
- Some hubs
- What appears to be a crushed white MacBook. The screen is gone, we have some plastic and part of a logic board, and a defaced keyboard.
- At least 10 of the old style CompUSA mousepads that say "The Computer Superstore" on them. I bought at least 10 in the stores before they closed so I have a nice collection of these mousepads. Not only are they good mousepads, they represent CompUSA from a better time.
After we got this we drove to the other CompUSA to discover that they put all their trash in a compactor which we can't access from the outside. There was a big Penske van pulled up to the back. The van was full of fixtures (furniture, etc.) that had probably been sold to someone.
I'm glad I got a few Apple posters. The asshole in the store said all the posters were going to be destroyed and he could not let me have any. They did not appear to actually destroy any posters, just simply threw them away.
We may have missed some trash, that was thrown away Sunday and picked up Monday morning, I don't know their trash schedule. We might go back tonight to see if anything else was thrown. We managed to dig through most of the bin and could only find the few Apple posters so either they were thrown away before OR not yet thrown away. There's still a few staff working there just cleaning up and stuff like that.
If I was closer I would be very interested in one of those PCs. Frickin' Canada has to be so far away from the good things.
Shipping would be $37.84 FedEx Ground International.
I can't really afford to be buying any computer stuff right now, but I'm curious in researching those "monorail" PCs... do you have a specific model number for them so I could try looking up some pics and specs?
I wish I knew of places to find stuff like that. Best I can ever find is curbside trash stuff and an occasional Freecycle find. When the CompUSA around here was clearing out their stuff, they didn't really have anything worth buying on markdown... and what Mac stuff they did have was barely discounted at all (even when the store was going to close within a week). Other than the set of headphones I needed, the best I ever found was an audio y-splitter and an ethernet dongle for a buck.
I've probably said this before, but if it was me there, I'd grab all the Apple poster ads I could get my hands on. Even if I didn't keep them, I'm sure someone would pay something for them on eBay and the like. The way I am, anything with an Apple logo on it would be fair game, working or not.
I've probably said this before, but if it was me there, I'd grab all the Apple poster ads I could get my hands on. Even if I didn't keep them, I'm sure someone would pay something for them on eBay and the like. The way I am, anything with an Apple logo on it would be fair game, working or not.
Monorail PC - Model 7366
These are the specs I figured out:
- AMD K-5 Processor
- 48 MB RAM
- Ethernet card
- Floppy
- 4X CD-ROM
- Serial Port
- PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse
- Parallel Port
- VGA Port
- Sound card. Includes mono speaker. Stereo output on back.
- 800x600 Passive Matrix LCD
We went back again.
They threw away ALL the plastic bags from the store. There must have been at least 50 boxes of plastic bags. We took as many as we could and loaded them in the car and took them to a Kroger store where they can recycle the bags. We managed to recycle about two big shopping carts full of bags.
We also got some PCs that they just f'king THREW AWAY. A good Pentium 4 system, that they wanted $80 for on the last day, we got for free. It's in good condition still. Another Pentium 4 was crushed pretty bad though. We also got some Pentium 3 systems.
A few boxes full of assorted CompUSA Employee shirts.
Unfortunately we left a mess around the dumpster and left quickly. Despite the mess I still think it was a good run considering all the bags we recycled.
They threw away ALL the plastic bags from the store. There must have been at least 50 boxes of plastic bags. We took as many as we could and loaded them in the car and took them to a Kroger store where they can recycle the bags. We managed to recycle about two big shopping carts full of bags.
We also got some PCs that they just f'king THREW AWAY. A good Pentium 4 system, that they wanted $80 for on the last day, we got for free. It's in good condition still. Another Pentium 4 was crushed pretty bad though. We also got some Pentium 3 systems.
A few boxes full of assorted CompUSA Employee shirts.
Unfortunately we left a mess around the dumpster and left quickly. Despite the mess I still think it was a good run considering all the bags we recycled.
Did you get money for the plastic bags? Man I wish I would have known when mine shut down....
Glad you helped out the environment like that.
I didn't get any money from the bags, just the satisfaction that they were recycled instead of put into a landfill.
What are the random cables?
Mostly power cables, some VGA cables, USB cables.
How long are the VGA cables?
Good score, I've gone dumpster-diving behind Office Depots before, you can always find good stuff there.
If you can get a picture of one of those Monorail PCs that would be great- the fact that this thread is the top hit in a search for it doesn't help.
I remember seeing the Monorail PCs on the first Men In Black movie when J was searching information on his wife. Brought a smile to my face.
Strange, but interesting. If I was closer I would probably take one but as long as there's ocean between us, I won't be able to.
Shipping would be $87.40
They look like something from a restaurant.
Hi Mike,
What do you estimate for shipping one (maybe two) Monorails to 94305? I'd never even heard of those until your post.
Thanks in advance...
Tom
What do you estimate for shipping one (maybe two) Monorails to 94305? I'd never even heard of those until your post.
Thanks in advance...
Tom
For one shipped to a residence it's $16.92. But if you want it shipped to a non-residence the cost is only $14.49. Materials cost a few dollars and the PC is basically free so maybe an even $20 for one shipped to a non residence?
More than fair enough! I'll be shooting a check out to you shortly. Thanks, Mike!
--Tom
--Tom
Hi, what is shipping for one to 06482?
Thanks
Thanks
PM'd
I have some Monorail PCs available. Cost is DHL or USPS shipping plus about $5 for time and materials.
tomlee - check is in the mail
funkytoad - waiting to hear
conceitedjerk - got your pm.
At least two left. PM or post if interested. One per person since they seem to be popular.
tomlee - check is in the mail
funkytoad - waiting to hear
conceitedjerk - got your pm.
At least two left. PM or post if interested. One per person since they seem to be popular.
Decided not gonna get one...while they seem pretty cool, I have no use/money.
Do they look like this?
