[sdiy] Major Score in the Dumpster at work!

[Terry Michaels]

Message text written by Rainer Buchty
>I've been told that that destruction game is played in electronics stores
as well - if e.g. TV sets don't sell (not even at dumping prices) they
just have to be destroyed.

Business obeys strange rules.

Rainer<

Hi Rainer:

There are exceptions to that.  Earlier this evening I walked into a certain
nationally based electronics retailer to buy a flatbed scanner.  I saw an
HP 5300C on the shelf, it had the specs I wanted, and even better, was
marked "clearace" for $129.50.  However, there were no boxed units under
the shelf like the other models, so I asked a nearby clerk to get me a
boxed one.  He checked his inventory computer, and told me that the display
model I saw on the shelf was the last one, and he would sell it to me for
$100.00.  Then he discovered there was no manual, sortware disk or power
supply (wall wart) for it.  Right then the department manager walked by,
and said "tell you what, I'll sell you that scanner for five dollars"!  So
he wrote up a sales slip and signed it (for $4.60, not $5.00, I have no
idea where that number came from) and I paid at the register and walked
out.  Now I just need to buy a wall wart for the proper voltage, download
the drivers from HP's web site, and I'm in business.

I own a number of pieces of HP and Tektronics test equipment, typically
80's vintage.  I have bought non working spectrum analyzers and other
equipment in recent years for cheap, but when I call HP or Tek to obtain
some custom part they made 20 years ago I'm told it is no longer available,
making my $2000.00 (todays market value) spectrum analyzer basically
worthless.  I know a few employees at both of these companies, they cannot
take home old, customer returned equipment, it must be distroyed, that's
company policy. OTOH, if old equipment could be taken home, parts could be
salvaged and sold to those who need them, to people like me who can't
afford to spend $25,000.00 for new test equipment.  I believe the reason
for this policy is, by not allowing older equipment to be supported, they
will sell more newly manufactured equipment.  That may be partially true,
but I still  think it is stupid and irresponsible to put parts or equipment
that someone, somewhere could use into a landfill.

Terry Michaels