I just gave somebody the shaft who has an inside to a thrift

[dcescott]

A city wide thrift store chain.
No joke, I called the city about a free "swap shop " that I went to expecting some goodies (free is why I went). I dropped off some old gutted computer stuff and almost picked up a mac with a Sonnet processor (given my father in law's old apple needed an upgrade). Some guy said that was going to a thrift store chain (I can't say right now), about 5 large cardboard boxes of moniters speakers and so on, so I couldn't take it. My city news letter said nothing about that so I called up the officials for an explanation.
Well needless to say, that thrift chain helps pay for the space, even though my tax dollars help as well. They said no on the computer :( .
Pissed off I told the guy that I know someone who has an inside track to the weekly auctions, which it is not fair to us, the consumer and fellow tax payers that he gets to rummage through the stuff first BEFORE the thrift store puts it out to sell. He then "buys" the goods, usually alll video games, old stereo equipment, anything of collectible value and sells it at a flea market and ebay for an insane profit. He leaves out some to make it look not obvious. I worked with him for some saturdays out there and he brings in a weekend 2K, not counting ebay. Everything that we find at thrift store runs is about 3 to 6 times more in his store (example Dragon Warrior 4 w/ manual 50 bucks, Shining Force complete, 45 bucks, you get the picture) All this time I thought he went out to the auctions and bidded on stuff like everyone else(which he does, but sometimes it's planned and hidden within the bins I'm sure). Is all of it reported on his taxes?, probably not! He has ripped off a few people here and there as well. Crazy what folks will dish out cash for.
Well the city supervisor told me that HE is also the one who picks up this stuff for the ENTIRE city. He's gonna do something about it too. I am scared but glad because he's making it tough to find stuff we love to find plus when we do find it, it cost more to bother with. I look at it this way, I'm getting ready to go fishing in a public funded stocked pond that was was being sifted by one person who in return tagged it with high prices. Within a week or two that same pond will be overstocked once again for everyone to fish at! I feel rotten for squealing but that guy is dishonest!

[jonathonwillie]

i would have used a bit of violence

[sega-trader]

that is a really hard story to follow.

[boatofcar]

that is a really hard story to follow.

Agreed. Can you sum it up in one or two sentences?

[rpepper9]

that is a really hard story to follow.

So is this a video game story, a thrift store story or are you looking for a new pond to go fishing? I am a bit confused!

[Push Upstairs]

I believe he "ratted out" some guy who was getting choice picks of stuff from what is a taxpayer/donation based city flea market type thing. The guy is then taking these free(?) items he gets before anyone else can get to them and making alot of money by selling them online.

So i think that guy is making alot of money off of peoples free donations.

[Mayhem]

Short version: sounds like someone who gets to help out supplying thrift stores with donated stock is essentially raiding everything they come across for bargains (ie. at the price it would sell for in the stores) before it goes anywhere near the store, and then selling it on at massive profit, and not declaring any of this in their tax assessment.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Yeah, when I read this that was pretty obvious, but whatever.

I'd say good call on your part man, that guy is an asshole and deserves to be taken care of.

[boatofcar]

Short version: sounds like someone who gets to help out supplying thrift stores with donated stock is essentially raiding everything they come across for bargains (ie. at the price it would sell for in the stores) before it goes anywhere near the store, and then selling it on at massive profit, and not declaring any of this in their tax assessment.

Thank you Mayhem! :)

[Darth Sensei]

Did someone say Shaft?

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/issues/00/02.14/images/ae.blaxploitation.picA.jpg

[evil_genius]

What the hell just happened

[dcescott]

Sorry about the ramblings
Long story short.
The guy has an inside track to a thrift store chain for the entire city. I can't say where because of the seriousness of the infringment.

He checks out what he picks up the entire week, makes sure where they are in the auction bins (hides it). Then buys the bins, knowing fully what's in them. Then marks it up at his flea market store or ebay whichever makes the faster buck and doesn't report it.

The city supervisor slipped and told me HE PICKS UP ALL THE DONATED STUFF BEFORE IT GETS TO THE WAREHOUSE TO BE SORTED. He slipped because I gave him his first and last name.

Also he has several contacts whom he sells the stuff he doesn't mess with like computer equipment, sports cards, and so on.

I am just like everyone else, I enjoy the hunt for some good games. Sometimes they are sold on ebay or sold here or traded here. It's not my source of income but that's not fair to the rest of us who enjoy this hobby. I just blew the whistle on someone whose been ripping off a crap load of people.

[Trade-N-Games]

Same thing happens at Video game stores around the country. The Store has its price book and the employees can buy at a discount at most stores and somtimes 1 dollar over cost on old stuff. The employees take all the good old stuff and sell on Ebay. Thats why you see same old crap all the time.
Now I hava a small store and on have a few girls that work for me but I would view this topic as stealing if they did this to me. If you dont give it a fair market chance to benefit the public or the store and you controll it all for yourself then that is stealing.

[dcescott]

Makes sense,
It's why we enjoy finding rare games in the wild as well. I know a guy here in DPland who lives about 10 minutes form me, we were at the same city wide garage sale, I spotted a mint boxed nes w/ rainbow islands inside of it, he found a Sega Saturn w/ a ton of games including all three Panzer Dragoons and mr Bones. I wanted what he had, but all is fair. I month before that I nabbed an Atari Super 10 Pong, mint with all four controllers, minutes before he showed up.

This guy I've been wanting to bust for a while, when I found out he's the guy picking up all the donations for the city, that was the last straw.
The money generated from this thrift store chain creates jobs and well that means what we(taxpayers) are donating isn't getting to the store. He is paying for it, however it is planted and staged for his benifit.

[KingCobra]

Pretty damn low :/

I knew a guy that worked at a thrift store once, needless to say, the game rares and good gaming hardware and whatnot never made it to the shelves :bad-words:

[kedawa]

I hate to be the one to bring a dose of reality to the topic, but the truth is, all thrift stores are crooked. That's how they get so many 'volunteers' to work for them.

[dcescott]

Yeah that's true,
The only reason why this is different is it's a city issue now, not a mom and pop place. Like anyone else, I've mapped out the city, every thrift store and flea market. This guy is digging into a large corporation. It sounds crazy but the city supervisor said it does affect jobs/income for some people, he knows something I don't know. The shizzle gonna hit da fizzle if you know what I mean! This guy pissed off someone higher in the food chain.

[Stark]

Sounds like a local news story to me. Try contacting the local or suburban wide newspaper and see if they want the details. 8-)

[Lothars]

I wish that guy would be in trouble for it

great if something would happen to him

but o well it's all good. I am sure it will all work out.

I don't blame you for telling them about him

it's all good.

[nik]

bah

if it wasn't him, someone else woulda done it.

and it'll happen again, people are just that evil and dishonest.

[googlefest1]

the news story thing sounds good

i know if i was the guy id be real freking pissed - but im not -- im one of the people gettign the shaft so - screw'em

i feel your pain man

[dcescott]

I'm gonna let it ride, the supervisor is taking care of it. He's the one pursuing it. Something pushed his buttons a little too far. I am content for tipping him off.

The guy brings in on average 2k every weekend, not including ebay or side jobs. 2 x 52 = 110,000 give or take.

I remember he gambles a bit and he's a sports card nut. He buys them by the box for the inserts/chase cards/autographs. I've seem him open up 400 bucks worth of high dollar cards in one sitting one afternoon. None of my business however, looking back, he was really shady business wise. He did tell me he ran a flea market out of state before coming here...

[drwily008]

Good job man! I hate that kind of stuff. Everytime I go to a thrift shop or a flea market it pisses me off. I always see rare games at two or three different vendors because they check out all of the stuff before the shop is even open...no fair.