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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
What's the best "deal" you ever got on something? It can be something that was mis-priced in a store, something someone outside your "family circle" gave you, something you found mis-categorized on an auction site, or something else.
I have been a model train collector for a long time, but I have slowed down tremendously over the past six or eight years. About fourteen years ago I had been helping a long-time friend who owned a model train shop to inventory and pack away some stuff in anticipation of his selling the shop. He was getting on in years and he was afraid that the prospective buyer might try to take advantage of him, which he would have. We were almost finished with the work, which had taken about three weekends, and there was one area under a train layout in the store that had about a dozen boxes stacked up. He told me that he wasn't going to inventory those boxes, and that he wanted me to have them, but I couldn't look in them or unpack them until I got home. When I got home, I unloaded everything into the living room, and opened the boxes to discover that he had given me nearly a dozen packing boxes of 1950s and '60s American Flyer trains. My second-best deal was a near-mint "Peter Rabbit the Magician" magic set, with all tricks and the box that I picked up on a well-known auction site for eighty-eight cents, including shipping...
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
I bought an original Tarbell Course (The ones they used to mail out weekly before everything was put in books)for $25 and sold it a short time later for $250
Lyndel |
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Barry Donovan Special user 848 Posts |
I got a signed sugar ray leonard glove handed down from my dad, lovely
when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth
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S2000magician Inner circle Yorba Linda, CA 3465 Posts |
Years ago I was out shopping with my kids: shoes at Big 5, then Sears to replace a defective radio. When we got to Sears we were waiting to talk to the salesman, who was helping a customer with a Sony receiver / speaker set. The price tag showed something around $600, but when the salesman rang it up on the register it came up at $250. He phoned someone "downstairs" and was told, apparently, that if it comes up at $250 he had to sell it for $250.
After we got the radio replaced we drove home and I asked my wife if she'd like a $600 receiver / speaker system for $250. She said that she would, so we drove back to Sears and bought it; they still hadn't fixed the pricing error in their system. Then there was the time that I got a $800 clutch replacement for $295 . . . . |
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trey Loyal user 291 Posts |
I got a 1972 Chevy Impala for one hundred dollars. All it needed was a valve adjustment. So I got that done by my neighbor. For the price of a 12 pack. And the same neighbor sold me a set of Corvette rally wheels for 25 bucks. They fit the car perfect. I had just turned 16. And had a heck of a little hot rod for like $135 bucks!
Trey |
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Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
I bought a antique pair of spurs for $175.00 out of an antique store. Less than a week after I bought them, a collector out of Colorado came by and we struck a trade and I ended up with another pair of spurs and $5000.00 cash.
In the last 12 months I've bought a MG Midget with 24000 original miles three MGBs for a total of $1375.00.
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
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Matt Watts Regular user 189 Posts |
A roll on suitcase table(FREE) and A very nice backdrop(FREE)..It is great to have nice friends in magic.
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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
Fender Passport 250 with stands for $300. The passport alone sells for $700.
-Matt
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I never get a deal, I get it in the backside with everything in life. The best 'deal' I ever heard of was a friend of mine bought a corvair or a muscle car with a similar name, I can find out if any car nuts want to know, after the orignal owner thought the electrical system was shot and junked it. My friend is a retired mechanic and the junk yard guy owed him for helping him out over the years and sold it to him for $150 and the only problem was a fuse. Gary shows it in the car shows and has won many awards for the senior group. Whatever this car is it is not common. Either way it was a great deal for him and I doubt he'll sell it in his lifetime.
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Slartibartfast Loyal user Southern Illinois 230 Posts |
We spend a lot of time treasure hunting in the thrift shops. My wife picked up a vintage Hudson Bay wool blanket at Goodwill for 5 bucks. These typically go for 200 bucks and up.
If you can pull it off in a biker bar without being violated by a corn dog, more power to you.
-- Gwyd, the Unusual "YOUR Signature...speaks volumns (sic) as to your lack of understanding." --T.V. |
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
I found an original copy of Houdini and Conan Doyle for 5 bucks at an antique shop. Sold it for a whole lot more.
On that big auction site, I found a Silk Cabby. The photo was horribly dark, and impossible to see any detail. I ran it through Photoshop to lighten it and discovered what it was... an early Okito-Nielsen Silk Cabby. I bought it for $7.00.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
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mvmagic Inner circle Has written 1322 Posts |
At an outlet store, I found hand-made top-brand demi couture jeans, worth about 700$, for 35$. Then again, that's why people go to outlet stores...
Due to a pricing error, I got a good cast iron skillet for 55$, worth about 220$. However sort of the best deal I ever got was with a show. I really didn't want to do a particular show in another town (I said I have another thing to do, while in reality I just didn't want spend my only free day of the week at a corporate party). The client was desperate and said "I'll pay anything" so I gave her a quote so high I was sure she wouldn't accept it. Without any hesitation she said fine-and I almost dropped to my knees.
Sent from my Typewriter
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
When I was 16 I purchased a first edition Rudyard Kipling book (his diary) for 25 cents in a Salvation Army Store.
I purchased this property this past summer in the heart of the city for an incredible deal. While I have no plans of selling it for several years some day it will be worth far more than I paid for it. It was listed as a double lot but when a title search was done it was actually two addresses and the realty company honored the deal which had already been made. I bought a solid metal door complete with extra large doggie dog attached for 10 dollars off Craigs List. The doors alone are usually 200 at Home Depots and the dog doors that size are 170. I love the deals I get on Craigs List! |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
23 years ago I found an amazing girl and just couldn't let her go to another customer. Cost me everything I had, but she was the best bargain of my life.
No, I won't consider selling. |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Oh oh C, I know you lived down the street from that serial killer but I recognize that property as what is known as "The Portal To Hell". You are doomed! But having that doggie door is always a plus.
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
No silly Santa that occurred thankfully in another municipality far far away from me! I keep telling you, I must have been evil in my former lifetime as I'm making up for it in this one.:O)
I wasn't even looking for another place when I saw this listed on MLS one night and couldn't stop thinking about it. This was the place I had dreamed of to operate an animal rescue for aged/special needs animals. I posted the photo in my car and would look at it frequently (think Danny Glover did this in one of his movies with Mel Gibson) - positive thinking of something like that of goals you want to reach. I looked at it for over a year and would often drive by and wistfully wish that some day I could buy it for the kids and animals. It's where unwanted unadoptable dogs,cats, and bunnies could live out the rest of their days. Disabled kids, inner city teens,various animal rescues, could also come and help out with the animals. Most people told me it must have been meant to be as the place was for sale for ages with no buyers. The price dropped almost 1/2 for this block long property and it brought a flurry of activity. Someone put in an offer and I almost cried when I saw the For Sale Sign taken down. I stopped my car and spoke to the old lady and her daughter who were walking around the garden. She said why didn't you buy it and I mentioned I was saving up my pennies. The old lady who owned it really wanted me to have it when she found out what I wanted it for. I said I could have even kept her aged dog who walking with us when she expressed concern as to what would happen to him when she moved. Then the other people's financing didn't go through. Two weeks later I get a call telling me to try again and without hesitation I bid and she accepted my first lowball offer!!! I've also purchased or better yet got them free on Craigs List - large animal enclosures, cat post, dog beds,building supplies, ect when people found out what I needed them for. Just 2 wks ago I was offered a life time supply of free pet food from TWO major pet food suppliers. The garage is currently holding not cars but aprox 400 pounds of kibbles, tinned cans, rabbit and small critter pellets - LOL! The house has an indoor hot tub and excercise room which I will use for hydro therapy for aged arthritic dogs. It was perfect and probably meant to be as all my friends are telling me. |
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
See, now you know why I've been so fond of you for so long C! Sounds like a great idea to me.
I did "Santa's Pit Bull Rescue" tonight. Loco the pit was tangled up and after I got his leash undone he jumped on me and tore my Bob Marley T shirt which I love. |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
My brother was going to sell his Palm Pilot in a yard sale for 8 bucks. Then he decided to give it to me for free. That was two or three years ago, and man, that is the absolute most useful item I have ever owned. Me and my Palm pilot are inseparable. I have practically my whole life in that thing. It's permanently attached to the artery in my wrist.
Only one other thing I consider closer..and I can't mention that in a family forum.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Speaking of family forums: my son was a good deal. He cost me twenty minutes of pleasure to obtain in the first place. (OK, thirty seconds maybe.) And he's now big enough to mow the lawn and run errands and get me a beer out of the fridge.
A pretty good deal, as I see it. |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Man, I have five of those! Pleasure is long forgotten, but the kids remain.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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