Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mystery Box Shenanigans

If you are new around here, my nearest thrift store puts toys in sealed boxes and sells them as is with no opportunity to see the contents [Box 1, Box 2].  Since they were having a 50% off sale on Monday I stopped by to see if there were any mystery boxes I could pick up and they had 4 of them!


I think they raised the prices for the sale 0.o. One box was $3.99, two at $5.99 and the big one was $9.99.  Still, all of that for a final price of $13 seemed a bargain.  Man, what a jip.  Whoever packed those boxes was a complete and utter A-hole! They were literally filled with crap - like broken, busted, discarded junk that should have been thrown away instead of sold to someone.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Here's the stuff that I deemed salvageable:


A laser gaming set with goggles, a plastic sword that makes clanking sounds and a gun blaster that goes ping ping.


I'm no expert but I think that's a real stethoscope because it is heavy as heck! I wasn't going to put it in my ears to test it out though - germs, you know.  Two of the Star Wars canisters were empty but one was unopened and had an new Happy Meal type watch in it.  All the other stuff was in pretty good condition.


A fine collection of hot wheels! I used to love these things when I was a kid and would make cardboard race tracks and push them all around.  Then my mom stepped on one and that was the last I saw of the hot wheels!


Two real watches and the kid's Star Wars one.  Finding real watches, and a Rocawear at that, was unexpected but the way those boxes were packed, whoever dumped that stuffed inside never would have noticed them anyway.

I'm giving all the items in the above photos to a lady I know that asked to see any of the boy type things so she could give them to her grand kids.  Whatever she doesn't want I'll take to a different thrift store.

Out of those 4 great big boxes this is the only stuff I'm going to keep:


A Twister controller without the twister pad.  A Sorry board without any pieces. A few Dominoes. A few of the classic Hot Wheels. A pottery wheel - schweet! Ball bearings from a magnetic game set.  Ambulance that just needs some clean up.  A fully intact checkerboard set. A GI Joe type doll and a broken Harley with pieces missing all over it.

Not the victorious haul I was hoping for, but it'll do pig, it'll do.

31 comments:

  1. Nice hunt! I wish we had same kind of stores in Poland, but so far-no luck.
    As for stethoscope, you can easily clean it with low-alcohol fluid-teh rubber parts. As for metal ones I can easily ask someone in hospital, we clean ours after every examination with no problem.
    If you dont want to keep it its ok, but if you have small kids it can be useful. Ah, also-you can remove earplugs (the parts you put in your ears) and buy fresh one in medical shop. Fairly cheap.
    I have a similar one and I think this model is pretty good :)
    (Now, that was very off topic comment, sorry)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MM, it was very on topic and thanks! If the lady doesn't want the stethoscope I just may keep it since it is easy to clean. I have a medical supply store just up the road so I can get some new buds! Cool!

      Delete
  2. Looks like you win some, you lose some. I'm glad there was some salvageable stuff and some that was good for someone. It's a funny way to sell things though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carrickters, it sure is a sneaky way to sell stuff. I like other people's thrift stores that let you see what you are getting in clear bags.

      Delete
  3. My mum would love that stethoscope, she could hear better what happens in our neighborhood

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, Sergio. What would she do, go from wall to wall with them or hold them out the window? I'm not sure they'd work like that.

      Delete
  4. Hello from Spain, i think IT is risky to buy the boxes without knowing the contents. Anyway there are some elements that are interesting. I like the bike with Gi doll. In my country does not sell these types of boxes. Keep in touch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marta, I can be a risk taker sometimes, lol. Curiousity always gets the best of me.

      Delete
  5. Not so bad for the amount of money paid. It's good you plan to recycle what you can't use.


    dbg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, DBG. There were some good pieces that made it worth the risk and someone else might be able to use the other items.

      Delete
  6. Jo¡ menudas cajas¡¡¡ yo creo que este tipo de cosas estan genial
    ya nos contaras¡

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the idea of a mystery box but not if it contains crap :c
    Congrats on the good things of your haul though :)
    Btw, I loved the ''it'll do pig, it'll do.'' that's from Babe isn't it? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tali, I think it all depends on the person packing the boxes. If you get a jerk packing them then you are liable to get crap.

      LOL, yes, that was from the movie Babe but the farmer actually said, "That'll do, Pig. That'll do."

      Delete
  8. Aww too bad Muff you will get them next time. And hey I have that Gi Joe thats Barry Little.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mustiwait, that's Barry?! That's why he looked so familiar. In honor of your Barry I'm going to name mine Barry too. He will be Barry White and every time he introduces himself he'll say, "And no, dammit, I'm not related to the singer! Dumbass."

      Delete
  9. Those surprising boxes are fun! You never know what can be inside them... Definitely my fav is the GIJoe, he looks sooo handsome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Rossetti! That GI Joe is the first 1/6 doll I've gotten from any of my boxes. He's special!

      Delete
  10. Muff if you get a chance alter the Barry"s feet. Finding him shoes is gonna be a drag trust me I know!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then show me what you did so i can do it too!lol

      Delete
    2. Jay, use an exacto and cut his entire heels off and he'll be able to wear Bieber shoes. If you want him to wear Ken shoes, you'll have to shave down the inside of his feet and possibly remove his big toe.

      Delete
  11. I agree with Debbie, that wasn't too bad considering what you paid. I hope you have a better box the next time. Ooh, I wish my thrift stores had something similar. I would take a chance too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Georgia Girl! Even though I enjoy the fun of the mystery, I still wish they would have stuff that you could actually see - but then it would cost more. Sigh - Catch 22.

      Delete
  12. what a great haul with many stuff i finally fixed the comment thing.
    and by the way i loved the winix doll!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey there, Jassica Joe! Glad you were able to get your got Blogger fixed!

      Delete
  13. Darn. I was hoping for some different goodies, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vanessa, I was suckered in by the thrill of the unknown.

      Delete
  14. Oo I love Hot Wheels cars :) I have some from when I was little and still collect the older style and unusual cars. I found one just before Christmas that I had to get, the 'Curiosity' Mars Rover.
    Very surprised there was a lot of broken parts in the mystery boxes, but looks like the other toys will be good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to meet you, Joy and welcome! There are always bits of useless nonsense in the boxes like used chapstick and ball point pens, but this time there was more junk than usual.

      Delete
  15. Nice post. Well what can I say is that these is an interesting and very informative topic on uhaul boxes

    ReplyDelete