LOL,
I got stopped the other day. As I was pulling what looked like a brand new Milwaukee double pack I heard a voice behind me say “can I help you?” After all the success I’ve had without any hinderence, I was a bit annoyed, and because I was, I didn’t hold back. Besides I was somewhere in PA traveling and I knew I would never be in that store again. So I turned and said
“You know, that question you just asked me is rhetorical. What you’re really asking me is what do you think you are doing rummaging around in our recycle bin, right?” To that he said “Right!”
So I got a little nasty and explained that if “May I help you, doesn’t mean may I HELP you, then it has no meaning. You are insincere when you ask that question. (it’s true, right?)
That’s why I HATE that question when it is rhetorical. :rage:
So knowing that this foray is already blown, I told him the truth. I told him I planned to recycle that pack in the best way possible, use it! Then he said that he can not let me have it, “that’s what I have been told”
Now remember, I wasn’t angry during all this, just annoyed. So I said
“Well then, you’ve been told, and now I’ve been told. I respect that” And I walked away. After I found some penny deals, I went back over to him to apologize for being so direct with him. And he told the real reason they keep an eye on the bin is because of the kids, especially the teenagers. “They use what’s inside to make drugs!”
I said oh, it must be the Lithium, right?
Anyway, just one of my experiences. I only get stopped maybe 2% of the time.
I just remembered this one.
Sometimes when I go to the recycle bin, I have one to “give” Actually, in my mind, that gives me the “right” to be there. One time I walked in with one in my hand, and held it while I looked for others. There was a lady behind the returns desk that was really nasty and told me to get my hand outta there. I told her I was looking to see if there was something I could use and she told me that they were all no good, that’s why people throw them away. I pressed a little further and she cut to the chase and told me that they belong to HD and I can’t have one.
This time I got mad and told her that if these things are so precious, then YOU can’t have mine (the one I brought in).
And then I really got nasty and told her that she lacks social skills, no wonder they put you over on the returns desk, you’re not good enough with people to run a checkout register! And I walked out, with my original pack. That time I was traveling also, so I knew I would probably never be in that store again.
98% of the time, no one cares.
Oh, and another time I found a Ryobi 18V drill. The planetary gears were messed up, I took it apart and fixed it. Other times I find drills and wait until I find batteries and chargers and donate the sets to charities like The ReStore
NEVER Li-ion drills though, too dangerous.
I get payback though, I found a brand new 18V Ryobi cannister vac for $5 at a ReStore and also an 18V jig saw for $3. And those were the marked prices, it wasn’t because I got special consideration.