Do I love the Goodwill Store...

[kevhed72]

I took my kids into the local Goodwill store today to looks for albums; usually when I do this, I am lucky to walk out with 1 OK record. The Goodwill by me is usually packed with Christian Folk music or old Christmas albums, being I live in Southwest Georgia. To my delight, here are some of the bands I found:
Pink Floyd, Clash, Talking Heads, Eagles, Dire Straits, Genesis, Elvis Costello, Warren Zevon, George Carlin, and the most prized from a personal standpoint - Frank Zappa. Today was a productive day...16 albums and 2 CDs for $22.00.

Here's the kicker...most of the covers & inside sleeves are semi to pretty beat up. When you look at the actual albums, most look like they were never played (or maybe a couple times), which I find strange. Anyway, I need to research how to clean these and maybe invest in a new cartridge.

[thsmith]

I use Triton X114 as a surfactant and if you decide to use the Laura Dearbon's formula I will send you enough for several gallons. I add 8 drops to a gallon.

I check my cart using a microscope for any build up and have none. Anyway, old TT, DIY solution, record cleaning brush and a modified mini shop vac does the trick. If I had a large LP collection to justify one of the RCMs I would own one.

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

[Keiko]

I took my kids into the local Goodwill store today to looks for albums; usually when I do this, I am lucky to walk out with 1 OK record. The Goodwill by me is usually packed with Christian Folk music or old Christmas albums, being I live in Southwest Georgia. To my delight, here are some of the bands I found:
Pink Floyd, Clash, Talking Heads, Eagles, Dire Straits, Genesis, Elvis Costello, Warren Zevon, George Carlin, and the most prized from a personal standpoint - Frank Zappa. Today was a productive day...16 albums and 2 CDs for $22.00.

Here's the kicker...most of the covers & inside sleeves are semi to pretty beat up. When you look at the actual albums, most look like they were never played (or maybe a couple times), which I find strange. Anyway, I need to research how to clean these and maybe invest in a new cartridge.

Very nice score.

[nooshinjohn]

I scored at a garage sale today Dead Kennedys. David Bowie, Men at Work, BeeGee's, Billy Joel... great day for vinyl!

congrats on your haul!

[nguyendot]

I LOVE Goodwill. In fact my girlfriend and I go there religiously every weekend that we can. We hit up all 4-5 in the city for "deals". I've been to them in many states and they always are like retail with the prices marked insanely high. I went to one today in Kansas City and they wanted $29.99 for a PS1 without the RCA connects built in (looking for an original for modification). Thats crazy! I bought a PS1 for $3 at the Goodwill near me. Last year I went in and saw a complete NAD setup (112 preamp, tuner, cdp, 114 amp) for $65. All in great condition all parts functional. Needless to say I picked I rolled a cart out with it immediately.

Let's hope a pair of Polk speakers ends up there. I've spent probably $5000 at Goodwill in the past year or two simply because I cannot get the stuff cheaper anywhere else. Last week I got a mint Diana Krall live cd for $1 and it shines in my 2 channel setup with said NAD amp + B&W DM2000.

What got me hooked? I rolled up one day and saw Rock Band PS3 for $20 in box and Guitar Hero 3 360 for $10 in box (when it just hit market). Around these parts the Walmarts and Targets donate their return items to Goodwill as a tax writeoff. The employees there mark stuff ridiculously low (which is a good business practice actually since no matter what you pay for it, it's 100% profit margin) so I feel good in contributing to their helping/training the needy. I hate the Goodwills that mark stuff up so high that no one will ever buy it.

[kevhed72]

[QUOTE=thsmith;1100578]I use Triton X114 as a surfactant and if you decide to use the Laura Dearbon's formula I will send you enough for several gallons. I add 8 drops to a gallon.

I appreciate the offer. I did a little research on cleaning and found you show clean an album every time before playing it....even if it appears to be OK...is this correct?

[hearingimpared]

[QUOTE=thsmith;1100578]I use Triton X114 as a surfactant and if you decide to use the Laura Dearbon's formula I will send you enough for several gallons. I add 8 drops to a gallon.

I appreciate the offer. I did a little research on cleaning and found you show clean an album every time before playing it....even if it appears to be OK...is this correct?

Yes you should clean each LP before playing.

[CaligulaPolk]

wish goodwill offer cheap gasoline :(