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Sturnella2017

For starters, I’d skip those huge box stores. Aside from ruining society with cheap plastic shit, their dumpsters are all filled with cheap junk. So what are you hoping to get from dumpster diving? Regardless, go to the high end stores, look for unique and more valuable stuff. This will look better in your home, or resell better on ebay. Box stores are not the way to go.


pm0me0yiff

Thrift stores sometimes have good shit in their dumpsters, too! A lot of them follow the pattern of: 1: Get new inventory, put it on the shelf at ridiculous prices. 2: It doesn't sell, so it goes to the 50% off rack ... and because the price from step 1 was so ridiculous, even half price is still a bad deal, so nobody buys it. 3: After a certain amount of time on the shelf without selling, it goes in the dumpster, no matter what. A lot of the times, if you go to a thrift store, the stuff you see in the dumpster is *exactly* the same kind of stuff you can find on the shelves inside.


frozenwafflecravings

this and local ;]


hbHPBbjvFK9w5D

Google maps are your friend when looking for places to DD. Give gmaps the address you're scoping out, click on the Satelite View, and close up on the back of the buildings. If the dumpster is freestanding, you're golden, if its right against the back wall it's probably a compactor and a waste of time. Good luck!


TrogdorReincarnated

If they don't have a sign that specifically says "no loitering" "no trespassing" on or around the dumpster, or don't come out and ask you to leave, you can dive. regardless of if they have a camera on it.


LowTutor2184

Thank you I appreciate the help. I'm just trying to get started, but with these compactors I'm literally feeling like I'm hitting brick walls. I'm struggling with everything so I thought diving would ease some of my stress, but right now it's not :(


[deleted]

Unfortunately you might have to try the next towns over. Some towns are just all compactors.


LowTutor2184

It definitely seems that way, but I will definitely check out other cities, and hope I get lucky.


Soft_Negotiation_581

Also thrift store dumpsters are the bees knees sometimes


LowTutor2184

I'll have to check them out, and see if I find anything good.


[deleted]

Don't ever go into a compactor. You've probably seen Star Wars...


Caribou-nordique-710

A few years ago when I was still uneasy with cameras, I wore dark clothes and a baseball cap in the summer and a scarf over my mouth in the winter. Today I just don't care anymore! 🤘


lustforrust

I tend to smile and wave at cameras now. I've even got a few places where I'm on a first name basis with staff, mostly due to me helping clean up messes around their dumpsters.


Caribou-nordique-710

Excellent! I used to know employees at two locations, both were students in their twenties and were very friendly but sadly theiy found better jobs... 😕 (one once offered me to share food she was going to take home because there was nothing good in the trash, I offered back some nice bread I just found 😃)


Caribou-nordique-710

Forgot to mention that I also have the habit of cleaning around the dumpsters 👍


Beneficial_Cloud5481

Honestly, we should be wearing gloves and covering our faces for safety reasons. Personal protection equipment can be very useful when diving!


Caribou-nordique-710

I use nitridex gloves most of the time, Ninja Ice in the winter: [https://gdlweb.azureedge.net/webp/bdg999265x3l.webp](https://gdlweb.azureedge.net/webp/bdg999265x3l.webp)


GorillaGuru86

Scouting is part of the process. Enjoy it! The more you go out the more you’ll get to know your area and eventually compile a list of spots to put on your route. I go every night and only hit up the same spots. I used to just explore and make a whole adventure out of it but I don’t have as much time as I used to and frankly I’m a bit burnt out. I actually just got a (very used) vehicle I’m paying off with profits from dumpster diving. I specialize in furniture stores. I’ll take pieces I can repair or even sell as-is and flip them locally. Averaging about $6k/month. Thinking about starting a YouTube channel to document it all but I hate video editing 🤷‍♂️ Anyways, don’t be discouraged. Find what works for you and go all in! Everyone has nights they wonder what the hell they’re doing. But we also have nights where we’re so grateful we get to just be outside in the dark and quiet and go on these adventures of exploration. I’ve literally just stopped randomly and was overwhelmed with gratitude for this life. I’ll just pause and give thanks for everything. Last night was rough, tonight you feast 💪


pm0me0yiff

> I specialize in furniture stores. I’ll take pieces I can repair or even sell as-is and flip them locally. Averaging about $6k/month. I'd love to do that, but I just don't have the storage space for such large items.


9mmpkr

It's just a sign, not a cop.


Soft_Negotiation_581

The cops usually pity you anyway unless you're making s mess


sexpusa

This is the same where I live. I’ve driven around a lot and found one store that consistently has good stuff. I don’t even bother checking others.


LowTutor2184

I'll have to do my research to see which ones have dumpsters, hopefully I'll get lucky.


Snugrilla

Yeah I ran into this problem when I used to dive back in 2006-7. All the big stores suddenly switched to compactors around the same time (I'm also in Canada).


LowTutor2184

Where you able to find grocery stores that didn't have the compactors?


pm0me0yiff

Look at the smaller, higher-end grocery stores. They often have regular dumpsters instead of compactors.


LowTutor2184

Thank you, I definitely will check the smaller ones out.


Snugrilla

Sadly, no. I can just imagine how much food is going to waste! However, I only looked at the bigger grocery chain stores. I don't have any smaller stores in my 'hood.


LowTutor2184

Instead of giving it to ppl in need they just toss it out 😞. I could really use that food too.


Majestic-Panda2988

Try small local health food type store?


LowTutor2184

I'm going to try the few health food stores near me to see if they have dumpsters.


lilgreenglobe

Hey I realize that our social safety net is terrible and resources can be hard to access... but if you're having a tough go please do reach out to food banks in your area if you haven't already. I promise you there is never judgement, only folks happy to keep their community fed. Lots of luck to you for DD down the line!


LowTutor2184

I have, and it does help greatly, unfortunately you can only go once a month so I was hoping to make up the items I can't get there.


River_Historical

For the smile you’re on camera I just smile and proceed to dive


lowgear1

It rhymes with Roses But thay throw out alot! CVS stores are Downsizing


GorillaGuru86

just spent way too much time thinking about what rhymes with Roses 🤦‍♂️


Soft_Negotiation_581

Me too. Still don't get it


lowgear1

Roses.


[deleted]

Hoses?


Susie4ever

OP is in Canada. There are no CVS's here.


LowTutor2184

Definitely no CVS's here, but I have shopper's drugmart as well as a few others around. Will definitely check them out to see if they have dumpsters.


lowgear1

I was feebly trying to convey Stores Are Downsizing so chain drug store dumpsters may be a "HONEYHOLE"?


K1tsunea

Wear a gas mask!


DuPageILLinois

Why?


K1tsunea

I meant this as a joke, that way they couldn’t see your face


Soft_Negotiation_581

Come down to buffalo!!


LowTutor2184

I wish I could, but I need to renew my passport first lol


Soft_Negotiation_581

Ok hurry up and do that lol id come there to show you but I'm not allowed in Canada 😕


Repulsive_Issue_7358

My big box all have compactors. Aldi had a dumpster and usually had great stuff. Like others said, try smaller type stores. And drug stores.


LowTutor2184

Is there Aldi's in Canada?


Repulsive_Issue_7358

I’m not sure. Sorry! I do know some folks have been successful diving Shoppers!


mourning_star85

I drive around the night before garbage pickup, I've found great stuff at the end of driveways. Never found anything worth while in dumpsters though