How to be a smart shopper

[George M. Middius[_4_]]

Arnii Krooger has so much to teach us dimwitted Normals. Like the fools
Arnii has so often shown us to be, we foolishly guard our money and buy what
we want only when the price is right. The Krooborg is much smarter than we
are, though. Arnii knows it's more important to pay MORE than the going rate
for something you want. Yes, this bit of wisdom appears counterintuitive to
us Normals who actually work for our money. We don't share the Kroo's
fabulous luck in winning free airfare to New York, nor in swapping our
subpar recording skills for free fast food from McDonald's. Arnii Krooger is
simply a paragon of smart shopping. I can prove this with a real-world
example. Here's what Arnii purchased:

SONY MDR-V900DJ V900 DJ Headphone
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170276397913>

Turdy cleverly purchased this item for $51 delivered. Only a foolish Normal
would dream of purchasing the same item in the same condition for $47
delivered:
<http://www.ioffer.com/i/77688846>

Moreover, it would be utterly idiotic to buy these 'phones from another
seller in China and pay only $37:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-SONY-MDR-V700-STUDIO-DJ-CD-HEADPHONES-FOR-MP3-MP4_W0QQitemZ220349113449QQihZ012QQcategoryZ14985Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem>


I assume all of you Normals are as ashamed as I am of being pecunious in the
face of Arnii Krooger's wondrous profligacy.

[UnsteadyKen[_3_]]

George M. Middius wrote...

> I assume all of you Normals are as ashamed as I am of being pecunious in the
> face of Arnii Krooger's wondrous profligacy.

I had noticed in the photograph to which he recently posted a link that
Arny was not dressed as I expected, in a sensible outfit of rags and
old feed sacks but appeared to be wearing store bought clothes which
may have been chosen not for practicality and durability reasons but
merely to make himself look good.
Could he be a closet Clothophile?

--
Ken

[UnsteadyKen[_3_]]

wrote...

> Actually, it's possible today for a man or woman to spend less on
> well made existing clothes and actually look presentable than it would
> be to buy "rags and old feed sacks". Used clothing, except for certain
> old vintage items is nearly valueless. Even in perfect condition.
>
> I fix stereo equipment and other stuff up for a couple of dimwitted
> but basically decent solus who work at the thrift stores' sorting and
> distribution nexii and in return get all I want free. A female friend
> repairs or alters those items I need and I change her oil and fix her
> lawnmower and so forth. I think I spent less than fifty dollars in
> 2008 for clothing, including socks and briefs.

I'm a keen thrift shopper myself, you never know what gems you'll come
across, especially in the CD LP boxes.

Charity shops; as they are known over here don't accept electrical
items any more due to the EU health and safety police insisting that
all such items undergo stringent and expensive safety tests before
sale. It's not worth their while.

--
Ken

http://www.geocities.com/unsteadyken/

[Jenn[_3_]]

In article
>,
ScottW > wrote:

> On Jan 29, 2:50*pm, UnsteadyKen > wrote:
> > * wrote...
> > > *Actually, it's possible today for a man or woman to spend less on
> > > well made existing clothes and actually look presentable than it would
> > > be to buy "rags and old feed sacks". Used clothing, except for certain
> > > old vintage items is nearly valueless. Even in perfect condition.
> >
> > > *I fix stereo equipment and other stuff up for a couple of dimwitted
> > > but basically decent solus who work at the thrift stores' sorting and
> > > distribution nexii and in return get all I want free. A female friend
> > > repairs or alters those items I need and I change her oil and fix her
> > > lawnmower and so forth. I think I spent less than fifty dollars in
> > > 2008 for clothing, including socks and briefs.
> >
> > I'm a keen thrift shopper myself, you never know what gems you'll come
> > across, especially in the CD LP boxes.
> >
> > Charity shops; as they are known over here don't accept electrical
> > items any more due to the EU health and safety police insisting that
> > all such items undergo stringent and expensive safety tests before
> > sale. It's not worth their while.
>
> Wow....that really sucks. Are there no used audio shops
> at all?
> There's a few pawn shops around and it's always interesting
> to see what gear they get. Espeicially
> downtown by the naval base. Lots of stuff hauled home
> by the sailers from around the world and pawned.
> It's amazing what they let these guys haul home on an
> aircraft carrier :).


One used to be able to find great deals on instruments and other things
at pawn shops, but less often these days, because they check ebay to
find what things really should sell for.

[UnsteadyKen[_3_]]

ScottW wrote...

> Wow....that really sucks. Are there no used audio shops
> at all?

Oh yes but they are few and far between and factor the testing
into the prices so bargains are hard to come by.
The regulations don't apply to private sellers so small ads in the
local rag and Ebay are the best bet.

> There's a few pawn shops around and it's always interesting
> to see what gear they get. Espeicially
> downtown by the naval base. Lots of stuff hauled home
> by the sailers from around the world and pawned.
> It's amazing what they let these guys haul home on an
> aircraft carrier :).

The joys of duty free. At one time in Germany I was sharing
with a couple of fellow hi-fi fans and we had 3 quadraphonic
setups in one room, 2 vinyl and one reel to reel and none worth the
effort.

--
Ken

http://www.geocities.com/unsteadyken/

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

On Jan 29, 11:16*pm, ScottW > wrote:
> On Jan 29, 2:50*pm, UnsteadyKen > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > * wrote...
> > > *Actually, it's possible today for a man or woman to spend less on
> > > well made existing clothes and actually look presentable than it would
> > > be to buy "rags and old feed sacks". Used clothing, except for certain
> > > old vintage items is nearly valueless. Even in perfect condition.
>
> > > *I fix stereo equipment and other stuff up for a couple of dimwitted
> > > but basically decent solus who work at the thrift stores' sorting and
> > > distribution nexii and in return get all I want free. A female friend
> > > repairs or alters those items I need and I change her oil and fix her
> > > lawnmower and so forth. I think I spent less than fifty dollars in
> > > 2008 for clothing, including socks and briefs.
>
> > I'm a keen thrift shopper myself, you never know what gems you'll come
> > across, especially in the CD LP boxes.
>
> > Charity shops; as they are known over here don't accept electrical
> > items any more due to the EU health and safety police insisting that
> > all such items undergo stringent and expensive safety tests before
> > sale. It's not worth their while.
>
> *Wow....that really sucks. *Are there no used audio shops
> at all?
> *There's a few pawn shops around and it's always interesting
> to see what *gear they get. *Espeicially
> downtown by the naval base. Lots of stuff hauled home
> by the sailers from around the world and pawned.
> It's amazing what they let these guys haul home on an
> aircraft carrier :).

It's probably not taken home on a carrier. I'd guess they're from PCS
moves.

I could be wrong. Even the rank insignia is upside-down in the Navy.

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

On Jan 29, 11:29*pm, Jenn > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
>
>
>
>
> *ScottW > wrote:
> > On Jan 29, 2:50*pm, UnsteadyKen > wrote:
> > > * wrote...
> > > > *Actually, it's possible today for a man or woman to spend less on
> > > > well made existing clothes and actually look presentable than it would
> > > > be to buy "rags and old feed sacks". Used clothing, except for certain
> > > > old vintage items is nearly valueless. Even in perfect condition.
>
> > > > *I fix stereo equipment and other stuff up for a couple of dimwitted
> > > > but basically decent solus who work at the thrift stores' sorting and
> > > > distribution nexii and in return get all I want free. A female friend
> > > > repairs or alters those items I need and I change her oil and fix her
> > > > lawnmower and so forth. I think I spent less than fifty dollars in
> > > > 2008 for clothing, including socks and briefs.
>
> > > I'm a keen thrift shopper myself, you never know what gems you'll come
> > > across, especially in the CD LP boxes.
>
> > > Charity shops; as they are known over here don't accept electrical
> > > items any more due to the EU health and safety police insisting that
> > > all such items undergo stringent and expensive safety tests before
> > > sale. It's not worth their while.
>
> > *Wow....that really sucks. *Are there no used audio shops
> > at all?
> > *There's a few pawn shops around and it's always interesting
> > to see what *gear they get. *Espeicially
> > downtown by the naval base. Lots of stuff hauled home
> > by the sailers from around the world and pawned.
> > It's amazing what they let these guys haul home on an
> > aircraft carrier :).
>
> One used to be able to find great deals on instruments and other things
> at pawn shops, but less often these days, because they check ebay to
> find what things really should sell for.

Best pawn shop finds: a 1968 Deluxe Reverb amp for $60. I sold that
for $500 a few years ago. A US-made 1952 reissue Telecaster for $300,
original case and tax included. I play it regularly. A 1974 Jazz bass,
$200 tax and case included. I sold that as well.

I still find things at pawn shops, but you're right. They know the
value now. I doubt they loan based on that value though.