Yeah I tried that a couple of years ago on the local Gumtree and got a few responces. I think it's just the nature of Gumtree but expect some wierdos, and yes they want to dump printers and all sorts of rubbish on you, all the while telling you involved stories about their cats, or worse still... their dreams 🤣

I let the ad expire and didn't go back for more, but I did get a few things that were interesting out of.

It really does work. I have been successful with similar headings!

My experience is that you get three types of responses:

1. People who want to sell you stuff that is out of scope (old phones, TVs, radios, etc, etc)
2. People who think their 5 year old computer is "vintage"
3. People who wants 50 dollars for a Geforce 2MX

In The Netherlands I've placed a few wanted advertisements on a website that deals specifically with anything related to hardware and I did get a few responses and ended up with a couple nice cards...but I didn't really always get what I had hoped for. That was a couple years ago.

I was actually contemplating putting up a few adds again but the problem is that these days on that specific site, people are now aware that certain old hardware is more wanted then most of the other old "crap" (people asking €50 for 2 matched voodoo 2's and €50 for a good ASUS s478 board). They often don't get sold though. Theres still hope though, many parts can still be gotten cheap. We know what I could mean but obviously I'm not telling because I have this paranoid thought that these sellers are watching us... 🤣!

I think the trick is to make sure you're already well stocked before something starts getting more rare and more known 😜

This is quite simple and my new route, which I have no evidence will work, I think will lead to huge results. My wife works with this 27 year old woman who is a drop dead gorgeous blonde. This woman hangs out with NFL and NHL players here in my hometown. Very well liked and a huge Facebook following. I'm having my wife, who is good friends with her, ask her to put on her Facebook page that she has a friend who is looking for old computers. Before 2000. Working or not. My theory is that the retarded men who are obsessed with her will find this stuff and give it to her just to have a reason to talk to her. I think it's genius.

I tried a few times but never got anything out of it. The people that have relevant systems / parts look on eBay and then ask $100s. So that went nowhere. 😀 The other challenge is geography and the cost of transportation where I live. I have had better luck with free pick up items and some ads. Got a Tandy Sensation, CRTs and 100s of diskettes for free that way. 😀 And an IBM PS/2 and NEC PowerMate really cheap as well. If I were into Amiga, Apple, Commodore,TSR and so on it would be even easier to buy lots of stuff cheap but I am only interested in PCs.

I wouldn't use the word 'vintage'. Once you start using that, people get the idea that their old computers are worth more than they really are and they start wanting ridiculous amounts of money for them. "Old", "obsolete", "junk" or "scrap" would be better.

rodimus80 wrote:

My theory is that the retarded men who are obsessed with her will find this stuff and give it to her just to have a reason to talk to her. I think it's genius.

You're gonna be raking them in! 🤣

rodimus80 wrote:

This is quite simple and my new route, which I have no evidence will work, I think will lead to huge results. My wife works with this 27 year old woman who is a drop dead gorgeous blonde. This woman hangs out with NFL and NHL players here in my hometown. Very well liked and a huge Facebook following. I'm having my wife, who is good friends with her, ask her to put on her Facebook page that she has a friend who is looking for old computers. Before 2000. Working or not. My theory is that the retarded men who are obsessed with her will find this stuff and give it to her just to have a reason to talk to her. I think it's genius.

Haha...great idea, but to tell you the truth, a girl doesn't need to be that hot to get guys to respond to something like that...actually, just having an average looking girl do that will probably work better, because guys will think they may have an even better chance of scoring 🤣

Stiletto wrote:

rodimus80 wrote:

My theory is that the retarded men who are obsessed with her will find this stuff and give it to her just to have a reason to talk to her. I think it's genius.

You're gonna be raking them in! 🤣

I would reckon that most geeky types would be too awkward to talk to a girl who looks like she should be waiting tables at Hooters. This could turn out to be a very bad idea.

Today I got someone's old "junk" which he gave to me for free (or better said, as exchange for my advice). I helped him, he helped me and next week he's probably gonna give me the rest of his stuff. I already wrote in the "What retro hardware did you get?" thread about what I exactly got today.
Just having a friendly chat with someone may result in you getting stuff for free. I seen this happen multiple times during my dumpsterdivingdays also.
I used to have an acquaintance who I bought something from and we got into a chat together. At some point (after telling him it was my hobby/passion) he invited me over to his place and I would be allowed to dig through his old junk, first I bought a couple items and later (as the chat got more and more friendly) he gave some of his very-hard-to-sell stuff for free (like old Radeons and I think there was even a 3dfx card amongst the stuff).

It's a shame I lost contact with him, it would've been a steady supply of parts. But then again, I can't take everybody's stuff home with me or it will consume me. Right now I already need to take more stuff up into the attic (thank god for the attic! 😁 )because my house will again be swarmed with parts again 😵

When I lived in Pittsburgh I posted a want add on free cycle and got a ton of complete vintage systems for free, appleIIgs, apple IIC, AT&T PC clone, C64 bunch of other stuff. Moved to Phoenix which is a way bigger city and made the same post several times and 0, not a single bite.

AZ is a lot newer than PA. I find PA has lots more on offer when it comes to collectibles in general than AZ. The SW generally also has a lot more turn over in real estate than the NE. Very different ways of life. 😀