Thread: Dumpster finds

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Ok... I have NEVER been dumpster diving before but over the weekend I began to wonder what the various, seasonal, Halloween stores do with their stuff once they finally close their doors for the season.
My curiosity got the better of me so I plucked up the courage to take a peek in my most local stores dumpster, perchance there was anything 'of interest'!
Lo and behold, 2 trips later, I am now the proud owner of some 30+ costumes, 6-8 wigs and various other props! It was like Halloween/Christmas morning at my house lol! Most of the items were still in their packaging too! I'll post pics when I fathom out how to!
Anyone else have a similar story?

I wish I were to do that. I think it would be to late to do that though.. right?

What stores did you go to? Any national?

Id love to find costumes just because if they had masks I would use a lot of them for props.

OH and I see your from or live, or visit Bedford, TX?!!? I live in Dallas now but used to live in Coppell, Tx. Are you from there or the UK?

yeah, back in high school I bugged the management of Rite Aid to death over a display. I still have it....its in my parents attic lol. It has a painting of a wizard casting a spell, and says "spellbinding savings"
I just cant bear to part with it. but the thing is so big there arent many places to put it

I'm not aware of many dumpsters out of view of passing traffic, thats the thing. someone would see lol.

I seriously considered it when a Target store I was in told me that the display witch they had was going to trash and they wouldn't heavily discount it for me..and in fact even drove around to the back of the store that night to see if they just set it out by the dumpster..but they had enclosed dumpsters with what I would guess was a compactor, so that was a wash. Plus, security cameras were in use back there, and I didn't really want to end up on Candid Camera.

The past few years Target had some cool cardboard point of sale displays. This year the display was pretty lame so I didn't get any of it. But last year they had some cool cardboard coffins that had shelves inside so they could display halloween items that were for sale. Two years ago they had a Edgar and Ellen display. The display was of Edgar and Ellens spooky looking castle style home with each one of them in a window. The Edgar and Ellen characters rocked back and forth like they were peeking out of the windows. The display was about 10 feet tall, but very cool. When I saw them putting up the Edgar and Ellen display I talked to the employees and ask what I needed to do to aquire some of the display? They sent me to the manager and he said I could have it after halloween when they take the display down. He took my name and phone number and called me when I could pick up the display. They had set it aside for me and all I had to do was come pick it up. Last year I did the same thing. They remebered me from the previous year and did the same thing for me again. I scored 2 cardboard coffins. Maybe I got lucky and just got a cool manager? But I know the other Targets in the area also give away their point of sale displays on a first come, first serve basis. I know this because I went to a few other Targets to try and get more coffins last year, but they informed me someone else already had dibs on them. In fact one store gave their entire display to a local elementary school to use for their school plays. So, my advise is to ask. Whats the worst that could happen? They might say no? But its worth a try.

I remember people talking about that last season, and then saying they went back later and the dumpsters were locked... or maybe other people went and theirs were locked??

I can't believe the stores throw all that out, they are definately the ones who are insane.

most of the halloween city, spirits, etc are in buildings that are empty the other 11 months of the year. I can't see them having cameras. I'm going to try to check some out today.

Originally Posted by Sinister Sid

The past few years Target had some cool cardboard point of sale displays. This year the display was pretty lame so I didn't get any of it. But last year they had some cool cardboard coffins that had shelves inside so they could display halloween items that were for sale. Two years ago they had a Edgar and Ellen display. The display was of Edgar and Ellens spooky looking castle style home with each one of them in a window. The Edgar and Ellen characters rocked back and forth like they were peeking out of the windows. The display was about 10 feet tall, but very cool. When I saw them putting up the Edgar and Ellen display I talked to the employees and ask what I needed to do to aquire some of the display? They sent me to the manager and he said I could have it after halloween when they take the display down. He took my name and phone number and called me when I could pick up the display. They had set it aside for me and all I had to do was come pick it up. Last year I did the same thing. They remebered me from the previous year and did the same thing for me again. I scored 2 cardboard coffins. Maybe I got lucky and just got a cool manager? But I know the other Targets in the area also give away their point of sale displays on a first come, first serve basis. I know this because I went to a few other Targets to try and get more coffins last year, but they informed me someone else already had dibs on them. In fact one store gave their entire display to a local elementary school to use for their school plays. So, my advise is to ask. Whats the worst that could happen? They might say no? But its worth a try.

I've done this at Target for a couple of years in a row, though not this year or last.

I have 4 VERY LARGE plastic masks that look like the classic Ben Cooper type masks we wore as kids. I've got a princess, 2 firefighters & one clown. They're HUGE 4'X4', the firefighters may even be wider. I have no idea what to do with them but I can't part with them & will eventually end up posting a thread about what I should do with them.

I also have a few cardboard things from them. They called me & I came to pick them up. Sometimes someone else has dibs, but for the most part I think they trash that stuff.

So cool!!
I wish we had a store nearby I wouldn't be to proud to rummage.

I work for CVS one nite out of the week and usually the employees stake claims to the "displays". Last year we had hanging bats I wanted but someone claimed them first. :-(