Thread: TIPS and advice on How and where to get props very cheap, or even free!

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In the last 3 years, I expanded my collection 10 times, and for not that much money. I even past my capacity and will need to trim it down later this year.

Like most people here, I don't have much money to spend and I found ways to score props and entire haunts at 50%, 75% or even free!

Here a list of tips and advice that I can offer to everyone.



Searching the local internet sites!

Kijiji.ca is been a great source of mine! I recently discover that you must check by cities, and not province only. For some reason, many listing won't show when you verify only by province.

Used(your city).com. Not as good as Kijiji, but still a good source, as someone won't post on both.

http://www.searchtempest.com/ (Craiglist). I never scored anything on it, but I seen people here finding amazing scores!

TIP!!! : When askign a person about the ad, make sure to ask what else they have, because many times, they will have more stuff to sell, not advertised.

TIP!! : Don't bother when you see the add mentionning in last, "halloween decorations", listed with many random items. Mostly, it will be a few crappy stuff, that it's 99% waste of your time. The best adds are when Halloween is mentionned as one major key things for sale, in the add. Don't be afraid to ask info or pics. Nothing is more dissapointing than arriving at a garage sale and finding nothing worth getting. Waste of gas and time.

How to get free stuff.

Same as above, sometimes, they are advertised. Don't be shy! Some might be junk, but sometime, it's worth it! Me and Doto, we scored big time a few weeks ago, and the add was a few weeks there, nobody responded but me. We scored an entire huge haunt, all for free! Yes, at start, it look like ****, until we started digging and found a gold mine, under the crap. Was worth it!

Also, if you see an add, but they are asking way to much, wait after the date of the garage sale and call or email them, asking it the items are still for sale. realising they are still stuck with the items, they will sell it way cheaper, or even give it away! Happen to me last year, my first free haul!

Free wood! Check your local lumber yard for free wood bin, or even business park, many have damage crates free in the back.

TIP : make sure to wear some cloths you might get dirty, and gloves might help too, just in case. and garbage bags! Don't forget those!

How to score props at 50% to 90% off from stores.

Of course, after Halloween. many stores will put stuff on clearance. But did you know in September to October, some store will have left overs from last year, also on major clearance, for the new stock to arrive.

TIP! : Ask the manager for deals! Many time, they want to clear the stuff out. Forget the cashers and workers around, they don't know **** most of the time. Go for the head and explain how since Halloween is over, no one but you will want this prop. Many time, they ask me how much I would pay. Slowly looking at the prop, finding huge deffects (bullshiting helps too), give him a very low price. Many will bite (like I got the butler and wicth for only 25$ each, instead of 200$ each).

Dollar stores are your best friends!

You don't need to spend a lot also, foam balls makes great eyeballs. Many people can creat lots of cool things, using little money. Just use your imagination! Ask how could you use wire hangers, plastic pots and pool noodles!

Stores specials and printable coupons!

Check Micheal's web sites for coupons. Also, Spirit have some coupons during Halloween time. Check around!

Hope this help's out.

Please post any tips and advise you also have!

JM

Now we turn to the subject of how to get cool Halloween stuff for free and illegally!

JUST KIDDING. Don't steal, folks.

Sometimes just driving around a sub around garbage day can get you some major add on scores. I've gotten a hold of some old aged baby feeding chairs and straw wicker crib for my Zombie Babies that way. Also got a hold of a old wheelchair for placing a corpse in with cobwebs. Found a large scarecrow, child size skeleton (fake you sickos), and lots of plastics pumpkins/jack o'lanterns. Today alone, I just got over 28 aluminum pipes to make a cage of some sort for this year.

Offer for trade your extra equipment or tools for those that are selling. I had one guy that wanted a leaf blower and I had two.

And if you are a hot ch..CENSOR, CENSOR, CENSOR. ........

Dammit..... Carry on then..

Good tips. I have never found anything worth getting on any of the websites. I have had great luck at the community cleanup days most cities in my area have every Spring and Fall. There is usually a long line of vehicles waiting to get in. I just walk along the row with a sign asking if they have any of the items on my list and take a peek in the beds of their trucks. Lots of good paint, wood, tarps, furniture, PVC, pipe, sheets of metal/aluminum/plasic and many other things.

It's a community service too, since all of that stuff was on its way to the dumpster.

i am going to need to put those tips to work. I never get lucky like that.

Flea Markets are also great for old finds. I scored an old antique Pepsi box for the cost of a cold soda. And at the end of a long hot day many people are ready to dump their stuff so they can leave.

I forgot to mention used stores like Salvation Army and such. Sometimes, you can score big time too!

last year, I score a Transformer G1 Jetfire, complete in box, intact, still all new, paid 4$ for it. Sold it a week after, 125$!

Originally Posted by osenator

last year, I score a Transformer G1 Jetfire, complete in box, intact, still all new, paid 4$ for it. Sold it a week after, 125$!

That's a great idea! If you come across something that is a really good deal, even if you can't use it for Halloween, buy it to resell. You can use the profit to buy props. Last year there was a thread with someone having won an iPad in a raffle and wanting to know how to use it to control props. The correct answer was to sell it, buy a cheap laptop to run the props, and use the rest of the money for more props.

Don't forget about freecycle.org! Most places have one (if not in your specific town then the general region). I have asked for and received non-Halloween items for prop building or atmosphere (decorative bird cages, fake trees, Christmas lights, even a squid in a jar!) and have seen Halloween items offered. Right after I joined someone offered a full size plywood coffin but I missed out on it.

(1) Halloween Forum is your friend. Embrace it.

(1a) Threads like the 2011 Merchandise Spotting Thread, What Did You Find/Buy Today, and I Love A Good Yard Sale/Thrift Store find are gold for learning about clearance sales (yes, thrift stores have them too) and other great deals as they happen.

(1b) Read last year's Decorating on a Low Budget thread for ideas.

(1c) Work those sales and coupon subforums!!

(2) Shop year-round. Halloween things are a lot cheaper in January than in October, be they in a traditional retail store or a secondhand venue.

(3) Be creative. Look at how you can re-use an "ordinary" item at Halloween. A red LED candle purchased on super clearance after Christmas can easily be reemployed later in the year. I have built up a collection of amazing old ornate candleholders that are far nicer than anything typically sold at Halloween and paid a fraction of Halloween store cost, even on clearance.

(4) Remember: flat black spray paint can fix most things

(5) Visit Goodwill, Salvation Army Family Stores, Habitat for Humanity ReStores, and other thrift shops as often as you can - preferably once or twice a week per location if you can manage it. You will be astounded at the neat, interesting, and downright weird stuff that shows up over time.

(6) Garage sales, estate sales, and flea markets often yield even better finds than the thrift stores, especially late in the day.

(7) CurbMart can be spotty but amazing. Drive around the night before garbage pick-up, especially at locations that have held garage or estate sales the previous weekend. You will not believe the things people throw away.

(8) Use your credit card reward points for good, er, evil. Redeem them in the form of useful gift cards. I'm getting some wonderful crow decoys from Cabela's for opportunity cost this way.

(9) Don't sew? Doesn't matter! Trolling the aisles of thrift stores, especially SA, will yield an amazing array of costume-suitable clothing pieces, as well as actual Halloween costumes (often unused overstock items donated after the holiday). Almost every era of clothing has had some kind of modern revival that can be found for a few dollars. Most of the time they can be used as is, and if not, a hot glue gun and some fabric scraps can do the rest.