Nastiest thing you ever found in a dusty tag sale score?

red237

We've all seen it. The marbles, used bandaids and other unmentionables in those dusty tag sale bins we have bought.  You overlook them, for the rare minifigure or two, the Harry Potter unbuilt sets that loom through the corners.  Thought I had experienced the ultimate when I found some random child's palate expander in one.  But just now, I can't even handle it - what appears to be some dehydrated former skin of a rodent, and various parts - and I was already part way through the bin.  Mostly with gloves, mostly!!

AllBrick

Rummaging through boxes of random toys can unearth some smells and such. One time I picked out a load of loose bricks only to find that a cat had urinated in the box. I thought it was water. That and bits of food and hairs

madforLEGO

AllBrick said:

Rummaging through boxes of random toys can unearth some smells and such. One time I picked out a load of loose bricks only to find that a cat had urinated in the box. I thought it was water. That and bits of food and hairs

Yeah, stuff I hope was chocolate, band aids. tons of hair, what could have been bleach or detergent that was not rinsed off properly, what I hope was a piece of dirt tangled up in hair and not something else.. yeah, used to wear gloves handling some lots, and probably should revert back to that.

SprinkleOtter

Gum, gum-figures (don't ask...), other stuff I have purged from my memory...

My favorite "nasty thing" was a bunch of thumbtacks, inside of a Tic-Tac dispenser. That got quite a few laugh from everyone I showed it to.

legomental

I bought a box of playmobil on eBay for my eldest child and it was filthy. Accompanied by old crisps, dog hair, a nice smell of smoke and a general layer of grime was a condom out of its packet. I don't think it was used but it has made me very twitchy about buying second hand stuff and is why I favour opening those retired sets regardless of the 'cost'/lost profit. I never ever wish to find a dead rodent or cat urine 

Fauch

I find it crazy that people would dare selling something in such a state

JudgeChuck

^ I'm never surprised by how disgusting some people can be. Where you work, for example, you'd think that perhaps people would have some level of cleanliness, but the state of the toilets that some people leave them in is unbelievable. It's perhaps a minor thing, but it never ceases to amaze me. In a bad way.

SumoLego

Every time I've bought a mixed lot of Lego - always a marble, a nickel and hard candy with two studs stuck to it.

(Aside from hair, dust and odd globs.)

SprinkleOtter

^ Yeah, I really don't understand why people keep change in with their LEGO parts...

ecmo47

I chronicled one such "score" here:

http://bricksetforum.com/discussion/19468/craigslist-part-buy-a-cautionary-tale#latest


 

SprinkleOtter

^ ... All I have to say is: how did you not notice any of that junk when you met? ;)

legomental

ecmo47 said:

I chronicled one such "score" here:

http://bricksetforum.com/discussion/19468/craigslist-part-buy-a-cautionary-tale#latest

 

Yuk that's vile. People have no respect for their own belongings let alone others who have to share things (like toilets) or by said belongings.

Why do people keep coins and batteries in with boxes of lego? Is it to reflect the cost or do they try to improve the build quality in some way??

Jezzatheshed

I thought I had found it all until recently when among the usual marbles and hamster droppings I found two teeth. 

catwrangler

Part of me is thinking, "Why did I break down and read this thread?" 

Another part of me is thinking, "It's been worth reading this thread if it makes me cautious about buying Lego mixed with dubious extras!"

willobee498

Thank you for reminding me to not buy used lots. They often seem tempting, but euuugghhh.

SumoLego

^^^ Bonus Toothfairy money!  Score!

ecmo47

SprinkleOtter said:

^ ... All I have to say is: how did you not notice any of that junk when you met? ;)

I did notice but it did really seem that bad standing in the parking lot in the rain! Also, after driving 1.5 hours to the pickup location, it's hard to go home empty-handed.