Cheap Electronics

[bicostp]

I found a fairly unorthodox new use for Happy Meal/Kids Meal toys: circuitry cannibalization.

My kid sister got some light-up top the other day at McDonald's. We were going to throw it away, when I took it. As soon as we got home, I took a hacksaw to it. Inside was:

a bright red LED
impact switch
on/off switch
button cell battery
button cell battery holder

All this for a measley $1.50! And that's including the food.

It seems as though The Salvation Army / Goodwill stores have these in plentiful supply, and at a quarter each, you usually get the stuff above, sometimes a speaker is included. The newer "video games" (more like game-and-watch games) are even more fun, because they almost always have tact switches, an on/off switch, speakers, batteries, and sometimes LEDs.

Not a bad assortment of goods for stuff people throw away!

[nos_slived]

I know. The stuff that McDonnalds uses cost like a penny, but it is awesome stuff. I remember the old Inspector Gadget toys from there, and I have so much junk that I am set for life. Usually McDonnalds even has order forms so you can buy the toys for like a nickle, without the meals.

[bicostp]

What do they do with all those things at the end of the offer? throw them away. Besides us clever people, the only other person who would search the dumpster would be the cook.

I wonder if you can ask them for all the old toys at the end of the month? (Just say you're donating them to some charity or some other excuse.)

[nos_slived]

I don't think that many places trash them, I think most either donate them or sell them by order form.