Surplus Store Shopping
Posted by: TammyMy family and I went to a neighborhood part a few weeks ago. I was asking one of our ‘neighbors’ (I use that term loosely because we live in the country where neighbor is a relative term) who works in restaurant supply about obtaining stainless steel lasagna pans for boiling down maple sap in the spring. He told me he could get them for me but that I should look at getting used pans through the University of CT Surplus Store. I had NO clue what he was talking about but he quickly explained about this store.
The UCONN Surplus store is a catch all for anything surplus or used but still serviceable that the university clears about. It’s only open one day a month right now and it’s cash only. My husband and I went there last month and couldn’t believe what we found!
- used stainless steel and aluminum cookware and warming trays
- used computers and computer equipment
- used sports gear (clothing and some equipment)
- floor washing and waxing machine
- brand new toilets (thank goodness those were new
) - brand new cups and plates from the conference center
- used gym equipment like weight lifting equipment and step-machines
- church pews (not sure how these were surplus but there were at least 12 to snag)
- dorm-style headboard/bookcases
- desks-big, small, wooden and metal
- microscopes
- 30 plus copies of some book on criticizing poetry for only $1 each (evidently it wasn’t too popular to criticize poetry)
There was so much there! We also managed to find two sets of cherry wood wall-mounted coat racks with silver hooks. We had priced something similar at the hardware store for about $35 each ($70 for both) At the surplus store we got them for only $10 each! That was a savings of $50! They are now on the wall on the landing handling raincoats and such for the boys. Somehow I think they look better, probably because they only cost $20 instead of $70!
Our haul included steak knives for our camper. $1 each. We found tall, slim UCONN gym pants for my middle son who is ridiculously tall and slim. $10. Oh and yes, I DID find those stainless steel lasagna pans. I had priced pans online for anywhere from $36 to $138! I wasn’t even sure if all of them were stainless steel, which I do need to handle the heat of maple sugaring. I managed to get 2 pans there for only $10! $5 each.
In the end, I began to wonder if all major universities have such surplus centers. I know that some states offer up surplus stores. It might be worth your time and a few minutes online to search out such surplus stores in your state. I know I’ve already marked the calendar for net month’s open day. I’m hoping for a few more pans and part of me is still wondering what I could possibly do with surplus church pews.
March 14th, 2010 at 9:50 am
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