Where to buy used remotes in Silicon Valley

December 10, 2010 11:07 AM

SiliconValleyThriftStoreFilter: Looking for a replacement TV remote control. Would like to paw through bins of very cheap, old remotes. Where can I do this?

Wasn't so long ago that the big thrift stores here had lots of electronics -- but now, there's hardly any (at least at the ones I know). What happened? Why was all the old eWaste cleared out? Where did it all go? (India?) Are California thrift stores maybe no longer accepting eWaste?

Maybe I should I try that Weird Stuff Warehouse again? Previously when I went there I was very disappointed, because there wasn't any actually weird stuff, just a bunch of electronics.

posted by Rash to Shopping (4 answers total)

I'd probably try the ass-back of the warehouse at Weird Stuff.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 11:28 AM on December 10, 2010

Grocery stores, drug stores, and big box stores sell cheap (~$5) universal remotes. I think thats a much better bet than scouring thrift stores.
posted by The Lamplighter at 11:57 AM on December 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

Best answer: HalTed on Ryder street in Santa Clara has a better collection of weird stuff than Weird Stuff does.

The best place to paw through random old remotes and other junked vintage electronics is the Silicon Valley Electronics Flea Market held on the second Saturday of the month at DeAnza college in Cupertino. The Flea Market is on hiatus through the winter months, but picks back up again in March.
posted by toxic at 12:34 PM on December 10, 2010

Response by poster: Right, the Flea Market -- one of these (second Satur)days I've got to check it out.

But I didn't realize the universals had become so cheap, Lamplighter -- that may be where I end up.
posted by Rash at 4:06 PM on December 10, 2010