How do I get rid of a large TV no one wants?

July 10, 2006 5:18 PM

Advice for quickly disposing of a large TV?

I need to be out of my current apartment (Bloomington, IN) in a few days, and I've been trying to sell/give away an extremely bulky, heavy TV set for approximately a month. Many people have come to look at it and the universal conclusion they've all come to is that it's a big TV set... way too big.

So now I just want it out of my life. What's the best bet for getting rid of it with a minimum of hassle?

posted by logicpunk to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Call a charity, say they can have it for free if they'll come and get it? I assume the TV works. The Canadian Diabetic Association used to do pickup runs, maybe the American one will too.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 5:21 PM on July 10, 2006

Maybe try Freecycle?
posted by tastybrains at 5:31 PM on July 10, 2006

I second Dipsomaniac's suggestion. Also try area hospices, hospitals and retirement homes.

I've donated televisions, stereos, etc. which are greatly appreciated particularly for common living areas in their facilities.
posted by ericb at 5:32 PM on July 10, 2006

I can ask my roommates (in Bloomington). E-mail in profile.
posted by kyleg at 5:36 PM on July 10, 2006

I've found that lugging a TV to the curb with a sign that says "Free - Actually Works!" does the trick. A post on CraigsList (Free TV at ____ and ____) helps.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:39 PM on July 10, 2006

Craigslist maybe?

Dipsomaniac's advice on the charity is good too, plus you can write it off.
posted by bangitliketmac at 5:39 PM on July 10, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks for the advice all. As luck would have it, someone called for it 10 minutes after I posted and swears up and down they have the means and motivation to take the thing.

I have tried craigslist and IU classifieds; the problem isn't lack of interest in the TV... it's that no one believes that it's really that big before they see it.

I'm all for the charity option, my only concern being the pick-up aspect of it. Again, I really need to be rid of it, and at this point I'm not sure how much I'm going to trust the good will of some person or charitable organization who is not contractually obligated to remove it.
posted by logicpunk at 5:56 PM on July 10, 2006

Maybe, in Bloomington, you could find somebody who would like a giant tv for the lounge in their dorm.
posted by box at 5:59 PM on July 10, 2006

I've found that lugging a TV to the curb with a sign that says "Free - Actually Works!" does the trick.

It'd probably disappear sooner if the sign that said "For Sale - $250.00" Some thief will take it off the curb in a heartbeat.
posted by buggzzee23 at 6:11 PM on July 10, 2006

The Salvation Army will come to pick just about anything up if it's in working condition.
posted by Addlepated at 6:14 PM on July 10, 2006

Have you called the town DPW to see if they have electronics recycling/disposal program?
posted by alms at 10:25 AM on July 11, 2006