How I did it: I located several dumpsters outside of a mall that can be easily accessed from the parking lot. This is unusual. Most modern malls make it impossible to access the stores' trash bins. You must find an older shopping center for this strategy to be successful.

Lessons & tips:

• You've got to find a dumpster that you can actually get access to. Many of them are sealed such that you can't get in them. You also don't want a dumpster that just has garbage. It needs to be a "dry" dumpster that mostly contains non-saleable merchandise.
• Broken glass can be a bane of your experience. Be very cautious when you suspect broken glass may be present. Gloves may help.
• Used coffee cups are another bane - a nearly but not quite empty latte cup can ruin otherwise fine merch with sour milk and coffee stains.
• Dumpster diving is considered dangerous or illegal. Do not go when it's dark; they'll think you're attempting burglary, and you're more likely to get into trouble. During open hours, security is more present; you're more likely to run into store personnel dumping things, who are likely to rat on you. Your best time to go is in the morning before the mall opens. It's daylight, but security is sparse.
• You can use a look-out for security, but then you might have to split the spoils. Put your stuff in bags (usually helpfully located in the dumpster) that you want to keep, so you can just grab them and run if necessary. If you're caught, jumping out and apologizing usually will get you off the hook.
• You need to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. You also should wear clothes that allow you to jump into the dumpster and move around in it. Boots are a good idea to protect your feet and help you maintain a grip on the sides of the dumpster for both entry and exit

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Mar 07, 2010, 04:48PM PST | 0 comments | 12 cheers