Anyone have experience with 1-800-GotJunk?

RedDamask

I'm moving and have to do a lot of downsizing. I was thinking about calling 1-800-GotJunk to take away some old furniture and appliances. Anyone have experience with them? I'm particularly interested in whether they will actually recycle my appliances, as they claim, or if that's just part of their sales pitch.

ceres

I've worked with them before. Could have been a better experience.

I'm not sure what kind of appliances you're talking about, but I would actually recommend that before you call someplace like GOTJUNK you give your local Habitat For Humanity a ring. Anything they won't take you can always have removed by a for-profit service that you have to pay for, but a charity will take what they can for free and the stuff is tax-deductible.

Enc

Same with the AmVets. They typically pick up working items for free.

firewaterword

I got a quote from them a few years ago while in the process of closing down an office. They were far and away the most expensive vendor I contacted. I can't speak to their service, since I went with a much more reasonable option.

I'd second the charity recommendation. From there I'd recommend looking for an independent "folks with a truck" sort of hauling advertisement. Some will just charge you for time/labor and have you pay any dump fees, others will wrap those fees into the price. Either way it should be less expensive than the got junk people.

Or, if you have the time and don't mind the hassle, maybe try posting stuff for free on craigslist or freecycle.

Oh and another thing as far as the appliances go - you may be able to contact your local municipal waste center or (in some cases, like refrigerators) your power supplier. You might even be able eligible for rebates or statement credits. Depending on the amount of stuff you have to get rid of, you might also consider renting a debris bin for a weekend or something.

Quid

I'd recommend posting any working items on Craigslist for free. Someone will show up for them.

Otherwise I'm a fan of thumbtack for this sort of thing. It'll be cheaper and whoever takes it probably knows a junker that can use the stuff.

RedDamask

Thanks, everyone! This helps me a lot. I hadn't even considered a bunch of these options.

Iceman.USAF

We had a freaking terrible experience. My wife called, and when the guy asked how much stuff we had she said she wasn't sure how to estimate it but that it was a 10'x10' space in the garage.

I'm not sure what he was expecting but it wasn't that, because he called my wife a "fucking bitch" and hung up. She called the "corporate" line and got the same guy again! And he basically started cursing her out again and "What makes you think anyone cares what you think?"

Yeah this seriously happened...over junk hauling. Not a great day.

ceres

Wooooooow

darkmayo

I used them in Calgary, had no issues, was moving from a smaller apartment to a 4 story walk up. Couch, old CRT a bunch of other crap was junked. Chainsawed the couch in half to get it out the door easier. Was pricey but was worth it. YMMV

Figgy

Iceman.USAF wrote: »

We had a freaking terrible experience. My wife called, and when the guy asked how much stuff we had she said she wasn't sure how to estimate it but that it was a 10'x10' space in the garage.

I'm not sure what he was expecting but it wasn't that, because he called my wife a "fucking bitch" and hung up. She called the "corporate" line and got the same guy again! And he basically started cursing her out again and "What makes you think anyone cares what you think?"

Yeah this seriously happened...over junk hauling. Not a great day.

Maybe he's on the metric system.

One way I sometimes get rid of old stuff that I can't donate/give away is to put it on my lawn at night. Put a sign on it that says "$50" and by morning someone will have stolen it.

Or I call the city. The city will come pick up almost anything for free.

For actual garbage that you need to get rid of. Like debris. And heavy stuff. I used Bagster once and it was great. Affordable for a bathroom reno job that would have easily been 2-3 dump trips and borrowing a friend's truck.

WiseManTobes

Try these guys

Habitat Restore stores

( Guessing you are in Canada because of GotJunk, these guys will come get your stuff, refurbish it, and sell it at low prices charity style.)

edit: Page seems like it's electronics only, but they also do furniture and many other things