Originally Posted by Yarn or Fabric

I know of the sale you speak of... the Visiting Nurses Rummage sale...
I can add some first hand experience for you on this one.
My parents have volunteered there for years and my mother is in the electronics department. All of their machines are tested before they are sold. They have a woman that fixes anything that is wrong with them. When you buy a machine from them, you know it's working when you purchase it

As a fyi they sell a lot of irons. She says the Rowentas are always junk when they come in. They rarely work. Go figure. I usually get a lot of behind the scenes info about what is being donated so if you ever are looking for something in particular, you can drop me a line.
Oh and the bread machines in that department? My mother takes home every single one of them, cleans them and makes a loaf of bread in it - which she usually brings in for everyone to eat while they work