Thursday Features
Thursday, Sept. 19, 1985
University Daily Kansan
7
Local store sells 'Everything But Ice'
By Theresa Scott Of the Kansan staff
Many people may claim to have everything but the kitchen sink. However, not many claim to have everything but ice.
R. Sam Pepple is the owner of a store that can make this claim.
The store, Everything But Ice, 616 Vermont St., sells unclaimed and damaged freight and salvaged goods. Pepple operates the business out of an old icehouse which shut down about 10 years ago.
Because ice used to be manufactured and sold in the building, and because Pepple sells such an assortment of merchandise, he can claim to sell literally everything except ice.
The diversity of items for sale is proved by the collection of lamps, chairs, baby strollers, cans of odd shades of paint, toilet seats and parasols which litter the dingy, plaster-peeling rooms of the former icehouse.
Signs such as "only $4.99, you need this" hang on odd items in hopes of attracting a buyer. This particular sign tried to tempt customers to buy an orange coat rack decorated with green animals.
Pepple said on Monday that the
electic maze of merchandise he had accumulated had been damaged or lost by trucking lines during transport.
In fact, these errors occur often enough for Pepple to receive a truckload of merchandise every week to 10 days, he said. The goods are purchased by a broker in central Missouri who sends them to Everything But Ice, without warning Pepple what the delivery contains.
"I consider this job an adventure," he said, "because I buy truckloads without knowing what's on them. I figure that nobody would make something if someone didn't want it. The stuff I purchase comes off truck lines which means that it has been ordered or purchased by someone."
Although some of the merchandise Pepple buys has been lost or unclaimed, most of it has been damaged and must be repaired before it can be sold. He has one employee who helps him repair damaged freight.
"We get the merchandise back to almost perfect condition by swapping and repairing parts," People said. "If the stuff is repaired, customers save about half the price. If they pay full price, they demand perfection. But if they pay half price, then they
are satisfied with less than perfect merchandise."
However, Bruce Stimpson, Coffeeville senior, said Tuesday that he was not satisfied with the tape player he bought for his car at the store.
"It was pretty decent, really," he said. "But the guy told me he didn't know if it worked or not. I know some people who work with electronics, so I went ahead and bought it, but it didn't work. I think he probably knew it didn't work when I bought it because he would have tested it to see if it worked when he got it."
"It's pretty high pressure selling,' he said. "I guess in that kind of business, you'd have to be that way because you can't order the things you want."
Stimpson, who never got the tape player fixed, said he understood why he had been convinced to buy the tape player.
Although Stimpson was not satisfied with his purchase at Everything But Ice, many thrifty shoppers are pleased with the bargain prices the store offers.
"The prices are reasonable,"
Jacquline Seery, Topeka sophomore, said. "The prices are generally lower than you would get at retail stores, but it's not a depend able place.
"You might possibly find something you want, but if you don't see what you're looking for off the bat, you might as well ask because the place looks like a giant garage sale."
Mark George, Overland Park junior, said he frequented the store once a month looking for antiques and musical instruments for his father.
"The store is like an overstock of new stuff and a pawn shop," he said.
"The stuff that's marked is pretty expensive, but you can bargain with the owner to get a halfway reasonable price."
Imperfections don't seem to deter shoppers from hunting through the store, Pepple said.
"All types of people shop here," he said, "including bankers' wives, lawyers, bikers, college students and young married people. They buy here because it's an adventure."
R. Sam People, owner of Everything But Ice, 616 Vermont St., says he has no problem selling the truckloads of damaged goods he receives.
Bryan Graves/KANSAN
Come on in and try a New, Cool, Refreshing, Light lunch from our spring menu.
TIN PAN ALLEY Open Sundays 4 to 10 p.m. Still the only place to get it
Fridav Special: TACO FRIDAY $1.50 All you can eat 4:30-6:30
SPECIAL INTERVIEWS IN KANSAS CITY Pilot, navigator, technical and non-technical Officer openings now available.
Your college degree is the first step in qualifying for these challenging positions. Private pilot's license preferred for pilot positions.
Enjoy excellent benefits and starting pay plus 30 days of vacation with pay each year.
To find out more about these rewarding careers, see your special air force officer recruiting team.
Wednesday, October 2
Thursday, October 3
Friday, October 4
Ramada Inn
I-435 east of Bannister Mall
913-236-3256 for an appointment. Call collect
ATR
FORCE
A great way of life.
BRING IN THIS AD FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10% SAVINGS!
- Save up to 80% off new.
- Yet so many rolls **look** “like new”
- Hundreds of styles, a rainbow of colors.
- Every roll twice-cleaned and professionally sanitized.
- FREE doormat just for stopping by.
Open Sunday and Holidays Monday - Friday 9-7:30 Saturday and Sunday 10-5:30
LAWRENCE STORE NOW OPEN! 738 NEW HAMPSHIRE (913) 841-BOBS
...fall '85 starts in clothing from Mister Guy...for men and women ...lawrence's only complete specialty shop for men and women. free refreshments on all ku home football games!
920 mass
842-2700
hours
mt-t-w-f-sat
9:30-6 p.m.
th-9:30-8:30 p.m.
sun-noon-5 p.m.