posted on August 27, 2000 03:50:18 AM new
Couldn't pass this one by! The local home for boys had 2 thrift shops -both closed down. Our goodwill has a nice lady at the cashier who will give you discounts but there is nothing in the store to buy! Or worth buying. The animal league has the same things week in and week out, never change their old scruffy overpriced book shelf.
BUT once a year they will take everything out of the storage shed and sell it for almost nothing! We bought boxes of books at 5 cents apiece and I made a killing on that plus a lot of good stuff.
Hope nobody clues them in that they should sell all the junk in the store thats not selling and restock from the storage shed!Guess that would be too much work tho!
Several other privately owned secondhand stores have also gone out of business, couldn't meet the rent with their antique store prices on junk.
posted on August 27, 2000 05:10:34 AM new
You sometimes have to wonder what makes these people TICK! I ask myself if this is a joke or did somebody make a mistake. What would ever cause them to believe that a dealer is going to pay top dollar for an item in a thrift store. Most of the things in there have came from garage sale leftovers in the first place. In one of my last trips to GW, they priced an item with a dollar tag over the garage sale 25 cent tag. What a laugh!
It's unforunate that the people who are forced to shop at the thrifts due to financial hardships have to pay the unrealistic prices also. These stores quickly need to return to the real world. If they would lower thier prices, thier merchandise would turn over faster. I believe that more people would buy from them because there would always be something new. Word would quickly spread in a positive light, instead of the negative light as it seems to be doing now.
I sometime wonder about the educational background of these thrift store managers. Would it be fair to say a lower level of education? I'd almost bet money on it.
posted on August 27, 2000 05:26:14 AM new
I've noticed the "higher than garage sale price" in our SA, too, and chuckled. I mean, if it didn't sell at the garage sale for that price, why would it sell higher? I walked in one day while they were putting out new merchandise. Found a piece of pottery in one of the carts with a $0.05 price tag, but it had two noticeable hairlines on the rim, so I put it back. Apparently they were pricing as they put things out--I found that same piece the other day on the shelf with a price tag of $1.50. I guess the up-side of this whole thing is that maybe the people who used to buy at SA, GW, etc. will start shopping on Ebay.
posted on August 27, 2000 09:11:54 AM new
The lady who works at the Goodwill store in my town is a 'dealer' and so is her mother. So the good stuff never gets to the floor. She pays for the stuff, but she gets to name her price. I don't even bother going there anymore.
posted on August 27, 2000 10:08:21 AM new
One of the local stores had a large serving platter with the name "Heinz" on it so naturally they thought it was a valuable advertising collectible. It sat on a shelf marked $69.95 for about 6 months, then, due to the repeated handling of everyone picking it up, gasping at the price, and setting it back down, it eventually became chipped. So it has now been marked down to $49.95. And there is sits still-less desirable than ever.
posted on August 27, 2000 11:06:01 AM new
Oh, yall have hit a nerve here! What gets me is that if they think its old they jack that price up without knowing what they have. They dont care if the condition is bad, if its old, it must be worth alot. Ive seen pottery that was way over book price! Irritates the bejesus out of me.
posted on August 27, 2000 01:32:44 PM newnoteye PLEASE, you *must* tell me the name of the Texas Hill Country store you visited... I live close, in San Antonio. You can email me privately at [email protected] if you're willing to spill! Actually I've found I get some of the best deals in the many nearby small towns in the outlying areas, I guess they have less business overall so they want to move stuff!
About thrift stores: my biggest peeve lately is the discovery of the fact that the Goodwill near me throws SO MUCH AWAY! I noticed there is RARELY any cool vintage stuff in the Goodwill. The bulk of what they sell is this Target closeout stuff, and I've even found stuff priced at the original TARGET price!! Duh!
Well anyway, I always wondered why there were never any 'old goodies', and a recent drive around the back of the store has clued me in as to why. They THROW IT AWAY! They must assume people only want "new" stuff!? I found a funky old 70's tie-dye outfit on the ground next to the dumpster recently, and I looked up at the 10ft tall dumpster, which was OVERFLOWING with stuff, and I could see all sorts of clothing items hanging over the edges, a bunch of it obviously old/vintage. It kills me because my imagination runs wild with thoughts of what *treasures* are probably in that huge dumpster. And I can't get to it. Aaaaah!!
The only thing I buy at Goodwill anymore is stuff I don't intend to re-sell, like clothes for my kids. Oh, and sometimes I still find good stuff when the item is part of their $.99 tag sale. I'm eyeing a gorgeous old gold silk evening coat (an old item that actually avoided the dumpster, I can't believe it!) that is priced now at about $20, but if I catch it on "$.99 week" I will snatch it up. I doubt I'll get that lucky though. Last time I was in GW I noticed that they had a disclaimer that 'winter items' were not part of the weekly color sales. Well that's just fine & dandy, I wonder how subjective the "winter items" definition is? Coats? coats and sweaters? Okay, I can see that.. but maybe not just that. Maybe it means ALL long sleeve stuff? Something with a bit of wool in it? Thick cotton?? (which is often all you need for 'winter wear' around here) Who knows!?
There's just no consistency, and the way they price stuff by "type" is equally annoying. All of their 'tops' are $2.99, so that means there can be a really great knit pullover I want for myself that is worth $2.99, or it can mean a worn out, holey old "DARE to keep kids off drugs" t-shirt is also $2.99. Stupid stupid stupid.
There's also too many times I pick up an interesting item and put it in my cart, only to discover before checkout that it has a HUGE hole, or a broken zipper, or some other major flaw. <sigh>
I recently bought a vintage 40's or 50's swimsuit there for a steal, and it's currently listed on eBay and is at about $25 or so, but that was a definite RARE find for GW, since they throw all the GOOD OLD STUFF away! Makes me ill.
posted on August 27, 2000 01:47:11 PM new
I have a good thrift store story for you all. Today my boyfriend went to the hardware store and in the same plaza is a thrift store. He sees two trucks and all these people over there, so of course being curious, he walks over. They are all digging and buying things off the truck. My boyfriend goes to look at a dresser and some man yells at him and says "Thats mine". My boyfriend questioned why all these things were being gone through when the store was not even open. He was told "See that man over there-all you have to do is give him a tip and he will let you pick out what you want". Soooooooo-if you wonder why they may not be anything good in your thrift stores, I now know why mine are empty....
posted on August 27, 2000 07:16:28 PM new
I also used to occasionally stop by my local Goodwill store hunting for treasures. but the only interesting things that "slip thru the cracks" are heavily damaged! Methinks someone on the inside is skimming the things that come in and removeing any items of value...saw a show on TV where this was the case and an employee hired pickers to go through and remove things to boxes for herself ! I think a lot of this is going on. Also a local Catholic thrift has an "antiques dealor" come in and price the things...interestingly the only items that make it to the floor are damaged and even so, very much overpriced! So I thrift store shop no more..too bad, because it once was fun to go in and see what I could find.
posted on August 27, 2000 08:38:30 PM new
I don't care what they charge. I either buy or I don't. If I don't buy and no one else buys then the price will go down. Theory of supply and demand. This is what happened the other day in my local Salvation Army store. The names have been deleted to protect the guilty. This is the letter I wrote.
Dear Captain ZYX,
I am writing to inform you of an incident that occurred in the Salvation Army Store August 15, 2000. On
that day at about 12:30 in the afternoon I tried to purchase three items, two plates and a bread and butter dish (which is a small plate). There is a sign above the shelves which holds those items which states: Plates-fifty cents, Small bowls and saucers-twenty five cents, Bowls-fifty cents.
I took the plates I wished to purchase to the counter and placed $1.25 on the counter. The cashier was then told by the lady next to her, who I believe is named XYX, that the items were 50 cents apiece. I then told them that I believed the small plate was 25 cents. XYZ said saucers were 25 cents but small plates were 50 cents. I said I thought they were 25 cents but I would check, which I then did. I then told the two ladies that the sign clearly stated that the small plates were 25 cents. XYZ then said that they were 50 cents and if I wanted to purchase them that is what I would pay. I then asked to speak to the manager and was told by XYZ that he was not there and she was the acting manager that day. She then said that she was tired of this and ordered store employees to take down all the price signs. I then purchased the two plates and left.
Sir, It is my feeling that some people are charged different prices for the same item. People who collect certain items and know their values will obviously pay more for an item than someone who doesn't know its value. The employees of thrift stores come to recognize what certain people will buy and will charge different prices accordingly, especially if items are unmarked.
Twenty five cents is not a large sum of money, but in the course of hundreds of purchases it does make a difference and there is an ethical principle in play in these circumstances....Thank You, Getalife (end of letter)
Does this ever happen to you? Are there two prices or am I just paranoid. At this paricular store many items are unmarked and when taken to the counter I am told they were on the wrong shelf and are actually a higher price. In this particular instance the items were Blue Ridge pottery.
My whole point of course is that everyone should be charged the same price regardless of what the price is.
posted on August 27, 2000 10:17:16 PM new
I agree. Pricing should be fair, uniform, and Posted! It really gets me mad when I go to the counter with an unpriced item and the clerk yells across the store to the other employee.
Hey, how much is this? What is it? It's a plate. Where did he get it? Over there somewhere. Charge him $5.00! O.K.
I think this is a sign of an organization suffering from disogranization!
posted on August 28, 2000 04:21:23 AM new
Most states require ALL RETAIL outlets to have clearly marked prices ... even thrift stores. And they have to stick to the pricing.
I became SO annoyed at a charity that would have one price on the bookshelf and a higher price ("because it's old/new/has pictures/is signed/yaddayadda) that I turned them into the state for violating the law.
posted on August 28, 2000 08:00:17 AM new
Well, I have another Goodwill horror story.
In Bangor, Maine, the local Goodwill rarely,
if ever, has anything one would consider to
be antique or collectible. I always wondered why, since this area has been populated for over 200 years.
Anyway, I was watching the local TV news
one day, and there was a story about the
local Goodwill. Apparently, anything remotely antique or collectible that is donated is set aside in a warehouse, and once a year it is trucked down to Massachusetts and auctioned off! Local
people assume their items are being sold to
benefit their local community, but now I know that the better stuff is not even sold in the same STATE!
Also, I used to live in Southern California,
and there was a family that owned many, many
thrift shops throughout the region. One
thrift shop benefited the Association for the
Retarded, one benefited the Disabled Veterans,
one benefited the blind, etc.
Well, this family kept at least 90% of the
money taken in from the sale of the items in
their thrift stores. The organizations they
"benefited" received 10% of the money, or
less. None of this was disclosed to the
public, until an expose article appeared in a local newspaper. We're talking a great deal of money here....just one thrift shop
(in Santa Barbara) had annual sales of over
one million dollars!
posted on August 28, 2000 09:03:52 PM new
Sometimes their ignorance works to your advantage. Two (same outfit, diff. locations) of my favorite local thrifts are fairly large, good selection, mostly reasonably priced, sale days & colors, etc., but items that they and the bulk of their customers recognize as "quality names" (Bill Blass, Aigner, etc.) tend sometimes to be priced towards the limit of what one might be willing to pay for such a piece of used clothing. Both parties, however, seem to have no clue about something marked Hermes, Brioni, or Zegna & I can wind up with them for 0.99 . Most of them are also apparently unaware that a few high-end "hard" item brands carry lifetime guarantees and can be swapped for a new piece at the retailer no matter how beat-up the old one is.
Goodwill's "all men's shirts $3.29" isn't so bad when you run across a few nearly new Polo or better dress shirts in your size with fresh drycleaner's tags (even better on "all men's clothes $1" day).
I just ignore the trash and keep an eye out for the Baldwin brass among the "made in India" and the odd piece of scuba gear they don't know what to do with.
One of the more amusing things I've seen was when someone gave one of the outfits an honest-to-God 24' fibreglas sailboat & trailer...seemed to be in good shape. Took them several days to come up with a price for THAT (looked a little high to me, but they sold it...may have negotiated).
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read.
posted on August 28, 2000 09:25:27 PM new
Your right about the Hermes, I have found them in the thrift store for 99cents. They also don't know the name brands of the scarfs and I know they don't know the difference between polyester and silk, thank goodness but who are Brioni and Zegna I haven't heard of that brand. Versace I don't have to worry about we have an outlet for them. I sure would like to find a Corgi sweater though. But I doubt if anyone would give that to a thrift store, you might find them in garage sales. Since the goodwill went online one of the goodwill stores doesn't get much, but ours is in a different town and I asked the manager if he sends his things to the online store and he says that he keeps his business in our town. Thank goodness. Tomorrow should be a good goodwill stop all the items left over from the rummage sales should be put out.
posted on August 28, 2000 09:48:47 PM new
They do have to operate like a real business, but since the items are all donated you would think they could lower the prices. Our Salvation Army has an off-site location for auctions, but it's not really an auction. You just go in there and name your price while everyone digs through the junk, and you can get pennies on the dollar.
"If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it."
posted on August 28, 2000 10:10:42 PM new
Hi, Enjoying all thrift posts! Anyone taken a look at Shopgoodwill.com?......(GOODWILL ON LINE AUCTION). Under search,"goodwill online auction(s)",there is a list of states that hold in person Goodwill 'Absolute Auctions'on a regular basis.Have'nt tried any....yet. Elizabeth
posted on August 28, 2000 10:38:39 PM new
I live near at least 4 Salvation Army thrift stores. The closest one I rarely even go to anymore. I mean, it's so bad, we call it "Lord & Taylor". Skirt suits, dresses, and ANYTHING name brand or Plus Sized is $20+. I've seen dresses marked at $29.95 with stains on the front! I've seen K-Mart and Wal-Mart brand clothing with stains on them for $10+. And believe me, they are nothing special!
This certain store also has certain clothing "pink" tagged which means they CANNOT go on sale. Liz Claiborne, Kasper, Ralph Lauren, you name it - the price is pink ticketed and $ky High!
I have picked up 2pc skirt suits, brought them to the register, and they tried charging me for EACH piece. I said "No way! It's a suit!". They said if the tags aren't marked specifically "2-PIECE" then they have to sell them separately! And these were OBVIOUSLY 2pc suits! I was outraged, threw the suit on the counter, told them they could keep it and walked out.
And with the collectibles?? They had a Pfaltzgraff set with chips & dings & cracks - marked at $100. And it wasn't even a full set! Just a few odds & ends pieces!
posted on August 28, 2000 11:01:16 PM new
I find better deals and better merchandise here on EBAY even with having to pay the shipping than I would ever find at Goodwill. Salvation Army I go to if I want something special for myself - I bought some 50's cocoa brown and aluminum canisters on EBAY - LOVE THEM - a whole set for $7.00. I've seen them since at Thrift Shops for $7.00 for each piece. However, I did get my breadbox at SA very reasonably and it goes with the canisters.<P>
For the things I sell, well I have been buying clothes FOREVER and everyone always loves the way I dress (just ask my husband)mostly at Dillards and Famous and since I don't work outside the house anymore, I put them on EBAY but I have really low minimum bids because, HECK, just because I paid $80.00 for a Jessica McClintoch dress 6 years ago, no way am I going to try to sell it for that on EBAY. I put things like that at $1.95 or $.95.
After seeing all the outrageous prices at thrift shops, I just don't donate anymore. I would rather sell them here on EBAY to someone who really loves it even if it goes for only a couple of dollars.
I do have my secret thrift shops and the days to go - when the volunteers come to put things out in the middle of the week in the morning. You would not believe some of the things I have found - Exquiste paintings, frames, lamps. It is hard to resell them because I want to keep them all. The thing I have found out is that you have to stay away from the chain thrift shops, Goodwill and SA - the small individually owned junk stores and the church thrift shops are much better
Also we have a department store chain here (I live in a big city) and they have wonderful sales - sometimes clothes go down to 10% of the original price. These are clothes like Liz Claiborne and McClintoch and ZumZum. I have found $150 - $200 dresses for $7.
The thrift shops are ridiculous - I went to a DAV the other day and I couldn't believe the prices on the cocktail dresses and formals - $30 and up! And this is stuff from the 80's which has no resale value right now and it is always too small. You can do better than that at a department store on a good sale day or on EBAY.
Also I want to encourage you to go to http://cargolargo.com. You will be very surprised at what you find there. Also American Science and Surplus (can't remember their URL right now. Check them out. They are GREAT!
posted on August 29, 2000 07:35:06 AM new
Good thread.
Goodwill's around here seem to high to make any $, except one large goodwill that has a HUGH book section.
But Goodwill, Salvation Army, ect aren't the only thift stores, and there are still a few around here that I can get merchandise (in my "line(s)" for a good price.
Seems the "local" (ie, not national Chain Thrift Stores) are a better source on merchandise.
posted on August 29, 2000 07:52:14 AM new
I read a wire service article in the Sunday paper that said Goodwill is going to start an online book auction site later this year. Wonderful (sarcastically said).....sigh
[ edited by athena1365 on Aug 29, 2000 07:53 AM ]
posted on August 29, 2000 10:23:46 AM new
exACTly. anything that looks old is over priced. i saw a redwing 2 gallon crock at our local GW. they had $50 on it. i pointed out that it had a hairline crack running from the rim to half-way across the bottom. i said, 'it isn't worth more than $20 on a good day.' the clerk said, 'we have an antique dealer who comes in and prices our goods for us.' i told her that if the piece was in MINT condition MAYBE they'd get that much, but good luck selling something that is half broken. i watched it over teh weeks as the price went down. the last time i saw it, it was $20. told ya so. it seems anymore when i go there, i comment to at least one other shopper that they are sure greedy with stuff they get for free.
as for the gleaning employees, i don't know about your states, but in south dakota they have a policy against setting things by and in fact, employees and their families aren't allowed to shop at the store. you know it happens, though . . .
posted on August 29, 2000 02:46:43 PM new
Um it isn't difficult to see why thrift stores have raised thier prices....it is basic economics.....supply & demand. As sellers need products a demand has been raised for things to sell ...... you buy from thirft stores ... therefore prices will increase.
posted on August 29, 2000 03:13:25 PM newbeadalchemy ~ While I think there is some truth in your theory, I don't think it is the main reason prices have risen. I believe that cable shows about antiques and collectables and the internet are what have caused price increases. Almost every time I go into a thrift one of the workers mentions something about "oh that's a collectable" Years ago they were not that well informed. Unfortunately a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. They now think almost everything has great value. They also forget that people come to their stores for bargains, not to pay full price.
I think the people who are buying are themselves not very knowledgable and probably think they are getting a good deal. I can tell you that most dealers don't even bother going into some of the thrifts around here because it's just a waste of time. In most cases it's not even a good deal if you are buying something for yourself.
posted on August 29, 2000 04:21:37 PM new
I have been reading this thread with some trepidation. I manage a thrift store, and we purchase all of our merchandise from a National Charity. I don't understand how these other stores that everyone in this thread are talking about can stay in business for any length of time if they are doing some of the things mentioned. For example, all prices in our store are put on merchandise before they leave the production area, no employees are allowed to purchase or hold anything until it has been put on the floor for customers to buy. There is no picking from anything or they will be terminated. Prices for items are based on percentages that have been figured out over 10 years of research, generally 1/3 of retail, depending on the condition of the item. Each area of the store has a particular pricer that is totally responcible for every item priced. If a ticket is missing at the register, the customer is told the item must go back thru the system. You have to understand that a lot of people in this world want everything for free, so they think they can just change the tags and no one should be allowed to say anything to them. With our system in place, we can tell when something has been messed with.
As for Yeager's comment on the education of thrift store managers, I have been to high school, business school and some college. True, not everyone that manages a thrift store is highly educated but most of us are like our customers, all different backgrounds and levels of education. Also, the internet has been a great teaching tool, especially here at AW.
It is a sad fact that in this country there are unethical people running businesses, but not all thrift stores are cheating their customers. We have been in business for 15 years and we do quite well, all donations that you make to a charity thrift store are paid according to a contract that the thrift store owner and the charity agree to. The items you donate are not free to the stores, we PAY for them. You also have to consider what it costs to maintain a store: rent, payroll, insurance, vehicles(and all that entails), store fixtures, hiring, office personell, etc. Yes, things have gone up, but in most of your major retail outlets, prices have gone up there to.
We also have to put up with people stealing the items before we even get them, they will dive into our donation bins and take what they want, believing that since someone donated that item, it is free for them to take. WRONG!!! I have had to have several people arrested for stealing from our drop box.
Just remember, there are two sides to every story, and try to listen to both before you condemn us all.
posted on August 29, 2000 04:28:11 PM new
What I find particularly distressing about our local Salvation Army stores is that these stores were opened to provide low priced clothing and dishes to folks with very little money.
Jacking up the prices in hopes that dealers will come in and buy it up defeats the purpose of the store. They're charging $9.99 for used jeans, a lot of the sweatshirts at $7.00 and many, many items have horrible stains. It's very sad to see needy people unable to shop there anymore for necessities.
posted on August 29, 2000 04:41:44 PM newthriftysalez ~ I obviously can't speak for anyone else who has posted on this thread, but I can speak from lots of experience with thrift stores. I know lots of the volunteers and employees and managers of these stores.
The stores I am speaking about are ones that do get their merchandise free. I've mentioned before that I was told by an employee at my local Goodwill that the store was losing money before the last manager got fired. I believe her because everything was priced sky high and everytime you went into the store you saw the same things. The backroom and trailer were loaded with unmarked merchandise. I was told this by the guy who managed the backroom. Everyone was complaining but the prices remained the same. Any piece of clothing that was in the least bit nice was put in the boutique section.
When the new manager arrived on the scene she priced very low and things were flying off the shelves and the store started making money. Now she is on Maternity leave and the person taking over is pricing higher and things are not selling again. This particular store is an example of high prices means low sales.
In your case you obviously have to price above what you paid. No one can argue with that. But believe me lots of places are out of control, they have high prices, poor customer service and do not follow retail pricing regulations. Meaning simply they do not have prices marked on all items and make things up when you get to the register.
I've always loved going to thrift shops even before eBay but lately it has become a less than enjoyable experience.
posted on August 29, 2000 05:31:24 PM new
Re: the shops run by professionals....and not the charity. Well if these 'pros' remitted 10% of 1 million dollars to the charity....thats 100 thousand dollars that the charity did not have. Sounds like a win to me.
Dr. Trooth
posted on August 29, 2000 06:03:42 PM new
Goodwills across the country are developing a bad reputation, just because of some of the things mentioned here. I shop the other thrifts in my city just to see what everyone is doing. Have picked up some good tips and seen some really bad mistakes. The one thing I have learned being in this business for over 10 years, is if you treat your customers fairly and have decent prices, your store will develop a a good reputation which draws in more customers and your "regulars" will spread the word.
In our case, this is what has happened. I would never let a cashier reprice something at the register, nor would I allow merchandise on the floor without a price. I can't understand how anyone would stay in business if they were treating some customers different than others,ie:charging a different price for something clearly marked.
Dr.Trooth-so true, if our charity didn't have these stores, several of their clients wouldn't have jobs, apartments, clothes, etc. You ARE helping people when you shop at a charity thrift store.;0
posted on August 29, 2000 06:04:15 PM new
Thriftysalez-I understand your type of thrift store but in our town all our stores are donated items. I am sure that if they would mark all items properly there would be no need to throw things away. Today I went to the GW and I don't understand items put on the shelf with chips and cracks with a $1.99 price tag. Why can't they throw those away. I would never donate those kind of items and the people who do should be ashamed. But then I would think that the thrift store would throw them away instead of trying to sell them. I also found today more new items than ever before so maybe they are going out of the donation business only to buy from other sources and try that. I just don't know. Books are still within reach. When I sell I try and keep my prices low but I see changes coming so I don't know what is going to happen.
for a good price.
uh huh. that's what i thought!