posted on April 23, 2001 05:56:06 AM new
Do you remember when you were young? If your mother saw you touching something of value, she may have said something similar to this.
Don't play with that! That's not a toy!
On Friday, I was a the local Salvation Army and they had a Baldwin organ on the sales floor. On it was 2 tags. One with the price, and the second with the the wording, "Don't play with this! It's not a toy! When I read this, I thought who might be imitating their mother and not even know it.
This type of tagging on an item is offnesive and unprofessional. When you go to a piano and organ dealer, they don't have this type of sign on any item. I wonder if I wanted to buy this, could I've turned it on without being warned not to play with it. Could the person who wrote this noteworthy tag demostrated this organ for me or should I just paid them the nearly $400.00 for it and took my chances on it? This item has several different electronic settings and switches, some of which may not work. I wonder how they consider whether a person is playing with something or trying to see of something works properly. Sometimes, I really wonder what makes those folks at the SA tick!
posted on April 23, 2001 07:34:00 AM new
Mine is a Value Village/Amvets story.
A VV by my home has a 1990's Target Edition Marilyn Monroe Doll and two reissue 1st Barbies. All have prices of $500.00, all are under a sign that says "No Bartering, prices are firm"...You have to laugh. (I did as I walked out with a set of six 1959 Plush characters including a tagged 1959 Yogi Bear Plush for $4.00)
posted on April 23, 2001 07:48:31 AM new
Although I haven't worked in a Salvation Army store, I do help out at our church's thrift shop quite regularly, and you'd be surprised at the number of parents who tell their kids to "go play" as they come in the door. The children then proceed to dig through the toys, flinging everything right and left, while the parents are sorting through the clothing (usually in a similar fashion.) In the meantime, somebody else's kid is climbing all over the furniture (i.e. organ, office equipment, baby furniture, etc) banging on the piano keys and pulling all the electronic buttons they can find. Sorry, but I don't think a sign warning people not to play with an item is offensive. There's something about a secondhand store that makes people think that just because an item is used, it's there as a toy for their child while they shop.
Your laugh of the week is even better than mine. What state do you live in? I've been looking for those items!
Hi kidsfeet,
This is a SA in Michigan. But I might drive down to Nashville to do some comparision shopping!
Hi joycel,
I understand your concern about the people that think the SA is a playground for their kids. However, what they should address is THAT issue. Perhaps a sign at the door stating, "Children must be with an adult at all times while in this store." This targets the issue, and not responsible customers who may wish to try out something before buying it. Even if the store had a sign by the organ asking a customer to seek the help of a store assistant, the assistant very likely doesn't know much about the organ anyway. Perhaps having only enough knowledge to turn it on, and I can do that myself without someone looking over my shoulder.
They also have a china cabinet used for displaying "special trinkets". It has a sign that says, "If you woulod like to see something in here, please ask for assistance." It's filled with dollar store knick knacks. All they will do is open the door and hand it anyone that may be interested in something there. There must be a special skill involved in opening the door. Most of the stuff is made in China, and maybe that's why they think it should go in a china cabinet.
posted on April 23, 2001 09:38:13 AM new
I once saw a price tag on a creamer in an antique mall that said "Why didn't you steal the creamer too?" My first reaction was to add "because it's chipped" but I didn't do it.There is also a local mall with a whole bunch of signs in the front window warning against shoplifting,they even have a couple with FBI type photos saying "This person is wanted for selling stolen antiques".If I were a thief I would take that to mean that this place is very easy to steal from,and maybe even a good place to sell stolen stuff.As a dealer I would be very leary of renting a space there.
posted on April 23, 2001 10:41:37 AM new
My "stupid story" is also from a Value Village. They had a few Dooney & Bourke purses all priced around $80 and they were all fakes. I walked around the store and found an old Louis Vuitton steamer trunk in very good condition for $17.
posted on April 23, 2001 11:25:21 AM new
Recently at a SA, the clerk literally was running and screaming almost hysterically, "Kids you need to stay with your parents!! Parents you need to watch your kids!!" I thought maybe there was an earthquake, and was ready to run for the exits. lbnol.
posted on April 23, 2001 11:55:20 AM new
Kyms - you aren't joking ! I could go on and on about the rabbit furs for $50 next to the mink and fox furs for $10 (in excellent condition at that !). I could talk about the acrylic sweaters for $5 next to the cashmere for $2. Then there are the Kathie Lee knits for $15 next to the St. John knits for $8. That place never ceases to amaze me!
posted on April 23, 2001 12:58:01 PM new
My local SA Store has recently hung a HUGE sign in their storefront window---it says
" New LowER PriceS !! "
I highly doubt that !! Better then that I was told by someone in the know about the inner workings of my local store that the Officers wives have removed any & all potentially collectible or vintage items--so of course they decided to drop their prices on the remaining miscellaneous JUNK nobody wanted to begin with.
They make me sick--and I stopped giving them my money long ago--I got to know the manager-she having 23 years w/ S Army stores-she invited me to her house when she needed money to leave husband etc--I ended up buying tons of stuff directly from her--out of her house where she herself had been accumulating goodies from SA for over 23 years--even though she really had no definate clue on value of each & every item--lets just say--I did very good
Unbeknownst to SA -- I got the creme de la creme
posted on April 23, 2001 01:46:39 PM new
This type of tagging on an item is offnesive and unprofessional.
If you have ever sold musical instruments you would know why they need this sign. Everyone and their kids will play with it and it will be junk before a serious buyer sees it.
A serious buyer will be glad to see that sign and ask if they may play it, because they are interested in buying it.
posted on April 23, 2001 03:21:05 PM new
Hi route 66,
I beleive there is lots of theft in these stores. The reasons are simple. There is no standard inventory. They don't order 100 of any one item, most things are donated. As an example, one color TV like new is easier to deal with, (steal) than 100 new TV's from the appliance superstore. Many states require that stores like the SA collect sales tax on things they sell, but they don't buy from wholesalers, so there is no wholesale purchase records.
The people who run these stores are very small in number. In some cases, as little as five people running a store at any one time. The lesser amount of people, the easier the secrets are to keep. In the appliance superstore example, there may be 50 or more employees, and the chance of thieves porspering is small. The managers of the SA are usually the ones who control the inventory and policies and employees. I'm sure that some of them have developed ways to manipulate the system even more than we know. In the local store, the employee may buy something off the shelf after it's been there for 24 hours. So if any member of the public can't get there every day, then they are out of luck.
This is why I will not donate anything to the SA, including money to the bell ringers. As far used things are concerned, I will throw it into the trash first. If the trashman or a junkpicker takes it home, that's their business and OK with me. When it's in the trash, it's fair game for all. When it's donated to the SA, the intention is to have it resold to the public, NOT stolen or sold to the SA employees.
posted on April 23, 2001 11:12:22 PM new
I don't donate to the Salvation Army because I don't support other churches.
What is a hoot is that if you tell people that you will find out that about half of the public has no concept of the SA as a church. They think of it as a charity.
I don't think that is a mistake at all I think they are carefull to let people think that because it makes the fund raising easier.
posted on April 24, 2001 01:12:22 AM new
Hi Gravid,
I think you may be right. It's almost like they market themselves first as a charity only that helps the community. However, as you indicated, they are a church first. This in my mind makes it even worse that they have no accountability in their employees.
Our local SA advertises on the radio asking for donations. However, in these ads, they never ask you to attend their church on Sundays.
posted on April 24, 2001 05:35:14 PM new
The Salvation Army is more like big business than you know. The Major gets a lovely home for his use, a very nice car and other benefits. There should be a list of the Fortune 500 of charities--many would be very surprised at the profitability and salaries of some (not all) charities.
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