posted on August 27, 2004 06:10:38 PM new
Hi everybody,
Somebody asked what's for dinner tonight. For me, a bowl of Cheerios. Or maybe Rice Krispies.
Okay, bear with me, there's a story behind this...
I've been reading here and there about the treasures that go out the back door of thrift shops without being offered to the public. Well, in a way, that's true.
I work at a thrift two half-days a week and I do bring home some nice things. I've asked about some of them here. We who volunteer do sometimes find valuable items for which, in return for our hard work, we pay very little.
I worked at the thrift today from 10-1. My back room coworker, Pat, and I had busted our tails all morning sorting clothes, getting all the junky worn-outs bagged up for the guy who gets rid of them for us.
We decided we'd go out for lunch as soon as the afternoon bunch arrived. The afternoon ladies are in their '80s and can't do much as far as heavy lugging. They mostly price merchandise and run the store so Pat and I try very hard not to leave them with a mess.
Just about ready to leave and some woman pulls up with a pick-up truck FULL of stuff. Broken high chair, busted dresser, dirty kid carseats, etc. We explained we don't take furniture and didn't want the carseats. So she starts unloading bags and bags of other things.
She told Pat it was left from five garage sales. I let her know we didn't take garage sale leftovers and she said they hadn't had the sales, this was instead of. (?????) Keeps on unloading.
Filled up our whole donation room. It took Pat and me an hour to get rid of the junk. We didn't even go through it. Could tell by looking it was nothing but trash. After we filled the dumpster with stupid dirty toys we marked the bags of clothes for the take-it-away man.
We also made a run to the Humane Society Animal Shelter with both our cars filled with bags of blankets too worn out for us to sell. They cut them up and use them for the animals.
Of course by then we were both starving and ended up having a gigantic lunch. Which means I'm not very hungry now. However, after at least one bottle of Two-Buck, maybe I'll want some cereal.
posted on August 27, 2004 06:48:50 PM new
Lucy,
When the local Emergency Aid thrift store was in their former location, they were constantly victimized by "donations" made during the middle of the night. They showed up each morning to be greeted by a parking lot full of trash and junk. Easier to dump it there and call it a donation than to haul it to the dump and pay $10.00 to get rid of it. A good portion of their budget was spent in county dump fees. Their new location was designed to prevent this type of abuse. Most people have no idea what goes on behind the scenes at a thrift store and the hard work involved that is performed largely by volunteers. It's only right that volunteers should get a break on some of the items, unless of course they are Vendio members, in which case they should cut in their buddies on the goodies
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 27, 2004 07:06:14 PM new
The flip side of that, of course, is that if volunteers leech the good stuff out of the product stream, people do tend to notice. As they have here.
Four charitable thrift shops in our area have gone out of business in the last 10 years due to poor sales.
That's probably not such a good thing for the causes the charity funds through its thrift shop sales.
posted on August 27, 2004 07:43:01 PM new
And the flip side to that also, is the case of Goodwill Industries which has been wracked by scandels of it's managers taking goodies out the back door without even paying. Three sisters in the Bay area, each managing a different store, come to mind. And the people they are ripping off are the Exec's at GW headquarters who wanted that stuff for their web site so they could line their own pockets. Has anyone ever been able to figure out what charity Goodwill funds? There's a difference between an unpaid employee discount and out and out embezzelment and fraud.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 27, 2004 08:00:13 PM new
Hi Sparkz,
Victimized is a most appropriate word. This morning Pat and I spent about 1/2 hour cleaning up the parking lot. (We get there early to do that...)
It's not just the so-called donations, it's the people who dumpster-dive after we close. We don't dare put any bags of clothes out - they'd be torn open and spread all over. The company who empties the dumpster won't pick up stuff people have taken out.
The locals know we throw out useable things. Shop policy is if you wouldn't buy it or use it for yourself it goes in the trash or to another organization that can use it. Humane Society, Womens Shelter, etc.
We're all volunteers - no paid staff. Our money goes for dental care for kids who can't afford it. Been in business for 65 years or so. One of the ladies I work with has been a volunteer for 50 years. A good friend of mine. She's the one who asked me if I wanted to help out.
As far as cutting your buddies in on the goodies , I haven't seen any lately but if we did get in an old inoperable radio we would probably throw it out. No way to find out if it works and very little idea of value.
If we did put it out on the floor it would be for no more than $2-3.00. I'd rather send it to you for $3.00 + shipping than toss it. At least the shop would get some money from it. We do occasionally get very old electric appliances. Same deal. If we can't tell it's in good operating order, out it goes!
Kinda sad but we don't have experts in all fields. One man does check the bicycles to be sure they're safe.
posted on August 27, 2004 08:49:04 PM newit's the people who dumpster-dive after we close.
I remember years ago (before the mass exodus) one of the regular posters here admitted she dumpster-dived at the thrift store at night for some of her ebay merchandise. Other posters here were a bit upset when they heard that story and I don't think she posted here again.
posted on August 27, 2004 08:59:49 PM new
Whoops..... I guess I shouldn't have said dumpster-dived. This poster dived into the donation box late at night..... the box where people dropped off their goodies that they donated to the thrift store. I guess she got some good stuff to sell that way.
posted on August 27, 2004 09:02:54 PM new
I suppose that happens too. She probably did find some nice things.
We find donations left at the door every day. Sometimes it does look like someone has gone through them.
There's one lady who brings in her little bag of donations every week or so. Once she said if she gets there after we close she just hangs it on the doorknob.
posted on August 27, 2004 09:19:05 PM new
Lucy, I've had cereal for supper some days, too. When I just dont feel like a big to-doo and it fills you up enough. Better than mcdonalds or a grilled cheese sandwich or whatever else you can make fast I know micmic mentioned he/she? was dieting and I know if you follow that special K diet you can lose 6-7 pounds in two weeks. I think the ones with the strawberries in them are pretty good.
The thrifts down here dont have volunteers. Only one does which is a christian mission type place for rehabiliting alchies/ substance abusers and the members do all the work. They dont seem to get the best stuff in that one, except maybe for furniture, but they have the best prices and real nice people, so I always like going there as its a pleasant place to spend my time when I am just browsing around. The others we have is a org. for the Childrens Hospitals of Kings daughters which actually has an outside management Co running it. They say the money does go directly to the kids. I hope so. I'm pretty sure some tweaky stuff goes on there, but I dont give it alot of cosnideration. But you cant help notice it, if you visit them often enough.
I've used to think I should work at one, as I'd probably get sick of "junk" real fast after sorting and being around so much of it all day!! .
They do keep on working and moving all day long - you can tell, people are always coming in with more donations. I think they make min wage so if they get something for themselves I dont see it as the biggest crime. I once went to a salvation army one and the clerk told me a thing I was interested in was for display only, not for sale. So I said, well, I thought the object here is to make money for the poor? She then sold it to me, but I think originally maybe she wanted it herself and told me that as an excuse. I dont know.
Today, I went to a garage sale and there were these two ladies getting on my nerves bad. They were the graber types.
You know you look at something, consider it then put it down and say well let me mull it over a minute? It seemed like everthing I picked up and put back down they were like grabbing right after me. This one lady is like, 'you buying that?' And I'm like no, so off she goes with it. lol. - The good thing is I realized I hate when I get to feeling greedy like that. Have to have it type thing. This one item was one of those kitchie type varnished wood pieces. It actually said it was made by some Indian tribe on the back and I thought it might be interesting and sell for some measure but it seemed so kvetchie after a while. You ever see them? Its like a varnished driftwood or something with a transfer picture on it?? Reminds me of a type of decor in log cabin type home? But I was ultimately glad I didnt buy it!
But I will go by some more tomorrow...just to see, ya know.... haha!! yeah, right!
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~~ Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues(forces)of life..Proverbs 4:23~~
posted on August 27, 2004 09:46:09 PM new
Neroter,
Did you ever stop to think that those two ladies at the yard sale may have recognized you as an Ebay seller? They probably thought anything you picked up to examine was valuable and wanted to get it out from under you. Think about this: Contact a few people who are having yard sales the day before they start. Offer to show up and start drooling over a few pieces of junk to get the others interested enough to buy it for full price. No haggeling. Charge a 10% commission on everything you entice someone to buy. Never can tell, there might be more profit shilling yard sales than there is selling on Ebay. No listing or FVF fees either
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 27, 2004 09:56:55 PM new
I remember that one too, Kiara. Looking back at it now I still find it kind of humorous. I still remember their ID too. I gotta get out more often. LOL
posted on August 27, 2004 10:19:50 PM new
LOL Sparkz!! You know the funny thing is one day I was in a thrift store and standing at the counter to pay for my sutff and this somewhat elderly lady says, excuse me, do you think this is a good price for this? So I thought she was asking the clerk and I looked at it,looked away but didnt answer. So then she prodded again, do you? And I said, oh, I thought you were asking the clerk. So I said yeah, well, its brand new in the box, its not broken (it was a cake plate looked like from the 60-70ties, they had 4.95 on it), but I remember thinking, 'what the hell is she asking me for?' Like what do i know?
I know when I am at sales and I hear someone say oh that is a such n such very hard to find" or whatever...you know your ears perk up! And you want to see what its about. lol!! At one estate sale I kinda sold two things...lol...but only because I was so enthused about them!! One was a bavarian teapot they sold for a song, the other was a gorgeous Etienne Aigner
pocketbook for a few dollars.
You idea is not half bad, sparkz!! Wish some of the estate companies would offer me that
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~~ Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues(forces)of life..Proverbs 4:23~~
posted on August 27, 2004 10:25:51 PM new
Hi Lucy! Yeah, I am at the point now, where if I take a 50-50 chance on buying something to resell, I aim to at least be happy with it myself if I wind up having to keep it.
ed to add: But I think sparkz is right. I think people see you looking at marks or whatever and assume you might know what youre doing! To me that is way too funny as I am still yet a novice myself!
posted on August 27, 2004 10:39:55 PM new
Hi Tessa,
That's the only way to do it! I figure if I buy it I better be willing to keep it. Which is probably why my house is so full...
I keep sorting out and price-tagging my own stuff to take to the thrift but there's no place there to put it out. We are simply inundated by donations.
The other day we were all done and outside locking the door. Here comes a man with a car full of bags and bags of things. (Of course we opened up so he could put the stuff inside.)
Which is why, should you ever end up volunteering at a thrift, your main priority should be keeping that donation table empty!
posted on August 27, 2004 10:43:45 PM new
Lucy, I AM giving it alot of serious consideration. I think that would be the best cure for this newly developed collecting habit! I never had this (well, maybe to some minor extent) until I started ebaying!!
You should have a garage sale!!? I keep saying I am going to have one, but of course, I like going to them better than having one! ha!
..
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~~ Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues(forces)of life..Proverbs 4:23~~
posted on August 27, 2004 10:54:02 PM new
I did have a gar(b)age sale last year. None of the stuff was eBayable or thrift-shop-able.
I didn't put prices on anything. Didn't want to take the time. It really was pretty funny.
A customer would come up to me asking "How much is this?" I'd say "It's a quarter." Their jaw would drop.
Especially the lady who bought about a dozen chippy-cracked pieces of Metlox Sculptured Grape, including the coffee pot (which had a BIG crack and no lid...) And the other lady who bought a dozen porcelain doll heads. Another lady bought probably 20 purses. Good names but all with damage or wear. She was delighted and so was I!
Sure did clear out the place - I took in over $100. Which at a quarter each is a whole lot of things! Not bad for a couple of hours work.
I ed all the way to the bank.
Lucy
[ edited by OhMsLucy on Aug 27, 2004 10:54 PM ]
posted on August 27, 2004 11:06:21 PM new did have a gar(b)age sale last
LOL!! Lucy!!!
Yeah, some people are just complusive buyers. It doesnt matter what! I really need to have one and turn over some quick cash.
ed to add: I bought some english pottery I thought was terrific until when I got it home and then saw the chip!!! pfffsstt! lol
[ edited by neroter12 on Aug 27, 2004 11:40 PM ]
posted on August 27, 2004 11:59:27 PM new
Hi Everyone.... sorry I didn't say it above ...... too many RL distractions tonight.
One lady that used to work for one of the thrift stores here would take lots of the good things and then have regular yard sales but word got around and she no longer works there. I know some of the ladies that work there and they are kind-hearted and interested mostly in the fund raising for the projects that the money goes to support. I have no hesitation in donating things to any of them.
Hadn't had a yard sale in ages but have had four this year so far. The first one seemed to take a long time to set up but the next ones were quite easy to organize. Each time we became more ruthless about what would go and pricing it all got easier and it was actually fun and it's amazing how much money can be made in just a few hours.
posted on August 28, 2004 01:27:52 AM new
we live across the street from the main goodwill for a two county area. watching in the evening is almost funny!
trucks and cars will pull up and unload donations and then, shortly after they leave, other trucks and cars will pull up and "shop" over what was left. By morning there is rarely anything, even the boxes, left.
we have watched while one car actually waited in the parking lot for a truck to be unloaded. why not just ask the people if they can have their donation?
posted on August 28, 2004 01:50:25 PM new
Went to a garage sale a few years ago and bought a small McCoy pitcher. I knew she was an ebayer when I saw what she was selling, it wasn't your normal household stuff. Got home and realized it was crazed all over and worthless. I put it in my garage sale box. It was priceless though when I had my next garage sale. When I saw a lady walking up I immediately recognized her as the one I bought it from, she was very memorable. I saw her pick it up and she almost ran over to me to pay for it and left. I thought I would die laughing....wait until she gets home and realizes she bought what she sold!
The best way I have found to organize for a garage sale is to have a box in my ebay room with some price stickers next to it and a pen. When you decide something isn't going to sell or just don't want it put a price tag on it and put it in the box. When its full tape it up and mark it GS, put it in storage. When it is time for a sale drag the boxes out and your are ready!
I work at a garage sale that is held once a year for charity. And believe me all the workers/volunteers work our butts off. It is in a gigantic cinder-block building with no air conditioning. We open the doors and turn fans on but we are drenched when the weather in the summer gets into the 90's and 100's. We just work two days a week from 7am to 11am because of the heat. After you work there 12 hours you can buy whatever you want. I have bought some great things to sale on ebay. Some haven't been so great. I don't feel guilty about it. I can't possibly buy everything that is ebayable, I don't have the money and don't know about a lot of items. Most of the volunteers are elderly but I know a couple of the other younger ones buy for ebay. The director doesn't care because we don't have room for everything that is donated and wants the room. We start getting ready for the sale in April and the sale isn't until Oct. They took in $72,000.00 in two days last year so I'm sure what I took helped them more than hurt their sales.
posted on August 28, 2004 02:57:55 PM new
Sounds like the Junior League sale we have here in Fresno every year. We have an American Cancer Society store here that has a really excellent stock of women's clothing and knick-knacks, I would be surprised if donations go out the back door unless they are of poor quality.
I lived on a busy street once and had a recliner sitting in the drive-way for the Salvation Army. I had a number of people knock on the door asking to buy it and I told them all 'no'. We came home the next day to find a note on Salvation Army letterhead stating that they did not 'want our junk'. Put it at the curb with 'free' on a bit of cardboard and it was gone in ten minutes. Guess where we don't donate items any longer.
posted on August 28, 2004 05:36:10 PM new
As someone who WORKS at a thrift store I must chime in on this post! I don't rely on my income to survive. It's a part-time job making some extra money and doing something that I enjoy. HOWEVER, when someone said people don't realize how much hard work goes on in the back he isn't kidding. People would be APPALLED at what we receive in donations. I can safely say that 95%, yes 95% of the clothing donations we receive are unwashed clothing. Worse are the stained underwear, stiff dirty socks, torn & filthy jeans etc. We've had crib bumper pads covered in doo-doo (trying to put it nicely), a dead rat wrapped in a torn blanket and once we even had a live puppy thrown in our donation box.
We are given a quota of how many pieces of clothing must go out a day. That's why you may find some things on the sales floor with stains. It's a tough business and a large majority of money is spent on getting rid of the garbage that people dump off at the store. Monday mornings are always a treat since we are closed on Sundays and people like to drop things off then.
I must also add that there is nobody in my store who walks out of there with items. We aren't even allowed to purchase items unless they've been on the sales floor for the customers to see first. There is such a big misconception, even from our own customers, that working at a thrift store always gives you first dibs. It may happen at other stores but it doesn't at the one I work at. I've nearly cried watching something I want go out and know I can't get it first.
posted on August 28, 2004 07:58:01 PM new
Responding to ThriftStoreQueen's post,
I'm an unpaid volunteer, we all are. No paid staff. I work two half-day shifts plus I work another 10-12 hours a week at home packaging and pricing the needlework and crafts items.
I enjoy doing it and, yes, we do have first dibs but we pay for what we buy. Nobody sets their own prices, it's done by someone else, generally the day manager. There is a store in town, I think it's Goodwill, where the employees can only buy things that have been out for a day.
The store where you work sounds about like mine as far as the donations. Easily 95% of the clothing is unusable. Dirty, wrinkled beyond belief, just plain old worn out.
Same with a lot of the other things - broken and chipped dishes, old dirty Dollar Store stuff, picture frames with no glass, dirty stuffed animals, half-burned candles. There are a lot of people who use us to get rid of their trash.
Our clothing room has piles and piles of bags stacked up every day.
Pat (my co-worker) and I have devised a system to speed up the process. I take a bag and sort it out, put the discards into a big trash bag for the nice-man-who-takes-it-away. The salable things I put in a laundry basket for Pat to tag. (I bought my own tagging gun to make it quicker for Pat.)
Friday I filled EIGHT huge bags with discards and ended up with two baskets of salable clothes.
We don't have a quota - our racks are always filled to overflowing. When we take a load of things out to the store, we pull the same number of garments. Those go into the big bag.
