posted on January 26, 2001 04:49:22 PM
As we all know, the folks at the SA sometimes have a problem pricing thier items for the real world. That is thrift store pricing reflecting used or donated items.
I just about did a flip when I saw this today. Today is January 26, one month after Christmas day. There were several packages of the large c9 Christmas lights on the shelf. Each package was from Kmart originally and had the Kmart branding on it. They were in perfect shape and contained 5 bulbs. The SA staff priced these packages at $1.99 each. I turned these over and found the Kmart price on the back. If you think it was $1.99, then you are giving them to much credit. The every day price at Kmart was $1.72.
Of course at Kmart, I could buy as many of these that I wanted to at about 50-75 percent off, in the fact it's after Christmas.
I showed another customer this, and we both had a good laugh about it!
I don't want to forget to tell you about the dirty, bottom line, no frills coffee maker they had on the shelf. It was priced at $8.99. Kmart and Walmart both have similar bottom line, no frills coffee makers priced at $10.00. The only difference is that the coffee makers at Kmart and Walmart are NEW, CLEAN, IN A BOX, AND WITH A WARRANTY!!
So do you have a Salvation Army Laugh of the Week?
I believe that a couple of people will try to defend this pricing, however, I don't see this being defendable position. What do you think?
[ edited by yeager on Jan 26, 2001 04:51 PM ]
posted on January 26, 2001 05:23:42 PM
I don't know if I would call it a laugh but the SA near me puts out more stained and ripped clothing than anything else and charging $6.99 for a thin stained shirt.
It's horrible when these stores-- whose purpose is to provide inexpensive items to the needy-- become out of reach in price to those they were set up to serve.
posted on January 26, 2001 05:26:56 PM
I hope a Goodwill story is OK!
My local Goodwill has two beautiful pieces of vintage luggage. They are made out of red and black plaid fabric with black leather trim. They are kind of shaped like oversized old-fashioned gym bags. They are in fantastic, unused, condition with original tags and labels still attached.
Price you ask? Only $4.99 each! Nice, huh? The only problem is they priced them by writing "$4.99" in 3" high letters in black magic marker on the exterior of each bag!!!!
posted on January 26, 2001 05:29:58 PM
one time when we had gone to the SA for clothing for a history dress up day for my daughter's middle school, we picked up a couple of items. she tried them on at home and within 15 minutes here skin on her stomach was covered with welts and hurt. it was from the blouse. i threw it away. it took a week for her skin to get better.
i wonder if the blouse had been used with some chemical solvent or something. it was a dry clean only, dirt cheap in price, and was only going to be used the one time.
she is not allergic to anything but penicillin, so who knows.
my .02 worth
posted on January 26, 2001 06:14:29 PM
You are all wasting your time at SA and other thrift shops. I have a friend who is a manager/chopper at the main SA. You won't get anything worthwhile because the choppers at the warehouse get it first. What you get is what they slip thru their fingers. Loads of mugs, and misc. glasses/plates. But nothing worth while. Sigh.
posted on January 26, 2001 06:18:01 PM
I honestly don't know how the Salvation army stays in business. They sell shabby used 15-20 year old low end furniture at what it cost when new. Magazines for 50 cents to $1 each, when every other place sells them for 25 cents each.
Used, broken phones for $5, you can buy brand new ones for 7.99 at many retail stores. 1980s stereo (analog am/fm radio, record player, dual cassette deck), for $19.99 to $29.99 sometimes without speakers. Take a look out at end of people's driveways on garbage day and get the same thing for free.
Funny thing is, something that should be priced higher, isn't (but that's like finding a needle in a hay stack). I picked up nearly brand new pair of Levis 501 jeans (worn once or twice, if at all), for $8.99.
posted on January 26, 2001 08:13:38 PM
Well, I'm happy. The local Goodwill store has gone back to realistic pricing. They tried to get fancy (i.e. jacked their prices way up) but stuff was just sitting there. A new manager came in, cleaned up, extended the hours and lowered the prices. The place is now *busy*. I was amazed - went there at lunch - there must have been 25-30 people shopping.
Hardback books 49 cents, paperback are 29 cents. No complaints here!!!
posted on January 26, 2001 08:51:45 PM
The high pricing bothers me, but what bothers me even more is that, like mentioned above, they will price it right on the front with permanent marker, or charge $20 for a Life magazine with a giant non-peelable sticker on the front!
The Goodwill here has a couple "Primestar" satellite receiver boxes for sale at $35.00. Primestar has been out of business for nearly a year. Can't imagine who would buy them!
posted on January 26, 2001 08:56:01 PM
Our local thrift store should be called the Love Myself store. I overheard the owner complaining one day about how full her kichen was. Her kitchen is so full of the nice dishes and other things that people donate to her charity. Also at least once a month there is a newspaper article about how this place needs money and or donations. Of course I take my donations to her. It's my auction extras (chipped, cracked, broken and junk).
posted on January 26, 2001 10:25:06 PM
I have a goal when I start out the year and this year it is to find a certain article of clothing that you never see. New price of the article is $350.00. I visit the SA in a nearby town and my husband keeps bugging me to leave. I needed to walk down one more isle and there was the article I wanted. Price $4.99 and that is a bargain. When I went to check it out it was half price. Eventually it will get to ebay.
posted on January 27, 2001 12:00:08 AM
I went to the local SA yesterday looking for a Thesaurus. I can't find my copy and there are always 2 or 3 in every SA.
All of the hardbacks are priced at $1.50 and the soft covers at $.75.
When I got to the counter to pay for the book the guy said...You know...pretty soon we are going to start pricing the books accordingly.
(Ok I'll bite) What do you mean? According to what?
We aren't going to have just one price for hardbacks and one price for softbacks. You know...a book with a 1000 pages is worth more than a book with 100 pages...just look at this big book you have for $1.50...
I was too stunned to say anything but thank you as I left with my fat book that must be worth a fortune.
posted on January 27, 2001 12:28:20 AM
glassperson
you mean like the two $1 casino chips I picked up for 50 cents... and just sold for over $50? Or the pachinco game I just picked up this weekend for $28?
`·. >(((º>`·.¸.¸>
ahwahneeliz
>(((º>¸¸.·.>((º>··.¸><((((ºcJ
posted on January 27, 2001 12:35:56 AM
I find Salvation Army and Goodwill to be way overpriced, however, I've still made a lot of money by waiting for sale days when the items become a bargain.
I can't quite seem to understand their pricing. I will find a nice suit marked $45 and the next week I will find a nearly identical one, same brand and condition for $12.99. They price old ugly formals at $39.99 but price a nice new modern formal gown at $9.99.
Today I found 5 expensive cashmere sweaters, indentical (except for color), for $6.99 each. They were in perfect condition. There's was no way I could pass it up...
posted on January 27, 2001 12:40:53 AM
smw, you should have asked him if a book with big words will be more expensive than a book with "widdle" words. Next thing you know they'll be charging by the pound.
`·. >(((º>`·.¸.¸>
ahwahneeliz
>(((º>¸¸.·.>((º>··.¸><((((ºcJ
posted on January 27, 2001 02:09:44 AM
I don't think that I would EVER give any of my unwanted items to the SA. I'll drive about 25 miles to a nearby city where there is a charity that supports a battered woman's shelter. At this thrift, the items are fair to good condition, and the prices are fair, and realistic.
At the local SA, I have heard the staff make remarks about how they are going to take items home because the item is "new in the package".
Also, I called the local Salvation Army Citadel recently to complain about the double standard of employees holding nice furniture for certain customers. The employee at the Citadel said that store manager makes policy about holding items for customers. I suggested that she would tell the manager to post the policy near the cash register so ALL customers can take advantage of it. With this, it becomes a real policy instead of a chance to filter nice items to friends and relatives.
I also asked about the SA policy regarding employees buying things from the floor. The Citadel staff member really didn't know the answer, so I pressed her for some sort of answer. She said she thinks its 24 hours. Hmmmm? So the employee basically gets first choice in the fact they are there every day. If you and I get there twice a week, we get the leftovers. Just who is the Salvation Army supposed to be serving, the needs of the public, or the GREED of the employees?
This may sound cruel, but I also boycott the red kettle bell ringers from the SA around Christmas time. I don't believe they, (the SA) really deserve any money if they can't be completely honest in thier dealings.