posted on February 7, 2001 07:37:51 PM new
I know this has been discussed before, but I'm blue. Hit up my usual Goodwill today after laying low since after Christmas, and WOW! Have there prices gone up!
The sad part is, I wasn't shopping to re-sell on Ebay (unless I happened to see something I couldn't resist).....I am redecorating my house in retro-vintage and was just looking for household items. This Goodwill must have gotten new management. It has been re-arranged and now looks like a department store (way too sterile, no little nooks of funky stuff), and the prices are I swear to g#@ almost as high as new prices I would pay at Target, Walmart, or K-mart!
Discolored wine glasses, not crystal: $3.99 each! Woven (stained) waste baskets: $5.00 !
Of course, chipped pottery that isn't even collectible.....I might as well go to K-mart and get Martha Stewarts Fiesta Ware knock offs, it's cheaper and at least it's not chipped!
I saw a picture frame....one of those cheap drugstore gold tone deals....hadn't been used, but looked like it had been banged around awhile. The reason I knew it hadn't been used is because the original fake picture was still in it, with the price marked "2 for $7.00"....Goodwill was charging $3.00 for it! I think not!
Heck, I'm going to do my personal shopping on Ebay.....or just go to the antique malls. They often have sales and you can get quality stuff at less the price of Goodwill!
Thanks for letting me vent. I'm addicted to thrift store shopping, and I'm going cold turkey!
posted on February 7, 2001 07:49:57 PM new
I gave up on Goodwill a while ago. They aren't the only ones who think they are a "boutique", all of the major thrifts seem to think they no longer sell junk, but fine antiques and collectables. Damn that "Antiques Roadshow" anyhow....
posted on February 7, 2001 07:58:03 PM new
I am fortunate that my Goodwill has an "outlet" in the back of it. I RARELY shop the front of the store for me, as their prices are just not what I am willing to pay for some of the stuff they are selling. I will however browse through for my son and stepson's clothing. I recently purchased a brand new (w/tags!!) pair of Nauctica Jeans for my son, for $2.69...can't beat that! The "outlet" part has bins and everything in the bins is 50 cents. I have spent many a day there, for ebay reasons and for personal reasons, digging in the bins. I am considering making it part of my "exercise" routine, after I am done in there, my arms hurt! LOL I also have a friend who works there, so I know the days that they transfer the stuff from front to back, that really helps
Kaffro
[ edited by Kaffro on Feb 7, 2001 07:59 PM ]
posted on February 7, 2001 08:11:58 PM new
Oh, I forgot to mention the funny part. I was looking at a box of stuff that hadn't been put on the shelves yet, and another older gentleman was doing that also......we got in a conversation about how expensive things were, and he defended the thrift stores, because, "you know, people are just coming in here to buy things to re-sell at their yard sales!"
Ummm. I batted my eyes and said, "oh, really? Do people really do that?"
Ha ha. So maybe we can't blame Ebay and the Antique Roadshow! Oh, and yes, the rest of our thrift stores seem to have all gone boutique also. Oh, well.
posted on February 7, 2001 08:19:28 PM new
LOL ohandrea! I have been shopping at my local goodwill forever...they know me by name! (Is that good or bad? ) I think people these days are so much more aware of the good stuff, and only give their junk to goodwill. I remember one time I was donating a coffee table to them, and they had to have an "inspector" come out to make sure they could take it...kinda ticked me off, but I see where they are coming from, people were just dumping off trash there. I do have to say, though...I get some really great clothes there... for me, the kids, the hubby and well, you know
Kaffro
posted on February 7, 2001 08:26:22 PM new
Kaffro...Last summer my son and I bought some golf clubs at GW, and when I asked if we needed a bag to carry them out, in case someone thought we were shoplifting, the clerk said, "oh, no, we all know you!" Yikes!
The gentleman I was talking to today also said, "ya know, there are people who come here in the morning and stay here ALL DAY just waiting for the good stuff to come out!"
Gosh, sometimes it's just not even dignified....but hmmmm, it's an idea! LOL !!
posted on February 8, 2001 08:35:02 AM new
The Goodwill here just had
ELVIS PAPERDOLL BOOK AL KILGORE 1982 FIRST ED
in the showcase on for get this...89.99
HAHAAHAHA
The last one on ebay was 5.00 and did not even sell..I feel like printing the auction off and sending it to them!
posted on February 8, 2001 12:27:58 PM new
I once had a woman, very active in various "charitable" organizations, tell me that Goodwill wasn't really a place for "needy" people to go and shop. It was a place for "non-needy" people to go and shop so that the money brought in could go to help "needy" people.
I also have a friend who started a re-sale/thrift store years and years ago who did it to make a living. She has been quite sucessful. She gathers her "inventory" from all kinds of places and, believe it or not, she even has people give her stuff because they don't want it and don't feel right about just throwing it away. She loves those people! She gets to make quite a nice profit on those items!
posted on February 8, 2001 01:19:30 PM new
If you can hack the winters here move to Wyoming. They still think it's 1953. We have a thrift store run by the seniors and one can get blue jeans for .50. If they are stained or torn they don't sell them (too junky). You have to be there on the right day to get the good stuff though. Several ebayers in this smaller- than -small town keep us on our toes.
But it's like I said, you have to put up with the howling wind and snow, that so far this year hasn't let up (another foot last night).
posted on February 8, 2001 01:37:33 PM new
puddy......email me. We are looking to relocate and we have a list of likes & dislike that we are going by. One of our "likes" is a wintery winter. I would like more info on your area. Thank you!
I guess I am lucky because our goodwill still has low prices. But theu also have crap too. It is hard to find good stuff in there. Almost everything is stained, broken, incomplete or just plain garbage.
We also have a thrift store called Value Village. Good stuff there, but high prices.
And we have St Vincent Depaul too. They are my fave. Good stuff, great prices. And in every corner is boxes or shelves that almost always seem to have great collectbles hidden.
[ edited by Kaffro on Feb 7, 2001 07:59 PM ]