posted on March 19, 2002 02:55:06 PM
I just thought I'd start a fun thread for curiosity sake. I know not everyone buys their inventory at thrift stores and rummage sales, but I think many do. I have 4 Goodwill stores close to home and numerous other Thrift stores. They all price things different. My favorite used to charge 49 cents for videos and now they're at 99 cents. A different one is $1.99 or $2.99 and then another is usually 99 cents. I won't pay over 99 cents unless I know it's popular. They all have book sales on different days of the week and I can get my books 4 for $1.00. Occasionally I'll find other items, but those are my favorite things to shop for. How do these prices compare to the rest of the country? I'm in Wisconsin.
posted on March 19, 2002 05:20:15 PM
Ihula. There is a great difference in prices between the Racine and Kenosha Goodwills. Very seldom can we get books 5 for a $1.00.{hardbacks}. Ties in Racine are $1.99 in Kenosha $1.00. Any Jewelry in Racine $1.99 and in Kenosha individually priced high unless it is cheap. Books in Racine are priced really high. So there is a difference between GoodWill stores that are about 10 miles apart. Those stores and Value Village, which is half price on Friday's and Saturday's are the only places I visit. Value village is the best I have found.
posted on March 19, 2002 06:44:56 PM
In Durham NC books are 50 cents softcover and 1.00 hardcover in all the area GW stores. Videos are usually 1.75. All the other thrift stores are even higher. And in Danville VA GW has set up a quasi bookshop with real used bookstore prices. What nerve!
posted on March 19, 2002 06:46:52 PM
Goodwill in SC sets suggested prices for most items, but gives store managers the option to price items higher. There are 6 stores in the tri-county area where I live. At 5 of them, videos are almost always 99c, and books 29c for paperbacks, 49c for hardbacks, unless it is something extra special. The sixth store marks up practically everything. Many items are twice the price or more than the other stores. However, this store marks up anything that's a good brand, popular title, etc, regardless of condition. They color code items for date. Once an item has been there over a month, the other 5 stores mark it half price, then get rid of what doesn't sell after a week at half price. The sixth store will mark items below half price of the other stores. For instance, I found a dress at the one store, which they had marked $5.99 because it was a good brand. The other stores would have charged $2.49. It had a missing button, so it sat for a month. They marked it down to 79c, where the other stores would have marked it down to $1.25. The ironic thing is that the one store that gets the best merchandise NEVER marks anything higher than the suggested price, no matter how pricey it was originally, or how valuable it is now.
posted on March 19, 2002 07:35:52 PM
Our Goodwill is very expensive. It used to be reasonable but between recession and online buyers looking for bargains, prices have skyrocketed. An old video is $2, anything decent is $5 or more. Crappy kids clothes can go from $3 up to $7 or $8. Often the used junk is more expensive than new stuff at Target. Interestingly, you see a lot of expensive cars in the parking lot. (All things considered, the fancy cars may belong to the Goodwill managers and staff.)
At the Goodwill nearest my home, the store manager prices stuff with a collectibles guide on her desk. I remember once I saw a bunch of Elvis plates on display for $75 bucks each. I checked on eBay where they were selling for $15 if at all. I asked the manager about the price and she said, "they're collectible." This particular store now sells women's clothing exclusively and calls itself a "boutique."
Sadly, the good stuff never even reaches the shelves. It's all overpriced junk. I was a GW shopper long before eBay, but not any more.
posted on March 19, 2002 10:11:56 PM
How much are your GW's charging for adult jeans? Ours are $5. Our dress and book prices are a lot higher than any stated here so far. Men's tees were $3.50 but are now $2. Ladies' blazers are $6. The quality went way down for 3 weeks, and now it's back to normal with really nice stuff.
They've added LP's for 35 cents. Recently they've been adding really nice sofa's, chairs, and kitchen sets. Usually $100.
posted on March 19, 2002 10:32:55 PM
I can always go to discount stores and get brand new items for less than Goodwill wants for the same item that is used. It's not just GW though. There's a "thrift" store in our area that marks all "good" designer clothing items at $100 and up. They have suits and some dresses priced at $200+. You can go next door to Marshals and get the same items NEW for less than half of the price they want for them.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Mar 19, 2002 10:34 PM ]
posted on March 19, 2002 11:17:03 PM
The Volunteer's store in my area raised prices on LP records when they realized they
were catering to online Ebay dealers. What was once a gold mine for collectable vinyl
at cheap prices ($0.50 a shot) is no more. The store manager seems to think ANY record
release by either the Stones, Beatles, Presley, etc, automatically puts them in the $4.99 to $19.99 price range- no matter what the condition is. You wouldn't believe the garbage with these price stickers. At last checking, they were trying to sell Presley's 'Moody Blue' for $49.99 because it's on 'Blue vinyl'. Hahahahaha.
posted on March 20, 2002 01:30:46 AM
In the Detroit area they did the same crap of picking all the good stuff out before it hit the floor and had to close all of the stores up last year because of poor sales. No idea why of course....We knew because my wife would donate nice clothing and it never showed on the floor.
posted on March 20, 2002 03:39:39 AM
We don't have any Goodwill stores locally but the thrift store prices are: adult jeans are $2, dresses $5, kids clothes $1 to $2, shoes are $3 to $7. Books are .25 to $2, handbags $1 to $2. Every other Wednesday is half price day and the Thursday after that is bag day, where you can fill a regular size paper grocery bag for $2. I have noticed recently that the selection is not as good as it used to be. I have gotten some really good deals there though. Actually today is half price day. Anyone want to go with me? Be ready at 9 am.
Edited to say I'm in Delaware (lower, slower Delaware) as they say.
[ edited by barbkeith on Mar 20, 2002 03:40 AM ]
posted on March 20, 2002 03:54:42 AM
Local Goodwill: Jeans are $5.00. Children's clothing ranges from $.99 to $9.99. Blouses are $4.00. It doesn't matter if one has a huge stain on it or one has new tags, the prices are the same.
The stuff on the shelves are priced for rich folks only---that is if they want broken, not worth anything junk. Books are NEVER below 75 cents and are NEVER EVER EVER updated. The same books have been there for 2 years.
Our local thrift store prices are much better as is their merchandise HOWEVER we were told that prices now are going to be what an item goes for on Ebay ((not kidding)). The days of finding good stuff, reasonably priced are LONG gone.
posted on March 20, 2002 05:35:40 AM
Our goodwill is pretty much $4.99 for jeans - that's universal. They have colored tag specials on certain days, but it's funny how the jeans are always a colored tag that never goes on sale. I normally don't look at the clothes because there are "ebay people" and collectors who spend all day at goodwill waiting for the carts to come out and then they take all the good stuff. I still work during the day so I don't have the time or the inclination to "camp out" there all day long. I have a friend who has an antique shop and she told me that the truck drivers go through the items before they even make it to goodwill. I know a Maintenence Man at one of the Goodwills and he said they have cameras all over the back room to make sure employees don't pick through the items, but I guess if they never even make it to the storeroom it doesn't matter.
posted on March 20, 2002 05:52:17 AM
I'm with all of you that say thrift stores are no longer thrifty ! I'm not into selling records ,movies, etc. , but all my auctions are vintage clothes ,shoes, etc. and there are NO bargains to be had for such items at thrift shops . We're talking $15-40.00 for a 40s dress thats incredibly faded here , and those are prices that most thrift shops have. I think they give a lot of discounts to special 'pickers' though .
posted on March 20, 2002 08:12:44 AM
if you feel that items are being misappropriated at your goodwill, then write a letter to the board. most goodwills accept United Way $$$s and the public has a right to ask for explanations of the day to day running of the store.
the board in our area fired the store manager for stealing and let it be known in no uncertain terms that anyone caught stealing would not only lose their job but be prosecuted.
if you just walk away without buying and say nothing, then you become part of the problem and not a participant in the solution.
the goodwill organization is a good thing and we can keep it that way if we have the nerve to stand up and be heard.
posted on March 20, 2002 01:12:34 PM
At the Goodwill nearest me hardcover books are $2.09 and I think paperbacks are about half that. Pants are $4.99. LPs are 99 cents.
Value Village is the one around here which really overprices things like glassware and books, but good deals can be found there on 50% off everything day, or on the days when all tags of a certain color are $1.00.
posted on March 20, 2002 01:30:26 PM
I live in an area where thrift stores are in abundance with cheap prices. One tried upping their prices but found no one wanted to buy then ..so they reduced them again are now once again thriving. I don't buy anything for over $2.00 and most items are between 25-50 cents. I don't have enough cash to buy all I could. With rummage sale season nearing..lets put it this way..my garage now doesn't hold 2 cars..it's too full of ebay items..LOL
The nearest goodwill store from me is 40 min. away..and the prices are sky high so I don't waste my time there.
posted on March 20, 2002 02:07:53 PM
The days of finding good deals at thrifts aren't over. We have a very popular thrift store that has now jacked up hc books to $2.99; some collectibles have a silent auction, and many items are priced much higher than any other thrift, but I frequent the place about three times a week because the selection is great, and I still find unbelievable baragains, even though I pay more here. For example, a radio I bought for $15, sold for $105 on ebay; a board game for $5 sold for $125; a playset for $10 sold on ebay for $45.
Salvation Army is another rip off joint, but I did find a very nice executive chair for $50; a Starter Jacket for $6 with a deal of the second jacket free.
Another thrift store has the absolute worst selection of videos and they sell them for $2.50 each. Most are blank tapes or home recorded movie type. However all books are only .25¢, and I got a nice Starter Jacket for $2.50.
There's anther chain of thrifts here where prices are determined by the manager. One manager marks the videos for .50¢, another one marks the $2.50. After those $2.50 videos sat there for a while they went into the clearnace bin for .25¢ and I bought thme all. Would have paid $1.
posted on March 21, 2002 07:12:39 AM
We also have a local thrift store that sponsors the battered women's shelter. If you have forever to spend, you can find some awesome deals. All kids clothes are 50c and all adult clothes are $1.50. The catch is that they dump everything into five foot square bins and you have to dig through them. They have a drop off location in the parking lot of the country club, and they are the only ones who will still pick up any donation, so they get some great stuff. (Goddwill does not pick up anything, and Salvation Army will only pick up furniture groups such as living room or dinette sets in excellent condition, or appliances that you demonstrate work before they load them up) This store also brings out new merchandise at 10am and 1pm, making all customers go to the far side of the store while they unload. They got in a huge truckload of quality antiques one day. Apparently a lot of the local dealers had been tipped off, because they showed up en masse. Everyone was herded to the far side of the store while they brought the things out. When the manager said ok, go get them, several fights broke out. One dealer bought up a large percentage, took them outside, sat them on the back of his truck, and was selling them to other people. I heard that the next few days, each time there was a stock update, the store manager gave a lecture on not fighting over items and the illegality of selling on their sidewalk.
posted on March 21, 2002 08:06:20 AM
I volunteer one day a week at our church operated thrift store, and boy do we have some deals for you! Books--25c paperback, 50c hardback (on days when we're overrun with Harlequins, they're 10 for $1); records, 50c; baby clothing, 25c; children's clothing, 50c; nicer ladies blouses $1.50; nice jeans or t-shirts $2; coats-$3-$5; and all the clothing or shoes in the back room you can stuff in a plastic grocery bag for $3.
We are so overrun with clothing that every day we recycle 2-3 big boxes of clothing off the shelves to a holding area which is picked up by a larger chain thrift store about once a month. If we didn't, we'd soon be buried!
I used to find stuff at thrift stores for ebay - no more. I think my last lucky finds were before Valentine's day. I found an old 70s game and it was $2 and I sold it for over $50 and a set of books that were $4 that I got over $100. Beyond that, forget it and honestly I will not pay the prices they ask as it's too risky and am out the $$ if it doesn't sell. They have things they think are collectible way up in price but they are not even collectible or in horrible condition. Amazes me. Clothes are outrageous anymore and you really have to look to find stuff they do not know is collectible. I found a Lillie Pulitzer vintage dress last year for $2.00 and got a good price on ebay for it cause they didn't know but it was luck. And luck is few now. GW charges $1.00 for hardbacks and 50 cents for paperbacks. Clothes have horrible stains and they run from $3-$15. Another great thrift store here (am in Denver) puts colored tags on the items and ruins most items in trying to get it off - I even have stuff to get it off and not always successful. They charge a fortune for books now - at least $2-5 for hardcovers and 99 cents for soft covers. They charge $3.00 for each Hardy Boys books - hardcovers from the 1990s that are not worth that on ebay! It amazes me and all I see is junk anymore.
What is sad is the poor people that do need to shop there for their needs now can no longer afford it due to auctions. I feel the thrift stores should remain as they were - inexpensive - why do they care if someone profits off their stuff? It was donated and we are buying it.
I have run out of things to list on ebay mostly due to this and estate sales charge what it's worth or more. I think my only hope may be yard sales in the summer.
posted on March 22, 2002 03:07:16 PM
SarahJayne: You'll be disappointed to know that our main office sent a memo that we are NOT to put out any older clothing. So any vintage, antique (shoes/scarfs etc.) or retro items are to be thrown away.
Thrift stores want to compete with chain stores by selling brand name/designer clothing and steer clear of the days of polyester or as we used to call some things Mrs. Brady clothes. Anything old is old news. It is new/today or it is nothing.
