Thrift store pricing increases again?

[stonevintage]

Seems like the thrift stores are getting a little greedy.  Price increases averaging 15% per year for the last 3 years, especially on general clothing and speciality or NWT items.

A used pullover sweatshirt or pair of used sweatpants here was 3.95 three years ago.  Now, they're all asking 5.95-6.95.  Run of the mill, no name brands.

Decor items.. with the Ross "compare at 9.99 stickers",  yours for a great bargin of 4.99.   I guess here, half price of what item was new - is their best deal to offer.  Apparently, items fallen out of trend have no impact on their pricing considerations.  Lots of owl and elephant figurines of all shapes and sizes getting donated now cause they're over - but still marked at on trend prices. 

 Don't they know, before these new items were donated - they were likely offered at half price or better in the retail store before they did their shelf pull and donated them???

Anyone else notice yet another price jump in the last month or so?  The winter clothes just coming out now have about a 30% jump in last years pricing:(

[nowthatsjustducky]

I will be among the first to agree that this is not price gouging, since that typically only applies to real necessities that are in short supply due to a natural disaster or some other big emergency.

What we see at the thrifts is nothing more than managers mistakenly believing that online prices are indicative of what local prices must be.  It is simply clueless pie in the sky pricing, based on faulty information, definitely not price gouging.

They either learn from their error and adjust accordingly, or continue to bleed money month to month until they shut down.  That reminds me of a computer store that our town here had back in the early to mid 90s.  Since I was really into that sort of thing, and was in need of some 3.5" disks, I decided to check them out and see what cool stuff they had.  They sure enough had the disks I was after.  But a box of 10 was $29.95.  When I asked about that, they said that that was the retail price for them when they first got them a few years previously, and that their store was there for convenience.  I just nodded and left, then went a few blocks down to Main Street to pay $9.95 at Payless, which had much longer hours, early and late, than the other place.  So much for convenience.

Even now, whenever I drive by their old store (which is a house now), I can't refrain from a Nelsonish HA-ha!!! in their direction.

[sg51]

Every week they fill one of those big rectangle outside roll-off dumpsters (or whatever you call it)

that they have to bring a truck to take away and drop an empty one.

Goodwill anyway sells that stuff by the bundle.  They don't throw it away, but neither do they let it clog the operation up.

[sg51]

 It is simply clueless pie in the sky pricing, based on faulty information

How would anyone who has no access to the books know such a thing?

[stonevintage]

Lol,  huge difference between price fixing and price gouging. Thanks for explaining that to those that were confused.   Price gouging was not what I described.     As far as I know, every major retailer checks their competitions prices.  That's regular business.  I just had not seen the chain thrifts at the admin levels price comparison shopping competition before. Or at least, a team that asks permission from the manager.... and gets it:)

[rixstuff]

I go to the thrifts with my friend and I see mart stuff from Target and Walmart asking higher prices than Nieman Marcus or Bloomingdales.  Maybe the staff just hasnt heard of the brands or shop in the stores and dont get what does and doesnt command a higher price.  I also know that the best stuff doesnt make it to the floor - many of the sales staff snap them up and stash them away in the back so they leave only the dregs out for sale.

[rifter]

There was a retail store here that I worked at (thankfully quit before conditions got even worse) that had a used 486sx desktop for $799 when brand new Pentium systems were coming out at $300.  When I pointed it out to the manager, he said he was sure some "sucker" would buy it for that much, even though it had been there for 2 years before and 2 years after (when the store shut down).  I saw him around the time they shut down and asked if they ever sold it.  His response?  "Nope.  If you're interested in it, I can let it go for half price."  I just laughed and walked away.

[nowthatsjustducky]

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@stonevintage wrote:

Lol,  huge difference between price fixing and price gouging. Thanks for explaining that to those that were confused.   Price gouging was not what I described.

---

No problem.  I was primarily simply agreeing with the wall of text guy above and his assertion also that this is not price gouging.  In fact, I think that was where I first saw the G word used in this thread; though I could have missed an earlier instance when just quick scanning to see if anything stood out I felt I could address.

[stonevintage]

True, the thrifts here give employees 25% off.  That's in addition to the 1/2 off sales that they had last Monday for the holiday.  So, I'm the first in line and the store hasn't opened yet. 

Inside, is the former assistant manager of that store (she quit last month) with 2 shopping carts full of items she rolled out of the back room and is purchasing.  She's opening her own thrift store (not a non-profit) and all the stuff she's been buying this way for the last couple of years.... guess where that's going?

I got her number, she'll be over at my house in a couple of days to look at some items I want to sell her (heavy shipping items).  So it goes.

[rifter]

We have a GW outlet store here that I used to hit up daily.  For the past year or so, there were a lot of regulars that I would see daily.  Now, I'm lucky to see one or two.  Why?  Some stopped going because they weren't able to grab one $20 item for a dollar and didn't see the value of grabbing 4 of the $10 items for a couple of dollars (that's on them).  Some stopped going because the prices on certain items were inconsistent depending on the cashier (they used to sell flat screen TV with broken screens.  Some cashiers would price them at $2, some at $20.  Still, a good price for someone parting them out).  But, mostly it's because they've raised all of their prices and lowered the quality of their merchandise because they know quite a few people are resellers.  They used to have couches in decent condition for $10.  Now, couches with stains, scratches, tears, and smells go for at least $20. 

Items in the bins that were going for 89c/lb now are 99c/lb.  Electronics and electricals were 69c each.  First, it was anything that used batteries or cords.  Then, it was just corded.  Now, it's by the pound, no matter what (surprizingly no one wants to pay 99c/lb for an old plasma TV with a broken screen that weighs almost 100 lbs).

90% of the stuff in the bins is old, worn, and rank-smelling clothing.  The good stuff has gone to the "store within a store" where they load it into Gaylord containers and sell them in bulk lots for those who are more professionals willing to write large checks.  I know for a fact that there is one gentleman who they call to let him know that they will have a container of TVs and give him first dibs before it's moved to the floor.  I know this because he told me to contact him if I needed any parts because he can get them before they're available and would let them know which TV to set out in the bins.

Their retail stores are in about the same state of affairs.  Used items with new prices (a 26" flatscreen for $200?) and clothes with stains and tears will drive people away, even those who are not resellers.

I still go, but only once a week.  Sadly, over the last 3 months I've walked out with something only 3 times.

[stonevintage]

I wonder if this new open to public warehouse is going to do that too.  Save the better stuff out in gaylords for bulk buyers.  I know that the thrift next door to this one, I was just talking with that owner Monday said that they're going to start getting all their inventory by buying bulk.  They are not a recognized non profit so they buy all their own items. That would be a shame and further prevent the little guy from getting decent access to those items. 

[swenson8781]

I agree with you, our thrift stores have gotten pretty outta hand.  I think it's very unfortunate for all, the thrift stores included.

Here we have 2 Goodwills (ave of $7.99 jeans, $4.99 shirts, $6.99 sweaters), 1 Savers ($19.99 UA youth hoodie, $9.99-$12.99 jeans, $7.99 sweaters, $5.99 shirts), and 2 Salvation Army's ($5.99 jeans, $2.99 shirts, $4.99 sweaters).  Salvation Army has $1 day every Monday for colored items (they separate out from reg racks), and they leave them through the week, by the end of the week they are almost gone.

I have gone to Salvation Army for resale items, don't very often anymore.  Problem is, I DO enjoy thrifting to look for items for myself.  Sadly, they are too expensive for me to buy freely like I used to.  I really have to be sure I want it, as I'm sure others do for those prices too.  What good does that do the thrift store in the long run?

A friend used to manage a Goodwill.  No one wants to go on 1/2 off day to dig for the right color, you're lucky if you find anything after 2 hrs of digging.  That leaves a TON to the rag man, yup, that's where they all go.  The rag man who comes from other countries to buy them for dirt cheap, to save them from a landfill, and use them for rags.  Those big bins that the employees roll around the store, tossing clothes from the racks into, that's them, on their way to a second life as a rag.

Why not just discount them to a buck?! Or better yet, just lower the gosh darn prices so that people are MORE likely to buy?  These stores are NOT eBay, items are not at your fingertips with an easy search by brand, size, etc. and they are certainly not delivered to your door with a click of your mouse from your cozy chair!

[southern*sweet*tea]

One good thing about living where I live - the Salvation Army gets the "trainee" pieces from the  Ashley and Lane furniture plants.  Brand new furniture, the same thing that they put in the high end stores, only there might be some small stiching flaws, or maybe the material may not line up exactly even somewhere. If you're quick, you can get a $1500 sofa for $100...or an $800 chair for $85.  From what I understand they bring in a truckload at a  time, and the whole load will be gone in under an hour.  They  never know when a load is coming in, so I guess you have to be there at the right time, or get a phone call from someone who IS there at the right time!

[squinkercat59]

There's a chain of ARC thrift stores here in Colorado, and they give half-price off all items on Saturdays, for Seniors on Tuesdays, and another for Military on a different day. But they seem to have doubled all their prices to make up for the half-price days. Those days, especially Saturdays, are so packed with people we rarely go any more, it's just too uncomfortable, not being able to get down aisles or standing in line for 45 minutes because there's only two cashiers.

[bubbleman2010]

It might be rude but its reality. I watch my tax dollars at work everyday and like one person told me why work? If you know the system and how to play it no reason to ever go get a job......

[stonevintage]

Ack! I would be in deep trouble if I lived by a place like that.  We are in the area were Coldwater Creek had their headquarters for years.   Many scores on their donated "sample" items. They X'd out their tags so not resale but plenty of cool pieces for my working wardrobe:)