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:(

[emerald40]

So to the thrift, all I can add is that maybe a few of you resellers should instead of taking advantage of pricing point it out to the clerks there so they can change the price accordingly."

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This!

[nowthatsjustducky]

I remember back in the relatively early days of eBay, when Web based forums were still a novelty, and our social media was presented in text through our email and news clients via USENet, I often semijokingly mused that I should have some sales for local charities, but then realized I effectively do that already, since a portion of my proceeds get spent at the thrift stores anyway; so no need to go to any extra efforts for any special charity sales.  Plus, that would feel like I am doing my acts of kindness for the purposes of being seen and noticed by others instead of being charitable for its own sake.

[rolenboy01]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@oleander1993 wrote:

Very generous of you. But I wouldn't worry if the furniture is sold to someone in real need of it or sold to someone else and the money from that sale used to help people in need. I think you could feel good about giving either way. 

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No, what bothers me is when it is priced pennies on the dollar, a reseller takes advantage of it, and the only person that benefits is him.

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Resellers don't have a right to eat or what? How do you know they aren't down on their luck as well or is it that you don't care?

[emerald40]

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@oleander1993 wrote:

Very generous of you. But I wouldn't worry if the furniture is sold to someone in real need of it or sold to someone else and the money from that sale used to help people in need. I think you could feel good about giving either way. 

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No, what bothers me is when it is priced pennies on the dollar, a reseller takes advantage of it, and the only person that benefits is him.

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Resellers don't have a right to eat or what? How do you know they aren't down on their luck as well or is it that you don't care?

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Resellers who are not poor enough to qualify for assistance should either source  their inventory elsewhere, of at least pay a fair amount for them,  not off the backs of people who donate these items or the ones who truely need them.

[rolenboy01]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@oleander1993 wrote:

Very generous of you. But I wouldn't worry if the furniture is sold to someone in real need of it or sold to someone else and the money from that sale used to help people in need. I think you could feel good about giving either way. 

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No, what bothers me is when it is priced pennies on the dollar, a reseller takes advantage of it, and the only person that benefits is him.

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Resellers don't have a right to eat or what? How do you know they aren't down on their luck as well or is it that you don't care?

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Resellers who are not poor enough to qualify for assistance should either source  their inventory elsewhere, of at least pay a fair amount for them,  not off the backs of people who donate these items or the ones who truely need them.

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But you don't know how poor anyone else that's the point, even if they aren't poor it's not for you to decide.

[emerald40]

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@oleander1993 wrote:

Very generous of you. But I wouldn't worry if the furniture is sold to someone in real need of it or sold to someone else and the money from that sale used to help people in need. I think you could feel good about giving either way. 

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No, what bothers me is when it is priced pennies on the dollar, a reseller takes advantage of it, and the only person that benefits is him.

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Resellers don't have a right to eat or what? How do you know they aren't down on their luck as well or is it that you don't care?

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Resellers who are not poor enough to qualify for assistance should either source  their inventory elsewhere, of at least pay a fair amount for them,  not off the backs of people who donate these items or the ones who truely need them.

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But you don't know how poor anyone else that's the point, even if they aren't poor it's not for you to decide.

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Sure is.  Everytime they call asking for a donation, I tell them no and why I have stopped doing so.

And I am sure I am not the only one because they acknowledge I am not the only one telling them this.

[emerald40]

And from what I have been reading it seems that a lot of what is being donated now is trash or should I say overpriced garbage from what the thrifts are now charging.

So yes many of us who used to donate good quality stuff have decided - to donate elsewhere.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Wait...so it's okay for a poor person who needs clothing to buy it from a thrift..

but it's NOT okay for a poor person who needs help paying the rent or utilities to buy said clothing and resell it so they can have money to pay the back due rent or utilities??

or sell said clothing so they can have money to buy food when their food stamps run out and the food bank is empty??

I guess poor folks aren't allowed to be entrepreneurial.

Poor folks aren't allowed to help make their own way.

Poor folks aren't allowed to try to better themselves.

Poor folks should stay trapped on the government wheel of misfortune.

Wow...just...wow.

[emerald40]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Wait...so it's okay for a poor person who needs clothing to buy it from a thrift..

but it's NOT okay for a poor person who needs help paying the rent or utilities to buy said clothing and resell it so they can have money to pay the back due rent or utilities??

or sell said clothing so they can have money to buy food when their food stamps run out and the food bank is empty??

I guess poor folks aren't allowed to be entrepreneurial.

Poor folks aren't allowed to help make their own way.

Poor folks aren't allowed to try to better themselves.

Poor folks should stay trapped on the government wheel of misfortune.

Wow...just...wow.

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Would this be like the woman who I mentioned before at the casino who only had half the rent, so she gambled and lost all of it.

If a person has very little money, buying merchandise and taking the chance that it will resell at a pofit taking into consideration fees, is definitely not a good idea, imo,

And selling items you already have is not what I am referring to.  It is going out and spending what little money you do have on a chance it will resell at a profit.

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[tunicaslot]

Being I sometimes buy at thrifts - this is my point of view - I'm pretty specific on what I am looking for to resell - whether it be at a thrift, garage sale, or estate sale. 

When thrifting -  as I shop along side these folks who love to buy at thrifts or need to buy at thrifts - I see them choosing their clothing not due to manufacturer but color, size, fabric. They'll buy that Alfred Dunner of Merona blouse - that I won't look at whereas they buy pass that old concert tee - with stains and a hole for $1.99 that I'll take a chance on someone wanting it.

Most resellers I see are there for specific items - same as garage sales - they'll ask about old jewelry, train sets, toys, records - very few resellers in clothing grab all the good stuff and leave the garbage as it takes us too much time to go through what we consider commons. I can spend 2 hrs in the thrift store and only hit a couple of sections. Sometimes I get lucky and someone donates a lot of things I see as profitable - other times I walk out with nothing.

I usually donate now to Salvation Army and Amvets. I stopped donating to the Good Will years ago. Being their prices are so high - I won't donate to Savers either as I do want to see my stuff be priced reasonably for those that need it.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Wait...so it's okay for a poor person who needs clothing to buy it from a thrift..

but it's NOT okay for a poor person who needs help paying the rent or utilities to buy said clothing and resell it so they can have money to pay the back due rent or utilities??

or sell said clothing so they can have money to buy food when their food stamps run out and the food bank is empty??

I guess poor folks aren't allowed to be entrepreneurial.

Poor folks aren't allowed to help make their own way.

Poor folks aren't allowed to try to better themselves.

Poor folks should stay trapped on the government wheel of misfortune.

Wow...just...wow.

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Would this be like the woman who I mentioned before at the casino who only had half the rent, so she gambled and lost all of it.

If a person has very little money, buying merchandise and taking the chance that it will resell at a pofit taking into consideration fees, is definitely not a good idea, imo,

And selling items you already have is not what I am referring to.  It is going out and spending what little money you do have on a chance it will resell at a profit.

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So because SOME people are irresponsible, that means ALL people are irresponsible. Gotcha.

Does this mean we should end all food stamps and WIC because SOME irresponsible people exchange those for cash to buy beer and cigarettes?  In your world, it does.

Back in 2008 I was THAT person, buying stuff at the thrifts and making money on Ebay. Why? Because because of back to back rotator cuff surgeries, my husband was out of work for 18 months. Our only income was his LTD through work, which paid 50% of his regular monthly salary, so for 18 months our income was $700/mo. Our house payment plus insurance was $500/mo, leaving us $200 for the month to pay gas, utilities and groceries.  Could not get food stamps because we owned two cars. Nevermind that they were paid for and 15 years old and worth practically nothing, we were  disqualified from getting them. So, WE WERE POOR.

I really ramped it up here on Ebay, listing anything and everything I could find. I took $10 to the thrift and bought inexpensive things I listed, and they sold. I did it again...and again...and again. I bought groceries and paid the utilities with that Ebay money. I bought a tank of propane with that money.  I paid doctor bills with that money. I paid our daughter's school expenses with that money.

Guess we should have sold one of the cars and went on food stamps and government aid. Yeah...not happening as long as we have breath in our bodies and the ability to WORK.

But in your world that should have been denied to me, because after all, SOME people are irresponsible, therefore ALL people are irresponsible. 

Again I say wow...just wow.

[mistwomandancing]

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getitright1234 wrote:..........I have been is some store that were so over priced, I literally watched items stay of the shelf for years; I am not kidding.   The manager of that thrift store flat out refused to reduce the prices, he was a stupid jerk who had no business sense.  What good did does it do for a veteran when a lamp sets on the shelf marked $ 99.99 for (2) years.  This  same store became so cluttered because more was coming in than going out. 

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The same is true for some sellers on eBay, but here they come to the forums to ask aloud why their merchandise isn't selling, and to blame eBay for their poor sales.  While others with decent and even great sales are pooh-poohed for their suggestions, some still cling to their sales strategies, even though they are bad-mouthing their results all the time.   

[emerald40]

Back in 2008 I

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Exactly.  Do you think someone in your shoes should try this on the ebay of today.

I am not going to get in a ___P__  contest with you.  You have your opinion and I have mine.

[mistwomandancing]

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emerald40 wrote:

Around here, proof would be Medicaid or Children and Family Service or some other State organization.

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Oh, dear... that would cut a lot of needy folks completely out in this area.  They're on very small social security income, but just not quite eligible for Medicaid.  They have no children, no family services aid, and usually no help from a state organization. 

One of the most "in need" groups in this area (I would guess) would be those who just miss all the cut-off financial limits for help.  If their meager social security payment was only $32 LESS a month, they would qualify for hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of financial helps.  But the cut-off is absolute, not graduated.  

They are in need every single month, and if any helps available were intentionally withheld from them because they weren't quite poor enough, couldn't PROVE their unhappy level of need... I think that's sick.  ESPECIALLY when help is right there, on the other side of the door!  Or, in this case within the walls of thrift shops bulging with low-cost clothing, shoes, winter coats, an old slightly-soiled sofa which is still better than the broken down saggy one some poor old guy is making due with right now.  But he just isn't quite poor enough to pass the *poor* test.  He's 'needy', but can just make do looking in, from the outside.

[emerald40]

In my State if they can show that they are getting help already, they would immediately qualify.