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]

You missed my point

Poster said there was $19.99 items

And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

And that is why for the annual coat and mittens giveaway here on Thanksgiving Day we only put out good quality, lightly worn, clean items so everyone can feel proud to wear it, especially the children so they are not made fun of at school.

[retrose1]

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@emerald40 wrote:

You missed my point

Poster said there was $19.99 items

And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

And that is why for the annual coat and mittens giveaway here on Thanksgiving Day we only put out good quality, lightly worn, clean items so everyone can feel proud to wear it, especially the children so they are not made fun of at school.

---

I read that and I understand that you probably threw away hundreds of items that hundreds of the needy would have loved to have on a cold day.  Do you actually tell them when you turn them away, I'm sorry, we are out of warm clothes to give you because we threw away the ones that looked used and weren't made by designers.

And considering that some kids are being killed for the designer kicks on their feet, designer would be the last thing I would want to put on people.  Gives the impression that they have money that can be stolen.

The Red Cross head gave an interview today where once again, they said that while they are grateful to those that are giving so much, they ONLY want new items or money to buy new stuff.  I am very sure that those who have no homes and no dry clothes on their backs will not care that the clean dry sweatshirt they get is used and not by a designer.

[18704d]

"Can you image the Christmas toy givewawy being open to anyone and all the less honorable people scooping them up and reselling online?"

--------

It's been mentioned on every thread like this,

that they may be forced to do that.. to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.

If you can't find a local job due to a poor economy

what on earth is wrong with utilizing every source.. to create your own badly needed job?

?????

Lynn

[mistwomandancing]

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emerald40 wrote:..........Poster said there was $19.99 items..........And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

---

At our stores here, the *poor people* get to shop from opening to close just like any of the rest of us, so they get to choose which pieces they want.  They are free to get the top dollar items if they like them. 

[emerald40]

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@retrose1 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

You missed my point

Poster said there was $19.99 items

And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

And that is why for the annual coat and mittens giveaway here on Thanksgiving Day we only put out good quality, lightly worn, clean items so everyone can feel proud to wear it, especially the children so they are not made fun of at school.

---

I read that and I understand that you probably threw away hundreds of items that hundreds of the needy would have loved to have on a cold day.  Do you actually tell them when you turn them away, I'm sorry, we are out of warm clothes to give you because we threw away the ones that looked used and weren't made by designers.

And considering that some kids are being killed for the designer kicks on their feet, designer would be the last thing I would want to put on people.  Gives the impression that they have money that can be stolen.

The Red Cross head gave an interview today where once again, they said that while they are grateful to those that are giving so much, they ONLY want new items or money to buy new stuff.  I am very sure that those who have no homes and no dry clothes on their backs will not care that the clean dry sweatshirt they get is used and not by a designer.

---

I might have not made myself clear.  It has nothing to do with designer but all to do with making people feel good about themselves.

That is why we do not hand out worn, ripped, stained items.  All items must be clean and lightly used.

As far as Red Cross, they are probably doing this so they do not get items that are  inappropriate, similar to what some people drop off at Good Will.  They could have said lightly worn, but maybe they were afraid that would be subjective. 

[emerald40]

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@mistwomandancing wrote:

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emerald40 wrote:..........Poster said there was $19.99 items..........And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

---

At our stores here, the *poor people* get to shop from opening to close just like any of the rest of us, so they get to choose which pieces they want.  They are free to get the top dollar items if they like them. 

---

I guess you have not been reading these threads carefully.  Resellers have admitted to having friends at the thrift who tell them when the trucks will be there.  They cull out the best stuff for them.

By the time many poor people have enough bus fare or money for gas, those items are long gone.

[emerald40]

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@18704d wrote:

"Can you image the Christmas toy givewawy being open to anyone and all the less honorable people scooping them up and reselling online?"

--------

It's been mentioned on every thread like this,

that they may be forced to do that.. to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.

If you can't find a local job due to a poor economy

what on earth is wrong with utilizing every source.. to create your own badly needed job?

?????

Lynn

---

Charities operate by stretching evey dollar they can to give to as many people that they can.

If you qualify, you sign up, and before Christmas your children come in, walk around like it is a toy store, and select a gift.  

If you qualify, sign up, and they will help you.

It only works if there is some order to it not a free for all.

Yes, some people do not get the help they need, but I prefer to concentrate on all the ones who do.

[coolections]

What makes an Ebay sellers so much better then those who price at thrift stores. You buy that $9.99 for $4.99 then you sell the $4.99 for 12.99 on Ebay. Which sellers should we be complaining about ?

[moondogblues]

"So you think it's preferable to close off the low-cost thrift store shopping option to those needy who are just a fraction above *official* dirt-poor POVERTY level and withhold their permission to shop in a thrift store.... just to be able to prevent a few who drive a Mercedes or a Lincoln from being able to get in?  I just can't believe it.  I'm not trying to be mean, but this just hurts my heart."

I have friends who drive OLD luxury cars that they paid very little for, just because the opportunity arose. They are FAR from wealthy.

[moondogblues]

"Save that for those who boast on here about buying an item for a $ and selling it for $$$ and gloating about it."

Well they don't gloat on HERE about it, but by that token the distributors and middlemen for every product in the world, should not be allowed to make a profit? How utterly ridiculous.

[nowthatsjustducky]

And when you buy something like the rare UK exclusive Care Bear Cousin I found for 35 cents at Vinnie's, then turn around and sell it for $950; well that has to be gloated about.  Just no way around it.  😄

[sidemouse]

I look at it this way...

If people are buying my items to resell then my prices could stand to be higher, especially if I'm someone who caters mainly to end users.

[yuzuha]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@rolenboy01 wrote:

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emerald40 refuses to understand it, I am given discounts because I shop at the local thrift store so much, they like me and value my business, they certainly don't act like I am "taking away" from someone because quite frankly they have so many donations, they have to constantly keep things moving, they always have so much clothing they have to keep atleast 5 large racks outside.

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I am sure they value your business.  Most would if you are paying an honest price for it.

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If you are paying the price on the price tag, you are paying an honest price for it.

[imakesugar]

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@honestabe411 wrote:
My local thrift stores have risen their price as well. It's not all them to blame...it's the minimalist who keep wanting minimum wage raised because they think they're entitled to more pay for easy/starter jobs. That's one reason.

The other reason you mention, greed, I agree with as well. Mainly because one of he stores I buy from is 100% volunteer ran and all the donations go to the animals.. I saw an increase from $2.25 to $3.25 last year on all clothing. This annoyed me because I know they already make a killing and now want even more cash. The guy who runs the chain of 'stores' does get paid though, and I'm sure a few others who don't actually work IN the store get paid. I went in to get my 2 cats neutered and still ended up paying $40! So I'm not sure where my thousands of spent dollars there have really gone. But where the money goes doesn't really matter to me, but when the price increases then I start to get a little annoyed. Even more annoyed because ALL of their inventory is donations.

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Around here the Mission store is still reasonable. All the rest are so high! I did run a cross a little privately owned thrift store that was reasonable the other day. Had some reasonably priced nice stuff But I am Too bloated with "stuff" to buy  More than a few items. They had all pictures frames and pictures for $1.00 that day. I wasn't sure about shipping so I passed on that!

I did buy a few Ties for $1.00 each. One was a Donald Trump tie.  There were a few pieces of the aluminum covered casserole containers with cover and glass inserts. I probably should have bought them...

I bought a shark steamer with Only One mop cloth for $10.00 I will try to Sell it locally for $50.00. It still had all the tags intact...

I also bought a blue glass pyrex coffee pot with a clear lid No chips one of the pot-bellied styles $3.00

I went to a consignment store to see about dropping off some quality clothes. It was stuffed to the rim with Walmart and Kmart clothes. Here prices were HIGH! I ask about consigning some nice things quality brand Dress ladies clothing (office, suits, church,)   She would NOT pay any Money back but only give a store credit. I exited that store pretty fast! I want COLD HARD CASH! She did have some cute no name purses at $50. on up and some China jewelry for really high prices. so, nothing I'd want to buy anyway! 

At one time I was advised to buy stuff Online from the Goodwill They used to have their own site...Everything I got was garbage, incomplete etc. Maybe someone could get good Items. I thought the items were deceptive (then not sure about now) I bought a light meter for cameras that showed the pin in the middle and it would not move for me. I bought a camera stand and it did not have the top to hold the camera on. I guess I should just throw it away. It has sat for 5 years...shakes head....

I never had problems like that on eBay...

@honestabe411 I paid $350 this year at our local volunteer pet help center to Neuter One male and one female chihuahua. That included chips and all shots...

A regular Vet here charges $425.+ for females and $175.+ for males, that figure does not cover shots nor chipping! IMHO what You were charged is pretty nice!...

Where do You live? I could take a nice road trip with that price and use the leftovers IF It was that reasonable!! 

[retrose1]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@retrose1 wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

You missed my point

Poster said there was $19.99 items

And $7 items.

I would have loved to see the poor person for once get the top dollar item.

And that is why for the annual coat and mittens giveaway here on Thanksgiving Day we only put out good quality, lightly worn, clean items so everyone can feel proud to wear it, especially the children so they are not made fun of at school.

---

I read that and I understand that you probably threw away hundreds of items that hundreds of the needy would have loved to have on a cold day.  Do you actually tell them when you turn them away, I'm sorry, we are out of warm clothes to give you because we threw away the ones that looked used and weren't made by designers.

And considering that some kids are being killed for the designer kicks on their feet, designer would be the last thing I would want to put on people.  Gives the impression that they have money that can be stolen.

The Red Cross head gave an interview today where once again, they said that while they are grateful to those that are giving so much, they ONLY want new items or money to buy new stuff.  I am very sure that those who have no homes and no dry clothes on their backs will not care that the clean dry sweatshirt they get is used and not by a designer.

---

I might have not made myself clear.  It has nothing to do with designer but all to do with making people feel good about themselves.

That is why we do not hand out worn, ripped, stained items.  All items must be clean and lightly used.

As far as Red Cross, they are probably doing this so they do not get items that are  inappropriate, similar to what some people drop off at Good Will.  They could have said lightly worn, but maybe they were afraid that would be subjective. 

---

You used to hear about how someone was poor and knew they were poor and struggled to get out of their poorness and to quote Scarlet OHara - I'll never go hungry again.  They don't get that attitude if everyone keeps handing them nice things so they can feel good about themselves getting freebies.  Creates a sense of entitlement and kills any desire to become self sufficient and do something  to change their circumstance.

And Red Cross said that they want new because they don't want to be sorting through things in order to get what they think they need.  If the Red Cross rolled a semi filled with unsorted stuff up and let those that lost everything into it to take what they wanted/needed, the odds are good the truck would be just about empty by the end of the day.

Over the years, government regulations and the heightened sense of do as I do attitudes, bcause one out of a million had a problem, by those who have never been in the situations others find themselves in,  actually make getting real help in times of crisis almost impossible.