surprised when visiting a thrift store

[keziak]

I drive past a Goodwill at least twice a day but haven't stopped in for, what, 15 years? (we donate from time to time). I decided to see what books they had. I was quite surprised. I immediately found some bowls I wanted and there was a lot of nice china but I know nothing about that (or clothes or collectibles). 

The book and media sections were pretty good. I tend to use "thrift store" as shorthand for  old and crummy books and this wasn't fair about this store. Quite a lot of nice things. As a Friend of the library I wish people would donate to us instead, though!

There was a problem with the high prices , especially since I'm used to the buck-a-book pricing libraries tend to use. For example I found some Game of Thrones paperbacks. I would have paid 50 cents for them but they were marked $1.50.  There were some DVD sets but priced high.  The hardcovers were kind of high.  I hasten to add that as a charity they should try to get the best prices but I have no idea if their books just sit due to high prices. I plan to check back from time to time. They explained they have a color system in which every week some things are half off. I signed up to get email alerts.

[fart20cool]

Like thrift store beuse you can find good deals sometime on stuff + its fun.

[rixstuff]

You were probably happier because you went on a week day.  NEVER go on a Saturday if you can help it!  INSANE!  Not much better in the evenings after folks get off work.  Also find out what day they put out the new stuff and make that your target day.

[fart20cool]

saturday is the days i go

[no_room]

I love thrift stores but they are all individual.

Goodwill has a lot of stuff but it's sad how much of it is damaged.

You have to look close before you buy if you intend to resell.

I know my local one puts new things out on Wednesday, that's when I try to go. 

[lookng2015]

The thrift shops here put new stuff out every day. I do agree after work and weekends are crazy - parking lot AND store full. Good thing I work nights so I can go during the day (if I'm not too tired lol)

[tunicaslot]

Our Goodwills aren't as large as the Salvation Armys here and tend to have higher prices. They have been running 1/2 off sales on certain colors - but only because they have no customers - being everyone is going to SA or Savers.

All of the thrifts have raised their prices nowadays and that's why I can't wait until next Spring and the garage sales. I went to the SA today as it's 50% off all colors except for the weekly color. I was very particular about what I bought as I was buying many of these same items for $1 or less at garage sales this summer.

Books I find to be too expensive at the thrifts  - I usually can find them for 50 cents at the garage sales and happened to pick up 3 series - a total of 70 paperback books from a gentleman this summer who worked at the company that printed the books. He'd read them once and said give me $1 for the box and then even carried them to the car. I'm set for winter reading material!

[evilgreenbean]

Our thrifts have researched my category and want top end ruby lane prices for it now, but they still sell fake Coach and LV bags for $1. Every now and then I find a genuine bag tucked in with the fakes

[evilgreenbean]

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@tunicaslot wrote:

Books I find to be too expensive at the thrifts  - I usually can find them for 50 cents at the garage sales and happened to pick up 3 series - a total of 70 paperback books from a gentleman this summer who worked at the company that printed the books. He'd read them once and said give me $1 for the box and then even carried them to the car. I'm set for winter reading material!

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Id have died and gone to heaven (with my books of course!)

[keziak]

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@tunicaslot wrote:

Books I find to be too expensive at the thrifts  - I usually can find them for 50 cents at the garage sales and happened to pick up 3 series - a total of 70 paperback books from a gentleman this summer who worked at the company that printed the books. He'd read them once and said give me $1 for the box and then even carried them to the car. I'm set for winter reading material!

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I have also not gone to yard sales in years. In the past I made some nice scores but now I can't justify driving all around town. We lost our newspaper and it's not clear to me where sales are advertised. Someone said CL but when I checked a few times there were no "ordinary" yard sales, just events that appeared to be businesses. 

One plus of self-employment is that I can run errands any time I want (though not in the morning which is the time for getting out the mail).  Today I was there at 4pm. Only one person was in the books/media area at the same time, a man looking at DVDs. It would take a lot of hunting through them to find DVDs worth reselling.

[odditiesandantiquities1]

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@keziak wrote:

I drive past a Goodwill at least twice a day but haven't stopped in for, what, 15 years? (we donate from time to time). I decided to see what books they had. I was quite surprised. I immediately found some bowls I wanted and there was a lot of nice china but I know nothing about that (or clothes or collectibles). 

The book and media sections were pretty good. I tend to use "thrift store" as shorthand for  old and crummy books and this wasn't fair about this store. Quite a lot of nice things. As a Friend of the library I wish people would donate to us instead, though!

There was a problem with the high prices , especially since I'm used to the buck-a-book pricing libraries tend to use. For example I found some Game of Thrones paperbacks. I would have paid 50 cents for them but they were marked $1.50.  There were some DVD sets but priced high.  The hardcovers were kind of high.  I hasten to add that as a charity they should try to get the best prices but I have no idea if their books just sit due to high prices. I plan to check back from time to time. They explained they have a color system in which every week some things are half off. I signed up to get email alerts.

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I know quite a few people who go to the Goodwill's etc and it allows them to run a business on here. 

[llllady]

We don't have any GW around here, but about 10 miles awat us a SA.  I've driven past it many times. There have hardly ever been any cars there.

Finally got a chance to go in about a month ago.  Huge store. It's on the corner of a busy highway just off the downtown area of the town.  Their rent is probably sky high.

Anyway, there was so much wasted room, and all they had was totally junk...the kind of stuff you see people put out at the curb after a weekend garage sale.  I can't imagine how they will be able to survive there. 

At least I know why there aren't a lot of cars there!

[pantlandia]

For resale, I find very little at Goodwill, even on their 50% off tags.

Personally, I buy the family's clothes there and usually can find a board game or something like that.

I have 3 individual thrift stores that I frequent for reselling. 

[tunicaslot]

For anyone looking for a great reference for garage sales in their area - try this: https://gsalr.com/

A great site that also allows sellers a bit more space to advertise what they will have and upload pics so you can see if the sale is even worth going to. It's nice to have a map to see if there is an area with a grouping of garage sales so you aren't running all over town.

Since we no longer have the Pennysaver or Bee - small newspapers that were delivered to your house weekly and were free where most advertised their garage sales as it didn't cost much - I rely on gsalr and craigslist as well as the area's online newspaper. But many people don't bother putting their ad in the local paper as one woman told me it cost her $30 to advertise her 2 day sale.

[llllady]

I get the email updates from them.  It's one of the many sites I check for sales around here.  Mostly use CL.