Thrift Store

I went to a YWCA thrift store yesterday.  I don't know why they called it a Thrift store because it was anything but that.  They had crockpots, coffeepots, countertop grills, panini grills...charging as much for them as if they were brand new.  There is a new crockpot out that has 3 interchangable crocks.  They had one there and I was so excited when I seen it.  I walked up to it real fast because I noticed another woman kept eyeballing it.  I was so disappointed when I looked at the price.  This crockpot runs about $50 in the store, at this thrift store they wanted $45.  Yes, it looked fairly new, it looked to be in good condition.  I'm sorry...if I'm gonna pay that much money for a used item I expect it to come in a box with instructions.

I mainly stopped there because I was at the medical supply store next door to it.  An acquaintance of mine is the owner/operator and I needed a new nebulizer kit & electrodes for my tens unit and he gives me a 10% discount.  Of course since he is a private owner and not a corporation his prices are a little higher, so his discount he gives me is just like I am going to a regular place like Harts or the big place over by the hospital...sorry can't think of the name of it.  anyways....I went to the thrift store looking for yarn & quilting material.  They had 2 skeins of veriagated blue yarn..so pretty.  They wanted $2.99 each for the yarn.  You can buy brand new yarn Redheart yarn for $3.12 at walmart.  even though the yarn had no sleeve on it, I'm pretty sure it was Red Heart.  they had no quilting material.  A few scraps of material but that was it.

I've been wanting to do a puzzle.  I have several Thomas Kinkaide puzzles already and was wanting to do one of those.  I noticed at this thrift store they had a lot of picture frames...very large ones, big enough to frame a 1000 or 2000 peice puzzle.  They wanted $9.00 for them.  None of them had glass in them.  So that means I would have to go somewhere (Lord only knows where cuz I don't) to have glass measured & cut to size...which I imagine is not cheap.  You can buy them brand new at walmart for around $12-$20 dollars.  Or if your  not picky about your frame you can buy a poster frame for about $8-$10.  There glass ware was expensive along with their dish sets.  I found a beautiful dish set called "Wheatland"  And since I live in a wheat state I thought it might be an interesting set to own.  I already have drinking glasses that look just like the design on the dishware.  It wasn't a complete set.  It had something like 6 plates, 7 underliners, a sugar & creamer, 5 or 6 bowls and one or two other peices.  They wanted $79.00 for it.  I seen no name on the back to say where it was made or the name of the design so I couldn't come home and look it up.  And then there were other little what-nots and knick-knacks...they just wanted entirely too much for it.  I did find a Michael Bolton CD for $2.99.  That is all I bought. 

There are several other thrift stores I like a lot better so I think I will go and visit one of them today.  I'm not looking for anything inparticular...one just never knows what good deal one will find at a thrift store.

4 Comments | Post Feedback

i moved to michigan and i have been an avid thrifter for years!! usually consists of 3 or more trips a week there but here in mich it is ridiculous the prices they charge they are more like the ones you went to and i miss my cheap ohio thrifts they were so cheap there all kids clothes 2 bucks regardless and small household stuff was really cheap as well as bedding and other things here it is like you are in a mall with these fancy set ups etc!!! i am thinking we are paying for all these fancy displays they make everytime ya want something it is "display only" but i noticed prices are getting higher!!!!
i have decorated my craftsman style home with all my flea market, thrift, curbed treasures,and the ever popular garage sales
good wills are always cheaper we have none around here in this area but the sal army is popular but always more expensive
KimmyLynn2u2@aol.com
p.s. do you freecycle?? or do craigslist?? cant beat free and half my treasures and shabby decor come from there!!

The pricing varies tremendously from one kind or location of a thrift store to another! I just try to figure out which ones are "good" and pretty much stick to those. After a while I can sort of figure out who the main donors are to a shop and the pricing policy...But even there there are things priced at almost retail at times - which is ridiculous - I have seen 99 Cent store stuff priced for more than what it is new! On the other hand, there ARE bargains if you look closely and often...and even Salvation Army and other thrift shops have SALES when they overstocked, and...I have gotten real designer things for a song and good leather handbags and so on - you just have to scope out the good places! I just scored on some 99 Cent Liz Claiborne grey knit pants which fit me perfectly and go great with a black/grey jacket I have. And some great shoes - shoes are relatively cheap because people are worried about germs (You do have to disinfect them...)But the good old days of stuff for pennies are over - I did score at the end of a big yard sale a week or so ago. I find that at the end of the say people just want to get RID of everything & practically give it away!

I do like to shop and I work off my shopping urges at thrift shops and 99 cent stores, where the damage is minimal!

Thank-You Pamphyila & kimmyLynn for stopping by.

I do have my 'fav' thrift stores that are not too high in price but if they do get something nice..the price can get a little steep. I have 2 or 3 that I go to on a routine basis because they have such a high turn over of product. I say "on a routine basis" but what I mean is that these are the ones I typically go to first because you can usually find SOMETHING. It may not be what you are looking for, but you can usually find something you know you will need in the future. Like today for instance. I was looking for tags to mark craft items for sale and I found them at a thrift store. saved boo-coo bucks buying them at the thrift store than if i had went to office max first.

And yes, I have used FC before. I've not been too lucky in finding what I am looking for but have been helped out a few times. Not really too interested in craigslist but have checked it out before. We don't have a .99 cent store here but we do have a Dollar tree. However their grocery section really leaves a lot to be desired. there is no refrigerated section to their stores.

Sometimes I get the guilts about my regular thrift shop stops - but then, I do almost ALL my clothes shopping there these days! So - getting denim pants for $3 and a nice linen/cotton sweater for $4 - makes it all worthwhile.

But the pricers at private charity thrift shops are volunteers, as as such, their pricing varies wildly sometimes - with the less valuable stuff pricey and the better stuff a good deal! A lot of Goodwills and Salvation Army's are lousy - but then I have found one of each that's really GOOD and worth the visit. It all depends on who is making the donations. After a while, you can scope it out & get an idea what sort of stuff usually comes in....

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