Thrift Stores, Goodwill and Salvation Army

[mollygirl13]

I am a Thrift Store shopper!! And a very proud one, too!

In my area, I go to the Salvation Army, Goodwill and 2 church thrift stores. I usually go every week.

All 4 stores are extremely nice, clean and very organized. I need organized-it is much easier to look for things that way.

My entire wardrobe is from these stores! If you would look in my closet, you would think, "WOW! She really spends alot of money on clothes!!"
But no, I do not!

I have clothes from all high end stores & most of my stuff still has tags attached. My husband's clothes are all from the thrift stores as well. We only pay around $3.50 for items of clothing. Jeans are higher, usually around $5.00 ($5.00 is a great price for JCrew, Banana, GAP, and Michael Kors!)

I am happy to know that my purchases help others and I think of thrift store shopping as recycling! (and retail therapy)

I am very lucky as I get my housewares and seasonal items there as well. I NEVER shop at the mall and refuse to pay full prices. EVER!
My 2 best finds were recently.
1) Brand new, in the box KEURIG coffee maker. $30.00
2) Brand new, tags attached BURBERRY polo shirt for my husband! it was $3.50

 

[dyna]

I was raised on shopping goodwill an thrift stores. The economy has gotten many more ppl into the thrift stores the past couple of years that is for sure.

I agree the poor cannot afford to shop the goodwill an many of our so called thrift stores

I'd much rather spend the day going from thrift store to thrift store than in the mall always would have. When I need new clothing for something special coming up I always check out the thrift stores an goodwills before going to the mall or any store that just sells new stuff. Always on the llokout for jeans an every day clothing, housewares, books, etc

 

[powellrj]

Our Goodwill had another price increase and to be honest, its almost as cheap to shop the sales anymore than it is to shop at Goodwill. I still buy many of my DSs stuff there because he likes higher end things, but for my DD who likes mall clothes, I find things cheaper at American Eagle on sale than at Goodwill anymore.

I also like mall clothes rather than higher end clothes and I find CJ Banks is cheaper when they have things on sale than Goodwill is.

Its sad that they have gotten so much higher now.

 

[ssawka]

I agree the poor cannot afford to shop the goodwill an many of our so called thrift stores

See, this is what I was trying to get at in my first post. Thrift stores are just like any other business in that they will charge as much as they can get. When the demand in the thrift store rises, prices will rise as well. Where does that leave the poor? Where will they shop? I guess Wal*Mart will just continue to get bigger and bigger as the poor go there to shop!

 

[jennyf2]

I LOVE our local thrift store esp on Monday's--its 25% off day!!! I used to spend a fortune on my boys clothes...Both of my boys are VERY picky but since I found this store I refuse to spend $80 + on a pair of jeans for my 16 yr old. I will buy their jeans/shorts there & I usually find a few shirts for my youngest son (not so much for my older son). I buy the majority of my clothes there & LOVE it! They have AE, Hollister, etc jeans for $3.49 PLUS the 25% off!!!! I agree with PP's about the goodwill--I have one a few miles away & I think their prices are OUTRAGEOUS...............

 

[Purseval]

Our Goodwill had another price increase and to be honest, its almost as cheap to shop the sales anymore than it is to shop at Goodwill.

Our local Goodwill is way overpriced also. The only time I go in there is if I need something like a video cable. Luckily we have a very long yard sale season in Georgia, that is where the real deals can be found.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I popped into a Goodwill yesterday. I got a brand new with tag, top from Target for 4.99, adorable.
They had two racks that said New from Target...lots of windbreakers, sweats, tops and some jeans.

DH did not go with me, but when I got back in the car he asked how many bugs I brought back with me Needless to say I buy nothing for him or my ds who shops Armani instead,. which is why I like to shop thrift sometimes....maybe it'll even out since I pay for it all
Seriously though, few mos back I got beautiful black leather, new with tag, boots that are Anne Taylor for next to nothing...just crazy........Got a new Keurig for my dad (also from store stock) really cheap too....he loved the gift, I loved the bargain...........
With all the price increases across the board, it feels good to save some money once in a while

 

[shortbun]

I am in thrift store heaven. I live near a very large university so they are everywhere. There is Goodwill, Plato's, Salvation Army, Rag-A-rama and several small consignment stores-within a long walk or a very short drive. It's great! I've found so many cool things there. I got my sister a brand new nordic trak treadmill for $12.17, I found a very antique drop leaf with four chairs for $38, many new outfits for concerts including shoes for my son under $15, sports coats for my husband, shoes, purses(Coach), table cloths with napkins,a flawless Heisey glass water pitcher for $14(has to be my most amazing find!) and many tag on tee shirts and jeans. Love those thrift stores!!!

 

[beansmom]

my dh makes a six figure salary, we live in an $800k home and neither of us thinks we're 'too good' to buy at thrift stores. I think you have to use common sense and if i can buy him a pair of Levi's for $2 that are exactly like the ones at Macy's for $50, then I know which way I go.

We also grow a garden for fresh produce and can and freeze what we grow. We believe in being good stewards over what we are given and think more important than how much you make is how well you use it.

 

[AnninIowa]

Do any of you have STUFF consignment stores in your area? One just opened up here.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm sure the thirft stores on base are different, but I would not feel right shopping at the Salavation Army or Goodwill. I know people get good deals there, and it is a growing trend (it was even covered on our local NEWS), but my opinion is that if I can afford to buy new stuff then I should and not take merchandise out of the hands of people who are not as fortunate and really need to buy used. This is just my opinion and is not meant to pass judgement on anyone.

Their stores aren't how they directly help the needy, though. They're a source of revenue for the organizations. When you shop the Goodwill store, you're buying things that were donated to them, and any money you spend is used to fund their job training and other charitable efforts. It is win-win - you get the great prices, and the money you spend goes to a worthy cause.

I don't go to the biggies - Goodwill and Salvation Army - often because they're in the county seat about 30 miles from here, but during the summer I go once a month or so while I'm up at the farm or the big farmer's market picking up our groceries. I love the SA store - they even have a fabric department now, and I've found some fabulous old-fashioned floral fabrics there! My DS likes his thrift-store wardrobe of classic rock band tees and jeans, but the real treasures I've found have been fabric, or outdated clothes in interesting materials to "upcycle"/reinvent, or sheets/table cloths to use as fabric.

 

[elaine amj]

I can understand the stigma people feel about shopping at thrift stores. I can remember when I was a kid feeling very embarrassed when my mom brought home stuff from the Salvation Army. I never feel like I'm taking things from people who can't afford to buy things new. Every dollar I spend goes to help the agency who runs the shop and I donate a ton of stuff back to them.

Where I grew up, there's a huge stigma about thrift store and second hand things. So we never did it. When I had my first baby, my DH's coworker told us about a big indoor garage sale for kids stuff. We went to take a look and it was OK. I think we left with 1 small thing. I was overwhelmed and just had a hard time with the concept. We definitely didn't look at clothes at all.

Still, I was intrigued with the concept of such huge bargains and we went back after our DD was born. This time, I picked up a couple of special occassion dresses as I had a hard time dropping $50 on a baby dress she would wear 1-2x. Over time, we kept going back and eventually I grew comfortable enough that I started buying casual clothes too. After some time, I became a super shopper and would come home each week with at least 5-10 large bags of clothes and toys. My kids were the best dressed kids around. I indulged like crazy in all kinds of awesome clothes - for pretty much nothing.

After a couple of years of buying for my kids, I started buying for myself. Now ALL our clothes pretty much come from thrift stores. Our local ones are pretty crappy now with ridiculous prices, so I drive 45 mins away to an area chock-full thrift stores (one street has half a dozen stores) and prices and selection are awesome. Love it!

IMO - the more people shop at thrift stores, the better the selection and the better the pricing as competition grows. It's win win for everyone

 

[mjantz]

I don't shop Goodwill or SA as I find them to be disorganized & high prices. There are 2 regional chains here I love: Thrift Town & Family Value Thrift. Thrift Town is smaller & has more of a range of prices & furniture. Everything is sorted by size & color. My son wears an odd size in pants & I've had great luck finding good pants there.
Family Value is HUGE. Everything is sorted by color & type but not size. They're definitely more of a 'dig' place but you can find great bargains.

And no, I don't feel bad, even when I use a coupon or my punch card. There's so much & what I take is a very small percentage.

 

[pocomom]

I'm sure the thirft stores on base are different, but I would not feel right shopping at the Salavation Army or Goodwill. I know people get good deals there, and it is a growing trend (it was even covered on our local NEWS), but my opinion is that if I can afford to buy new stuff then I should and not take merchandise out of the hands of people who are not as fortunate and really need to buy used. This is just my opinion and is not meant to pass judgement on anyone.

This is a little curious to me...these organizations run the thrift stores to earn money too.... So donating and shopping there are both helping... not like there is really a shortage of used stuff in the world.

 

[chimilady]

I won't shop at GoodWill either.

Mostly we go to 2nd Ave, which is a chain in these parts. I learned of it when a fellow poster on this board talked about all of the scores of Disney merch. We have gotten so many things there, I absolutely love the place. My entire work wardrobe is from there.

 

[mafibisha]

This is a little curious to me...these organizations run the thrift stores to earn money too.... So donating and shopping there are both helping... not like there is really a shortage of used stuff in the world.

They may earn money but 2 of the 3 in my area are run by churches and all the profits go to missions in the area and around the world (after they pay the electric bill )

 

[Bnb0627]

[

We have a children's consignment store near us called Once Upon A Child I think it's the same company that runs Platos Closet. They only take name brand clothing in great condition. Two years ago I got my daughter 6 pairs of skinny jeans there all were P.S Kids, Justice and Ralph Lauren I got them for $30 total some even had tags on them. Im pretty picky about buying used clothes and this past year i couldnt find any jeans. It really irritated me to pay $30 a pair for jeans at Justice. We went a few weeks ago to start looking for jean shorts and my daughter got a pair of Abercrombie jean shorts tag said $39.99 I got it for $10.

 

[Lucille1963]

I'm a huge thrift shopper and even use my finds outfit my family, pay a large chunk of household expenses and Disney even for trips.

I don't have time to comment on everything in this post but I will say that as someone who has been shopping the same thrifts in the same area for 20+ years, pricing seems to be a roller coaster ride. I've watched so many stores from the big chains down to the little church run shops, slowly raise their prices over time until they are totally out of control expensive, just to have them tumble back down again. It stinks waiting it out, but it always seems to happen.

The only thing I hate is that my husband is such an odd size, he is the one who wears mostly brand new store bought clothing... and when I mean "store" I mean on-line, because most stores don't even stock his crazy pants size!!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I love thrift stores! I like Goodwill the best, but mostly because there are 2 very close to my house. I have bought almost all of my maternity clothes there...I just can't justify buying $40 jeans and $20 tops for clothes I'll only be wearing for a few months.

I actually check out Goodwill for most of my work clothes and household items before I will justify buying it new.

I make a six figure income, but was raised in a family where is was common to "brag" about what a great steal someone found at the thrift store, so it's always been in my nature to shop there. I also feel good about shopping there--my local goodwill employs some people who would not ordinarily have a job and some of the profits go to a good cause.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

So many people have been shopping at the 4 local stores I go to (Goodwill, Salvation Army and 2 other thrift stores) that I haven't found anything good in the last 3 months. I only have time to go once a month lately.

All the good stuff is gone before I get there. Our thrift stores do donation only - no consigning things.

I'm glad you found some great things.