Want to vote on what color this frame should be- PLEASE DO. Click FRAME MAKE OVER
I just went over to check in at Tracey's blog and she has a noteworthy post. I have had similar experiences but then I will also find a cute end table that needs a makeover but in good condition for $7 and they will have a broken table waterfall that is unusable for $20-WHAT. What kind of drugs are they on before they whip out that little pricing gun???
So here is Tracey's Post:
How 'bout we put the THRIFT back in Thrift shop?
And the Good back in GoodWill.
Pul-eeease.
I want to know...What is up with my local GoodWill Industries and Salvation Army's increased pricing?! People, read the sign. It says GoodWill, not Nordstoms. (Actually, my daughter and son-in-law up in PTown now refer to it as "Greedy Will" and I fear they're right.)
Umm...have they heard not the news? We're in a recession here, people. Yes, indeedy. And yet, there appears to be no rhyme or reason for the pricing system at the biggest little city's thrift shops. (Ehem... and not in Portland Oregon's thrift stores either, according to my sources.)
I swear, it's like they let a seven year old loose with the price gun (which was set on $14.95) to tag each and every item (a minimum of 12 times with stickers that don't want to come off, ever.) in the small "home accessories" department.
See a small kind-of-cute pitcher?
$14.95.
A large silver tray missing a handle?
$14.95.
A pillowcase?
Um..you got it. $14.95.
My personal favorite was finding two nearly identical similar trays, one with a huge dent in it (not even usable) and one in perfect condition. Both of them marked...$14.95. When I asked why this was, the cashier said with a shrug, "That's just because they are both trays."
Okie dokie. Gotcha.
Our local Salvation Army now runs "half off days" for those of us with "Sally Cards"and even then items are too high, and "Purple tags are not included" which covers about a third of the furniture. Sheesh.
Oh, and the furniture! Don't get me started on those prices. I wish I had taken my camera with me last week, because they have a settee in there now for...$899. Now, I am not saying that in a boutique or special order furniture store the settee would not be $899, but as I said before, we are talking GoodWill Industries here folks. (Reminder-Donated items to be sold in a thrift shop with the proceeds to benefit charity.)
Or...how about the beauty pictured above? (First off- it looks so much better in the photo than in real life. The little legs are about 15 inches apart)...Why yes, that would be what happens when you mate a dainty child's table with a 48" oak outlet kitchen table top.(I am guessing quite a lot of beer was involved in the creative thought process to blend these two items) Mmm hmmm. And, I don't even want to know what happened to the pedestal base for the oak table.
The price for this one-of-a-kind (we can only hope) table? Just guess. (And, don't let the $14.95 designer floral arrangement placed on top of it fool you.)
No, really. Guess.
Oh, you won't believe it.
Sixty nine American dollars. (I told you you wouldn't believe it)
Any takers? I didn't think so.
And the clothes. All of the clothes in thrift stores should be one dollar each. Anyway, that's my thought. My gosh, they have enough denim and polyester in those shops to clothe the entire state of Rhode Island, with more on the way each and every day. I say, price it right and move it out. Let's help the charity that the thrift store was set up to support. (and give the shoppers a deal at the same time- what a concept!)
Anyway.
I don't know about you, but I feel much better after getting all of this off my chest. You know, for the most part I try to keep this blog on an up note, but, sometimes, I just need to vent about the little stuff that just gets to me.
So....I am curious to know if I am alone in my thinking or if any of you have had similar experiences in price increases in thrift stores in your area in the past year? Do tell!
Thanks for inviting me over to enjoy your great blog!
ReplyDeleteThose prices from Tracey's post are crazy. Greedywill! The thrift shops around here are not nearly as costly. I'm looking at a double bed frame for 7 bucks.
Would you like to exchange blog buttons?
I just recently bought some old dresses for quilt pieces and I did not notice any high prices. Our Goodwill employs people with some degree of disability. If that is the case in your store too, maybe someone doesn't know the money amounts right, or maybe some hanky panky going on. It's okay to opine when you need to, just on be a popinjay. (Per Bill O'Reilly.)
ReplyDeleteQMM
MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY!! I have a Salvation Army right down the street, and it is disgusting how high their prices are. I go in there and am overwhelmned at the prices, that I won't spend and I don't know how someone with no money could possibly make out in there at all. I don't go in there anymore, because there are no bargains to be found.
ReplyDeleteHi Cheri! Stopping by to browse your archives....loving it all of course!
ReplyDeleteyes! I stopped by our gross smelling sal arm the other day and was grumbing out loud: UGLEEEE UGLEEE. they had some glass plates I bought YEARS ago for $1 each...for $1.00 each.. the stuff was mostly trash and burn and the prices were "who are you trying to kid?" ugh. I will not go back. it smelled like dead skin.gross.
ReplyDeletebarbara
Cracking me up - mine has gotten a little pricey as well...
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny! I was just at Goodwill this morning looking for some frames and found a really pretty one and they were asking $24.95, from GOODWILL??? I couldn't believe it!
ReplyDeleteI used to have so much fun at thrift stores getting great bargains, but not anymore.
I didn't see a picture of the frame, for some reason it didn't show up, but I"m sure you'll male it beautiful!
Have a great week!
Aimee
Totally! I went to Goodwill a few weeks ago for the first time to find some 80's looking clothes for a themed party and was shoked at the prices! The clothing was priced comparable to Wal-Mart or K-Mart. $3 and $5 for simple Hanes t-shirts! Needless to say, I walked out of there empty handed.
ReplyDeleteAs far as home goods go, I think since there's been a resurgance in antiques and vintage items, anything old, no matter how crappy is considered an "antique" and worth some money. Have you noticed Craig's List? so many people list items as "antique" and then the picture shows some broken down '80's side table! It's ridiculous!
I agree. I don't know what they have been thinking lately but it has made stop shopping at the ones near me.
ReplyDeleteCan't afford to go to our GW anymore ... priced out of my budget. TTFN~ Marydon
ReplyDeleteI used to donate a lot of our clothes to the Goodwill Store, but lately I have been taking them to the local women's shelter instead.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have them GIVEN to someone that needs them.
I've also noticed that prices are getting higher at some of the garage sales too ! But then when I had my sale....hummmm, I guess there is two sides to every story.
:0}
Judy
LOVE trips to Thrifts Stores and FAB finds!
ReplyDeleteI'd been thinking the same thing about the SA that I use to shop at frequently... their prices have gotten so high... I just quit going. The GW's I go to are still doing pretty good on pricing... but sounds like that may change sooner than later... I suppose if enough folks will quit going, the prices will come down? Time will only tell!
ReplyDeleteso true, so true. yesterday i found 2 12" shelves for .99 each, & right next to them was a 5" shelf for 2.99. i questioned the pricing & they changed it for me :)
ReplyDeleteour goodwill has lots of clearance target items now. and they are only reducing them by a couple of dollars.
i'm so very thankful that we don't need to shop there for necessities (yet).
I have thought this every time I've gone there lately!!! Also, I tried to return a set of 4 plates
ReplyDelete($7)which I bought the previous day with cash AND I had the reciept. They only give in store credit! What a joke! Really, when you can buy the item new for less why even bother!
That was quite a rant, but I had a few chuckles. I rarely go to the "thrift" stores around here, the Pasadena area is ridiculous for just about everything.
ReplyDeleteI had a yard sale last month and people were being so rude, they wouldn't give me $5 for a leaf blower, they offered $3, so I said no and kept it.
I think we want stuff REALLY cheap, but the thing is, if I can't get $5 for something worth $50, then I want to GIVE IT AWAY. And there is nowhere left to give it to.
I really like the shelter suggestion, but what would they do with a leaf blower?
Has anyone tried that free stuff website? I might do that next time.
There's a great thrift store called Sun Thrift in Sunland, CA that is dirt cheap! Or it was a few months ago. Their clothes are cheap, but the furniture is overpriced.
Yard sales are pretty much the way to go esp. if people just want to have it gone.
I'm having a giveaway all week, different things every day on the other blog too.
Check it out! Free stuff and you don't even have to smell dead skin at Salvation Army!
Sarah @ Different Dog
ReplyDeleteI think you are referring to FreeCycle and I have posted things on it and it is great to be able to help people who need something. Craigslist is a great resource for selling things as well. Whe we moved in Oct we sold a ton of our stuff and I listed everything on Craigslist and sold all but one item. There are some stores where you can sell childrens clothing or items and others that will take home furnishing items-consignment stores-somepay you up fromt while others pay you if your items sell. I never do a garage sale any more I find it better to take the tax deduction google IT'S DEDUCTIBLE. We have used their online tax deuctible source for several years now. I can get a better return by doing the tax deduction than selling to people who want to hangle over a quarter.
You can see if there are private thrift stores, churches that have thrift stores, I know a Christian school in our town always did a huge garage sale and I would load up my van a couple of times and make deliveries. See if there are any unwed mom homes, even if the unwed mom doesn't need a weed whip etc the home may need it.
Cheri
Thanks Cheri, excellent resources!
ReplyDeleteThere are 2 Goodwill stores I shop at.. One of them is reasonably priced, however the store is a smaller store.. The 2nd place is WAY OVER PRICED!! And so are all the thrift stores I go into around my area!
ReplyDelete