"I've always found the Shoreline Goodwill to be the most enjoyable one in the immediate area... less picked over, more treasures, big building, less crowded.... chill vibe. But of course now all the Goodwills skim the best things off the top and sell them online sooo..."
Yes, I believe it's true that thrift stores are either themselves selling off the best stuff online (like quality books) or resellers are storming the stores and cleaning out the best stuff to sell themselves online or in vintage stores. However, some of the good things slip through the cracks are are available for the rest of us to consider.
A couple of years ago I caught this platter just moments after it was put on a shelf. It's my pattern so I know the expected prices for pieces in it. I knew this platter would sell for about $25 to $40 online. The thrift store had it priced at $3.99. Even though I hadn't come in looking for serving pieces in my dish pattern, I grabbed the platter, carried it around the store while I looked for other things, and thought about whether or not I would really use it. In the end I decided I would use it and bought it.
The particular Goodwill we visited is a very large store and has a large exercise and sports equipment department. One daughter asked me to check out the sports stuff with her. She pointed to the rowing machine and asked what it was. We brought it out to the open floor area and set it up to try. After we both tried it, my husband came over, and we convinced him to try it. He liked it too. So we decided to buy it, spending $29. It's in good condition, has minimal wear, and works well for our needs. Both my husband and I have used it several times since last week. I can get a better workout in a shorter time using this than I can walking. Now I can alternate how I exercise and develop different muscle groups.
When I shop full-price retail, I always have an idea of what I want, like a new pair of jeans or shoes. But when I shop second hand, I often have no idea what I want, but I just want to check to see what they have. While thrift stores no longer are a treasure trove of goodies waiting to be snapped up (at least not in my area), sometimes you just have to look. You never know when something desirable will have managed to slip through the reseller crack and is waiting for just the right buyer.
You have made some great purchases! I don't often shop resale. I tried finding items for my son's kitchen when he moved out, and most of the things I was looking for in our area (kitchen utensils, etc.) were ridiculously overpriced. I literally could go to Dollar General and purchase new, for less money. That said, I think it may be our area--there are neighboring communities where I live which have people with low incomes, and things get picked over quickly. My son has had good luck finding small kitchen appliances in Goodwill stores near him. When he moved into an apartment in Wisconsin, he needed a table to get his tv off the floor, so we went to Goodwill and found an old, low coffee table with drop leaves on it--it was the perfect size for him, and cost $10, which was a win.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris,
DeleteYou make a good point. In some areas the second-hand items simply get picked over quickly. It could also be that not that much great stuff gets donated in some areas. I know in the Seattle area, there are specific Goodwills that get the better donations of clothing due to a high average income level in those parts of the city and suburbs.
It sounds like your son has found some good deals finding items for setting up an apartment.