Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill

RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by Seerialmom (1) | (10/22/2008) Profile | Contact I couldn't agree with you more! Additionally with Goodwill their prices are all over the place. An example: The PC I'm using at the moment is a Strawberry iMAC I paid $20 for at one Goodwill about 5 months ago. Over the weekend I went to a different Goodwill and saw another iMAC in the "special" case (you know, for those valuable items) with $300 written on it. WTH?? I had them remove the iMAC from the case so I could test it (they also had a mac keyboard/mouse with it); it powered up slowly but the mouse/keyboard didn't work. A different thrift store in the area was trying to sell similar models for $129 or higher. They sat for months (actually they're still there). Yesterday I was at a thrift store that's recently jumped on the whole green movement by renaming themselves to EcoThrift. They had an "ok" Dell laptop w/dead battery (but powers up) in the case for $400. I told them and a few customers around that this wasn't a good deal since you can buy one on Craigslist for $250 or less. Plus a new battery would be around $70."" Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post By Kathy (Guest Post) (03/09/2008) Here in the south, Goodwill has gotten so high that I can buy almost everything cheaper elsewhere. I stopped going there years ago. We have some really good thrift stores that go for many worthy causes, AA ,battered women,etc.. Once you check their prices,you'll never pay "retail" prices, like Goodwill again.Just my personal opinion. Thanks Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post By FRUGAL THRIFTER (Guest Post) (02/24/2008) I volunteer as manager on Saturdays at a church thrift shoppe. Every month that has 5 Saturdays in the month, on the 5th Saturday we have a $5 bag sale. Whatever fits in the bag sells is $5.00. Many frugal people visit our shoppe then. Our prices are low and we have good quality items. Many other church thrift shoppes also have the $5.00 Fill a bag sale several times per year. I live in the ft. Lauderdale area, everything here is very expensive. The goodwill here is super expensive. The salvation army has all clothing 1/2 price on Wednesday for people over 55 years old and also each week there is a different colored ticket 1/2 off. I need good quality clothes to wear to work. Sometimes I can find items in great condition super cheap. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by WIsgal (180) | (02/08/2008) Profile | Contact Lisa, Where are the other thrift stores in Kenosha that you shop at? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post By jean (Guest Post) (02/08/2008) In the western NY area, there are AmVets and City Mission thrift stores whose prices are very reasonable. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by Debbie52 (980) | (02/08/2008) Profile | Contact I prefer garage sale prices over the thrift stores in my area but occasionally do find some good things for decent prices at the thrift stores. YES, Goodwill is very high....I am amazed sometimes at the prices I see.....I looked at tops and such for my daughter and the prices were in some cases as high as sale prices at Wal-Mart for brand new...and these were used! A very nice large new Goodwill was built in my town and I do go there on occasion but I rarely make a purchase! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post By (Guest Post) (02/08/2008) The Salvation Army is much more expensive around here. The Goodwill has raised their prices, but they are still a good deal. I think garage sales in nice neighborhoods are still the best deals. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by pamphyila (485) | (02/07/2008) Profile | Blog! | Contact Prices in thrift shops vary - But watch - even they have sales...I got a vintage colored lithograph, framed, for $7 at a sale at the Salvation Army! It helps to have a repertoire of stores - and to visit them regularly - & also look in at ones when you are out of town...I got a hair straightener for $7 (worth $35, at least) down in San Diego on a visit - Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by Cyinda (784) | (02/07/2008) Profile | Contact This is true, Goodwill IS getting expensive... BUT, unlike Value Village (a chain of super-clean but expensive thrift stores on the West Coast) AT LEAST you know your money that goes to Goodwill Industries DOES go to a good cause... They picked my Ex-father-in-law up off the streets when he had drunk himself out of his home & he stayed sober long enough to become their regional manager! ... We also have several thrift stores in our area run by The Cancer Society & Children's Hospital... This money goes to help fund families that can't pay for medical treatment. I live in a suburb of Seattle & when I see higher prices at thrift stores I ask myself "WHERE IS the money going?" & will I at least help someone by paying these higher prices OR is this a "for profit" Thrift Store? Also, recently at a Cancer Society thrift store I showed them a super-high priced item & told them I do a LOT of thrift shopping & the price was 4 times what it should have been & they reduced the price for me, Which I thought was very cool! This also happened to me at the goodwill. It all depends on who's working the counter & their store policy... Now, we all know that doesn't happen often, but don't be afraid to ask (in a nice voice) & with good manners about them reducing the price of an over priced item... You MAY get lucky! I have seasonal employment & live on a super-tight budget part of the year, so it gets pretty hard when even the thrift stores (which I depend on) raise their prices! We recently had a super-cheap chain of local thrift stores go out of business because their large building rent was raised... They couldn't afford it, so they closed down ALL of their stores... BOY-OH-BOY were a bunch of us loyal customers bummed out (I'd been shopping there for over 25 years!)... Let the GOOD thrift stores know that if they DO bring up their prices you'll take your business elsewhere and don't be afraid to tell them when you can buy something NEW for less money! They may very well think change their prices.... It's usually the people working in the back who can't speak English (in Seattle) that do the pricing, but I DO ask their manager to relay to them that their pricing has been high lately. (Usually it's a new employee) Especially when I think a new "pricer" has gone to far & made something totally unaffordable & is ridiculously priced... & sometimes, they DO have a "little talk" with them.... This helps ALL the customers, so speak up (nicely) Guys! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Shop Other Thrift Store Before Goodwill Post by modestmaiden (1) | (02/07/2008) Contact If you shop at Goodwill on the 10 items for 5 dollar days you can get jeans for 50 cents. I dont wear pants or jeans but those days you can get good clothing for cheap. I buy all my clothes at Goodwill as I am not a slave to fashion and prefer the classic styles. Report Spam or Abuse