Who Shops At Thrift Stores? - Page 3

72Tiger · 02-21-2008, 06:29 PM

If I need something, I'll check a thrift store to see if they have it. I am not much of a browser type shopper, thrift store or otherwise.

Kathryn · 02-21-2008, 06:35 PM

I am lucky to live someplace that has tons of thrift stores, including *really* good "for profit" ones. My go-to thrift store is indescribably huge and also well organized--things sorted by size, color, etc. I guess that's what happens when you've got very affluent suburbs 5 miles away in one direction, and working-class/immigrant suburbs 5 miles away in the other direction. I get pretty much all our clothes there (although they are short on older boy's sizes, so I'm less lucky with finds for DS12), and have also gotten several pieces of furniture, household items, lots of "etc." Like the big $10 oil painting that I adore and that was a perfect match for our very colorful color scheme:
http://picasaweb.google.com/drlith1/...24484342264402

I love that painting! I especially love that it was only $10!

Julie Rains · 02-21-2008, 06:41 PM

I have shopped at a couple of the Goodwill's near me but I haven't found anything that was in very good shape -- I bought a tie for one son's school project (I think he wanted to wear a suit and tie for a biography presentation) and then got a suit jacket just in case it was required for a trip we were taking. Neither tie or jacket were in very good shape but they helped me make do for one-time uses; children's clothing consignment sales are huge in my area and so maybe most kids' clothing goes there.

I have a friend who dresses fashionably and she says she gets her stuff at Goodwill but I think she must visit often to find nice clothing.

lucille · 02-22-2008, 07:00 AM

The best strategies for thrift stores and garage sales is to find the ones that are the places the new rich and old money get rid of their things.

New rich generally are the people that live in McCastles way overspend, over buy and move things out of their life quickly. You can get all sorts of cool newer and usually better items via these people.

The other is old money. People who have money and have had for generations yet live sensibly. These are the places you can find really great time testing things in good shape.
I have found antiques for a few dollars, got my husband who is a hard to find size a wardrobe of designer suits in great shape from a lawyer that was retiring and that kind of thing.

So for garage sales there are only specific neighborhoods I bother to go to. As far as thrift stores, the ones that get items from these neighborhoods are going to be your best scores.

Miss Rosie · 02-23-2008, 06:16 PM

Most of our stuff comes from thrift shops, including the couch I'm sitting on and every stitch of clothing on me but socks and underwear. I'm a difficult size in jeans, but thrift shops allowed me to experiment until I could figure out what brands fit, so now I just leaf through the racks until I see them. It's also good that they've already been washed and dried, and won't shrink by two inches in the inseam after I buy them. My son is nearly 13, and outgrows his clothes every six months. I wouldn't be able to afford to dress him if it weren't for thrift shops.

Annie · 02-23-2008, 08:53 PM

I go to thrift stores when I want to find something fun, but I rarely go when I'm on the look-out for something very specific.

froogurl · 02-23-2008, 10:43 PM

I have been to a few thrift stores but don't shop there regularly. But, get this one - I was with a friend a couple of months back and she wanted to stop at a Goodwill Store and asked if I minded - not a problem for me so we went in and she was looking at everything - I was beginning to think I should have brought a sleeping bag. Anyway, I decided to look at the purses to kill some time and guess what I found...a Coach bag - on the smaller side - black, and hardly used - $7, so I snatched it up and that is my thrift store story. Love that bag!

BamaRo · 02-24-2008, 01:18 PM

I buy a lot of my son's clothes and some of my husband's clothes at thrift stores. I don't often find goodlooking clothes that will fit me but have found a few shirts. I also got some of my son's sports equipment there. I'm not a huge fan of going to them but it has been well worth it.

StudentMom · 02-26-2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstlne

I ought to share this too. Plush Husky is a plush toy that I picked up for $1 at a Salvation Army store in Middletown, NY, years ago. He has been on many adventures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonf...7594310651437/

LOL that is too funny!!

Ch3m1c4l · 02-26-2008, 03:39 PM

No, I don't shop at thrift stores.

View Poll Results: Who Shops At Thrift Stores?
Yes	46	92.00%
No	4	8.00%
Voters: 50. You may not vote on this poll

02-21-2008, 06:29 PM	#21
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (38)	If I need something, I'll check a thrift store to see if they have it. I am not much of a browser type shopper, thrift store or otherwise. Last edited by 72Tiger; 02-21-2008 at 07:02 PM.

02-21-2008, 06:41 PM	#23
Julie Rains Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 401 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (189)	I have shopped at a couple of the Goodwill's near me but I haven't found anything that was in very good shape -- I bought a tie for one son's school project (I think he wanted to wear a suit and tie for a biography presentation) and then got a suit jacket just in case it was required for a trip we were taking. Neither tie or jacket were in very good shape but they helped me make do for one-time uses; children's clothing consignment sales are huge in my area and so maybe most kids' clothing goes there. I have a friend who dresses fashionably and she says she gets her stuff at Goodwill but I think she must visit often to find nice clothing. __________________ Wise Bread and Parenting Squad blogger

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02-21-2008, 06:35 PM	#22
Kathryn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (19)	I am lucky to live someplace that has tons of thrift stores, including really good "for profit" ones. My go-to thrift store is indescribably huge and also well organized--things sorted by size, color, etc. I guess that's what happens when you've got very affluent suburbs 5 miles away in one direction, and working-class/immigrant suburbs 5 miles away in the other direction. I get pretty much all our clothes there (although they are short on older boy's sizes, so I'm less lucky with finds for DS12), and have also gotten several pieces of furniture, household items, lots of "etc." Like the big $10 oil painting that I adore and that was a perfect match for our very colorful color scheme: http://picasaweb.google.com/drlith1/...24484342264402 I love that painting! I especially love that it was only $10!

02-22-2008, 07:00 AM	#24
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 673 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	The best strategies for thrift stores and garage sales is to find the ones that are the places the new rich and old money get rid of their things. New rich generally are the people that live in McCastles way overspend, over buy and move things out of their life quickly. You can get all sorts of cool newer and usually better items via these people. The other is old money. People who have money and have had for generations yet live sensibly. These are the places you can find really great time testing things in good shape. I have found antiques for a few dollars, got my husband who is a hard to find size a wardrobe of designer suits in great shape from a lawyer that was retiring and that kind of thing. So for garage sales there are only specific neighborhoods I bother to go to. As far as thrift stores, the ones that get items from these neighborhoods are going to be your best scores.

02-23-2008, 06:16 PM	#25
Miss Rosie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 100 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (27)	Most of our stuff comes from thrift shops, including the couch I'm sitting on and every stitch of clothing on me but socks and underwear. I'm a difficult size in jeans, but thrift shops allowed me to experiment until I could figure out what brands fit, so now I just leaf through the racks until I see them. It's also good that they've already been washed and dried, and won't shrink by two inches in the inseam after I buy them. My son is nearly 13, and outgrows his clothes every six months. I wouldn't be able to afford to dress him if it weren't for thrift shops.

02-23-2008, 08:53 PM	#26
Annie Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I go to thrift stores when I want to find something fun, but I rarely go when I'm on the look-out for something very specific.

02-23-2008, 10:43 PM	#27
froogurl Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I have been to a few thrift stores but don't shop there regularly. But, get this one - I was with a friend a couple of months back and she wanted to stop at a Goodwill Store and asked if I minded - not a problem for me so we went in and she was looking at everything - I was beginning to think I should have brought a sleeping bag. Anyway, I decided to look at the purses to kill some time and guess what I found...a Coach bag - on the smaller side - black, and hardly used - $7, so I snatched it up and that is my thrift store story. Love that bag!

02-24-2008, 01:18 PM	#28
BamaRo Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I buy a lot of my son's clothes and some of my husband's clothes at thrift stores. I don't often find goodlooking clothes that will fit me but have found a few shirts. I also got some of my son's sports equipment there. I'm not a huge fan of going to them but it has been well worth it.

02-26-2008, 03:39 PM	#30
Ch3m1c4l Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	No, I don't shop at thrift stores.