| Author |
Across the Fence:  Is your Goodwill as pricey as ours?  |
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 11:01:19 AM
|
I brought my lunch today and thought I'd bum around and do some thrifting (because I'm always inspired by what Nancy comes up with) and I was kindof shocked at how pricey our Goodwill store is. I haven't been to Goodwill for a while because I just hate the throngs of people, but it was lunch hour.
Some of the clothing items they have for $4.99 (regular ole' t- shirts), I would use as dust cloths, or have already thrown them out, or could get on clearance at a dept. store for about the same price brand new. I realize that they do have sales (today: shoes 50% off and dresses $1.99, t-shirts .99--but only CERTAIN t-shirts, those on a back z-rail that are marked $3.29), but it sure is a far cry from when I was in college and thrifting was a major necessity to get by--I could literally spend $20.00 and walk out with a large garbage bag full of clothing. Today's total? $16.99 for 3 items (a shirt from the 60's for dh, a pair of pants and a knit shirt for work). It still IS kindof a necessity for us to thrift, even on two incomes--I can't really afford nor justify high priced clothing.
What other thrift stores are in your area?
Have you had a similar experience with Goodwill Industries?
What is "high" priced for you?
Just curious, because I really felt like a wet blanket, but I still wasn't going to pay that much for kmart or walmart store brand well-used t's.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
|
|
|
Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 11:13:42 AM
|
Nope, Jonni. It isn't your imagination. I've been shopping at thrift stores since I was about 21. The Goodwill stores I can get to in Indiana(New Albany and Jeffersonville) seem to think they're antique stores as well as boutiques! Sometimes, they do have what they call 'bag day'. You can pick up a brown paper 'grocery' sack as you go in. Then you fill it (usually just clothing) and pay one price(5 or 6 dollars). Here, I like the DAV(Disabled American Veterans) stores(2 of them). They will put some things they think are valuable in a glass case in the front of the store, but after a while, they run sales on that stuff, too. The Salvation Army is usually still pretty good, both here and in Jeffersonville. I do think clothing prices are too high, though. My favorite stores are both run by elderly ladies to support their respective churches - one here and one in New Albany, IN. The best thing about them is that the elderly ladies don't think anything 'old' is worth much more than 50 cents - LOL.
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
 |
|
|
mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 11:38:37 AM
|
| Lately you might as well go to Nordstrom as to go to Goodwill around here. My favorite thriftshop is a little shop in Lewistown Montana - lots of goodies. Last time I was in there I bought a pair of denim capris that I wore for six months solid, for .50. Great place. |
|
|
|
BotanicalBath
True Blue Farmgirl
1014 Posts
Elizabeth
Ohio
1014 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 12:35:22 PM
|
Depends on the store completely. We have Goodwill, Thrift stores of Ohio and Kidney foundataions. It kinda surprised me when I found out, anyone can "buy" a thrift franchise. So they are independently owned, and priced as such. The owners only have to give %10 of what they make to the foundation that they hang the sign in from of the shop. So they do have to pay for a building, employees and to sort the stuff, but all of the merchandise is donation.
E-
BotanicalBath@peoplepc.com www.Botanical-Bath.com www.BotanicalBath.etsy.com http://botanicalbath.blogspot.com/
"I do my housework in the nude. It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible." |
|
|
|
BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 12:45:44 PM
|
I very rarely shop Goodwill for that very reason! Recently I was very short on clothing and went to our local Goodwill to pick up some dresses since they have a consistantly large selection, but I found you have to be very selective since they want the same for a stained dress as for a new one. Also, the people at our Goodwill are not very helpful or child friendly.
Sherri--Do you visit Lewistown often? My hometown is Grass Range, a little dot @30 miles from Lewistown. For years we did all our shopping in Lewistown.
Trina
http://glitteringgoat.blogspot.com/
If you would know Love, you must know pain too. -Hannah Hurnard |
|
|
|
mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 1:17:49 PM
|
| Corrine - I can't believe I met someone on here from Grass Range!! We love to eat at Little Montana. Our cabin is about 30 miles east of Winnett. We are heading out Saturday for the cabin - to stay there two weeks. I lived over in the cabin by myself last year, got pretty lonely! I too do all my shopping in Lewistown. While we were building the cabin, we had a little apartment in Lewistown, kitty corner from the post office where we stayed until the cabin was enclosed and we could move out there. Small, small world isn't it? |
|
|
|
mikesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3659 Posts
Sherri
Elma
WA
USA
3659 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 1:23:52 PM
|
| Jonni - I just figured out your screen name - took me awhile! I'll have to tell my DIL that - she's from Elizabethtown. |
|
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 1:43:32 PM
|
Sherri--DIL's from "ETown"??? (as we call it here, in the Commonwealth  )...it's a lovely little place! That was where my godmother went to do all her "proper clothes shopping" in the 1930's through the 60's. Don't know if they still have ladies shoppes, there, now.
Well, I'm glad to know at least other folks have had similar experiences with Goodwill. The problem is, we don't really have any others to choose from. The St. Vincent DePaul is alright, but they too have pricey tags on clothing. There's one called Newport Thrift where they have the blue/yellow tags 50% off today, but they really strongly advertise brandnames and it seems like everything you pick up (even if it's from the Gap circa 1980) is priced at $10.00 or more, and there's no place to try on, so I look like a baglady or that I'm going to a smorgasborg or something in my "large skirt" that nothing goes with, so I can lift it up to easily try on pants and such!!!
Our Goodwill has a return policy, too. Isn't that a hoot?
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
|
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 1:51:40 PM
|
The only thrift store that I know of in Moscow is Goodwill and they are horribly expensive! The dishes, books and furniture are usually decently priced- but their clothes are pretty expensive for 100% donated items! (I think!) I think they would sell more *and make more money* if they cut their prices in half. I can't afford to shop there!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
|
|
|
a rose
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Linda
Waterford
NY
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 2:44:08 PM
|
Well ladies the Goodwill here in Upstate, NY is very expensive. I go to the Salvation Army on Family Day and Seniors Day. They have 50% off on certain colored tags. Usually make out pretty good. We also have a Captain's Treasures which also has some really good deals. Their money goes for a program that helps teens, etc.
Remember me as a rose. |
|
|
|
Carol Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
4033 Posts
Carol Sue
Washingtonian
USA
4033 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 3:21:45 PM
|
I remember as a kid and this was over 40 years ago what good buys we got there. For here you are better off going to garage sales because you can ususally make deals.
Long ago I worked for one of those industries and was disillusioned by some of the things I saw. It was tough when a "bum" would come to the door and need a sleeping bag and they wouldn't give them one. When the boss left I would sneak one out the door. I couldn't help it, this stuff was donated and regardless of those peoples choices they are still my human kind and no different than me in their needs. Okay, off the soap box.
Enjoying the moments. |
|
|
|
Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 6:53:05 PM
|
I've really lost my love for thrift stores in recent years for many of the reasons you mentioned. I think I posted something about it a year or so ago, and the readers then gave me a good talking to about the purpose of thrift stores being charity for other people, not me! I'm glad to see I'm not just a selfish meanie...or at least not the only one out there ;-)
Around here, the Salvation Army is just as pricey as the Goodwill. I have a hard time, too, paying almost the same amount for a worn out item as a new one would cost at Target or Kmart. One policy I especially dislike at the Salvation Army is that if the price tag is missing from an item they will not sell it to you. I went there once just before leaving on a camping trip, and they refused to sell me a pair of hiking pants (with the zip-off legs). I offered to pay $10, which was certainly more than I was expecting to spend, because I did not have time left to go to another store before my trip at this point. But they insisted that they could not set a price themselves; they had to send the pants back to their central sorting and pricing warehouse. Is that silly or what?
I grew up in thrift store clothes, playing with thrift store toys. So it makes me sad that they are no longer the smorgasbord of nifty junk that they once were. But then, the stuff that was junk when I was a kid is 'vintage' now.
|
|
|
|
Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 7:51:06 PM
|
All of you thrift shoppers should make a trip to Reno...our thrift shops are reasonble on most everthing. Once in awhile, they'll overprice, but it doesn't sell and ends up being a dollar. Goodwill...t shirts are $1.99. Kids clothes are 99 cents up to size 3 or 4 and still a good buy on larger sizes. Salvation Army is decent priced and so are the other charity and privately owned ones too. I bought a bunch of like new baby clothes for a special little girl today, for 99 cents each. One of the stores that sells up to size 3 for 99 cents also has a half price color each week.
I'm always amazed at what people donate here. I found an original table for the Featherweight machine last week..was marked $14.99 but everything was half price that day. If you've ever checked eBay, you know I stole it. Just the shipping charges are $30-50 if you find one.
Salvation Army gives out vouchers for clothing for homeless people here and there's another place that gives the homeless clothes too.
Oh, I bought a beautiful art deco era diamond ring at Goodwill recently. Not cheap, but half the appraisal price and I love it. An old couple had a lot of stuff picked up and before the driver left, they brought him a bag with two diamond rings, a diamond pendant/brooch and a diamond watch. The watch went to the floor before they realized it was real, but the other 3 pieces appraised for over $15,000. Right place, right time.
Assistance League and Senior Center thrift shops are great for reasonable prices. Bought two 40 or 50's era baby dresses last week for 75 cents total.
Ronna |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 8:51:57 PM
|
Sure Ronna, rub in the fact that you and Nancy Jo have the best thrift stores in the WORLD. ;) Just kididng! I am glad someone has good thrift stores! I am still really jealous over your wonderful Goodwill ring! Isn't it amazing to find amazing deals (steals!) like that!
I still wish I had the cash a few weeks ago- There was a flea market downtown and they had an old oak Victrola player stand. It was from around the 1880's I think, but was missing the victrola player. It was in great condition and they were only selling it for $20! I'm not sure- but that would have been a steal right?
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tpying, one hand to hold Nora! |
|
|
|
Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 9:56:51 PM
|
I didn't really even need to read what you posted, just knew the answer would be yes!
Not only is Goodwill expensive (vintage is hot, you know!), but they tend to not even put everything out that they receive. I worked with a gal who had worked there for a few years. She said it was horrible what they'd throw away; people's donations, some of it brand new. They weren't allowed to bring it home or just give it away. I've heard that from a few different people who've worked at various Goodwill stores. Sad, isn't it? Perfectly good stuff getting tossed, dishes being broken so no one can use them...
I much prefer Salvation Army. I know some folks don't like that the Value Village guy is a millionaire, but they do 99 cent sales once a week here and there are some great deals to be found!
Please Vote For Me!
http://www.blogforayear.com/profiles/desperate-horsewife
http://carpentercreek.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
Ronna
True Blue Farmgirl
1891 Posts
Ronna
Fernley
NV
USA
1891 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 9:58:53 PM
|
Alee,
I would have grabbed that oak stand...and found some good use for it. So little furniture is made of good wood anymore and then it's usually just veneer.
You are getting some of the benefit of the baby clothes I found, so I'm sharing :)
Wait till you see the beautiful clothes and snow suits for next winter that I got for 99 cents. Had to have something to pad what I'm sending you :) Any excuse is better than none at all. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
Ronna |
|
|
|
therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2007 : 10:02:31 PM
|
All of our Goodwills are expensive. I rarely shop there anymore. If they think something is vintage they stick it in a glass case and jack the price up. You really can't find many hidden treasures anymore. The CEO of our regional Goodwills makes $500,000 a year -- guess they had to raise prices to pay his salary!
Visit my Etsy shop at http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
newheart
True Blue Farmgirl
471 Posts
Margie
Owings Mills
Maryland
USA
471 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 06:08:54 AM
|
You are so right about this... I never go to Goodwill stores here, the last time I went in one they wanted 40 bucks for a set of dishes(service for 4) Good bye Goodwill..
Need to find a store like Nancy Jo goes too.....!! May have found one in taneytown, about 30 miles away from here, just "stumbled on it one day...
Margie
Chocolate makes my Heart 'sing"... |
Edited by - newheart on Jul 03 2007 06:10:17 AM |
|
|
|
Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 4:08:06 PM
|
HMMMM I'd hardly consider a t-shirt that sells for 4 bucks expensive??
Before leaving for the beach 2 weeks ago, I landed 2 shirts and 2 pairs of ultra comfy shorts. The typical 4 bucks for each didn't really phase me at all. Since even t-shirts retail for close to 20.00 these days and shorts go for close to 30.00, I'm not going to dispute many clothing items under ten dollars!
When it comes to non clothing-I champion Habitat for Humanity stores. My mom volunteers at one near a retirement community, so a lot of really nice high end "stuff" passes through for super dirt cheap. We got a frige there....brand new- side by side with ice despensor and still under warranty-all beacuse a lady didn't like the color. We paid less than 200.00! Ye-gads!!! And this particular store gets stuff like this all the time. Mom is still on the hunt for us, for a brown leather couch. All in good time. The money here goes to build the homes for others, so its for a great cause.
When I lived in California, I used to shop and donate to a store that sold and BOUGHT nothing but jeans! Was able to fill a gas tank or two selling my old and out dated castoffs!
We are a wasteful nation so i'm always happy to purge and give to others. |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 5:52:36 PM
|
Ronna- You are such a sweet heart- I just wanted to tease you a bit since I am so insanely jealous. You are so sweet to send Nora and I some items!
At my grandma's house I saw this fantastic collection of coffee cups. You know- the really fine china that is almost paper thin with really beautiful designs? This stuff was from around the 1900's I think. My dream is to find a mix of those type of cups and saucers for dirt cheap! Nancy Jo found a couple of these types of cups not too long ago.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora! |
|
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jul 03 2007 : 9:09:14 PM
|
Anna, when you compare donated items that are already worn out, and labelled over a buck, to buying something new on the clearance rack for the same--it IS too much. My comment was about pricing items regardless of the quality. These shirts should have been pitched in the garbage BEFORE they got to Goodwill, and the comment about them being expensive was because they were worthless to begin with. Even folks with compromised incomes should have some pride in what they wear, afterall, and be able to afford something. Goodwill simply tries to make a dollar off of anything, it seems. I also mentioned that thrifting is pretty necessary to me still (in my current financial situation), so I DO care about how I spend $4.00. You may not find it expensive, but on certain days, I sure do.
"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." Margaret Atwood
|
|
|
| |
Across the Fence: Is your Goodwill as pricey as ours? |
|
Is your Goodwill as pricey as ours?
