Today I ran up to the Goodwill near my house because I needed some more plastic hangers for my closet and while I was there I started looking around at other things they had for sale. What I like about this Goodwill is that they have a section of all the “new” products that have been donated from Target. However some of the prices were actually higher than what you can get new in stores. They had one of those cool Balance Ball chairs but they wanted $90 for it. However if you go on Amazon they have the Gaiam Balance Ball Chair
Another product I saw was a box of 12 new wine glasses from Bed Bath and Beyond and the store price tag was still on the box which read $9.99 but Goodwill had their own sale stickers all over the box for $12.99. I brought it to the managers attention because I would have been interested in them if they were around $5 but not for more than what it would be new at Bed Bath and Beyond. Well she said she would go down to $7.99. Ummmm ok that is what I would pay at Bed Bath and Beyond with one of the 20% off coupons so I passed on that deal.
I did end up finding a new Tony Hawk T-shirt for Kyle for $1.49, a new bamboo trivet for $1.99 (I have been needing to get one) and (2) packs of 10 plastic hangers for 69¢ each so I think I ended up with some good deals!
I buy most of my own clothes at that goodwill! I also swing in occasionaly to do the dollar store deals at that location. I only buy the color of the week items (the ones that are 50% off) If you look at my FB photos I got almost eveything I am wearing for Halloween for $5 including the make up. I think they are super great deals!!
I dropped off about 5 boxes of stuff and the Goodwill before going in and then looked all over that store and almost went into that Dollar Tree to look around but I was hot and tired and didn’t feel like dealing with it by that time.
You have to be careful with Goodwill sometimes. They usually get the 75% Target clearance deals and mark them back up much higher than at the original store. Goodwill usually has a color of the week that will be 50% off as well as student and senior discounts. Happy thrifting.
I have run into the same thing at Goodwill. I remember when necklaces were .50 at Goodwill and shirts were $1.50. The prices have tripled and I’m only 31 years old!!! It wasn’t that long ago that Goodwill used to be an amazing place to shop. It still can be but I miss shopping the way it was “back in the day”.:-) Always talk to the manager about the inflated price tag. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn’t but you won’t know until you try.
I love thrift store shopping, but you really do need to know what is a deal and whats not. Tips to look for, when you shop in certain areas different merchandise will be marked lower. Such as in the cities name brand is a big deal but they have low prices on other stuff just to get rid of them. Then in the more country areas It seems like furniture and what some think are collectibles are the high priced things. Unfortunately Target does not donate those items.. they sell them to Goodwill at a low price. When I found out I was quite upset because it takes away the charity part of the deal. Lastly this Christmas you all might have noticed the Neiman Marcus stuff Target had, well that will never make it to good will because they will have the stores destroy all items not sold by the end of this month. They would rather destroy than have those items in a good will store..sad.
That is really sad !!!
Here in Iowa when spring comes I hit GARAGE SALES like they’re going outta style! In the winter though, “junk stores” as I call them are the place to browse a.k.a. “poppin tags” like in the song Thrift Shop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-jsCyovGeI
You have to dig for the real deals because sometimes they aren’t deals at all! $5 for jeans isn’t great when Target is doing 70% off and you can get new skinnies for $6 or less.
The best thrift store is UNIQUE. Although it is not for charity, if you are looking for really good stuff at low prices, please check them out. They have 25% discount with store card on certain days and on most holidays everything 50% off. See if there is one in your area!
http://www.imunique.com
I’m an avid thrift shopper and thrift stores do NOT always have the best deals! My local Goodwill sells women’s/junior’s jeans for $6-$7 each. We’ve seen them on clearance at Target for less than that!
My store always sells the new Target items for MORE than the Target clearance price stickers. Definitely gets on my nerves!
For clothes I love to hit Beall’s Outlet store and watch for the day the dot colors change. Different store have different items so it is fun to shop around from store to store. And of course they have other stuff as well. Got my daughter a pressure cooker for $1.99 once. Also find lots of neat items for use as door prizes.
That destroy it if it doesn’t sell policy is not unique to Neiman Marcus products. Many manufacturers are worried about cannibalizing their own products sales if people know there will be someplace to get them cheap if they wait. Another problem that exists is that sometimes manufacturer’s donate items for use and private consumption and they wind up being resold at flea markets. So destroy is what happens because some people twist the intent of donate.
There used to be a thrift shop in a town I worked in that would date items when they went on the floor. After 3 weeks the stuff went in the dumpster- broken. Bowling balls went in on top of glassware. Their prices went down each week and they could not have people dumpster diving behind the store. If it didn’t sell by that last mark down the thinking was it wasn’t going to sell.
You are right about the thrift stores but I always check the m: different states will do different things. For instantance: one state will discount the colors while another area will not (but the cost of the items will be different) but inflation has raised their cost so I’m more picky with a 6.00 Teen’s Jeans but its better than buying retail.
I do not make special shopping trips for the thrift stores so I don’t take into account my gas (I have friends that do) But before I buy a nonclothing item I do check for online price. I live in small town, so its hard to find the best deals in larger cities that we travel (My husband want KNOW where we are going).
So the Goodwills are my best choice; wish I knew of link for the thrift stores and their rating in each city. Does this exist?
It’s funny I just went to goodwill today and someone was spending 85.00 for a used leather seat that opened up for storage I thought that was too much money. Goodwill is the most expensive of thirft stores. I do well at the salvation ar,my everything is half price on Wednesday. I think the way we all shop us Couponers we know a good deal or I think we will wait for the best deal at least that’s what I do.