Overloaded thrift shops

[Tradd]

Friends in different places across the US have told me their local thrift shops have gotten much more selective about what they will take. Guess getting buried in stuff during Covid make them pickier.

I’m hearing books, clothes, and furniture are the big ones.

How often do thrift stores keep stuff anyway? I know they will clear out season stuff such as Christmas decorations, but I don’t know if they do occasional clean outs.

[iris lilies]

Here, the Goodwill store puts Xmas items in storage and hauls them out for the season.


back several years ago when I was shopping one Goodwill store regularly, I could tell that they cleaned off dishes once a week. I think they just swept things away that has been sitting around for a while. But that’s just one store. Although now it does appear that Goodwill has a uniform pricing policy because I see the same prices on comforters, women’s tops, and women’s pants in this region.

I’m not sure if they give stores directives for cleaning out items as standard store policy or if each store manager can use their discretion.

as a longtime thrift store shopper, I noticed when the goodwill stores in the city of St. Louis decided to devote less space to dishes, dinnerware, household, glass, ornamental items. Since that’s what I often go into the stores for, it made a big difference to me.

Several weeks ago I was in St. Vincent de Paul thrift store and was horrified to see hardly any furniture at all. This is the city thrift store that devotes tons of floor space to furniture so it’s the place you go to buy a sofa and etc.. I asked the clerk about it and she said they aren’t getting the donations at the moment, but she thinks when tax refunds start coming in people will get new furniture and bring their old stuff to the store.

[ToomuchStuff]

We had/have a customer that owns several. All the furniture, especially the antiques, used to go to one store almost exclusively (found out after one antique walnut dresser showed up at one, needing a paint stripping, green painted walnut, ugh). I haven't seen her since before my surgery and her husband passed a few years ago. Don't know what has happened with her lately.

However watching some of the thrifters on Youtube, I have seen several posting about things being more expensive in the thrift shops, then the regular stores. I don't know what is up with that, and haven't had time to visit with any of the ones I used to go to occasionally.
I am here on the computer at work, because Chemo is kicking my rear today, and I have prep to do and get ready for the plumbers tomorrow for replacing a just a month shy of 20 year old water heater.

[rosarugosa]

I'm sorry for the tough day, TMS.
A few of my favorite local thrifts are extremely nice, like a boutique shopping experience, only everything is really cheap. They are small, secular, charitable organizations, and I direct my best quality donations to them. They are particular about what they will accept, but that logically plays a big role in why these stores offer such a pleasant shopping experience.

[Rogar]

I've been dropping off things at the local Goodwill a couple of times a month here and have never been asked anything and there are no notifications. I'm actually amazed at some of the junk I see poking up from other donations and assume some of it must go to a secondary discard stream or the landfill. However, when I've taken a few things to the Habitat Reuse store, they always take a close look at everything are a little picky.

One could think that when Goodwill won't take decent used items, it could be a sign of a good economy?

[happystuff]

Also sorry for the tough day, TMS. Last time I was at a thrift store was to help a friend drop stuff off from clearing out her dad's house. Sooooo much stuff!!! Haven't been in to shop at one in a long time.

[catherine]

Several weeks ago I was in St. Vincent de Paul thrift store and was horrified to see hardly any furniture at all. This is the city thrift store that devotes tons of floor space to furniture so it’s the place you go to buy a sofa and etc.. I asked the clerk about it and she said they aren’t getting the donations at the moment, but she thinks when tax refunds start coming in people will get new furniture and bring their old stuff to the store.

Some second-hand outlets are super-picky about furniture. When I am ready to get rid of furniture, it's usually at the stage beyond "gently used." In that case, I try to sell on FB Marketplace--with full disclosure about the condition, or I'll just put it on the curb a few days before trash pick-up and hope someone beats the garbage truck to it.

[iris lilies]

There is my favorite Goodwill in the twon 30 miles from me, but on the path to St. louis so I go by it often and stop in. Clean, so clean! I think it is because the merchandise turns over quickly. It is in a brand new facility, so that helps.

But on the way there I pass two privately owned thift shops that are junky and chock full of merchandise similar to Goodwill with similar prices, just…crowded with stuff. And they have more furniture than “my” Goodwill store which does not attempt to display large pieces.

and then there is our local auction house in our village which holds a sale once a month. I just stopped in last week to look at their wares and they are always very depressing. Dirty, Cheap stuff. Ugh. Why anyone attends these auctions is beyond me, but we have sold a few things though them.

[iris lilies]

I am not looking forward to getting rid of some living room furniture because it will be a PITA.

I have two bright pink chairs with a custom screen and rug that all go together. I hate to have to haul them into the city of St. Louis to the St. Vincent de Paul store, but I hate even more the idea of giving it free because people never come to get the free stuff. It is so damn irritating.

and the next few weeks I will have to decide what to do

[Tradd]

I've been dropping off things at the local Goodwill a couple of times a month here and have never been asked anything and there are no notifications. I'm actually amazed at some of the junk I see poking up from other donations and assume some of it must go to a secondary discard stream or the landfill. However, when I've taken a few things to the Habitat Reuse store, they always take a close look at everything are a little picky.

One could think that when Goodwill won't take decent used items, it could be a sign of a good economy?

Not a sign of a good economy. Just they’re still overloaded with stuff. Too many people decluttering.

[pinkytoe]

Here anyway, there is just stuff overload at every thrift store. At one regional chain in particular, it is amazing to see the lines of cars waiting to drop stuff off and the piles of things to sort. The workers can barely keep up with it. Inside, there are pickers looking up values and loading up their carts to sell online.

[Rogar]

Not a sign of a good economy. Just they’re still overloaded with stuff. Too many people decluttering.

Or increased consumer spending after the pandemic resulted in decent used items being replaced with the new.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Stuff at Goodwill seems in increasingly worse condition over time. I have gotten burned a few times and am learning my lesson (so it wasn't a very expensive lesson but nonetheless).

[rosarugosa]

Stuff at Goodwill seems in increasingly worse condition over time. I have gotten burned a few times and am learning my lesson (so it wasn't a very expensive lesson but nonetheless).

It amazes me that people will donate items that are ripped, stained, broken, etc. rather than throw them away, and it amazes me even more that the stores go ahead and price them and put them out for sale.

[happystuff]

It amazes me that people will donate items that are ripped, stained, broken, etc. rather than throw them away, and it amazes me even more that the stores go ahead and price them and put them out for sale.

AND that people will actually buy them! Reminds me of one of my first town wide yard sales in this home. I put out two watches that were definitely broken (not old or vintage or anything like that). Had a sticker on them saying they were broken. They sold. Made me realize there is usually a buyer for just about anything! You just need to find that buyer. LOL

[iris lilies]

The Goodwill stores here are now pricing men’s shirts of quality at $10. Regular men’s shirts, ones they perceive not to be a great quality are $5. Yesterday I brought home a nice quality cotton shirt for DH that I think should’ve had a price at $10 but it was at $5 so I thought I was getting a “bargain “but it is 100% cotton. I’m sure it will look like a wrinkled mess after he washes it. We don’t iron here.

[Rogar]

I helped clear out a house for an estate last year in one of the poorest counties in the state and made several trips to GW. I was surprised at how much of those poor quality items people were buying and walking out with.