My question this week...
For those of you with kids, do you visit just the thrift stores, or do you also visit resale shops for your kids clothing?
I've worked in both in the past, so I know the definite difference is that most resale shops check over everything so there is not a lot of stains, vs thrift stores who just check to make sure there's not an obvious huge flaw such as a rip. For games and books, they also make sure all the pieces or pages are there and that battery operated toys work. I know thrifts tend to be cheaper than resale shops because of this, but it can be hard in the lighting to make sure there's no stains at the thrifts.
I ask because the folks over at Children's Orchard sent me an email this past week with some tips and a link to signing up to their M.O.M.S. club. I actually worked for the competition for a summer when I was in college - loved it! - even though having kids was definitely nowhere near my mind back then. DH blames my love of pricey labels on kids clothing and funky boutique styles on that job.(It's funny, but the thrift store and the children's resale store were the best jobs I ever had besides working for myself!)
I can't vouch for every single store, but I know most stores such as Children's Orchard, Once Upon A Child, and their competition use bright lights that bring out stains. (Uh... on more than occasion I'd get to work and find a stain on what I was wearing that I could SWEAR I did not see at home) At the prices of Goodwill out here, I've actually found a few better deals at the resale shops. I wish we had a Children's Orchard out here, because I've heard a few good things about them. We have a Once Upon A Child, but it's on the other side of the bridge and I'm generally too worn out by the time we get there to bother most of the time.
I like finding the deals, but I cringe taking things to them to sell. Usually when it's something I bought dirt cheap I know I am breaking even or making a profit towards buying the new stuff, but sometimes I just hate being offered $1 for that dress that was worn once and is in perfect condition - I'm sure some of you feel the same way.
(By the way, if you have a Children's Orchard near you, if you sign up for the club, you get a $5 gift card to use on your next purchase! That's why I linked it up above.)
We hit up both Value Village and Goodwill this week - both were rather depressing. The little Johnny Cash shirt is the one I mentioned at few days ago that I found at VV for $2.99. The nice jar I found at Goodwill and was lucky that it was part of their pink tag sale, so it was just $1.29. Course, I wish it was red so it would match my kitchen a little better, but it's still really nice.
(One day I will be better at taking photos of black clothing!)
So have you scored any great deals lately?
7 comments:
Today I found a cute little 2 foot Christmas Tree in a burlap sack for $2.99 and it had about 15 decorations on it.
I also found an adorable Christmas stocking with the tags from Ross still on it for $3.99. I usually wont pay that mch but being as I adore flamingos I had to get it!
I am in Orting BTW and was wondering if you know of an adult resale shop that pays good. I have some NWT clothing in ladies and womens sizing that I do not need.
I've purchased clothing for my 4 year old at the thrift store, I just spend a LOT of time looking over the clothing for problems. I also bought most of my baby clothing there over the summer and again had to do a lot of checking. On top of that I bought my friend's 3 year old her entire fall/winter wardrobe there :)
I think Goodwill is a lot more lazy and so is Salvation Army about what they put out. Red white and blue I've found very few flawed items on the racks.
I worked at Volunteers of America here in Ohio..best job I ever had too.I know they check clothing 3 times by 3 different people..I did the first check and sorting, the hanger checks as it is hung up and the pricer(which is uaually the manager) checks it as it is priced.If there are ANY visible stains or fading/wear it is marked $.99.Anything they think will not come out or is noticable is put in bins, as well as older styles or out of season clothing and is sold to foreign countries at a very deep discount. Last I knew it was $.25 a pound in bulk.They do not pay for clothing or items,but they do give you a signed otherwise blank form to put in value of items for tax credit.This is sometimes better then a few dollars you can get for selling the item as you put what value you believe it has on the form and can get a nice tax credit for donating .
I used to use Once Upon a Child for my kids when they were little but they got so expensive around here and wouldn't buy anything but spotless name brands. I've shopped at the thrift stores for their clothes, but I also love the them for holiday decorations, dishes, etc. I got a really nice cast iron skillet at the thrift store for $5 and some casserole dishes for $1.25 a piece, all of them in great condition. I love the thrift store!
But, I rarely go to Goodwill and Salvation Army for stuff, they are too messy and unorganized. I usually go to Value Village. They are the Bloomingdale's of thrift stores.
I can't really speak for the children's resale market but I tend to buy certain things at resale and others at thrift. For pants and shoes I'd rather shop resale but shirts and dresses thrift is fine.
I am a HUGE thrifter, whether I am working or not. I only retail when absolutely necessary, like for party shoes that I need for the holidays. Even then I kick myself for not getting them on Ebay. But Target will do in a pinch.
This week I bought snow boots for my son for $8.00 at Salvation Army (pricey for resale, but designer boots). I got a 4 piece vintage 50's snow cannister set for $4.00. I scored a Currier and Ive Xmas plate for 1.00. And a funny tee shirt for my ex-gay boyfriend for $1.99. Life is good!
I love thrift stores! It's pretty sad when resale shops & Goodwill start to seem Expensive, because you're so spoiled by thrift prices! We have a Family Thrift in town that goes from $1.75/item down to 25 cents/item by the end of the week! You talk about filling a shopping cart or 2 to the top! Very fun to go on a treasure hunt, go completely crazy & walk out only having spent $20!! Now that's entertainment!
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