Dear Thrift Store Worker:
Hi there!
You know I love you, right? I mean you make my thrifting dreams come true so very often. If it wasn't for you, I never would have found some of my greatest treasures.
I would be without my cool typewriter collection, my vintage cameras and many many more great items.
For the most part, you look out for me and my vintage-loving thrift store shopping friends. But, I gotta tell you something.
Packing tape.
The kind you use to bind all my vintage treasures together?
 |
| (My lovely croquet set. Sigh.) |
Yeah, let's talk about that.
It's got go. Got. To. Go.
I can see where it would be enticing and a little exciting to just keep circling my items with packing tape. Again. And again. And again.
And again.
Let's make sure that lid on the Pyrex bowl is not going anywhere. Ever.
 |
| (Oh, look, they carefully put the balls in a plastic sack so we wouldn't lose any) |
But we really have to break your love affair with the roll of tape.
You know I can't resist buying something at a great price, but when it takes me an hour to dismantle the tangled maze of tape off my vintage Cosco folding step stool . . . it's too much.
When I have to spend an eternity using a q-tip and Goo Gone to carefully get the sticky reside off my set of china . . . it's too much.
When it rips the paint off my lovely croquet set . . . it's too much.
 |
| (Nice job of taping the ever living heck out of the painted wooden handles. They never had a chance.) |
Just lay off the tape. Please.
Signed,
President and CEO, Thrifters For A Tape Free World
P.S. We can talk about using black grease marker to tattoo prices on the front of books some other time.
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Vickie @ Ranger 911
Yeah, it worked!
Vickie @ Ranger 911
I hear ya, Pam! I just bought something that's got tape adhesive stuck to the sides and I hope I can remove the goo without taking the paint off, too.
I've been unable to leave comments (google?), so I'm giving it one more try today.....
LEfting
My Value Village marks vintage sheet music with a black wax CHINA pen! in huge numbers! There is NO way to get it off.....arrrrgggghhhhh. It's lasted 80 years in perfect condition till it hits Value Village!
Sherry@Back2Vintage
Well said! Amen!!!
Vintage Scrap Shop
I totally hear you! It kills me when they use that packing tape or even write on the items with a permanent marker.
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME
Oooh, Patty's got a good idea there. I don't like when they put the price sticker over the damaged area. Be honest....if it is damaged, let me know. Goo Gone is my hubby and my go to for a LOT of messes!!
Patty
If there is tape or a tag on something that could be ruined by its removal, I will take the item to the cashier and tell them I want to take the tag off in front of them so I can make sure it's not ruined upon doing so. If it's ruined, I'm not buying it. Perhaps you can say something to the manager of that store ?
Ida
Wow that is quite something. I could see where you would be upset having the tape pull off all the neat looking paint. Do they wrap it before you take it home? If so I'd ask them not to wrap my stuff up like that.
rush
If WE worked in a thrift store, and we couldn't possibly, because we'd bring everything home, we would never do that. I seriously don't know how someone could work in a thrift store and tape the hell out of stuff to the point that the item could be ruined. I think they lack empathy. Plain and simple. They lack empathy.
rush
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Blessed Serendipity
And don't you love when they put industrial strength stickers on paper items or on books? My thrift store has a love affair with tape as well. Arrrr!
Danielle
Okio B Designs
Oh my gosh, this is hilarious! And so true. Hopefully they will take note. Can I join the club?
Jeanine
Robin Johnson
LOL, OH MAN, great letter. If there is a petition to sign or something just say the word, and I'll sign. Tape has ruined more than few of the items I've brought home. grrrr.
ThrifterSisters
Yes! This is among the many things I would like to tell the thrift store workers. If only there was a way we could relay this super important message to them! I am going to write a letter to my congressman. That should work, right?
🙂
Erica
Teresa
I work at a thrift shore and I here you. We never use tape. But our price tags are all full . Not as bad as good will or as big but I have had some complaints . We get them for free so what you going to do. So I'm really happy to here about the hair dryer. I will tell my customers . Thrift in my friends.
Sadieray
Can you please forward this to thrift stores across America? Please? Pretty Please?
Faye
That's a dirty trick on the croquet set. I wish they would just 'get it' for once!