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.
Like this post? Check out some of these other related posts:
kim
OOOO! Price tags on the bottom of china plates and cups make it IMPOSSIBLE to identify the makers mark. If I'm looking for antique bone china, I'd like to identify it right away without having to discreetly peel back the price tag and risk being called out for tag swapping. As for old sheet music, some stores put them in plastic or acid free sleeves and mark the sleeves, not the music. Much nicer to those of us who like to frame and display our finds.
Mary
I agree with you and every word!! However my pet peeve is the damn price tags/stickers that they go crazy with. They put them everywhere as if we can't see just one of them! ugh! Then they are impossible to get off of some things without using goop. Thanks for the subject! I had to vent too!
Pam
YES!!! Why a sticker on the bottom and two on the top and one on the side? I can read ONE sticker just fine, thank you!
Jeri Sherfy
Amen on the packing tape. Here are my 2 complaints. Stapling the price tag I into the leather purse and putting the price sticker right in the middle of the beautiful silver plated tray! Glad it's not just me!
Pam
Staples!!! What is with that! I bought a beautiful crocheted handbag from the 70's and they had stapled the price tag on it so when I tried to get it off it snagged the yarn!
Kathy
Great topic! I've purchased a few old leather items which were ruined when I removed the tag. Also have removed a tag at the checkout in front of the cashier and decided not to buy the item.When I worked for the GW I was very concise of how i tagged as I am now in my booth I like the idea of sweetening the suggestion at your local thrift!
Anonymous
Try heating with a blow dryer (not close, not on high) first. I have found this works on most items, at least to the point of tape coming off without destroying the item.
Michelle Price
Yes! Exactly! And price tags smack in the middle of a mirror when there is a whole backside that will never be seen once it is on the wall. Why????
pinkcamojeep
One more? What about the plastic t-style tag holders that they use the needle-type gun to shoot into garments? Some stores will stick the plastic tag holder into the seam where it doesn't injure the garment BUT ... there are those stores who will just cram it right through the sleeve or placket or collar and create a run or make a hole (like in leather) that won't/can't heal. Oh my. Such a waste of a beautiful item. So much sadness.
Tricia Kokoszka
Amen my thriftin' sista!
Denise Z.
I may print out your post and hand it out to the store in my area! GW is the WORST offender!
susan b
I hear you loud and clear!!! This makes me crazy too!!! Surely there is a better way......
suzieQ
I missed this post when it came out, but had to comment. I have had tape take of gilding on ceramics, ruin books and other paper items. My peeve is the placement of the price tage on the maker's mark, no matter where it is on the bottom. Really? You can't place it to the side? I have to sadly say that there are SOME workers who know exactly what they are doing to be vindictive, since there can be no other explanation. Come on, people. If a piece is old, show some respect since the people that are purchasing want the best condition they can find.
Perhaps we can forward your column and the comments to Goodwill and the others. Thanks for the post!
amy
I totally agree with all these brilliant comments and the original blog. So true, so true. May I offer an idea to help spread the tape free environment. I have been helping run a non profit thrift store for 3 years, we are tape free and very aware of tag placement etc... At your favorite thrift store, offer a roll of the shrink wrap to the manager, offer to help work a shift in the backroom sorting, sharing the thrifters insight with the workers, or even bring a plate of goodies to share with them to sweeten the word. Most of the shops are non profit, or at least the workers are underpaid, or like my shop all volunteers working to earn money for programs for women and chiidren. As I remind myself often, these are first world problems, worthy of a chuckle.
Pam Kessler
When I was in that same thrift store on Friday, the girl at the checkout who follows my blog (we chit chat when I'm checking out and she was always asking me what I was buying "that old thing for" and I finally showed her my blog one day) asked me if I had bought the croquet set there. I told her I had so she called over the manager and someone from the back room and we all discussed tape 🙂 I think we may have solved the tape issue in that particular store.
Melinda
Amen sister!!!
Way too funny.
M 🙂
Marty Walden
Totally spot on and hysterical!
Linda
A sad kind of chuckle here at the cluelessnees of people.
Peggy
I have to admit this cracked me up because it is so true! However get this... our thrift store will sell each ball separately for a croquet set. Seriously, the mallets are bundled up as a set, the wickets another "set" and the balls are sold individually for $0.49 - $0.99. The average price comes in at over $15 if you manage to get the entire set. It was/is crazy! I think they are trying to make up their tape cost overruns!