They're on to me.
The thrift store people.
I stopped by one of my favorite thrift stores the other day. Expecting to find great deals and ridiculously low prices (aka thrift store prices). And to my horror I saw this.
An old typewriter. Cool.
Maybe a little too office-ie for me, but it's always a good day when you see a typewriter in a thrift store.
But, $49.99!!!
You gotta be kidding me.
After quickly running outside to check the sign and make sure that I hadn't wandered into an antique mall in my menopause-induced state, I suddenly felt like I needed to throw up.
This is the same thrift store where I had bought this beauty of a typewriter at last year.
I believe it was $6.99. Ain't gonna see those prices again.
The jig is up. It's all she wrote. The fat lady has sung. And she didn't sing a pretty song.
My favorite thrift has hired someone to research prices for them!
Yes, siree Bob. The jig is up. And I don't like it.
Have your thrifts started using "professional" people to find the good stuff and up their prices yet?
Christy
Yes, the only time you find anything at a good price is if it's escaped by them, not very often, or if it sits there long enough because people will not pay the price. Another crazy thing they do is send it to central warehousing and resend it out, that's why I think you can never now find a complete dinner service or teaset, totally hopeless.
Holly
Yup, about two years ago I noticed that the prices of my favorite "junk" was at least twice as high. I asked about it and they told me that they found an older volunteer who just sits and googles for prices. I liked it better when old people couldn't use the internet.
Pam Kessler
I just spit out my Coke! Yes, it was easier when old people didn't know how to use computers!
lifespassion
Oh, here in NW IN it's been that way for years. Except....the typewriter would be dusty, dirty, have half the keys missing and STILL be that price. The stuff on Craigslist in this area is laughable. The old wicker/rattan type picnic baskets we all have seen - $500 on Craigslist. A beat up, water stained, knobs missing, sometimes DRAWER missing dresser? $200 here - they are insane! And it is the norm and not the exception! Glad you all at least had good prices for awhile - we haven't had any for years 🙂
TARYTERRE
Popular items tend to sell for higher prices in the thrifts I frequent.
Curtains in My Tree
I know your pain darling. The thrift stores around here think they are an antique mall
It's because the entire world is using recycled items to decorate now
Leslie Harris
I'm so bummed reading through these comments. I was hoping that those thrift stores with the high prices were still rare. But I'm seeing it too. It's so hard to stumble on those little places that are happy to sell what they consider 'just junk' for hardly anything. I'm curious to see the prices when I move down to So. California....gulp.
Angela Santaniello
It has been horrible around here in Massachusetts. Seriously high prices coupled with terrible quality. Makes me very sad!
Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
Deanies Stash
Yea. Happened at our local thrift store,too. Boo-hoo. The clerk, a volunteer, happily told me she had been looking up on eBay so they get more money. 2 old trunks caught my eye but $95 each is pretty high for a thrift store. Good-bye good prices.
Krista Eickmeier
I haven't been thrifting very long (about 4 months), but I've already seen a big difference in prices in that time. I refuse to go to Goodwill now because their pricing has gone up so much 🙁
Cornbread and Beans Quilting
I am standing in solidarity with all the other commentors! Bring those prices down thrift stores!!! LOL I was noticing many items at our thrifts with laughably high prices and couldn't believe it. The last straw was when I saw an old used Yankee Candle at Salvation Army for $20. Who buys used candles? And who buys used candles for the same price as a new one? It was the last time I stopped in. I'm not against buying something considered an antique for a little higher of a price at thrift because it's going for a good cause. But pricing absolute junk higher than retail is just silly. I find much better prices at antique stores and they are actually trying to make a living.
Melinda
Ours here (KC) are still reasonable. Hopefully it will stay that way.
I usually shop on 50% day though.
M : )
Jane
Finding the same thing in my area too. One of the places I used to love to shop now has a "vintage room" where they put all the vintage/antique items that are donated. The prices have gone up since they designated the area and I don't buy much there anymore. But then something will sneak by….I just purchased a pair of vintage wood stocking stretchers there this week….for $2.00! I can't wait until garage sales start!
Jane
Sherry@Back2Vintage
Yep.....the professionals are Down South, too!!! Boo hoo!!!
Olive
Yes my dear. At our Good Books fancy Good Will bookstore they look up every book at Amazon I think. So I also think they look up other stuff too.
Mrs. D
I used to volunteer with Oxfam here in England. They had someone go online and check the prices on anything that wasn't clothes related... You'd rarely get a bargain there. Also they tend to drive the prices up on clothes that are already cheap when they're new, which is not very nice... one of the points of shopping second hand is the lower price, not paying the same price it cost when it first went into the shop...