Salvation Army Destroys Girl's Will to Thrift

**Squirt** · 11-26-2007, 07:35 PM

I used to have a blind aunt who I would take shopping to the "Unique Thrift Store." While I was way too haughty and young to buy more than a thing or two there for myself, I know the prices were super low for everything. Remembering this and armed with a fresh zeal for deals, I thought I'd visit the nearest thrift store-- a Salvation Army.

I was all excited, imagining the deals I'd find amongst other people's cast-offs. I KNEW there was good stuff in there, as I've donated some nice stuff of my own. How disappointed I was when I saw that each piece of clothing had a tag on it reading $3.99 or $4.99. Even clothes from Aeropostale were that expensive!! You can get clothes or free at Aeropostale!!! Boy was I deflated.

It smelled in there too. Bad.

**baxjul** · 11-26-2007, 07:36 PM

Any of the Salvations Army stores I've been in are always diry and stinky also!

**Squirt** · 11-26-2007, 07:39 PM

This reinforces my decision to give my castoffs to Planet Aid rather than Salvation Army. I originally did this because Salvation Army has discriminated against workers who are not Christian; this just gives me one more reason.

**frugalfriend** · 11-26-2007, 07:46 PM

Don't let that bad experience stop you from checking out other thrift stores in your area! Goodwill is usually much better. The one I go to is clean, organized and the prices are very good.

**sdrjeolsen** · 11-26-2007, 07:46 PM

It seems a lot of them have raised the prices...since they found out that people find the bargains and ebay them and make a nice profit. Even the animal aid and independant thrifts are kinda high on prices. I think Goodwill (could be wrong on that -might be Salvation Army) is particularly high because they now have their own ebay type of acution site for thier stuff.

But I do remember as a kid that most clothes were .39 or .49 books were 10 cents. Even wedding gowns were around $5. I bought several for my wedding and removed the appliques and lace for use on my own dress because they were so much cheaper than buying the individual appliques from the fabric store. (I made my dress).

I went to check out a local thrift about 2 weeks ago and they wanted $3/book! That's just crazy.

**wulong32** · 11-26-2007, 07:51 PM

Thats how I feel about Goodwill! Ive never been to SA, but all the Goodwills I have been in have been dirty and expensive.

**mikandmari** · 11-26-2007, 08:25 PM

There are a couple of thrift stores in my area that I won't go to for this reason, and a couple that are nicer.

Maybe try searching out stores in nicer areas, especially those with a lot of new development going on. I've found that new housing developments = younger professionals = greater 'disposable mentality" = more cast-off clothes.

A question: How do you get free clothes at Aeropastale?

**Cricket1** · 11-26-2007, 08:37 PM

The goodwill near me is okay. Their prices have really increased. Most things are around $7 for blouses and I found a sweater in there that I loved that was $30. I didn't get it, obviously.

**Neeley** · 11-26-2007, 09:37 PM

I quit going to the Goodwill store here because it smells like stinky feet. I would almost gag everytime I went in there. The awful smell was not worth it for me.

In our city they closed the Salvation Army store on the better side of town. I would have to venture into a pretty scary part of town just to shop there. Even DH said he did not feel safe going there. SO no more Salvation Army shopping for me either. However, I do believe in their organization and I do make a considerable donation to them every year.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 11-26-2007, 09:41 PM

Our SA is usually pretty dirty feeling, but not stinky...books are about $2...clothes are just plain too much. Value Village is worse...like $7+ for a blouse. Sweaters are in the $10 and up range for the most part. It just seems ridiculous. We pretty much just stick to yard sales any more...even some of those are overpriced. Sad.

**bumplett** · 11-26-2007, 09:42 PM

please don't give up on all thrift ventures due to this experience!

Try out all the smaller thrift stores you can find, many of which may be church run/volunteer based, I find these have the best prices.

**dianne9106** · 11-26-2007, 09:46 PM

Our Goodwill is not bad, it's a SuperStore. They give a 10% military discount and on the first Saturday of the month they have everything 1/2 off! They have just went up on prices at ours in the past month or so. Baby clothes were $1.49 a piece, but went up $1.99. I imagine it depends on where you live based on the cost per item. I would write a letter - if enough people no longer see as a good deal

- perhaps things will change.
Dianne

**dolphin** · 11-26-2007, 10:24 PM

Our Salvation Army is also overpriced but very clean and organzied. I rarely buy anything thing there. I can buy jeans for $10.00 at Walmart so why would I buy them for $6.00 at Salvation Army!

I shop at 2 of our local 'for profit' thrift stores and noticed they have gone up in price also this last month. I found brand new unopend movies at our local library sale for .50 cents each but the thrift stores sell used ones for $2.00 each. We lost our best thrift store when the animal shelter shut down. We also lost another store to a fire but I was ok with that cause they were raising their prices and were saying they are a charity but can't prove who they help, They were just being greedy....

Anyway, don't give up. The hunt is still fun.

**i.m.cheap** · 11-26-2007, 10:51 PM

I noticed our Goodwill was attempting to sell used VHS tapes for $2.99! In last weeks after Thanksgiving sale ads, many big box retailers were selling NEW DVD's for this price! Books are still a good price at the Goodwill, though. I buy hardcovers for .99 and paperbacks for .39. Clothes are high, too. I wait until they have their $1.00 clothing sales, they do this about once every two months.

**YankeeMom** · 11-26-2007, 10:58 PM

Our SA has a brand new building they are moving into soon, I can't wait. It's the only thrift store I enjoy going to. They have 50% off Wednesdays, that's when I usually go. It doesn't smell bad either. My most recent acquisition was a solid wood antique (even had OLD yellowed papers from the 50s lol) desk for $16!!

Now the other two thrift stores in the area I do not shop at. One is on a nasty side of town, the other smells BAD and is way over priced. Oddly enough, I think both are Urban Mission stores...