This December, I popped into the Goodwill where I noticed a rack of ugly Christmas sweaters for sale. For $25! I thought this was outrageous for a thrift store. Who would pay $25 for a used sweater? And they weren’t even that great. As I looked around, I thought the prices seemed a bit high overall, which had me wondering:
Are thrift stores overpriced?
- For some of us, it’s not just about saving money, it’s about reducing our carbon footprint. I’m a big fan of recycling, and this includes buying items that others no longer have a use for, so I like to check out thrift shops when I can. Last month, at our local Goodwill, I found a few t-shirts for my daughter. They were $3-4 apiece. Meanwhile, I found new t-shirts, just her style at Walmart.com for $5 and free shipping! Says reader Mary, “I gave up on thrift stores awhile ago because I just wasn’t finding any bargains. I can do better with a good sale at an already cheap store – a few months ago I got my daughter a dress for 99 cents at Old Navy!” Tip: On Mondays, Target puts out new clearance children’s clothing. On Tuesdays, clearance women’s clothing goes out. Sometimes the Target Cartwheel App can save you money on top of that.
- When I was in Brooklyn over the holidays, my sisters and I (all bargain hunters!) popped into the local Salvation Army. I was shocked by the high prices. For instance, a boy’s long sleeve shirt was $8. Twice yearly, I take part in a kids’ consignment sale. There is no way I could tag clothes for these prices and have them sell! At this store, there was a winter coat my daughter wanted to buy, but I didn’t want to spend $26 on a used coat that she would wear for two weeks on the East Coast, never wear in Los Angeles, and then outgrow. Luckily, that particular day we were there, the store was having a half-price sale on certain tags, so I did wind up buying the $8 shirt for my son for $4 (it was Gap and was never worn, new with the tags). But overall, I was disappointed. Tip: Find out what days at your local thrift store are “sale days” and on what items. Also, check to see if items have been misplaced. I have seen children’s clothes (which are usually priced cheaper) stuck in with the adult clothing.
- In Massachusetts, we stopped into Global Thrift where I found some deals that I would consider a “steal.” I bought warm, lined Hollister and Abercrombie hoodies for my daughter for under $6. And some Justice fleecy pajamas pants for about $3. Tip: Some stores are cheaper than others. In general, consignment stores often have higher prices, especially if they sell designer clothing.
- In my experience, garage sales are the best way to go. Mary also told me, “I find much better deals at garage sales. I think you can get some decent prices on housewares at thrift stores, but I think garage sales are still a better bet.” On average, I pay $1-2 for like-new clothing for my kids at yard sales. The $3 I spent on once-only worn Abercrombie jeans for my daughter were a splurge. And I was able to buy my son a new, never-worn pair of Nikes (retail value over $125) for $10 when he suddenly outgrew his previous pair. I refuse to pay big bucks for items my kids will outgrow or suddenly deem “out of style.” Tip: Check Craigslist for garage sales before driving around.
- Are some thrift stores pricier than others because of where they are located? Mary says, “I have seen good deals in thrift stores where my parents live (college town in Oregon).” I have heard that the prices are higher in New York, which is not surprising.
Are thrift stores in your area overpriced?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
I agree some places are overpriced, we have Good Will store, and clothing prices are unreal. You may be able to get something on sale at a Target/Old Navy/JCP for about the same price. We also have a SAVERS (it helps Boys& Girls Clubs) and on Veteran’s Day, everything is 1/2 off. It was packed that day, lots of things, Plus SAVERS has a 55+ day every Tuesday, with savings for older adults. I’ve do not go to Salvation Army & Good Will much anymore.
I’ve heard good things about Savers. I also like Value Village, which I think is maybe part of the same company? They have the 55+ discount as well.
I have found that the Salvation Army near me has raised their prices recently. Now I wait until they have their sale days. We usually get a flyer in the mail for them. A few weeks ago it was $2 for all clothing and this week it is 50% off all clothing.
There are also some smaller thrift stores around here and the one I love has a sale that happens every day and they are unusual. They will pick a letter and if that item has some feature that starts with that letter it will be a percentage off or if it is a certain color, etc. Brings them a lot of business.
I guess the days of needing to shop at thrift stores to make ends meet or slightly improve the living conditions of your family have given way to what amounts to shopping at a department store that doesn’t have to pay directly for stock but charges nearly the same as those that do.
I am just glad that as a single disabled parent I was able to provide needed furnishings for our home and then apartment as they grew and our needs changed and that I was able to get my children through school, special school events, school plays, sciences projects, school dances, proms, graduations and first apartments before the Goodwills, Salvation Army’s and other big & small thrifts forgot they were selling needed items that were given to them freely from families to help other families and not intended for them to make huge profits to pay top executives hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sad thought is that Goodwill used to promote utilizing handicapped people to repair items for sale and nowadays it goes in the back door and onto the floor.
I still believe that thrift stores are a good bargain for both the consumer and community. Many thrift stores support various community programs with their profits. You have to shop smart wherever you choose to use your dollars.
Yes, if you can find one that supports a cause you believe in, then obviously there’s more value to shopping there than just finding a bargain. Even so, it’s hard for me to pay more than I think it’s worth!
Lots of great comments from savvy shoppers!
My local thrift store in the mid-west does bi annual warehouse clearance sales for $5.00 a big black garbage bag bag or .05 cents an item. Everything is in these huge watermelon and pumpkin bins all mixed up together with the good and the bad and I have to dig for about 4 hours and by the time I am done I am really, really hungry and thirsty and I really have to pee and my back hurts but in this manner I am able to cloth my family of 5 for just $20.00 a year (minus underwear and socks which I buy new on clearance in June when they are emptying out the shelves for the back to school sales and new cartoon of the year. And bathing suits which I buy in September for the next size up, and shoes which undergo major sales in October for Summer clearance and April for winter clearance.
Wow, that is impressive! I have never seen deals like that at my thrift stores. Sounds like you’ve got a great system for your family.
R. – You are an amazing shopper! I’m impressed!
We have two Goodwill stores near us. In the last few months the prices have become outrageous. We used to walk tru every couple of days. Now we rarely even go. Very sad
I would check to see if there are any goodwill outlets near you, also called blue bins. Its a very interesting experience, and fun. Like in the other comment, everything is in large bins that you have to wrought through, and the cost goes by and is cheap. Some duds but occasionally I find something I love. The experience is great, can’t explain until you go. I do agree that over the years prices have gotten crazy at certain shops, but I still love it. Plus I would rather spend a little more only if something is well made or vintage, then to go to Walmart and get something that won’t last. It does suck that in high school I could get a cart full of things and now only a handful of things for the same price.
Thrift stores price high now because of resellers. They know you can go in and buy a tee for 1.95 and use a resell community app and net a profit when someone pays $24 for it. Salvation Army was a place where the prices were set for homeless, disenfranchised and low middle income people could shop and it was available at a price they could afford. Now there are Mercedes parked out front. Goodwill caught on to the resellers and stopped the 10% off everyday with cards when they got the new President. They punished the buyers because their President and Vice President were crooks here in Nebraska. It’s sad really, now they out priced the families they were meant the help originally.
I find that Value Village, in Canada, is definitely overpriced. I can buy brand new clothing items at Giant Tiger and Walmart for less than they are asking for well worn items. Honestly, it a complete joke.
Giant Tiger has become my new “Go To” store.
i find thrift stores to be mixed as far as pricing some good some not so good prices in chicagoland
I have seen broken lamps for higher prices than new lamps. When I see too many high price tags, I walk out!
I am not a thrift store shopper for personal items.
“I actually dislike the idea of getting my self into something someone else have used and abused then discard of it”
However, in past years I did enjoyed browsing trough the local ReStore place for some building items. FYI, ReStore in Albuquerque is part of Habitat for Humanity.
Stopped by last Friday 2-10-23 for a quick look and was forced out the store faster than I had come in.
To my surprised a used donated toilet set was priced at $120.00. No returns or refunds.
The same item new at Home Depot priced at $129.00 for the low bowl toilet and $140.00 for the standard height.
Needless to mention, 30 days in store exchange, replacement or refund and 90 days manufacturer warranty.
Further down into the store a used Evaporative Cooler pump priced at $35.00.
The same item new at Wal Mart priced at $15.00 and $17.00 at Home Depot.
The store manager simple dismissed my concerns by stating, “Our items are for a good cause, not for profit”
Apparently personal items Thrift Stores are not the only ones Ripping Off the frugal buyers and low income families.
I used to love our local ReStore, but I’ve been finding the same kind of pricing lately. It’s disappointing for sure!
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