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Thrift store musings |
johntiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 31, 2002
Posts: 1528
From: MD
|  Posted: 2005-03-01 4:34 pm Permalink
This whole Goodwill and Salvation Army selling on Ebay and marking up prices has got me torn...on one hand I understand the good work that Goodwill and other charitable organizations do for the less fortunate and that any financial contributions they receive will go to a good cause!
But on the other hand I'm madder than hell that by sorting the "valuables" and selling them at antique store prices they're kinda defeating the purpose of a thrift store. I went to the Salvation Army last week and checked out the front showcase - inside were two carved mahogany busts of wahines one with a flower in her hair - I looked at the price it appeared to be $15.00 so I said, sure they're expensive but I'll check them out and if they're nice then I might just splurge. So the girl hands me the one without the price tag, I check it out, it's pretty cool and I have an extra $20 in my wallet. She starts ringing it up and proceeds to tell me the total is $39.99!! Forty bucks??!! Needless to say I told her no thanks.
In a way I find it offensive that they take donations that people provide through the kindness of their hearts (or lack of space in their closets and basements) and then paw through them looking to make a super profit off items their original owners didn't realize were valuable.
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Hau 'oli Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 410
From: Lamegoona Hills, CA
| Posted: 2005-03-04 5:05 pm Permalink
THANK YOU! I totally agree! At the Goodwill on EL TORO (Yeah! You know who you are!!) All the employees are sittin around discussing how much more they could get for dis n dat and go ahead and put it on E Bay. So I bring up a really cool Eames-ish lamp and the manager tells me "Oh- that needs to go on E Bay"!! And TAKES IT FROM ME and starts to enter it on her computer!!!! Needless to say, I was stunned! My jaw is still draggin! They were asking about $10.00 for it. I'm sure it went for more. Every one around (shoppers) were lookin at each other with wide eyes and puzzled looks. It's like no one knew what to say cuz, yeah, it IS a charity and they give to the needy...so what do you do? But I'm PISSED! I'm needy. I need a lamp.
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"Always take hold of things by the smooth handle."
Thomas Jefferson
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Hau 'oli Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 410
From: Lamegoona Hills, CA
| Posted: 2005-03-04 5:09 pm Permalink
Oh. I got so worked up...KCTiki- I made a beautiful decor craft from my Nana's old pumps, complete with plastic red, white and blue plastic carnations! Splendid! She has it on her TV which sits on the console (doesn't work, you know). I think I was 8. I better go see if it's still there,cuz she may have accidently gave it to charity and she'll probably want that back!
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"Always take hold of things by the smooth handle."
Thomas Jefferson
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