"Nothing going on down there, Dude."

[Big Daddy Audio]

I'd like to start a little thread - not to disparage thrift stores, because we love them, but how many times have you gone into a store and exited with nothing, simply because they had nothing you were looking for or could use.

Today, I went to three stores and found nothing.  Actually, I found "Monty Python's Previous Record" which has good stuff on it, but while the cover was good, the vinyl was toast.

For me - 3 stores on 7-12-11

[Jay2TheRescue]

Around here, it happens a lot more frequently.  Many thrifts in my area take their premium donations, and sell them on the internet, leaving nothing but junk in the stores.  Once in a while you might find something they overlooked, but for the most part there's no "good stuff" there.

I understand the logic, that they want to get the most for their nice stuff, but it comes at the expense of fewer people visiting their store, as it starts to get the perception that there's nothing but junk there.

[Big Daddy Audio]

This has been happening more frequently out here.  I've had a couple of good scores with records (you know - vinyl), but other that that and the occasional Hi-Fi piece (and nothing so-devastating-it's-worth-buying there, either), there's been nothing.

As an aside, I've often said that I'll buy electronics with the intention of upgrading what I have.  I think I may be approaching my theoretical limit.  I haven't been able to upgrade anything in almost 2 years now.

That's all for now.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Personally, I scored today.  Went shopping with mom, and picked up some vintage salad spoons with teak handles for $1.00, an awesome Georges Briard fondue pot for $5, some vintage glassware, and a vintage modern teapot for $10.

[valleythriftshopper]

After a pretty weak thrifting summer, I have finally found a few treasures recently too.  One of the best was this 1950's Lane ceramic TV lamp (bulb mounted on the back) for 3 bucks.


When I walked into the thrift, the cashier, back room manager and some other lady were having a discussion about whether it was valuable or not.  I think the lady was trying to tell the back room guy that he shouldn't put it out in the store, which leads me to believe that the employees there take stuff to sell on their own.  That store hasn't been that good since that guy took over the donations.  Luckily the back room guy was under the impression that it was a ceramic piece that someone had drilled a hole into to put a bulb.  So I think I only scored it because they didn't realize it was a collectible TV lamp.  

Another very good find was a 18K gold and semi-precious stone brooch scored for 50 cents!  Hopefully the trend will continue into the fall.

[Frchgrl]

That's an incredible score.

[FleaQueen]

AWESOME find!!

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[azia88]

I think a lot fo thrift store do that sell on ebay or in store auctions.. I think it is a turn off..GW has not been the same since the internet..More and more ppl are seling stuff now and nothing in the store or prices are so high you can't sell it at the store price..my husband and I do find some stuff to sell, but getting harder..

[Big Daddy Audio]

Bought a $1500 Sony Top-of-the-line S-VHS VCR (yeah, like who uses THOSE anymore?) for $10.00. 

Works great and have already watched Great Pumpkin on VHS.

No remote, but I'll likely buy one off of E(picfail)Bay.