Do you avoid any regulars like the plague?

[aGentlerTime]

Before I state the following, I want to mention that I love the thrift atmosphere and have met my best friend while out thrifting, but.......

I just wonder if I am the only regular thrift store addict that avoids certain other "regulars" like the plaque.  

The latest person grabs anyone they can find and asks them their opinion on everything in their cart and then if they catch you outside of the dressing room, you become their personal fashion advisor.  

I may sound really obnoxious, but I go to the thrift store after a grueling day at work just to relax.  

There is another couple that drives me bananas.  They go into the store atleast 3 times a day (the clerks talk and tell) and the man runs around like a crazed person up and down the aisles full speed looking for anything new of value that has hit the shelves since his last visit two hours ag,o and his chick trails after him, calling everyone "hun" that she runs into, and drops religious material in your hands.

Anyone else have the same avoidance problem I have?

[Big Daddy Audio]

Nah - I'm too busy running up and down the aisles looking for new stuff (of value) that's hit since I was there two-three hours ago.

I'm joking, of course.

SYNT
BFN

[mccoysnina]

Yeah, there are a couple I avoid.  The blonde girl with the long dreadlocks comes to mind.  I'm guessing the not washing extends to more than her hair.  She flat out smells.
Then there is the lady, older than me I suspect, who dresses like she is 5 or 6.  One day, she had on a white baby doll, very, very, short dress ( and which she really really couldn't wear) , white knee socks, red MAry Janes, red bows in her hair and the strangest dead white make-up you would only expect to see perhaps at HAlloween.  Talks in a little girl voice, whispers and giggles to any and all men in her vicinity and generally looks sad and silly.  I told DD if I ever get  like that, please have mercy on me and put me out of my misery.
Other than an occassional run in with some intent on taking what I have in my hand, most of the others I meet in ts are pretty pleasant, either there like me treasure hunting or perhaps just a little down on their luck and lookingfor cheap clothes.
In fact a man came into where I work yesterday wearing the neatest t shirt.  He told me where he had gotten it, at a ts, and we got to talking and he turned me on to a place I hadn't been to yet.  Actually an antique store where he said the prices on everything but furniture is reasonable.  Looking forward to checking it out.
Jeannie

[Firekinghunt]

Don't even get me started on this topic!! Where I live...everyone is a dealer. It could be ebay, antique, flea market, where ever, they are a dealer. And I can't go ONE DAY or I should say ONE THRIFT without running into other dealers, some I HATE. They are rude, obnoxious, will block aisles from you with their carts, and hound the workers for the new stuff. I get so sick of it and it makes what could be a fun thrift day into a dog eat dog world.

In particular there is this one old lady who plays on her looks for her advantage. She "looks" like a tired, haggard, old granny type maybe 70+ years old. She is always SLOWLY pushing her cart, hanging on it so it looks like she is using it for a walker or cane....until they push something new out. This lady will RUN to the new carts of stuff and block the aisles so you can't get to it. She moves 100mph digging for every antique or possible goody. Then it goes in her cart and back to the scherade of being just a lonely old granny looking for knicks knacks...YEAH RIGHT!

I confirmed this when I walked into a local antique store and GUESS WHO WAS WORKING BEHIND THE COUNTER!!!! Some helpless granny my butt!! Then this weekend I saw her again at a local flea market, once again set up with all of her TS goodies/antiques marked sky-high. She ANNOYS me so much because she manipulates people trying to act like she isn't a dealer or knows what stuff is worth when she does. HOW ANNOYING!!! She is also at the same thrift store ALL DAY just sits in the parking lot and comes in every 30 min to check for new stuff...you can never get anything there anymore bc she basically lives there!

[valleythriftshopper]

Yeah, there are a couple I avoid.  The blonde girl with the long dreadlocks comes to mind.  I'm guessing the not washing extends to more than her hair.  She flat out smells.

There was a smelly dreadlock girl and her friend who used to frequent one of our thrifts too.  I heard one of the employees saying she stole something once so maybe she got caught and banned from the store or she drifted somewhere else, but I don't see her anymore.  There are some other smelly people but they don't bother anyone.  Other than that I am fortunate enough not to run into crazies at the area thrift stores.  I though about maybe popping into some of the thrifts more than once a day, since they are all so close by and I sometimes drive by one I have already stopped into.  But I usually don't because I figured the employees would think I'm a weirdo.  After reading some of these posts I am glad I don't!

[aGentlerTime]

I already know I am one of the "thrift shop people".  Its not my fault though. My car is possessed and I have no other option than to go where it drives me. (I admitted that when I first found this website).

[mccoysnina]

I already know I am one of the "thrift shop people".
Last week I went to my favorite thrift alone,  DD not interested in coming with me.  Can't tell you how many workers kept asking me where she was and if she was OK (she was sleeping off a hangover.)
I told her from now on she has to come with me, we are known at the thrift.
Jeannie

[valleythriftshopper]

She is also at the same thrift store ALL DAY just sits in the parking lot and comes in every 30 min to check for new stuff...you can never get anything there anymore bc she basically lives there!

Now I know why I don't find as much as I used to at my fav Sal Army.  The manager was telling me today that there are about 5 people who stop in at least 3 times EVERY day throughout the day to get at the new stuff. 

[aGentlerTime]

There is this other scrambling grabbing duo that drive me nuts. A mid-aged (like me) man and woman. They do all the Pittsburgh GW's every day. He may step out when she is in one and run to scavage an estate sale.  They glare at people who share their same interests and/or have those interests in their carts.  At one point she ( I cant believe I am typing this) intimidated me so much by her looks and actions that I chose to stay away from her "home store". What is funny is that employees at most of the stores will tell me when to come in.  They intentionally are trying to knock her off of what she thinks is a specific GW's" put out the goods of her interest schedule." It is so obvious and aggressive. 
I know its first come first serve but if I ever get like this someone call the happy wagon.

[Krisathome]

Yep!  In my case it's alittle different though.  Since I work 5 days a week at my thrift store, I really don't want to see MY regulars when I am out shopping for myself.  I won't even go into GW if I recognize someone's car.     If I do happen to see one of my customers shopping they always ask if I am buying things for my store.  UHM, nope!  I just like to look for things that we don't get often.  Kinda makes me irritated.   

[valleythriftshopper]

That must be annoying having people who see you think you are looking for stuff for the store, like you don't have a life!

Today I ran into this very chatty woman I bump into often.  I saw her as she was heading out & I was heading in.  I thought about turning around but she saw me so I got stuck talking to her for a while.  Well I found nothing then headied over to the other SA & saw two cute things in other people's carts.  I wondered if I had not been stuck talking to Chatty Kathy & been there earlier if I would have seen them first.  Oh well, I did get some neat vintage men's PJ's with funky colors, new old stock.  

[osip]

Ohhhhhhhh I hope no one avoids me!  I do the thrift stores in Pittsburgh at least 3 times a week, but it really is just relax after a day at work (and I'm adicted to it)!  it started out getting clothing- then I saw some really cold housewares I really did need, then a purse and then great shoes now I just buy everything in the thrift stores.  I love it and it's guilt free shopping.  But I don't notice "crazy" people I want to avoid - except when I see any one I work with!

[sneezy1974]

We have a foreign guy that comes around. He doesn't speak much english, but I would think he's middle eastern. He walks up and down the road all day and comes in the shop everyday, sometimes two or three times. We aren't sure what's wrong with him. He wares a jogging suit all year, his shoes don't fit. We don't think he bathes, but someone saw him spraying himself down with Lysol once. When he comes in he leaves his backpack at the register and shops for a while. He almost always spends $10 - $20, and he leaves tips. The worst part is that he stands outside the front door and appears to be praying, crazily. He has taken to spitting while doing this. It's starting to scare the customers. We explain that he's actually a nice guy, just really out there.

[Mattie]

Yeesh!  I guess I'm lucky - I never recognize anyone as a "regular" at any thrift store. 

[Rev Bucky]

There used to be the Japanese kid who I saw everytime I went thrifting.  In a way, I wish I would have got to know him, but I never did.  He was probably shopping to start his own thrifty in Japan.  Haven't seen him in over a year.

Their is this one guy, who usually has a Video/DVD/CD stand at the Flea Market who I usually try to avoid. He is just so hard sell, and though his prices are good, he never has the stuff I want, and when I ask, I have to talk to him for like five very irritating minutes.

Saw him once at a local Goodwill with a hand held computer thing that worked as a price guide, looking up every product in the media section.  I did a quick look, and tried to avoid his gaze, escaped unsathed.

What's funny is how many times I have been on a thrift run, and see people at one store, then at the next one.