Interesting conversations between shoppers

[Tammy]

While pouring over the massive amount of Christmas items the Salvation Army store had the other day, I got into a conversation with 2 other thrifters regarding the policy of items that weren't priced.  Both of them agreed how stupid it is that an item can't be priced at the store and must be sent off to where ever if it's not marked.  One of them said it depended on who was working the register.  Just seems silly that a manager can't look at a basket and say yeah it's $1.50. 

I like to get into discussions with other thrift shoppers about how different the prices are between stores.  We've got several Goodwills that are laughable on what their items cost and others that run 1/2 of the expensive Goodwills.  It's interesting to see what other shoppers think. 

Anybody else get into conversations with other shoppers?

Tammy

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

Sure do. Often I'll end up chatting in line.

My favorite thrifter conversation was when a man noticed some vintage stuff I had in my hand, and then told me about the Good Samaritan thrift-- which wasn't far from me and I'd never been to before. He thought I might find something I liked there.

Turns out, it's one of my favorite thrifts now. I wish I could thank him!

[Good Buddy]

I too have met a few folks and chatted it up in thrifts.
Meeting fellow thrifters is neeto.
I don't think I've made any friends in thrifts, just thrifting friends online.
Like all you blokes and blokettes..

Cheers Pals!

[Mattie]

I usually have a walkman on since I travel by bus to do my thriftin'.  This cuts my conversing down to nearly nothing.  Occasionally someone will start talking to me anyway, and I take the headphones off when that happens.  One time I was studying a sewing machine intently, sitting at the cabinet and checking every moving part.  A lady came up to me and said, "You have that look in your eyes.  I get that same look sometimes.  It means you're going to buy that sewing machine!" 

She was right, of course. 

[ChrisMiss]

I will usually ask someone who has a friendly face where another good thrift store is around the area since I'm always new to the area.  Sometimes I get just a shrug and other times the person is very friendly even if they don't know of another thrift store.     

I've learned a bunch of stuff from other thrifters too.  My favorite one being how to tell if pottery has a crack in it by thumping it for a ringing sound.  Other times shoppers will pass on any big sales that are coming up, that is always a welcome tip.

[Cookie]

I've had women suddenly say to me, "What do you think of this?" while they're holding up an article of clothing, as if we're thrifting together.  I don't mind at all and will usually get into a conversation with them.  It seems like thrift stores lend themselves to that communal feeling where you can just start talking as if you already know the other person, like we're in this secret club together since we're all here at the thrift store.  I know I said this before in another post, but I love eavesdropping on thrift store conversations because they tend to be strange and interesting.  I think it's the casualness of the environment that gets people to let their guard down and talk as if no one else is around.

[tiamatgreen]

The only interesting thing that comes to mind is one from a few years ago, I was at the local Salvo browsing through the women's clothes. A middle-aged man came up and asked me what dress size I thought would fit him lol. He said he needed one for a costume 

[pop_ pirate]

i'm the "chatty kathy" in the thrift stores ...i think of them as large garage sales where you get intimate with other people's things right in front of them...if someone looks interesting, i'll start out by saying something to myself loud enough for someone near to hear... a lot of the times, mostly women, they chat right back...i've remenisced with them, traded item from my basket and theirs, and even traded phone numbers with women who, once they hear i have a booth at an antique mall, want to hear more... now this doesn't happen every time...sometimes i just wanna browse and blow that koolaid stand...just sayin'... . . pop pirate talking out loud

[devans1966]

Now let's face it...I'm not a snob...I  refuse to buy anything from a "real store" that I can safely buy while thrifting...However...One Saturday while thrifting, a gentlemen, whom I'm pretty sure hadn't bathed in several days, (and I'm sure that is being generous) offers Tami (my best friend and fellow die hard thrifter) and me a piece of his opened candy.  He spots me...I spot him...and we briefly make eye contact..."hello" says he...."and hello to you" I reply.  "Hey", he says..."would Y'all (note I live in Texas where folks still say Y'all) like a piece of this candy. It's great!
"well...hmmmm...."  :`(I look at Tami...she at me...unfortunately she looks as bewildered as I.  "No thank you" we answer simultaneously. "Oh please...try some...It's not too bad at all!" Well...now folks... I went into full panic mode...I wonder if he will buy "my mother told me not to take candy from strangers!"  however I'm not entirely sure he would accept this from a 40 year old. Once again I look to Tami...she has a "deer in the headlights" expression on her face...and I realize she is going to be no help here...then I hear a voice say..."that is so sweet of you, but we're both diabetic" Pure genius I think as I look to Tami...but she's just staring at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears...and it's then that I realized that it was I that told that whopper...hmmmm....I heard a few coughs...and at least one chuckle...but I admit...we hightailed it out of there as quickly as we could.

[Good Buddy]

Way to not get slipped a Mickey, or poisoned.
I would absolutely never accept anything from someone I didn't know or a friend knew.

"that is so sweet of you, but we're both diabetic"

Good answer, good answer..(With much clapping and mass agreement as on Family Feud)

[Big Daddy Audio]

...but she's just staring at me like I have lobsters crawling out of my ears...

It seems to me that you might be a fan of Jean Shepherd, or at least of A Christmas Story.

Welcome to the list.  By the way, do y'all want a piece of candy?  It's really quite good.

That is all.

[SecondhandSophisticate]

The most interesting story I've heard in thrifts very recently:

I saw the most beautiful little girl playing in the racks and running to and fro.  She looked (thanks, pop-pirate, for the info) like on of Margerat Keane's big-eyed girls, with that total wild-eyed wise innocence that disappears much to quickly today. Her mom was shopping and I caught the mom staring at me (O mi God, she hates me. I'm an ethnic Yankee child molesting murderer from the North---this is the DEEP South after all, and WASPY looking I am NOT)  I say to the mom--"You have a very beautiful daughter" and she says "Thank you. All my girls are beautiful"--I see another, younger child in the racks romping and playing with reckless abandon.

But there is something strained and tired in the warp and woof of the threads of family love:  Mom proceeds to tell me that she has several daughters, as hubby wanted a son (it is now resolved that they will be son-less); on her last pregnancy, it was discovered that she had an incurable illness that was devastating  (which I shall not name to protect the family's privacy) and almost died, and almost lost the baby, but everything turned out OK--the dis-ease has been abated for a few years--but she can't work and now she is a stay-at-home mom, who home schools and thank God for the thrifts. because her husband has to work two jobs. And I cringe inside a little because I am there merely as collector and she is there for survival and she has the grace to include me in her circle of the truly needy.  I left feeling humble and grateful.

There's always one bleeding-heart, mushy poster on this board...right?  It is usually me.   

SeSo

PS:  I did meet a Latino man who collects Tony Orlando and Dawn records, too, but on a different day.
   

[pop_ pirate]

i love bleeding heart mushy posters ...thanks ,seso... pop pirate (sniff)

[Sprocket]

     I’ve overheard some of the funniest conversations in this one particular Goodwill that I frequent.  It seems that I usually see the same ‘main characters’ there interspersed with a few extras.  Ms. Rose, who operates the register and generally keeps the store in order, is hilarious.  She is a grandmotherly African American woman full of curmudgeonly warmth.  Last week, another ‘regular’ came in.  He’s an older man, retired, head of a church singles group, at war with his neighborhood community association over the amount of ‘junk’ he keeps in his yard, and as funny as can be.  Ms. Rose shook her head as soon as he walked through the door…”Oh Lord…he’s back again”, she said.  “I’ve got to get some new clothes so I can look hip for the ladies at the singles meeting tonight!” he replied.  I need to record the conversations…too much of the inane humor is lost in translation to print.  Shopping there would not be the same without those two.

-Sprock

[nicejewishgirl]

People always ask me for my opinion on their fashion choices.  Do these jeans look out of style?  Is this too small on me? If you were a 16 year old girl would you wear this?  I don't mind. If anything it's sort of flattering that complete strangers value my opinion.  One thing that is odd though and tell me if any of you have had this experience: has anyone in a thrift store tried to dress you?  I have strangers pick out coats and blouses and say "this would look good on you" all the time.  Inside I'm thinking "are you kidding me--that's hideous", but I always smile politely, say thank you and act as if I'm considering purchasing the item.