Look who just caught up...

[Big Daddy Audio]

My wife was thrifting with me yesterday afternoon, and noticed that some vinyl place mats (not really bad, but with some discoloration on the back) were marked at .99 a piece.  She then saw that the original price from Walgreen's (or wherever) was still on them - 50 cents a throw.  She was incredulous, but I told her it happened (and we talk about it here) on almost a daily basis.

That is all.
 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

You rise an excellent (to me) point, Big Daddy.  It's one of the reasons why thrifting for clothes in this area, for example, is so darn hard for me.

There in NO way I am going to thrift something from Walmart/Kmart/Old Navy, etc. for several bucks, when I can almost guarantee I could have gotten it NEW for less at the store itself, either full-price of at markdown. And since all the thrifts in this area are stocked about 99% with clothing  and shoes from these stores, I'd rather just buy new at a store I like, buy less, and buy what I love.

There may be reasons why folks do this (such as inaccessibility to malls and other stores, no transportation, etc.); I try to stay informed of prices and make sure I get the biggest bang for my buck.  There's very little I need or want anyway, so when I buy I have to need/want it very badly. 

I see so much crap from the "dollar" store that is marked much more than a dollar.  Ick!

SeSo

[Other People s Junk]

I agree it is dumb to see dollar store items marked for more than a dollar! 

On the other hand, I am one of those who doesn't care about the brand name (be it WalMart or Old Navy, etc.), if I like the clothing item and it FITS.  I have such a hard time finding clothes in any event (I am tall and not shaped like a stovepipe, like many clothes seem to be made for), that I am not picky about if I could have gotten it cheaper at the actual store. 

Sometimes the thrifted item works, but their new items don't... I have thrifted a top and a skirt that were from Old Navy and they fit fine, but I can't go into an Old Navy store and find anything that fits, go figure!

[Mattie]

I have no idea what retail clothing costs, but since I never pay more than two or three dollars for a shirt or skirt or five dollars for a pair of shoes, I figure I'm ahead of the game. 

[SecondhandSophisticate]

Yeah, no matter how you splice it, shopping for clothes can be a pain, which is probably why I have so much furniture and so many handbags...

Speaking of which, I found a fabulous Phillipe handbag/tote in minty condition this weekend for $2, in a stunning navy with gold hardware.  It looks as though it was never used, as it still has the original tissue paper in it.  It's big for a seventies bag. I've seen totes like that, listed as "boho hippie retro" selling on eBay for $20-30 bucks which would be a nice profit on $2...that is, if I can bear to part with it.

SeSo