Pet Peeve - Overpricing!!

[thriftymama]

Ok, I'm finding more and more things that are being overpriced at the thrift stores. And honestly, I don't know much about what things are worth, but I generally aim for the $3 or less category when I'm shopping. But the other day at Goodwill I saw this cool colored glass vase (which I would have paid for at the most... $3). I looked at the bottom for a sticker. It still had the TJ Maxx store sticker on it for $12.99. Found the Goodwill sticker at the top priced at $24.99!!! Are you kidding me? This is just so obnoxious. I wanted to take it to the counter, point it out and say, "Seriously?" Ugh, it drives me nuts. Ok, rant over. Anyone else encounter this kind of thing?

[Emerald31]

I agree completely. A certain Goodwill here in Indiana will receive a abundance of items from the Dollar Tree with the logo still clearly on the item. They will mark the price up to $2 or $3 dollars. They have not yet figured out that these items are going to sit on the shelf gathering dust due to the pricing. Even on half off days these items still remain on the shelf pushed in a corner while diehard thrifters look for other treasures.

[Lanie Lou]

I agree about pricing.  Here in Nevada, some of the prices they are asking border on ridiculous.  I have another pet peeve though....and that is putting the price tags on items where removal will all but ruin the item.  I found some wonderful old sheet music with the Art Deco themes.  Got them home, and the stickers were put on so hard that when I removed them, it took off the old paper behind.  I really wanted them to display in an old home I am staging for a museum tour.  Now, unless I arrange them in some fashion other than just on the piano, they are going to look tacky.  Thank you for allowing me to vent!!

[valleythriftshopper]

Never try to remove stickers from paper with out either lightly steaming first or as someone once suggested here use a blowdryer to heat up the adhesive from the sticker then it will peel off.  I always used to steam them, but then I tried the blowdryer method & it worked too.

[Lanie Lou]

Thank you for your advise.  I did try the hair dryer and also put them outside in the nice hot LV sun.  However, they were put on so hard that it was just impossible to lift them off.  They never even softened up, just remained firmly affixed.  The paper is so old, thin, and somewhat porous that they absolutely refused to budge without taking the paper right along with them.  This resulted in areas of color being taken right off.  I appreciate your response...

[valleythriftshopper]

I wonder if steam, since it is a moist heat, would make any difference.  That's what I always used to do & it worked great.  When I heard about the blowdryer method I tried that just because it is quicker than biling a pot of water & holding the item over it. 

[Lanie Lou]

Well, I will try the steam!  There are two left that I haven't worked over yet.  Thank you!!

[valleythriftshopper]

Good luck, I hope something can be salvaged.  I pulled a sticker off a vintage children's book once that was in perfect condition & it left a noticible mark on the dust cover, it's a bummer!

[Firekinghunt]

Prices have gotten WAY out of hand. Not a day goes by where I am not like "this didn't cost that much NEW!" I found a really cute figurine the other day and flipped it over at GW only to find it was $6!!! For a 3.5 inch slightly damaged figurine that was going to go in my living room? I don't think so! Back it went. This happens all the time - wish they would realize it is all DONATED and usually people who shop thrifts don't have the $$$ to pay FULL RETAIL!

[mccoysnina]

I've noticed it at all the thrifts around here but the GW seems especially bad.  I was there last SAt and it was half price day adn some things were still more than I would have paid.  Not sure what they are thinking.
Jeannie

[thriftymama]

yes - it's when the pricing is close to or higher than new prices that get me. It totally takes the fun out of thrifting!

[Frchgrl]

GW is THE  worst. I very often find myself unable to control a loud annoying sigh of some sort. The ONLY thing that gives me satisfaction in that case is when I find something truly valuable and it's super cheap. I feel like "ha ha, I got you!"

Coincidentally, I also found art deco themed sheet music at GW. hm?

[osip]

In my area (SWPA) I find the Salvation Army overpriced in every one I go to. I find the Goodwill very reasonable here except I do agree in housewares it's obvious that the staff looks at an item and says..."this looks expensive" and prices it as if it should be...Our Goodwill stores do not have 1/2 off Saturdays and I think they should so they can clear off those shelves a little.

[elvisgurly]

I also agree that GoodWill overprices a lot of their items!

I still don't comprehend why they overprice clothing articles that were bought at Wal-Mart, when the original owner probably bought the garments on clearance for around one-five dollars.

[sneezy1974]

As a manager of a thrift store I can say that keeping employees from going on auto-pilot is diffiuclt. There is such a fine line between giving things away and overpricing them. I tell my employees "we can always go down on a price, but we can't go up" If you find something in my store that is priced above the original price let us know. We shoot for around 1/3 of the original price if the item isn't damaged. And of course if something is damaged we will negotiate, if something has been in the store for a while (one month for clothing - one week for larger items) we will work with you. Our shirts and pants are generally around the $5 mark. The shoes and purses are anywhere from $2.45 to $5.45, boots and nice men's shoes might go up to $9.45. Most of our shoppers come on their half price days (seniors, students, etc.) so a lot of our items go for half anyway. Unpriced items that disappear into the processing area is a darn shame and doesn't happen here, someone will price it for you.