Thrift Competition

[Firekinghunt]

Since I do sell on ebay (poor college student) I have to worry about a lot of competition at my thrift stores. You learn real quick who else is an ebayer, dealer, scrapper, or not just a normal "shopper." Do any of you have the same problem of other competition to get the best stuff at your thrift stores? I know some pretty nasty cutthroat dealers out there and have seen them get to some amazing stuff makes me 

[Tammy]

We run into the same 2 men at all the GW stores that we hit.  One owns a consignment store (you should see his place.  It's in an old school and packed to the point of not being able to move easily plus in the winter they have no heat at all in the place except at the front register) and the other guy we aren't sure about.  I use to sell on Ebay also but got so burnt out after awhile even though I made some decent money. 

[Big Daddy Audio]

I used to see some electronics guys around at a bunch of thrift stores, but I haven't seen them in a long time - they may have left town.  I see some of the same cars at GWs that I frequent.  I know that by me, there is a large Mexican contingent that buys in the US and then brings the stuff back to Mexico (kind of like a cottage industry import-export business).  They'll buy a lot of electronics, furniture, bikes, appliances, etc.  They (as an individual) are not really cut-throat, but they buy a ton of stuff and their pick-up trucks are usually loaded down, all lashed into place with at least three different types of line.  They'll buy both good quality and poor quality electronics, so they (kind of) serve a purpose of moving the crap out as well - they don't just take the good stuff (like I do). 

I guess I'm kind of out of the loop, since I don't necessarily notice people like this anymore.

SYNT
BFN

[oceangurl]

not necessarialy dealers in my store that I go to most but the same people year after year...to the point where I (being very chatty) have made friends with and share our scores and findings with so.....

[Mattie]

Y'know, I'm so focused on shopping that I rarely notice anyone.  Occasionally I'll run into someone I know and it's a shock - it kind of wakes me from my thrifting trance.  So I've never paid attention to pickers, ebayers, etc.  Haven't noticed them at all.  What I do notice (and saw a lot of today, unfortunately) are unruly kids screaming, running and dropping things (something smashed in the knickknack aisle today and I swear everyone in the store gasped simultaneously).  I wanted to tell a woman to keep her four beasts in line, but she looked frazzled enough without a total stranger insulting her so I kept my mouth shut.

[Scott]

When I used to live in Minneapolis, there was seemingly a lot of competition. I would run into various local midcentury modern dealers routinely, as well as collectors I know. Now that I'm in a smaller town there isn't quite as much competition, but the quantity of "good stuff" is also less. There is a MCM dealer here who I run into on occasion, although not frequently. If he's leaving and I'm coming in (or vise versa), the conversation inevitably starts out "So, do I even need to bother ..."

[Firekinghunt]

My worst run-in was with the "ebay guy." He is the man a certain (shall remain un-named) thrift store uses. He pulls all the "ebay quality stuff" and takes it to be put online for the company. This is a FOR PROFIT company, not a SA or GW. He is very very very arrogant and will say " I got all the good stuff." He is an actual employee and will brag about this and that came in, and they just sold this for x - amount. It is so annoying and just doesn't even make me happy because I know it isn't for a charity or good works, just for the company's profits.

[Jay2TheRescue]

My worst run-in was with the "ebay guy." He is the man a certain (shall remain un-named) thrift store uses. He pulls all the "ebay quality stuff" and takes it to be put online for the company. This is a FOR PROFIT company, not a SA or GW. He is very very very arrogant and will say " I got all the good stuff." He is an actual employee and will brag about this and that came in, and they just sold this for x - amount. It is so annoying and just doesn't even make me happy because I know it isn't for a charity or good works, just for the company's profits.

I usually stop shopping at stores that pull merchandise to go to online auctions.  Usually the "good stuff" never leaves the back room, and only the crap remains to be put on the shelves for the shoppers.  Personally, I like when a store gets an exceptional piece they put it up for silent auction.

-Jay

[Big Daddy Audio]

My worst run-in was with the "ebay guy." He is the man a certain (shall remain un-named) thrift store uses. He pulls all the "ebay quality stuff" and takes it to be put online for the company. This is a FOR PROFIT company, not a SA or GW. He is very very very arrogant and will say " I got all the good stuff." He is an actual employee and will brag about this and that came in, and they just sold this for x - amount. It is so annoying and just doesn't even make me happy because I know it isn't for a charity or good works, just for the company's profits.

I know that there are Goodwill auction sites, and I would never buy through one, as the stuff I look for needs to be properly tested.  These guys at Goodwill put components through such rigorous and thorough testing as "plugging it in to see if it turns on."  Then it hits the floor.  I've stopped buying at shops where there are no returns.  I'm not looking to rip anyone off - but by the same token, I don't want to buy a big in a poke.  The auctions don't reflect an elitist attitude, and I'd really get torqued if they did.

Now, Our Goodwills out here (the more I hear from you guys, the more I realize how good we have it out here) DO listen to their buying public.  To wit: They had a policy back in the summer and into the fall of 2008 where the current week's donations (color and week number marked) WOULD NOT be on sale at the 50% off day, so that they'd have a chance to sell at full price.  This lasted about 3 50% off Saturdays, and then it was rescinded.  Not only was it a cash-registering nightmare, but it made the buyers mad.

Our Goodwills don't sell via auctions, that I know of.  I'd be mad if I found out that they did.  If buyers found out, they'd likely make their gripes known and heard, and this would also be rescinded.

If there was an arrogant bastard (yeah, I went there) at the thrift store who gloated about all the good stuff he ferreted out of the donations, I'm pretty sure that would be the last time I ever shopped there, and would make sure nobody I knew ever shopped there again.  These are donations, and this putz has the cajones to brag about all his great finds???  Is he kidding me?

Game over.

SYNT
BFN   

[valleythriftshopper]

I only have three thrifts in the immediate area but fortunately not so much competition that there is nothing left for me.  The small food bank thrift does sell on Ebay, but the employees aren't very good at IDing good Ebay stuff, I think people bring stuff to them & let them know it may be worth something.  Most of the stuff they sell on Ebay are little items, so there is still a chance of finding goodies there.  The two Sal Army's don't sell on Ebay, thank God.  There is an employee at one who does, but she does almost all clothes, puts them up as "new without tags".  It is unbelievable that she doesn't get more neg feedback, some of them are definitely not new! 

There is an older lady named Barb who goes out everyday like me, she has been selling for a long time.  She's a nice lady though & if she ever had something in her cart that I collected she'd probably let me take it. 

Sometimes I go into a popular category on Ebay & do a search for items closest in distance to see how many people nearby are selling stuff, I have mostly found people selling clothing or antique dealers who have stuff that I know is not from the Salvation Army.

The yard sales were very competitive this past summer though!  Alot more competion there, hopefully not again this summer.

[Mattie]

If there was an arrogant bastard (yeah, I went there) at the thrift store who gloated about all the good stuff he ferreted out of the donations, I'm pretty sure that would be the last time I ever shopped there, and would make sure nobody I knew ever shopped there again.  These are donations, and this putz has the cajones to brag about all his great finds???  Is he kidding me?
 

My sentiments exactly!  This jerk is taking donations, selling them and keeping the cash?  Why the hell does ANYONE shop there? 

[valleythriftshopper]

I'm guessing "Ebay guy" is a major doofus, not just because of his actions in the thrift store, but in general (something like Comic book guy from the Simpsons?).  This is probably his one outlet to feel superior to everyone & gloat about it.  Time to get a life!

[anastasiabeaverhausen]

I have a feeling valleythrift, at least in my area with the economy that yardsales, TS etc are gonna get WAY more competitive, like you,  I noticed this year that yard sales were getting brutal. I have a couple I call my arch nemesis, they are ebay sellers....and try to get ppl to mark down prices at the MOMENT the ys starts...makes me so mad, and I usually tell the ppl..hey dont do it...your here to make some duckies! We will just have to perservere!! All in the name of thrift!!!!

[SplashsMom]

Sometimes I go into a popular category on Ebay & do a search for items closest in distance to see how many people nearby are selling stuff,

Thanks for the idea. I have done terribly on ebay and gave up. All I can ever sell are Packers things.

The "dealers" I always run into are book resellers. They swarm onto a sale and pile things  in a corner and then take all day sorting through, so if anyone else does not come back in a few hours to check the dealer cast offs they miss out. However because these guys do buy hundreds and hundreds of books not only is this allowed but they get bulk discounts.  I have to tell myself the money is going to a cause I believe in and I do not NEED many more books. (well, I always need a few more)

This happens at library and church sales more than at thrift stos.

[nancydr2]

It's not quite the same, but there is a guy who is almost always at senior day at one of my local Goodwills who drives me nuts.  He walks all over the store and comments on what people have in the carts.  I will no longer go to that store if it's senior day (I used to go there even though I'm no where near the senior age of 50 because they give the discount to everyone).

A few months ago, I picked up a really high end electrician's ladder at this store.  It was $32 after coupon, but worth it as it was barely used (if used at all) and this type of ladder generally retails for $200 or more.  This guy told me I was crazy if I bought it because any "idiot" would know that you could buy the same ladder at Home Depot for $25.  He basically called me an idiot right to my face.  I don't know if he's trying to scare people off from buying things so he can buy them, or what.  It's definitely annoying.  I know the employees at the store hate him, too, as he argues about the price of everything.