Thrift store? Not in MY backyard!

[Zed Simon]

It seems there's a row being raised in a certain part of Saskatchewan about a new Value Village that's coming to town. People are so scared of what might happen to their neighborhood that they won't even go on record with their names to talk about it.  Instantly, images of lower-class people and higher crime rates dance around like sugar plums in their ill-informed minds. Have a read: http://www.planetsmag.com/story.php?id=600

Do the residents have valid points?

Sure, I've seen a certain class of people in some thrift stores. But you know what? The people were there long before the store was. I doubt a new thrift store on its own will be a magnet for crime and all the other nightmares people are expecting. Who knows, if it's in the right part of town, they might just get better donations and attract a different, maybe more affluent clientele because of it. Personally, of course, I hope everyone gvies the store a chance. Hopefully this store will prove the Archie Bunkers wrong. What are you thinking?

[Jay2TheRescue]

Personally, I love visiting thrifts in nicer areas of town, just for that.  They get nicer donations.

[Big Daddy Audio]

There's a supermarket shell that has been vacant for years.  I've written Goodwill about opening a store there, but nothing has happened.  Could it be that the Landlord or the city in which it would be located has decided that the "dregs" could not be stopped and ultimately the Zombie Apocalypse would ensue?  Can't tell you, but I can tell you that a Goodwill beats the pants off an empty shell any day.

[mccoysnina]

Around here all the thrifts I know of are in areas zoned for business.  Strip malls or main shopping streets.  None in any residential areas.  But none of the areas araound the thrifts seem to have suffered any ill effects. 
I can see why someone might not want a business in an area zoned for residences with all the problems any business might bring like parking shortages, more traffic in areas with small children etc.  But don't see why a thrift would attract any more of a bad element than any other business.
Jeannie

[FleaQueen]

Personally, I love visiting thrifts in nicer areas of town, just for that.  They get nicer donations.

Not in Philly.  I've found the most awesome stuff in the dumpiest thrift stores in the dumpiest parts of town.

The nicer stores in the nicer areas, not so much.

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[subversivegrrl]

Every time I have asked a store employee whether their donations are funneled out of a central donation point they tell me, no, it's donated at this store.  Does anyone believe that? (I don't.)  Considering that you can find really fabulous stuff in fairly seedy areas, and since so many thrifts either do pick-up or have locations that are donation centers only with no store on-site, I have to wonder about that distribution process.

There's a regional charity here that has about 8 stores, and the newest one is in a very nice area.  I haven't noticed that they have substantially nicer stock, but they do have all new, functional carts! (that's a huge pet peeve for me - carts with squeaky/loose/damaged wheels, so you feel like you're dragging the cart around the store.)

[Big Daddy Audio]

Since I am in thrift stores quite often, I can track what I've donated somewhat easily.

With the Phoenix area Goodwill stores, it appears that they will keep the stuff that they need and send the other stuff to other stores to even things out.

FWIW

[syphic]

I live in Southern California and all the new Goodwills are openning in nice areas in nice new retail centers. Hasnt affected the areas at all. I rarely see scummy people at em either.

[yourauntiespanties]

Wow. I can't believe the uppity-ness of those unidentified residents.

I don't live near Saskatoon, but I do live in Saskatchewan....and of course we need more thrift stores! lol

This event really speaks volumes about how many people still have the wrong idea about thrift stores.

)

Every time I have asked a store employee whether their donations are funneled out of a central donation point they tell me, no, it's donated at this store.  Does anyone believe that? (I don't.)  Considering that you can find really fabulous stuff in fairly seedy areas, and since so many thrifts either do pick-up or have locations that are donation centers only with no store on-site, I have to wonder about that distribution process.

I can say, that I know from personal experience, that -all- the donations are NOT received at a certain store's physical location. The one that I worked at received new trailers (big a** trailers) every week, full of donations, from some mysterious storage house. It was my understanding that the charitable organization associated with the store does pick-ups from homes and donation bins, fills the trailers and then brings them to the stores to be sorted.

So I don't believe a stores physical location has anything at all to do with the quality of donations, the goodies could come from anywhere!