Calvin Klein purse and Prada Shoes

[Mission Mart]

I actually work for a thrift store, but I''m still a dedicated shopper!
I bought a black, should strap Calvin Klien purse for .99 cents- the real deal, brand-new condition too. One of the store managers told me she had a pair of Prada shoes come through her store- she priced them at $3- a lucky customer bought them later that day.  We don''t price higher just because something is a name brand (we probably should, but we don''t). In our particular area, there are few people that know was Prada is- but we sure did

[alexandra]

Thank you!!! I am a firm believer in patronizing stores which have a set price for certain articles.  If one is a grand treasure and the other is just a normal thrift, well IMO, it evens out in the end.  Part of the beauty of thrifting is what it makes available to those who otherwise might never have access.

Plus... in some cases, what makes it to the stores is fake -- and unless a skilled merchandizer knows the difference, I think it''s wrong to price it as if it is authentic.  I have seen items so overpriced -- knowing that they are almost certainly not authentic.  If a thrift sells a fake, they are not ripping off the original designer, as far as I''m concerned.  But if they sell a fake on the premise that it''s a designer item, then they are ripping off the customer.  I think your policy is good because you are not likely to be ripping anyone off -- authentic or fake.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

While I''m sure some folks probably will say whatever it takes to make a buck, I also have this theory that many people don''t truly <intend> to rip someone off by claiming it''s a particular thing when it''s a fake-- I think there''s just this innate human desire to genuinely believe something they''ve encountered IS more important/valuable/famous than it is, whatever it is-- without having all the information or actually doing any research. They just take it on face value, with the idea that other people could be fooled, but not them.

That''s why I figure it''s good to be armed with as much knowledge as you can when you thrift/antique/flea market-- because then you at least have a bit more control over your buying abilities. And if something is suspect, I won''t pay any more for it than I would for the price of a fake Whatever of good quality. :-)