Lane end table

[valleythriftshopper]

Went to my least favorite Sal Army today & scored a nice mid-century Lane end table similar to this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Century-Modern-Lane-2-level-burlwood-end-table_W0QQitemZ180453439907QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a03dcf9a3

mine doesn't have the awesome inlay and has rounded tapered legs, but still a nice looking sturdy piece.  It was marked $7.99 which is good for that store.  I noticed when I was looking at it a few of the employees were looking out from the back room.  When I took it up to the register the guy at the register asked me "Is that a Lane?"  I hadn't turned it over yet so at that point I didn't know.  After i got it in the car I remembered the manager told me that merchandise had to be out on the floor for at least an hour before an employee can purchase it.  I wonder if one of the employees was planning on buying it (I was in there 45 minutes before closing).  Since many of them seemed interested in me looking at it & buying it I think maybe someone wanted it, I am glad I got it first!

Other than the guy at the register, I don't like many of the people who work there, also I think the employees must buy alot of the good stuff that comes in because there is never anything good there anymore.

[Good Buddy]

VERY nice table. Cookie and I'd've bought it too.

[dottygoat]

Wonderful buy! 

[Frchgrl]

Nice score!

[Punk Glam Queen]

Went to my least favorite Sal Army today & scored a nice mid-century Lane end table similar to this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Century-Modern-Lane-2-level-burlwood-end-table_W0QQitemZ180453439907QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a03dcf9a3

mine doesn't have the awesome inlay and has rounded tapered legs, but still a nice looking sturdy piece.  It was marked $7.99 which is good for that store.  I noticed when I was looking at it a few of the employees were looking out from the back room.  When I took it up to the register the guy at the register asked me "Is that a Lane?"  I hadn't turned it over yet so at that point I didn't know.  After i got it in the car I remembered the manager told me that merchandise had to be out on the floor for at least an hour before an employee can purchase it.  I wonder if one of the employees was planning on buying it (I was in there 45 minutes before closing).  Since many of them seemed interested in me looking at it & buying it I think maybe someone wanted it, I am glad I got it first!

Other than the guy at the register, I don't like many of the people who work there, also I think the employees must buy alot of the good stuff that comes in because there is never anything good there anymore.

Nice score! I wouldn't doubt if some of the employees are ebay'ers or pickers for sellers (either brick and mortar antique shops or ebay sellers.) I've actually known people that took volunteer jobs at various thrift shops so that they could have first dibs on anything "good" that will bring a high resale price. Annoying! I've come across it too much to realize its probably more common than I originally thought. Boo for us 

Cheers!
Suzanne

[valleythriftshopper]

I should start going in there regularly at 5:30 (they close at 6:00).  I heard the manager telling someone how she buys so much stuff from the store.  I know the guy that works there is also a DJ so probably all the good music gets snatched up.  He is the one cool employee though so I can't hate him.  The ladies there are bitchy and examine everthing you buy.  There is rarely anything cool at that store and any designer item is marked way high.  I do find things here & there so I still stop by just in case.

[valleythriftshopper]

Almost had an awesome furniture find.  I was at the food bank thrift at near closing time yesterday.  Someone had just brought in two vintage kitchen/bar stool like these but real vintage:
http://www.nextag.com/norob/PtitleSeller.jsp?chnl=main&tag=715046839&ctx=aYOGyrky2JMlq7TTygQV94b9vdoRmu7ZrfcS%2BEK0okD0ghwk%2FGfhnATJ5vZ5PR0khJBchL04DRn3VmenvsZj2W1W7A7oXAuaJ4fW4fycSSfRkK8URD2%2FDRyjlLiNzHanOBF7ng%2F7MnWEBe6WcHPX1jtkR7aKvPQl5%2FaMffDxvoNCAKYWrD4cnxO5rYm8cCGdigiVH2M15AtuIOnGXIjXEh6vyjENBUEB%2B9qeM6RN%2B4YoeAyUJSkiuRKIJfHyBpbyRrnoZ0Xyrrh3zm3s4s11Hg%3D%3D&ptitle=615885970

I asked if they were for sale but the cashier told me she couldn't sell them until the people who work in the back processed them, so I came back this morning.  Same cashier was there- she told me someone who works there bought them so they never even made it out to the floor  .  I would be mad if it was the Sal Army, but the employees at that thrift are really nice and will do stuff like deliver furniture etc.  So whoever bought it probably deserved them.  I would have loved to have them in my kitchen though!  The consolation prize was this vintage kitchen towel for 50 cents.

[SplashsMom]

I would have left my name and contact info when I first saw them. That way maybe there would be a chance at them.
It can backfire also, making volunteers or employees notice that someone else is interested.

You are right, at some stores it would bother me more than at others.

[valleythriftshopper]

The thrifts around here don't do that, they are not allowed.  It is first come first serve.  Makes for very cut throat thrifting, but that is the nature of treasure hunting.  Speaking of which I checked my email today to find a this freecycle offer-

"60's era portable Magnavox record player in case. Plays 45's and regular sized vinyls. In excellant condition as it has been in storage. (It is the size of a old manual typwriter case etc). It works as I plugged it in last night). Yours for the taking. Pickup is in Turners Falls"

I almost had a heart attack, it was already taken of course.  I think some people are having the freecycle offers sent right to their phones so they immediatley get the new offers.  It is very hard to be the first to reply to the freecycle offers these days too. 

I did end up buying a cute chair at the food bank thrift though for 3 bucks yeaterday.  I bought it for my daughters desk.  It looks similar like this one, but actually better:

 http://community.livejournal.com/thriftwhore/4327982.html#cutid1

I saw this posting on live journal and remembered there had been a chair like that sitting at the food bank thrift for weeks.  Funny how you decide you want something after you see alot of other people want it too. 

I am going to polish it up and recover the seat, I will post a pic when I am done.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I've recently noticed signs in my local Goodwill saying that the employees are not allowed to shop in the Goodwill store they work in.  Doesn't matter though, most stuff of value is thrown in a tractor trailer to the local area HQ to be listed on their website.  I get lucky once in a while and find something of value that they missed though.

[valleythriftshopper]

I have heard of that policy for the Salvation Army too, but apparently not around here.  One of the Sal Armys still has some good stuff but the other one never does so I know it must get plucked before it makes it to the floor.  Several months ago the food bank thrift was looking for extra help (paid) and one of the employees asked me if i was interested.  i thought about it but decided against it because I would want any good thing that came in the door and that could get awkward, especially since they sometimes sell stuff on Ebay too.   I would be in competition with the store so I decided it wouldn't be a good idea.  The beauty of that place is that the employees aren't interested in alot of the cool vintage stuff.