For those who dont think you can still get a great deal

[vintagemad]

So about two months ago I stopped at one of my fave thrift stores and found a signed 18k gold orchid brooch with a natural pearl accent. I could not believe it I paid $4.95 for it. Sold it for $230 last week! Anyone else out there with a similar story? Happy hunting!

[FleaQueen]

GREAT FIND

I've had TONS of these finds over the years.  The biggest was  about 10 years ago with five 19th century CDV photos I found at a flea market.  I paid $17 for all and sold them for $1,000.

This past summer my fiance found a painting for $20.  Turns out the artist's work goes for as much as $12,000 (and this one looks a lot like the $12,000 samples I've seen on the 'net).  We haven't done anything with it yet, but if we could get that much for it, it would pay for our wedding and then some! 

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[Frchgrl]

Gosh yes! I make thousands a month part time with my thrift store scores!!!

[Thriftastic]

I found a pretty heavy 10k gold belt buckle attached to a nasty old belt at a Housing Works here in New York.  I paid $5 for it, thinking it was brass, to give to a friend who does jewelry.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the mark on the back! I didn't give it to her, but I also haven't sold it yet, as it's in my 'mergency box...if and when I do, I  will give a portion of the proceeds back to the thrift store. 

This leads me to an ethical question that sometimes gives me fits - if you find something you KNOW is worth many times the price you pay and the thrift store could benefit from it, do you have qualms about quietly walking away with it?  I feel like if I was rolling in dough I'd be generous, but being between millions, I don't know what's right.  Thrift stores benefit those in need, and if I'm in need....

Thoughts?

[Frchgrl]

That's a tough one. I buy at thrift stores to resell. If I made an outrageous profit then yeah, I'd give some back.

[mccoysnina]

Tough one but with me, likely I wouldn't feel the need to donate to the thirft if I found something worth a lot.  I donate to it year round with household goods and clothes so they benefit from me anyway.  And they sold it to me for what they thought they could get for it.  A business transaction. So I wouldn't feel any more need to donate to them that if something I bought at KMart or some other store turned out to be valuable.  And if I bought something that turned out to be worth less than I paid for it, I'm sure the ts wouldn't feel the need to give me back any of my money.
I donate to other charities and don't necessairliy feel the need to support the group that runs the ts other than with the business I give them.
Jeannie

[Thriftastic]

Great comments, and thanks.  I did an interview with Captain Merchant at the Salvation Army here in NYC, and he basically said the same thing - that as long as people pay the prices they're asking for, that helps them do the work they do.  What they do with the stuff on the back end is up to them.  This helped me a lot.  Thanks for the honest responses.

[FleaQueen]

I often buy box lots at auctions, and when I'm through picking what I want, I'll usually donate the rest to the local Sal.

Anything I think they won't be able to sell (stuff that's broken, too dirty, etc. etc.) goes in the trash.  

Over the years, I've probably given them thousands of items, which I'm sure has more than made up for the underpriced treasures I've bought from them.  

You can see some on my blog!!

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[Big Daddy Audio]

I feel NO GUILT WHATSOEVER for getting great deals at thrift stores.  I don't look at jewelry at all since I don't wear any and neither does my wife.  Anything I thrift has to have some inherent use, besides just for flipping.

That being said, I picked up some MINT Bose Model 301 Series IV speakers at a yard sale in an expensive neighborhood for $15.00 (so they KNOW what they cost new).  This is an absolute steal.  I then turned around immediately and sold them on Craigslist for $150.00, which was well below market value (Could have gone for as much as low $300's on eBay but you lose $$$ in fees and shipping).  I got a killer deal, the buyer got a good deal, and now he's got the speakers he wanted for less than what he would have otherwise paid, and I made $135.00 profit. 

Win-Win situation.  I've done this with TONS of stuff - mainly stereos, cameras, bikes, and other non-clothing items. 

[Good Buddy]

I feel NO GUILT WHATSOEVER for getting great deals at thrift stores.  I don't look at jewelry at all since I don't wear any and neither does my wife.  Anything I thrift has to have some inherent use, besides just for flipping.

That being said, I picked up some MINT Bose Model 301 Series IV speakers at a yard sale in an expensive neighborhood for $15.00 (so they KNOW what they cost new).  This is an absolute steal.  I then turned around immediately and sold them on Craigslist for $150.00, which was well below market value (Could have gone for as much as low $300's on eBay but you lose $$$ in fees and shipping).  I got a killer deal, the buyer got a good deal, and now he's got the speakers he wanted for less than what he would have otherwise paid, and I made $135.00 profit.

Win-Win situation.  I've done this with TONS of stuff - mainly stereos, cameras, bikes, and other non-clothing items.

Thumbs up dude! Bose Rocks! I used to repair and rebuild Bose car stereo stuff...

[mjlbb]

Don't feel guilty.  I recently volunteered at a local thrift shop with my daughter for some community service projects.  I was surprised at how much stuff doesn't make it out to the floor.  The workers there set it aside to have it priced and are then able to purchase an item, or if the price is too high, they don't have to buy it.  A lot of primo stuff never hits the sales floor.

[mccoysnina]

I can't speak about the local chain thrifts (SAl, GW, SVDP etc) but at out local independent thrift an item had to be on the sales floor for 48 hours before the sales people can purchase an item.  And they cannot shop on any day they work. Must be  a day off.   That way the rest of us have a chance to buy the good stuff too.  I like that policy. 
Jeannie

[Jay2TheRescue]

I once considered getting a job at a local thrift, and one of the "benefits" was that I would be allowed to purchase up to 5 items a week before they hit the sales floor.

[Sir Thrift-A-Lot]

I found a Marilyn Manson shirt marked down in the clearance rack at a vintage t-shirt shop for $7. It sold on eBay for $232.50.. which turned into about $260 when it converted over to Canadian.

Then everybody listed theirs & they sell for like $40-$60. Supply & demand.