[kimmer02]

I love the goodwill here, they get new with tags stuff all the time, mostly Target stuff!
They also do a half off certain items each week. My trip last week I got a brand new cooler (big enough to hold a 12 pack of cans) Soft sides, but hard on the inside so no leaking, for only $3!
Also got a bunch of new dollar spot items for .10 each!
My DH used to make fun of me for shopping there, til he went with me one day and got a brand new fleece lined pair of jeans for only $5!! Needless to say he doesn't make fun of me anymore!!

[foodie]

Thanks for the info on The Thrift Shopper link. Great place to check out other stores.

Foodie

[yardsalequeen]

I forgot to mention one of my favorite thrift store buys - a Kitchenaid Mixer (you know, the ones that cost $200 new) for $8. It's an older one, vintage avocado green in color, but I've had some people tell me that the older ones are built more solidly than the new ones. I've also found some Kitchenaid accessories for it at my fav thrift too.

[Cadnil]

Originally Posted by Dominochic

That is so neat! What age do you teach?

K-3rd grade cross-categorical special ed. I love it (It's the adults who make me crazy)!

[nikiz]

In Minnesota most of the Goodwills have 1.49 specific color on Tuesdays, I have found some amazing deals on Tues. It's the only day I will go!

[Limes]

My daughter loves thrift shopping. She's really into baby dolls and we hit the thrift shops for clothes. She can get 2 or 3 piece sets for $1-2 and real clothes are so much more durable than the flimsy doll clothes that are sold for dolls. Newborn clothes are fabulous but 0-3 usually works, too

[jap631]

I live in Columbus, OH and we have a LOT of thrifts and secondhands here. Goodwill is the priciest and no longer does sale days or deals. 8 years ago when I first moved here, they had great deals but they changed management. Salvation Army's stores are a mess and stink like cigarette smoke so I don't go in there. The other ones though, are pretty good. No bag sales and not much for furniture or big items but nice linens, jewelry and clothing and book/toy areas.

[Kolibree]

Originally Posted by Dominochic

I would love to hear everyone's good thrift store finds!

I love thrift store shopping!! My best find was a pair of Dansko shoes, retail new for $110. Got them gently used for $10!! We have Goodwill Superstores here, and they get all the closeouts and stuff from local stores, like Target and Sears. My last trip I found 32 brand new clothing items for my baby grandson, and paid .99 each!! It's hit or miss, but I try to go a few times a week and go first thing in the morning. You'd be suprised at what you can find!

[sigmasal]

Our Salvation Army has 1/2 off day also. Now if I go on not 1/2 off day, I feel like everything is too expensive. It is a great place to pick up Holiday decorations for cents and things to craft with (like get an ugly wreath for 49 cents, take all the ugly stuff off and use the wreath form that would have cost $5.50 at Michael's or Joanne's). My store seems to have a lot of cookie tins and those type containers for 10 cents, which are great for storage when you're just keeping things behind closed doors and they seem to have the wooden peg coat racks that you hang on the wall all the time. I have bought a few magazine racks and coat racks that were an old ugly wood for $1.00 or so and then spray painted them white to use in my house. My favorite find at Sal's Boutique is a pair of the linen-type curtains that are in style, the ones that kind of look like painter's dropcloth, perfect condition for $3. I really needed a pair and was looking for some for my bedroom and I just love them.
I love hearing about everyone's great finds!

[Loveridden]

I just started working at a Goodwill in IL - once a month they have a 123 sale - clothes and other textiles are all $1.23! Also on Weds seniors get 10% off. They do other sales as well but I don't know them all yet. Every week a certain color is 50% off the regular price...this week, it's all items tagged red.
The regular prices are a little pricier than maybe a salvation army would be, but the items are also in better shape, and a better quality than salvation army. The store is definately more organized and cleaner than any salvation army I have ever been in...
Yes, my Goodwill DOES get unused items from Target....

[Kolibree]

Originally Posted by Loveridden

I just started working at a Goodwill in IL - once a month they have a 123 sale - clothes and other textiles are all $1.23! Also on Weds seniors get 10% off. They do other sales as well but I don't know them all yet. Every week a certain color is 50% off the regular price...this week, it's all items tagged red.
The regular prices are a little pricier than maybe a salvation army would be, but the items are also in better shape, and a better quality than salvation army. The store is definately more organized and cleaner than any salvation army I have ever been in...
Yes, my Goodwill DOES get unused items from Target....

I have a salvation army about two minutes down the road from me. I will look in there occasionally, but I find they are higher priced for items in really bad condition, and it is pretty dirty in there. I LOVE Goodwill. Yes, the items cost a little more but they are usually in good condition, sometimes new, and it's a clean store. I found a brand new leather blazer, still had tags, retail $225, for $25!!!! Can't beat that!!! Even if I didn't need it, I could use it for a gift!
They offer 50% off colors, and you earn points for a percentage off a total sale. They also have a kids clothing table where everything on it is .99 each. Great place to find childrens books too. I would go everday but DH would KILL me!! Although he likes to poke around and see what he can find when he goes with me. It's the thrill of the hunt for something great for cheap!!!!

[csheldon]

I have found Salvation Army to be very expensive compared to the other thrift stores we have here in the Detroit area. Thanks for all the great posts

[brieclark]

One of my Goodwill stores has a "Treasure Store" in the back. They have huge dumpbins full of clothes and they ony cost .80 per pound! I've gotten some great stuff out of there!

I just replaced our dryer from a local thrift store called "Gateway Rescue Mission". They support local homeless people.

I frequent a few consignment shops. Recently, I got 25 pieces of awesome namebrand clothing for me for $17. Really cute stuff, including a gorgeous little black dress by Banana Republic.

Our Salvation Army is overpriced. Including our house, which we bought from them.

[polydoly13]

Originally Posted by Dominochic

My husband and I have started shopping thrift stores when we need something for ourselves, our home, our 2-year-old, or our baby-on-the-way. Thrift stores can be an excellent way to find things you need for cheap. Some stores even offer coupons or deals when you donate to them (Savers, for example, will give % off coupons for donating items).

I've found that there are a few tricks to getting a good deal:
1- Ask the casheir if they are willing to reduce the price of an item. I am OFTEN able to get the price of clothes for DD lowered. Also, sometimes it helps to point out a small stain or snag. If they realize that you are willing to take the item even with the flaws - they may be willing to negotiate price with you. The nicer you are - the better luck you will have!

2- Shop often! The items in thrift stores are always changing. It helps to go frequently, especially if there is something specific you are looking for.

3- Make sure you're not buying junk that's just going to sit in your home. You're not saving yourself any money if you're just buying items that you're never going to use.

Good luck!

Number 3 fits for regular couponing too. I find myself looking at coupons for products I don't need or don't regularly use and I think WOW I can get a buck or two off, but then I'd spend a buck or two for something I don't normally use and may just sit around. Those buck or two's add up, so I try to handle restraint and stay away from the abnormal extras.

[Loveridden]

The salvation army in my old neighborhood was very reasonably priced, but in my new neighborhood, I have been surprised at some of the prices there....

[LinzluvsGJ]

There's no bargaining on prices at the thrift stores around here, but I've still managed to find some great deals. Best lately was right before Christmas I had been looking at American Girl bitty baby dolls for my youngest. I happened to notice one of the baby dolls at the Savers I was at had neck strings, which isn't typical on most dolls but is standard for AG dolls. I picked it up, and sure enough it was a naked bitty baby, with blond hair and blue eyes like my dd to boot A whopping $4 later and I was one very happy mama!

[cathyvernham]

Originally Posted by timmsa

I don't shop at salvation army thrift stores, because they will ( in my experience) will mark up the clothes. Maybe it is just here. But I have looked at items and found prices that were really not marked down to much.

In some cases, i could add like a $1 or $2 and get it at walmart or target.

THe SA thrifts are high around here too. Ours has designer purses behind the counter. I asked to see one of the Coach purses once. It was extremely worn and th liner was ripped in two places. They were asking $125 for it. I handed it back and told her I could get a new one at the 'Coach outlet store cheaper.

[firmbeliever]

DD and I found a like new Lanie American Girl doll the other day - for $2.95. I think that is my top find. It was in a plastic bag, so we weren't quite sure it was the real deal until we got it home, but for $2.95 it was worth the risk.

I got a really nice coach purse for $21 - it was behind the counter.

Our staple thrift store item is gymnastics leotards - leos that retail for $35 and up for $4 average.

[Lovage2]

I don't find many deals anymore at SA or Goodwill. Luckily I have a few others to shop from. For those who think they don't have any thrift stores around them here's a tip. Many churches and religious organizations run thrift stores. Near me there are a St. Vincent De Paul, St. Matthews, St. Mary's as well as one that supports a local Hospice group. Ask around, you may be surprised to find that there are little thrift stores tucked away in odd places. Many of the church operated ones are only open limited hours (all volunteer staffed) but they're also the most likely to have flexible pricing.
The hospice shop near me regularly has kids books ranging from $.10 to $.50 each and I even managed to pick up a Leap Pad and several books/cartridges there for only $8.00. They regularly price their stuffed animals and dolls at $1.00 or less and I've gotten coffee mugs there for a quarter. I got to put together great Christmas baskets for the relatives with Holiday Mugs thanks to this shop.