Thrift store musings - Bilge

J johntiki Member MD Joined: Mar 31, 2002 Posts: 1528	J johntiki Posted posted on Tue, Mar 1, 2005 4:34 PM This whole Goodwill and Salvation Army selling on Ebay and marking up prices has got me torn...on one hand I understand the good work that Goodwill and other charitable organizations do for the less fortunate and that any financial contributions they receive will go to a good cause! But on the other hand I'm madder than hell that by sorting the "valuables" and selling them at antique store prices they're kinda defeating the purpose of a thrift store. I went to the Salvation Army last week and checked out the front showcase - inside were two carved mahogany busts of wahines one with a flower in her hair - I looked at the price it appeared to be $15.00 so I said, sure they're expensive but I'll check them out and if they're nice then I might just splurge. So the girl hands me the one without the price tag, I check it out, it's pretty cool and I have an extra $20 in my wallet. She starts ringing it up and proceeds to tell me the total is $39.99!! Forty bucks??!! Needless to say I told her no thanks. In a way I find it offensive that they take donations that people provide through the kindness of their hearts (or lack of space in their closets and basements) and then paw through them looking to make a super profit off items their original owners didn't realize were valuable.

This whole Goodwill and Salvation Army selling on Ebay and marking up prices has got me torn...on one hand I understand the good work that Goodwill and other charitable organizations do for the less fortunate and that any financial contributions they receive will go to a good cause!

But on the other hand I'm madder than hell that by sorting the "valuables" and selling them at antique store prices they're kinda defeating the purpose of a thrift store. I went to the Salvation Army last week and checked out the front showcase - inside were two carved mahogany busts of wahines one with a flower in her hair - I looked at the price it appeared to be $15.00 so I said, sure they're expensive but I'll check them out and if they're nice then I might just splurge. So the girl hands me the one without the price tag, I check it out, it's pretty cool and I have an extra $20 in my wallet. She starts ringing it up and proceeds to tell me the total is $39.99!! Forty bucks??!! Needless to say I told her no thanks.

In a way I find it offensive that they take donations that people provide through the kindness of their hearts (or lack of space in their closets and basements) and then paw through them looking to make a super profit off items their original owners didn't realize were valuable.

Post #144045 by johntiki on Tue, Mar 1, 2005 4:34 PM