Do you shop in thrift stores?
By Amy
@artemis432 (7474)
Abernathy, Texas
August 19, 2007 12:51pm CST
Do you shop in used clothing stores? If not what are reasons - pride - ashamed to go in - don't want to wear something someone else has - afraid you won't find things that are in fashion.
I shop in them almost exclusively, I find clothes that fit all of my criteria - pretty, soft, unusual, artsy and quality material in good condition. Some things even have the tags. And if you're looking for fashion items you might even find that too. Best of all, I can get at least seven items for under forty dollars, last time for under thirty. In under a few hours. I can spend all day at the mall and only find one item I like, and even on sale, I'm spending at least 10 or 15 bucks. At least.
If you're in a beautiful country like the Phillipines where the cost of living is a little different - you'll have to use a currency converter on the web to know what that means.
Are you willing to shop in thrift stores? What are your reasons? Do they match the ones mentioned above? If you do, how did you discover them?
6 people like this
20 responses
@evanpoe (122)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I don't shop in used clothing stores exactly unless I need something very basic for work or something. I am, however, way down with the discount clothing stores as I dress very casually (usually jeans and a collared shirt of some kind) I dunno...I just can't bring myself to wear something someone else has owned, it's crazy, I know.
3 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
20 Aug 07
evanpoe, its no crazy - its you and how you feel. I don't like the discount stores just because I never find things I really like. I shop for baby clothes there though - why spend exorbitant amounts on clothes they'll outgrow. Not only that, I heard Walmart is coming out with organic clothing - you know organic cotton, hemp, bamboo etc. Those kind of clothes are EXPENSIVE.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
20 Aug 07
I shop in Value Village that is the all in one exclusive thrift shop chain here in Canada. I am hard to fit, and so that it is rare that I find any clothes that fit and that looks good. I have to real check the labels to see if they fit me, and sometimes I find that some people remove the labels. So unfortunately I cannot buy much in the way of clothes there.
2 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
Suspenseful, sorry about people removing the labels. I haven't really found that problem - yet - except on the rare occasion.
You know, I'm hard to fit too, I have long legs - the length of my husband's who is 6'3 - 4. Except he has a proportioned body - long legs - long torso. I'm like all legs - no body. And no waist up and down -its hip bone then ribs. Of course its all moot now that I've had a baby......
@venshida (4836)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I do shop in thrift store. I sometimes buy yarn and household decorations. I had a booth in a flea market awhile back and I use to buy stuff at thrift stores and resell them. You can get some nice stuff in thrift stores. I have a beautiful silk dress that I brought at a thrift still has its tag. The original price on that dress was $110.00. Some days when I am bored I jump in my car and visit thrift stores.
2 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
Re-selling items at flea markets is a great idea. I think many people re-sell on Ebay. Its possible to go to thrift shops or inexpensive antique stores in the country and find - well finds. Things you know the value of but the store - and perhaps the person who donated them doesn't. I've found brand names (not that that matters too much to me) at thrift stores - expensive stuff and not necessarily all last season. Quality stuff. I'm always seeing similiar items on Ebay - and some have a minimum price as well.
@cempires (171)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Absolutely!!
I love shopping in thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, yard sales, vintage stores of all types, and even antique stores. It is amazing what lost or valuable treasures you can find.
I also used to own a Los Angeles resale and vintage clothing boutique way back when I lived there, and call me crazy, but I Loved sifting thru the rag houses and costume rooms looking for resale articles for the store.
A $3000 OdeL dress for $800 (resale)
or a Vintage beaded gown shrewn but intact found in a rag house bin for $0.75 to $1.00 a pound (25 pounds of beads) cost $25.00 (includes pro cleaning) profit $474.00 Wow!
Anyway you look at it, you can find anything you want in these places if you like enjoy the hunt LOL!
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
cempires -absolutely. I knew a girl who would go to those freecycle places - I went with her once - get a carload of free stuff and re-sell them in her upscale vintage shop for a lot of money.
I like all the places you mentioned - thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, yard sales, vintage stores and anitique stores. Oh and old boodstores. You're right you can find valuable treasures the owners obviously take as junk. And even if the value isn't high in a monetary sense, it might have meaning and value to you.
Thanks for your participation! Oh - what does cempires mean is it related to sojournstars?
@lazywalt99 (177)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I shop at thrift shops, though usually not for clothing. Most thrift shops in my area have good deals on books, antiques, and furniture (among other things). I have to admit, I have felt ashamed before, but usually I feel pride in finding such good deals. Besides, most of the thrift shops I go to support local or national charities.
2 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
22 Aug 07
Thank you for your honest answer - yes clothes are not the only thing - flea markets are great too!
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
20 Aug 07
I always shop at thrift stores. The one in my area that I frequent the most uses the money spent in that store to help the needy with food and bills. I always find all kinds of clothes, for my son, myself and my husband. I can't see spending money on new clothes, when I can get more clothes for less money at a used store. The quality and different styles are great.
2 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
I so agree. I can spend all day at the mall and not find a thing I like - sometimes I come home with something I spent too much on that I don't even really like - simply because I made so much work for the salesgirls - so much to bring back!
I love the variety - and its so much easier to find artistic clothes that reflect my personality.
Thanks for your reply - enjoy mylotting.
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
20 Aug 07
I have always enjoyed shopping in thrift stores. I started by shopping in one to help out the organization for which it was opened.(it had been opened to receive donations and sell them to make money for a group who would then use the money to help refurbish the homes of elderly/homebound citizens). I enjoyed shopping there and found such bargains theat I became hooked! Why pay full price for something if it isn't necessary?!
1 person likes this
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
25 Aug 07
Yes, I do shop in thrift stores. I have found some wonderful clothing items there. Another bonus is that if you are looking for something "disposable", that is a great place to go. By disposable, say you have a huge house project and you need some old clothes because you will get paint all aover yourself, well, you can pick up a t shirt there for under a dollar, wear it once, get it trashed, etc. Then you don't have to worry about messing up your other clothes. Thrift stores get a bad rap but if you just go in there, there are many treasures to be found. And as you said, many are brand new with the tags still on them. Its a pretty cool way to shop!
1 person likes this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Aug 07
Geminigirl - what a great idea! The disposable clothes - for painting - cleaning out the garage etc. I've also seen girls go in there for costumes as well.
If you're Gemini as far as horoscopes you share a sun sign with my husband. I'm an Aries.
I agree, they should just walk in - just once and try it out!
@mossjanicelynn (1240)
• United States
20 Aug 07
Some refer to this as frugal living, some of the best blouses I have found are at the Goodwill Store, I have my favorite pant suit that I purchase at The Salvation Army. And some of my favorite jeans are from the Church Sales. I cannot afford the Mall prices even if its a sale or discount.
1 person likes this
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I love shopping at thrift stores, and have for quite a while. I think when I was in high school, I was a little bit concerned about what my classmates would think of me if they knew I was wearing thrift store clothing, though I didn't mind wearing hand-me-downs from my cousins. Now, however, I actually take pride in the fact that I almost never buy clothing for full price--if I buy something new, I wait until it is marked down a lot from the original price.
I was really pleased when we moved, because our local Goodwill has slightly higher prices than what I paid before we moved, but on Mondays, they have one color of tags that are marked down to $1.29 for the day, regardless of the original price. My fiance found a lovely pinstriped suit jacket that fit him perfectly on just the right day. It would have been $30 any other day, but we paid $1.29 for it!
2 people like this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
20 Aug 07
I think its great that you and your fiance find good deals at thrift stores. I love those special tags! I wish our local thrift stores had a deal that good. We do have tags that are 50% off each day. Very helpful!
@angel_of_charm (4134)
• Philippines
20 Aug 07
i had been shopping with this hukay hukay stores so much..not because its cheap but i see so many of clothes and things i want..sometimes i want something though its not the exact i want it looks similar and i am happy with it for a cheap price..almost all of my clothes except for my jeans are from there..
1 person likes this
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
19 Aug 07
The Salvation Army is one of my FAVORITES as far as shopping for clothing. One time I went there and I bought about 7 complete outfits for $30. Now if you were at a regular store it would be more like $30 PER OUTFIT. These outfits I bought were in excellent condition and looked brand new.If someone wants to look down on me because I shop at a thrift store so be it. They can give me the money to buy brand new clothes!
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
20 Aug 07
That last line is great! Sounds like something I'd say.
1 person likes this
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
20 Aug 07
I'm in the same boat as you, I'm almost an exclusive 'thrift' (or opshop as they're known to me) store shopper.
I score absolute bargains and find some really unique, awesome stuff!
My mum is a shoe nut, over 80 pairs and about 90% of those are second hand, designer labels that may have been worn once or twice, if at all.
Instead of paying $900, though, she's more likely to pay $9!
Most of my friends didn't shop in opshops until they met me, because I always drag them along.
And you know what, most of their favourite clothing articles now are the ones they bought second hand!
=]
I think people who think that they are 'above' charity second hand stalls are ignorant, and certainly missing out!
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
20 Aug 07
i shop wherever is cheap and fit my budget... i never feel ashamed or anything going into a thrift store or discount store... i just learn to be grateful everyday that i still have money to spend to buy clothes where there are many people out there still living in poverty... so yeahhh... i will and in fact, i had ever shop in second-hand store before... no problem for me...
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
20 Aug 07
I like shopping in thrift shops for kitchen things that aren't made any more, and for fabric, and sometimes for clothes. I don't really like clothes shopping because, well, I'm just not that interested in clothes.
@marriedman111399 (1207)
• United States
20 Aug 07
My wife and I shop in thrift stores all the time. We have 3 kids and you can find name brand clothes at half of the price. We have Goodwill,salvation army and many consignment stores that we shop at. We also have bread thrift stores that we can get good prices on bread. We have no problem shopping at these stores.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
11 Sep 07
i shop at UK stores! UK means "ukay-ukay" which is a coined term for stores which you have to "dig in" to bunch of used clothes in order to find something you like.
hey... have you been here in the Philippines? you talk as if you have. ^__^ or are you a Filipino living in the US?
i like shopping at UK because i can choose from a wider variety of styles and buy something nice at a cheaper price. some of the clothes sold in UKs are slightly used ans need only to be washed and voila! it looks new again. ^__^
me and my bestfriend often go to UK in search of nice and cheap clothes. we have this "suki" store which is called "mabongga", a store within a small mall in our town and its nice to shop there because its airconditioned and they usually go on sale like 2 for one hundred pesos (approximately $2). ^__^
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
9 Sep 07
My shirts and pants generally come from thrift stores. The value for the dollar is so much better than the regular stores. I will not pay over $10 for a pair of pants.
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My undergarments come from regular stores. I will not wear that which has been worn by another person, no matter how it was washed. Some germs will not go away with washing or even bleach so undergarments are new items. So are socks. I have never run across socks in a thrift store.
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My house hold furniture is a hodge podge of old roommate left overs, stuff from the parents, thrift store and other finds, and make works.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
11 Sep 07
I've had brand new shirts given to me as gifts litterally unravel on my person. Sometimes, the quality is shoddy, where thrift stores can have very high quality at low low prices.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
9 Sep 07
I won't buy underwear from thrift stores either - I do think bleach will kill all germs - it very powerful - its just yucky to think of wearing someone else's underwear.
I spend thirty bucks average or forty for bags of clothes. Even at a discount place like Walmart,Marshals,or Mervyns you can't do that. In fact cheap their is maybe 12 dollars for a t-shirt. I can't find anything I like at those stores either. And even at the mall, full of clothing stores, I can spend all day and not find things I truly like. Especially swing skirts or circle skirts - skirts that aren't tight or straight line down.
@wonderful1 (2075)
• China
12 Sep 07
i don't shop in thrift stores.
1,i have a habit that i have wash my face and hands with soap when i get home, then i will take a bath and change clean pajama. so i can't wear the clothes that someone has worn before.
2,i feel ashamed when i go to the thrift stores. it means i'm poor. and i think if i have no money to buy brand clothes, then i can buy some cheap and new ones. if i wear some brand uses clothes, then i must be laught by others.
