Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

The End of Thrift Store Shopping?

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Today, I was having a hard time finding creative inspiration. To get motivated, I decided to head to two of my favorite spots for thrift shopping. One is a thrift store with stuff that’s in pretty bad shape. I know that many thrift stores around town drop their rejects at this store.

desk found at the thrift store - thediybungalow.com

The other is a furniture consignment resale store – where I got this piece.

vintage chest before - thediybungalow.com
Click here to see how I refinished this piece!.

So I’m looking for something to repurpose. A table, or a chest of drawers, or something funky to turn into something fabulous.

I start at the consignment store and find a small dresser with the top drawer missing. The top is all scratched and damaged. Perfect! I’m thinking I could turn it into a bar or a cabinet with a pull-out drawer – the ideas are flowing!

I think to myself that the dresser should cost me about $35-50, given its condition, but realistically I’d spend up to $60, since it’s solid wood. So, I check the price tag.

Anyone want to guess what it said? Whatever you just guessed, go higher.

It was $250.00

I audibly gasped.

Seriously?!? Yes, it’s solid wood, but it’s BROKEN. It’s in terrible shape. I could easily see someone having something like this and leaving it in their trash pile.

I look around the store a bit longer, but I’m discouraged. All of the prices are, relatively, sky-high.

$20 for a broken candlestick.

$118 for a pair of stools that have wood seats that are scratched. I can buy new stools that look just like these for $50 apiece at HomeGoods.

I leave and think I’ll have better luck at the thrift store. The one that gets the stuff that’s not sellable at other thrift stores.

I found a cabinet door – no cabinet, mind you. Just the door. $5.

I find a broken chair. $19.

It was BROKEN.

Now, I realize that these are examples from just two stores. But (a) I’ve found it’s the same at other thrift stores, like Goodwill and Salvation Army stores, as well. And (b) I’m not the only one who’s noticed this trend. Several people I know who shop regularly at thrift stores have noted the same thing.

Is this the end of true thrift store shopping? Are the days of the $30 desk or the $5 chair gone? And are people really paying $250 for a broken dresser?

What do you think?

49 responses to “The End of Thrift Store Shopping?”

  1. Albion Avatar
    Albion

    I’ve been amazed (and jealous!) for years over what people have found at thrift stores for a steal. It hasn’t been the case for me, unfortunately. The prices at stores here (in the Chicago suburbs) have seemed high for as long as we’ve been here (3.5 years). To be honest, I haven’t been in any of our locals (ReStore included) in about a year because there simply wasn’t anything. It makes me wonder, too, if we’ve pushed prices up at the expense of the families who have historically used thrift stores for things they couldn’t afford elsewhere.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      I wonder that also. I do find bargains every now and then, but I admit that those instances have come less frequently of late. I understand the increase in pricing if that’s what the market commands, but I wonder if people will really pay $250 for a broken dresser.

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  2. Chrissy Avatar
    Chrissy

    This is why I never shop at Thrift stores. I take that back I shop but rarely buy. I hear that this is an Atlanta issue. Apparently there are still cheap thrift stores out there in the world. I just have no idea where they are.

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    1. Lisa B. Avatar
      Lisa B.

      Chrissy, don’t look in Texas for them, because we don’t have any. 😦 Even the thrift stores here price their items as if they are a big department store. For the prices they are marked I can buy a new item elsewhere.

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      1. Karen Cooper Avatar
        Karen Cooper

        Wow!

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      2. Linda McClellan Avatar
        Linda McClellan

        Lisa, I live in TX too and Goodwill has always been high since I moved back after living out of state for 10 years. Now even the thrift shops are ridiculous. There’s one more I haven’t been to in ages and I’m going to check them out. If they’ve gone up then I know we’re in trouble. Maybe it’s the economy too.

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      3. Karen Cooper Avatar
        Karen Cooper

        Maybe so. It’s interesting that all the thrift store prices, nationally, have gone up. Thank you, Linda!

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    2. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      I find bargains every now and then, but it seems less frequent lately. The outdoor market at Scott’s, to me, is still the best place to find a bargain.

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    3. marta weller Avatar
      marta weller

      I have not shopped at thrift stores for years. Never found much there, and what is there, they seem to think is pure gold. Go to house auctions. Furniture usually sells cheap even when it’s in good condition because no one wants to move it. If it needs work, it goes REALLY cheap. Estate or tag sales are also a great place to look. Most have provisions for bidding on stuff if you think the price is too high. I have gotten real bargains on quality antiques, fixed them up and sold them for considerably more than I paid–sometimes ten times as much. I picked up a gorgeous quarter sawed oak library table for a pittance at a tag sale. I’m not talking veneers, I’m talking 1 1/2 to 3 inch thick solid quarter sawed boards. The top was pretty water stained, but the rest was really nice. I sanded the top, applied matching stain, varnished it, and cleaned and waxed the rest and sold it for $350. How much time did I spend? Maybe 2-3 hours altogether. I also picked up a small, depression era buffet, much like the one in the second picture. Cheap, borax furniture. Paid $15. Fixed it, painted it and used stencils and hand painting on it. Everyone thinks it is gorgeous. Don’t know if I’ll sell it.

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      1. Karen Cooper Avatar
        Karen Cooper

        Nice!! That library table sounds amazing!! I’ll have to try an auction – I’ve never been to one before. Thanks, Marta!!

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  3. Lisa B. Avatar
    Lisa B.

    I completely understand!! I was on the hunt for a book shelf for my son’s room a few weeks ago and went to a few thrift stores and one consignment shop. The consignment shop had what I was looking for, a bench book shelf…the price tag was $149! Seriously?!? I could get the same thing brand new at Pottery Barn for that much money. Even the thrift stores weren’t so thrifty. I walked away empty handed and disappointed.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Exactly! When I saw these wooden stools – industrial-looking stools with wood seats, but the seats were all scratched – that were priced OVER what HomeGoods is charging for the same stools new, I was blown away. I would almost always prefer to buy used, to recycle, but not when I could buy something brand new for the same price (or less!).

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  4. TT Avatar
    TT

    Of course I am a little biased, but comparing a thrift store to a consignment store is like comparing apples to carrots. Yes, I have seen the prices rising as well, but that is the nature of businesses in general. Thrift stores have become popular and have been able to raise prices (although not all have gone that route). The end of the thrift store will not come because of pricing strategies, it will come because of online yard sale groups. They make it easier for you to sell your old couch and get $100 rather than donating it to charity.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      I totally agree about consignment stores and thrift stores. I normally would not compare a consignment store to a thrift store; I only did so in this case because this store does/did sometimes sell thrift store-quality items that could be repurposed (see the chest in the post – that came from there and was priced accordingly for its condition), and also had this broken dresser that was a repurposing project waiting to happen. I was shocked when it was priced like a dresser in decent condition.
      I do agree re online yard sale groups. And also Craig’s List, to some extent. They offer bargain-basement pricing for vintage (and other) stuff and people often come pick up the stuff, rather than the owner having to get it to a thrift store.
      But I do wonder if some thrift stores that have traditionally served markets that HAD to shop at thrift stores rather than shopped there for repurposing projects are pricing some customers out of shopping there?
      P.S. I’m not talking about all thrift stores, but I have noticed the vast majority in Atlanta are overpricing merchandise, especially furniture. 🙂

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      1. Paula Brady Avatar
        Paula Brady

        Dear Karen, I recently retired at started volunteering at our local thrift store that supports a food distribution to low income elderly.
        I have been a frequent visitor and buyer over the past 5 years. I asked my trainer how they determine pricing and why prices have gone up so dramatically. Mind you everything is donated. My trainER told me that they have two people who are antique and used item savvy. They look things up on the internet by brand, clothes, shoes, bags, appliances, dishes, nooks etc. The books that are in good condition are listed on Amazon and sell for a percentage of the cover price. Collectable glass ware is priced out of dealers references. They make a lot more money to help the needy. Many shopper’s are not hurting for monry, and the staff gets calls from the intake counselors at the food and aid office. I learned that we do reduce prices or give them an amount to credit towards their needs. This is done quietly to preserve their dignity. I agree that they do over price things and I’m not afraid to speak up in protest and attempt to negotiate a more appropriate price. Hope this sheds some light, I also hope this helps to know the motivation behind the scenes.

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      2. Karen Cooper Avatar
        Karen Cooper

        Thank you for your message, Paula. I’m glad you clarified those things. And I want to be clear that I am not against thrift stores making money for the charities they represent – not at all. I support them raising all the money they can for their causes. But they end up losing money if I go in and see the prices are WAY out of whack for the value of the piece and then leave without buying anything. I just feel like there’s a happy medium: where the store makes money and I leave satisfied that I didn’t overpay for a piece that I’m going to have to sink additional time and money into to fix.
        I have a friend who owns a thrift store and I’ve always found that he has struck that balance. His prices are reasonable (and well-researched, from what I understand, in the same way as what you explained above), people buy things, and his store makes money for the charities it supports.
        I am glad that there is a way for people who must shop at thrift stores as a way to furnish their homes or clothe their families to discreetly shop at lower prices. I hope that the larger thrift stores (Goodwill, SA, etc.) do the same thing. Thank you again for your comment here!

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  5. Kim@todsyismysome-day Avatar
    Kim@todsyismysome-day

    It’s the same everywhere I look :(. I depend on thrift stores and such to buy and refinish/paint furniture for resale in my booth. You are spot on. Nothing is cheap -even the broken stuff. It’s harder and harder to find anything to re-purpose anymore.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      I wondered about that – whether this was true everywhere or just in Atlanta. I’m sorry to hear that it’s a problem everywhere.

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  6. kathleen Avatar
    kathleen

    For many, many years I have been shopping and buying at thrift stores…mainly wooden plaques that I paint over and do my own thing and resell…used to be 25 cents to $1…..Now these plaques are $1.79 to $5.00….scratched up and chipped…not much profit for me anymore.

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  7. carol Avatar
    carol

    I’m in Florida and I hadn’t been thrift store shopping for a few months until last week and I was shocked by the prices. For a vintage dresser in poor condition, with a lot of veneer missing they were asking $600.00. I couldn’t believe it! Then I went to another {usually cheap} thrift store, and all there prices were jacked up also, I truly think it is the end of thrift store shopping. Its cheaper to go to an antique store now. 😦

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Holy cow! $600?!? That’s crazy. The more I’m hearing from friends here, the more I’m realizing that this is a national phenomenon. Is Pinterest to blame? Bloggers? I wonder… Thanks, Carol!

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  8. kathleen mehus Avatar
    kathleen mehus

    For many, many years I have been shopping and buying at thrift stores…mainly wooden plaques that I paint over and do my own thing and resell…used to be 25 cents to $1…..Now these plaques are $1.79 to $5.00….scratched up and chipped…not much profit for me anymore.

    REPLY

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Wow – that’s a huge increase. I thought it was just furniture, but that’s mainly what I look for – interesting that it’s other goods, too! Thanks for chiming in!

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  9. Emily Williams Avatar
    Emily Williams

    I think Atlanta is just late to the game. I moved from Atlanta to Little Rock a few years ago and I was shocked at how expensive thrift store prices were in Arkansas. And no 1/2 off everything weekly like the stores in Atlanta. My kids are still there so I’m back a couple of times a year so I’ve watched the prices slowly go up. And now that the Habitat stores are everywhere all their merchandise has skyrocketed even the old cans of used paint.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      That’s interesting – so it is really happening everywhere. I guess it’s good that we have bargain days!

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  10. Arlo Boutwell Avatar
    Arlo Boutwell

    When I see someone write they found a piece and it was 10-25 dollars I wonder where the heck they are shopping, all the thrift stores in our area are HIGH.. It stinks

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      LOL! I wonder that, too! When I redid the bar cart (see THIS POST), I got so many comments that I overpaid for the cart. But that was cheap, compared to other stores’ prices of the SAME cart. I haven’t found a “steal” like that in a long time. I wonder if they exist anymore.

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  11. Carmen Avatar
    Carmen

    Well it is happening here in California too, I have one store that take all item they deem good and you can NOT just buy it you have to bid on them until the days of auction, and yes, it is a “THRIFT STORE”. I miss the days of being able to go shopping to one or two stores and feeling happy about the purchases,, Now the purchases are far and few between… The bigger issue is that I’m not internet savvy so online list to sell or buy is out of the question for me, but when I do my purging I still just donate to my local stores … I miss refreshing my home with simple makeovers….

    sad days

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      It’s interesting that this is happening nationally. I agree – I think many are missing out on the ability to refresh their home with a makeover or new piece madeover. Thank you, Carmen!

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  12. Susan Avatar
    Susan

    Yes!!! You are so right! I gasp when I’m there too… Goodwill, Salvation Army… all of them, you would think they were selling gold plated furniture, it’s ridiculous!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Totally. We have a Goodwill store opening on Thursday near me. I’m going to go and report back on merchandise and pricing!

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  13. Sharon Avatar
    Sharon

    Being in a small town in a remote area, and being that we’re usually 2 or 3 years behind everyone else (feels like 10 🙂 I still have the deals I expect to get from thrift shops and I’m hearing more and more on this very same issue from friends in big cities. I really want to turn away from the g-word (greed) thinking that is what is motivating these store owners. I will say that perhaps more and more people are not only finding the art of repurposing; the fact that a once frumpy, out of style piece of furniture can now become the center of attention in a home—and also the FUN part of all the transformations! I know for me, even if I have absolutely no use whatsoever for a piece of furniture I don’t need, I find it so therapeutic to take on any repurposing/recycling project as my own form of prozac. LOL!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      LOL! Yes, I’ve always said that DIY is cheaper than therapy or meds! You know, on an episode of Rehab Addict, one of my favorite shows, Nicole said that she rarely finds furniture in trash heaps anymore because people are listening to what she preaches about recycling, repurposing, and upcycling old pieces. I’m THRILLED that that is happening, for sure! I just wish that, when people do decide to get rid of pieces, the resale shops price them reasonably for the quality of the piece. I know they want to make money – especially if they are operating for a charitable cause – but I’m more likely to pay for a piece that is reasonably priced and then come back again to shop. I’m just going to walk out if I can’t afford the merchandise. Right? But YAY for repurposing!!

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  14. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    WOW! This topic sure hit a nerve. Here in Maine, we are seeing the same trend with thrift store prices going higher, but nothing like Karen’s examples! Prices also vary from thrift store to thrift store, too. Name brands are usually marked higher, too. Consignment shops are higher than thrift stores. We do have thrift store bargain days and “fill a bag” for $3.00 days at the end of seasons to get rid of seasonal clothing. There are still bargains to be found here in Maine. Recently, I’ve been to several inside antique flea markets where individuals set up unmanned “booths” all items assigned an ID number, and I’ve found some good bargains there. I do think the thrift shopping, Pinterest, recycling, repurposing trend is responsible for rising prices. I, too, worry about the trend driving up prices for those that thrift shops were originally intended. Yard sale season will soon be upon us here in the Northeast. Maybe we’ll still find some bargains there!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Yes – we are starting yard sale season here, too, so I’m hoping to find some project pieces there! I understand paying more for name brands and/or for good quality. My “beef” is with paying high prices for broken pieces, regardless of the brand, when significant reconstruction or repair has to be made. I wish we had more flea markets here. I go to two of the bigger ones here and have found deals, but I’d love to find other ones, too! Thanks, Karen!

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  15. ROBIN Avatar
    ROBIN

    I was just talking about this. I thought it was a California thing. Sticking to garage or yard sales.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Definitely not just a California thing – I’m glad to know it’s not just an Atlanta thing, too! Yard sales and estate sales – especially late in the day. One estate sale I saw recently had a “free” section with broken furniture to be rehabbed! Score!

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  16. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    Karen, who is looking for a bookcase? I have one I wish to sell for $15. Perfect for a student/nearly new/5 shelves plus the top would make 6 shelves… OR…you could turn it on its side and have a boot rack/cubby at the door. Great as a shoe rack in a walk in closet, or any number of things… You must pick up. Also have a computer desk… on wheels which will lock… Tried of giving the Thrift Stores good quality merchandise and then being overcharged with unbelievable prices for junk.. Not a bad gig to get free inventory and not have to pay taxes since they register as a 401 K! Just wondering if the “good stuff” is being marketed elsewhere…

    You can come to my house and shop and then I won’t have to pack…yeah, in the process of getting ready to sell…ugh!!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      LOL, Sandy! I’m not thinking of starting my own resale site, but anyone who’s interested can let me (or you) know. Thank you! Good luck with the sale and move!

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  17. Cathy Avatar
    Cathy

    I’m concerned about the rise in prices in ATL also. I have picky teenagers now but when they were little 90% of their toys and clothing came from thrift stores. I used to be able to walk out with several bags for $20.

    Recently I spotted a pair of rattan Parson-style chairs like they sell at Pier One and Pottery Barn, and I was salivating until I saw that the rattan was in bad shape and unsalvageable – yet the price was $50. Say what?
    I agree that we need more flea markets. And I wish Scott’s were closer to me but it’s better for my pocketbook that they’re not!

    Cathy B.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Wow – that’s definitely high! I agree. Thanks, Cathy!

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  18. nancy Avatar
    nancy

    The local Goodwill used to be my favorite source for small tables, chairs, cabinets and bits and pieces to re-do. Last year they started to phase out household items in favor of clothing and shoes 😦 and what they do have is NO BARGAIN. I rely on bargain pages on face book and Craig’s list now.

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Wow! One Goodwill nearby did the same thing. We have one opening this week closer to me; I wonder what it will be like. I’ll report back! Thanks, Nancy!

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  19. Brenda Graver Avatar
    Brenda Graver

    I live in NC and for some reason in the past year the thrift stores I have always gone too …………..HAVE GONE CRAZY PRICE WISE…………..I used to love walking into the Hospice Flea Market and be able to pick up a small piece of furniture and not be gouged ………….yes we have furniture market and most of the pieces are given to the different thrift stores and yes they will be higher ……………..but the last time I was in there the prices were off the chain ……………my thought and I am sure I am not alone with thinking this ……………lower the prices and the turnover will be so much greater ………….and yes I realize the monies go to a wonderful charity ……..but as I said turnover would be so much higher if ya lower the prices ……I have been there on donation days ………..and was at a yard sale that a set of wicker that needed work was going for 30 dollars that did not sell …………..and when Hospice picked it up and put them on the floor they were over 150 dollars …….sorry ……wrong ………40 bucks for a rickety table nope doesn’t work …………….

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Exactly. I would spend more, which in turn would benefit the charity, if I thought that the pieces were worth what they are charging. Totally agree. Thanks, Brenda!

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  20. Bonnie Banks Avatar
    Bonnie Banks

    Oh my goodness but what a concern for all of us DIY’ers!!! I live in the rural Midwest. Some of our Goodwill stores have actually closed and all of my favorite Salvation Army stores no longer exist. I am blessed to have a “mom and pop” thrift store/consignment shop in my town that offers decent prices. But I do still have to watch. Some of the folks that have started bringing items into this “consignment” shop have higher prices because they know their items are vintage. Not many miles away there are a couple of fantastic thrift shops connected to our local ARC programs. THESE shops seem to be about the best ones to find all kinds of things. Problem is they are hard to catch open. I do believe perhaps I should seek an investor to help me open a Roadside Finds Thrift shop!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      That would be a great idea for a thrift store! Our Salvation Army stores closed also. I’ve found the best bet are the local thrifts – they have the best deals and often the best stuff, because locals donate there.

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  21. Heidi Ferguson Avatar
    Heidi Ferguson

    Great article! I came across it while searching for thrift stores in Atlanta on a visit. I too live in Florida and own and operate a vintage thrift store. I have found that the key to saving and getting deals is to go often. I’ve made a living buying and reselling for over 35 years. I find that when I go looking for something I usually never find it, or if I do, it is way overpriced. Whenever I’m not looking for something, I find it for a steal, and usually get it as I know I can resell it later or use it in my home or shop. The Internet has been a detriment to thrift shoppers as many people pricing use eBay or Amazon for pricing guides. I have seen actual auctions printed out and taped to items for “reference” on similar items. What people don’t often calculate is the actual selling price, and not the asking price. Tv shows also portray easy flips on “junk” furniture and thrift store items and how much they sell it for. It gives people the impression that thrift stores are treasure troves with many valuables for cheap prices just waiting to be discovered. Less seasoned shoppers will go once or twice, not find anything and are deterred by high prices. Again, I always tell people, go in not looking for anything and go often. And by often I mean 3-4 times a week. My local goodwill is a block from me and is situated between some of the most high priced antique stores in the city. Do I find bargains there? Yes, always, because I go often. Are things overpriced ? Yes, but if you have a well trained eye you can get things for cheap that the pricers often miss. Another great place to look for inexpensive furniture is church rummage sales. Search craigslist and the paper for the key words rummage sale and get there early. You can often pick up items for a few dollars as the sellers are looking to get rid of items quickly. Thanks for the great read, and Atlanta thrift insight!

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    1. Karen Cooper Avatar
      Karen Cooper

      Thank you, Heidi! And thank you for your insights! I love, love going to church rummage sales! There’s a big one every year at the baptist church down the street, and it’s always a treasure trove! Now, their prices have gone up, too, but it’s still got a lot of good bargains. Happy shopping, and thank you for stopping by!

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