@Mikebrown: So are you saying poor people are horrible human beings?

I donated seventeen bags of stuff to the ARC in Minneapolis when I left town and they took every last thing. I was so grateful. None of it was garbage, but nor did I want them to leave behind things they deemed unworthy of selling.

I have been an avid thrift shopper for years, whenever possible. I don't usually look at the clothing all that often since I have way too much as it is, opting more for the books and crafts and housewares, but a good friend of mine has consistently found excellent jeans and other clothing. Nobody should turn up their nose at this sort of thing.

I don't know how I could manage without these types of stores. New clothes are much too expensive for me as I am way too rough on them at work. Having cheap, disposable sources of these items has been a lifeline.

(That and being able to make the ol' pad look awesome - to me at least..heh. I'm a sucker for the 70's, loud colors..)

But I did find a pair of cargo trousers for $4 there the other day. Just gotta watch the sales and clearance racks is all.

@DamThatRiver: Not much for video games at my local ones. I think I've cleaned the area out ...

I've also scored brand new Nikes - which makes this even more awesome is that I'm a size 15. I'm not really a thrift store clothes shopper though, but I almost always look through the t-shirts just in case there's a great find waiting to be had.

I volunteered at a homeless shelter last winter. They happily accept donations of clothing, household goods, furniture, etc. in order to assist the truly unfortunate.

It was my responsibility to drive around Chicagoland to pick up people's donations from the curb. I could not believe some of the things I had to drag back to the shelter. Seriously, charities are NOT the same thing as your garbage pick up. No one wants your 20-year-old coffee maker with a frayed cord... Nobody!

JC Penney, despite their clothes not being the greatest quality, has lots of "buy one, get one for 1 cent" sales. If you really need new clothes, there's your chance to possibly get more bang for the buck, especially if you only want new clothes.

The trick is to donate to Goodwills in poor areas (they never pick through your stuff) and buy from Goodwills in nicer areas. (Although I'll second the "don't be an asshole" part - if it's garbage, throw it out yourself, don't make Goodwill do it for you.) GW used to run a boutique near my mom's house called The Secret Closet or something like that where you could buy fur coats in like-new condition for $15.

I don't shop at Salvation Army 'cause of their hiring policy, but around here they're the ones with the stuff Goodwill won't take, so it's not much of a sacrifice.

@sardonicbastard: It's not about the shopping there. It's about the HAVING to shop there. Realizing that you're shopping at the Goodwill/Salvation Army/Thrift Store because you HAVE to, and not because you're hoping for a good find, will slap you in the face with your changed circumstances, and that realization WILL bring you to tears.

Especially in a case like the OP's where it's evident by her giving to charity that she was not in strained circumstances before.

People really, really need to get rid of the stigma that used things are tainted. If the current economic situation causes more people to go to stores like this, I say it is a GOOD thing. The current policy of consumption certainly makes more money flow through the economy, but that is a BAD thing for the consumer. High consumption is not good, smart consumption is.

There used to be a goodwill where I live but it closed recently. The Salvation Army store always has a TON of stuff in their back room, but it seems the good stuff never makes it to the show room because workers seem to shuffle off with it or give it away to friends.

We have a local charity that runs thrift stores throughout town and I much prefer them over the national charity groups. Both in donating and buying from they provide a better experience. Reasonable prices, and friendlier staff.

Surprised I didn't see it reported here, but a good deal of clothe donations go overseas and to third world countries. Charities have done it for years. They can get more money for the clothes than they can from the thrift store.

Don't you love finds like that? Sadly with the exception of a generic desk lamp for $4 and a Griswold skillet (which I may sell) for $2. I haven't been in a while so I should check them out again.

Practically my entire house is furnished with thrift store furniture. This has also enabled me to teach myself how to reupholster - as the stuff is cheap, and usually very well made, I have no qualms about taking something apart.
I also have multiple pairs of '40's barkcloth curtains in excellent condition.
You really just have to be willing to take the time to look carefully.

Recently I have noticed that there has been not as many donations and the stock is so-so. Still I have found the clothes and items I need so I don't have to buy new.

My apartment is decorated entirely from thrift store purchases. Recently found a great 1950's Laurel floor lamp with dual gooseneck lights on top (very Jetson-looking) and one of the best finds was an Ib Kofod-Larsen designed chair imported by Selig. So comfortable - and was only around seven bucks!

The Goodwill stores around here usually do a quick check of functionality before they set it out and offer a 7-day exchange on all electrics. The local Salvation Army has a 14 day on appliances. Smaller stores, usually caveat emptor.

That all said, whether a store does or doesn't accept certain stuff is very dependent on the one taking it in and their perspective. I've seen some pure junk still being accepted and decent stuff turned away.

I've found the same thing here in Baltimore. Several years ago when I moved out of my college apartment, my roomates and I loaded up all our old furniture and took it to Goodwill. They wouldn't take most of it because they evidently won't take anything that's upholstered and has a minor stain, because "it could be blood".

So we took everything else to the Salvation Army, and not only did they take it, they seemed very glad to get it.

@TheUpMyAssPlayers: Someone actually buys those used bras and panties. I saw a pair of black crotchless panties at a local thrift store once; eww... What's worse, they were gone the next week!

In Portland, Maine I find Salvation Army far more accommodating than Goodwill in that respect.

A lot of new clothes are ridiculously overpriced anyway.

In my experience the prices vary widely by store. In the small town I lived in, the value village prices were great, but in the next larger town over, they were inexplicably a lot higher.

The Goodwill stores are almost always reasonable as are the Salvation Army Thrift stores.

The furniture is usally not something that I'd consider, and the pieces that I would consider already seem to have "sold" signs on them!

I've never seriously considered shopping there for clothes, though. Maybe I should reconsider?

The place is hog heaven, but I learned not to go there when the locals gets their welfare/SSI check because it's a madhouse. Those folks will buy anything and everything they can heap into their cart, high on thrill of shopping again, I guess.

I've also seen many a Jag-driving country-club type there, too, looking for the Antiques Roadshow find of the year. :P

I have a hard time finding clothing at thrift stores or flea markets (except t-shirts) because I'm a nearly six-foot-tall woman. Nothing fits. Hell, I can't even find anything to wear in the regular store!

Most of my household stuff comes from the flea market, however. And I donate clothing when I can.

@Mikebrown: Mike, no reason to blame or criticize the OP for insinuations she never made.

When I read that the woman "never thought she'd shop there", I took it as no slight to people who shop there, but that the woman's economic circumstances have changed so drastically that she HAS to shop there.

Yes, many people choose to shop at Goodwill and thrift stores, who don't have to, but a significant number of thrift store shoppers are there because finances limit their choices. In today's economy, clearly more people are having to shop at thrift stores, the OP included.

And patronizing Goodwill and thrift stores does not mean only "interesting" or otherwise tacky clothes, i.e. your '70's car salesman look'. Many of us Goodwill fans (in my case, fortunately by choice) has enable me to have a staggeringly huge wardrobe of high quality, expensive name brand and designer clothing.

Thrift stores are great, but for the best deals, I stay away from the big names chains like Goodwill or Salvation army. And even then, some are better than others.

Timing is important. The good items go fast. More often than not, I don't find anything interesting... but just this weekend I snagged 3 pairs of dress pants and a pair of Levis for under $10. I look good today! lol

You all should check out a Freecycle group in your town. It's a good way to donate or seek a donation (it must be free of any cost) and I hear it's a great way to find kids' clothes.

Yeah, because you're a horrible human being if you shop at a thrift store. I wish people would get over that ignorance. You don't have to be poor to shop at a thrift store. I personally love going there, because you can find all sorts of interesting clothing (as well as furniture, electronics and other things) there. I used to dress in the ugly out of style look, so I really dug being able to find old suits and dress pants that looked like something a 70's used car salesmen would wear.

"Any damn fool can pay full price."

I was 23 before I realized that buying clothes from something other than the clearance rack was, technically, an option.

85% of my wardrobe (excluding bras and panties) comes straight from Salvo. And I don't wear casual clothes for the most part, I'm a professional working in an office building. Nobody has a clue.

Salvation Army is my Clothes God.

@RedmondDesomma: Went to my first clothing swap a few months back and am a total convert. I've worn every item I swapped for (well, except the shoes, 'cause it's not the right season for them yet) on a regular basis--which is more than I can say for some clothes I buy new, get home, and decide I don't so much like.

Well...I suppose I could bring in a few pairs of Minnesota Vikings Zubaz to help out; the ones I have in 44-inch waist have been a bit snug lately.

Like my $3 bread machine, this one was barely used too.

Specific shortages, though ... yeah. It's been over a year (and 200+ visits to over 30 different thrift stores) since I found any Animaniacs shirts. No fault to the stores, of course ... just seems that folks haven't been giving them up or I've been to all the wrong places over all these years. In the dozen years, from Portland, OR to San Diego, CA, I've only ran across (and bought, of course) about 20.

I am a huge shopper at www.shopgoodwill.com which is an online version of goodwill. Recent scores include three Hugo Boss dress shirts for $12.00, lots of pants (NWT = New With Tags) for $5 - $6 bucks each , artwork, antiques and lots more. You do pay shipping, but no tax if the Goodwill location is not in your state.

It is an auction site, like ebay, where you bid an amount and try to win the item. And you can pay with credit cards, no evil PayPal.

Warning, it is addictive.

most of my clothes and a decent amount of my household stuff are from thrift stores. i think it's insane to pay $25 for a pair of pants when you can get a pair for $5 just because someone wore em a few times.

Man do i hate for profit 'thrift' stores. A lot of them in this area were putting misleading, and false signage on their collection boxes.

I think thrift shopping is somewhat overrated. I went to buy a cheap couch from Salvation Army, and the only one which was even approaching decent was $350 dollars, and it looked like it was right out of the '50s.

The bigger score is at the consignment stores. The people that bought expensive clothes they couldn't afford on credit are trying to get some money back out of them.

I have found a lot less at my local Goodwill lately. I don't buy used clothes (nothing wrong with it, I just don't do it)

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:2

Participation is going to skyrocket next year.

In my experience, they pretty much sound the same when they're broken (rim shot please).
Like the Far Side...
"Welcome to Heaven. Here's your harp."
"Welcome to Hell. Here's your accordion."

The only Salvation Army store I know of near here sells only furniture.

If it weren't for the smaller local charity thrift stores I'd have to go naked.

Not only is it a really cool read, but it is worth well over $100 and I paid 78 cents for it.

Also, one time, I found a working accordion.

It's definitely a profit driven place. I recommend Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincents, and the like, instead.

A close second would be the vintage handmade green velvet jacket. It didn't come close to fitting me, so I'd let my friends wear it on St. Patrick's Days in college. Good times.

Yes, the preceding was sarcasm. There's nothing wrong with buying from Goodwill or the Salvation Army stores, even if you're not poor. You might find a good deal and the profits go to helping others. It's win-win.

I only shop VV on $.99 Mondays.