The official thrift/discount store bragging thread - Page 2958

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianpore 

Maybe it's me, but I highly doubt it's mom's flipping though racks of suits with kids in toe, looking for Brioni and Kiton suits.

I've seen lots of middle aged women filling carts full of nice MC, presumably to flip as a side summer job.  Who knows if they're mothers or single ladder-climbing strivers.  I think people are catching on to the profitability of being a good flipper and the summer is a convenient time to try their luck.  I think people that aren't die hards are less reluctant to hit the stores in the winter because they're busier and due to the possibility of inclement weather.  The quality of clothing increasing towards fall and winter goes without question, however.

you know what to do 

Quote:

Originally Posted by acosbysweater 

 

I've seen lots of middle aged women filling carts full of nice MC, presumably to flip as a side summer job.  Who knows if they're mothers or single ladder-climbing strivers.  I think people are catching on to the profitability of being a good flipper and the summer is a convenient time to try their luck.  I think people that aren't die hards are less reluctant to hit the stores in the winter because they're busier and due to the possibility of inclement weather.  The quality of clothing increasing towards fall and winter goes without question, however.

^ ^ ^

As soon as there is a Thrift Wars, Thrift Kings, or Thrift Flippers reality TV show, I'm quitting.

I have noticed guys in the book aisles at Goodwill, with smartphone attachments that will scan the UPC codes on books and instantly pop up a value (sort of like how you can type in the ISBN on the powells.com website and know how much they will give you for a used book).  They just prowl the book shelves, scanning, beeping, looking at the phones.  Now that's not fun at all - they don't even look at what books they're scanning.  Not to mention they would miss 100% of the pre-UPC collectible books out there, which probably still accounts for 90% of titles or more.  Wanna know how much I got for a 1st / 1st / 1st of Nabakov's The Eye with DJ, Phaedra, paid 25 cents?  [before the book market tanked]  It didn't have a UPC...

School started back today (Mon 8/6) in these parts.  I don't think that has anything to do with "doldrums" - on Saturday 8/4 I scored some decent stuff and on Sunday 8/5, zip. 

I do know one or two moms who tried to flip a generic Brooks Brothers blazer or whatnot using blurry iPhone pics and crappy descriptions, no measurements, and had zero success.  Not like I take great photos but I try a bit harder, and happy to see them give up after 2 or 3 listings go unnoticed. 

The slow shift continues - I actually canceled an eBay auction because I kept eyeballing a shirt I listed that I really wanted to keep for myself. Yikes. Can't beat the prices.

Five things you should never thrift, re-purpose or re-use:

1. Toilet paper
2. Condoms
3. Tooth brushes
4. Underwear
5. Your best friend's ex-wife

Ciao.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnutpug 


I had the privilege of touring the local GW recently and witnessed first-hand the the book-selling operation set up in the basement. It's exactly what you say: They run each book's UPC/whatever-that-code-is-called through a scanner that says what it will likely fetch. Anything that will bring a profit based on the scan goes for online sale (Amazon). Anything that does not is put on the BM shelves. I've actually found a couple of fun trashy cheap reads while waiting at the check-out line (wisely, they put the books near the registers so you can peruse while waiting for the idiots in front of you who fill carts without removing a single freakin' hanger--but I digress), and I also scored a very nice complete works of Shakespeare from Yale University Press, which I intend to read before I die, as soon as I finish True Life Tales of a Grifter. If your Goodwill isn't winnowing the profitable cream before it reaches the sales floor, then it is, likely, not a well-managed Goodwill.

It's a wonder they don't do this with MC

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnutpug 


as soon as I finish True Life Tales of a Grifter.

 

If your Goodwill isn't winnowing the profitable cream before it reaches the sales floor, then it is, likely, not a well-managed Goodwill.

True Life Tales of a Grifter you say...

"If your Goodwill isn't winnowing the profitable cream" say it not true, i thought there was Honor among Thrifters?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATLnoob 

Five things you should never thrift, re-purpose or re-use:

1. Toilet paper
2. Condoms
3. Tooth brushes
4. Underwear
5. Your best friend's ex-wife

 

Ciao.

YIKES!!! Good call.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnutpug 


I had the privilege of touring the local GW recently and witnessed first-hand the the book-selling operation set up in the basement. It's exactly what you say: They run each book's UPC/whatever-that-code-is-called through a scanner that says what it will likely fetch. Anything that will bring a profit based on the scan goes for online sale (Amazon). Anything that does not is put on the BM shelves. I've actually found a couple of fun trashy cheap reads while waiting at the check-out line (wisely, they put the books near the registers so you can peruse while waiting for the idiots in front of you who fill carts without removing a single freakin' hanger--but I digress), and I also scored a very nice complete works of Shakespeare from Yale University Press, which I intend to read before I die, as soon as I finish True Life Tales of a Grifter. If your Goodwill isn't winnowing the profitable cream before it reaches the sales floor, then it is, likely, not a well-managed Goodwill.

They are all getting more sophisticated in trying to skim the cream and increase the prices. It seems interesting what they select as items that they feel are high value items. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiron 

The women in this area are ruthless... phone in hand they are doing searches on the INTERNET. The little ones operate as their henchmen...go grab this or that. It's a rough economy... LOL

 

I have noticed an increase in shoppers in thrifts, both men and women, but the women seem to still focus on the kids and women's clothing. SO FAR. . . 

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendel 

 

It's a wonder they don't do this with MC

They are doing it here.

Goodwills in Southern CT are ruthless with their menswear pricing.  Any decent shirt (Th. Pink, Tyrwhitt, Canali, Etro) is $24.99+, worth it for you, not worth it to flip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnutpug 


I had the privilege of touring the local GW recently and witnessed first-hand the the book-selling operation set up in the basement. It's exactly what you say: They run each book's UPC/whatever-that-code-is-called through a scanner that says what it will likely fetch. Anything that will bring a profit based on the scan goes for online sale (Amazon). Anything that does not is put on the BM shelves. I've actually found a couple of fun trashy cheap reads while waiting at the check-out line (wisely, they put the books near the registers so you can peruse while waiting for the idiots in front of you who fill carts without removing a single freakin' hanger--but I digress), and I also scored a very nice complete works of Shakespeare from Yale University Press, which I intend to read before I die, as soon as I finish True Life Tales of a Grifter. If your Goodwill isn't winnowing the profitable cream before it reaches the sales floor, then it is, likely, not a well-managed Goodwill.

I was originally referring to people shopping at Goodwill, using those hand-held scanners to find gems among the stacks of books already put out for sale.  The GW's here will typically put the normal stuff in / behind the display cases, but are just starting to have "special price" shoes and clothing sections, which I am sure will expand as they figure things out.