The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

Originally Posted by jkidd41011

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I agree with Nataku, there are items that I thought I could flip that are really nice that I struggled to sell, and other that were ok that brought good money. Two thing I've found if you can pick them up cheap to flip on E-Bay are Brooks Brothers Dress button downs (casual and dress) and Bills Khakis. I've also done well with Hugo Boss even though it doesn't get much love here. I've actually had a hard time selling Armani, found a really nice jacket at a consignment and by the time I re-listed it and had the fees I lost money. Unless you plan to try to use it for yourself, I wouldn't spend more then $5-10 on something you are going to try to flip.

My observation is that ebay, SF and AAAC have become noticeably weaker lately for flipping, even on items which have been easy sellers before. I have become much more picky about buying things which aren't my size. Today I passed on a new solid charcoal gray Hickey Freeman Boardroom suit at SA for $12. Why? It had no HF tag on the lining and it was a 39 S. It had the inner tag inside an inner pocket which had the size and model.

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

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My observation is that ebay, SF and AAAC have become noticeably weaker lately for flipping, even on items which have been easy sellers before.

No doubt about it.

Originally Posted by AlanC

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No doubt about it.

that is not a bad thing in and of itself

Originally Posted by ThinkDerm

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that is not a bad thing in and of itself

It is a bad thing. I thrift nice stuff and sell at minimal markups. Sometimes I lose money. Look at my post above. If you were a 39 S and wanted a good suit would that have been a good buy for you? You could have bought a like new Hickey Freeman Boardroom for $30.

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

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It is a bad thing. I thrift nice stuff and sell at minimal markups. Sometimes I lose money. Look at my post above. If you were a 39 S and wanted a good suit would that have been a good buy for you? You could have bought a like new Hickey Freeman Boardroom for $30.
leave thrift items for those who need the thrift prices, or only buy stuff for yourself then

Originally Posted by anon

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leave thrift items for those who need the thrift prices, or only buy stuff for yourself then

So if you saw a pair of Lobb's sitting there and they weren't in your size you'd leave them?

Originally Posted by Steve Smith

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It is a bad thing. I thrift nice stuff and sell at minimal markups. Sometimes I lose money. Look at my post above. If you were a 39 S and wanted a good suit would that have been a good buy for you? You could have bought a like new Hickey Freeman Boardroom for $30.
the market is dictating what is bought and sold. c'est la vie. not a bad thing. if there was a big market for HF boardroom suits for $30 in a 39S, you could flip it easy. If minimal market, makes no sense for you to try to buy and then flip. Now if it was an isaia in a 39S, there would indeed be a market of some sort for that. Watch the forum. The great stuff, at very good to great prices get sold within 24 hours or before it hits market (through PM word of mouth, etc).

The so-so, inherently less in demand stuff at higher prices stays around for a while, as it should.

The incos still get sold fast.

Frenzies still happen, frequently.

And high quality stuff is getting sold on here for more affordable prices - at least in my opinion.

Originally Posted by jkidd41011

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So if you saw a pair of Lobb's sitting there and they weren't in your size you'd leave them?
I have a hard time believing he's talking about items like Lobbs. of course those would be a good pick-up. if it's more like coats, suits, jackets, or shirts, you should probably leave them for the more needy than trying to flip them.

^^ The "needy" don't nessisarily need Isaia suits, Borrelli shirts and Oxxford ties. I think it would be safe to say they would be satisfied with the NWT Gap and Apt. 9 shirts I often come across. I'd say there are some things that we all know are not "leave-behind" items, such as the names I mentioned above. I used to be agaist flipping, but then I figure if I flip it and use the money towards something I like/that fits me, it'd like like finding it in the thrift as It would only cost me what I paid for the initial item + whatever eBay fees.

I doubt the guy giving away the Isaia suit did it so that someone could come along and make some money off of it.

I also doubt he cares. He was just clearing out the closet. A homeless guy doesn't need that suit -- there's no shortage of warm clothing in thrift shops. And 95 percent of people wouldn't distinguish an Isaia from a Cricketeer.

The point of the exercise, really, is for the thrift shop to make money off the sale. Doesn't matter to whom, or why. If they wanted to go to the trouble of listing stuff on eBay in hopes of making more money, they could. But that's not how the shops work. High volume = steady income.

Originally Posted by anon

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I doubt the guy giving away the Isaia suit did it so that someone could come along and make some money off of it.
He did it to support the work of the charity supported by the thrift store. That is done in several ways, only one of which is providing low cost clothing and household items to low income shoppers. Thrift stores often provide jobs to the handicapped, rehab programs to the addicted and training to the unskilled. All of these programs are supported by the sale of thrift store merchandise. I have been personally told by the heads of Goodwill, St. Vinent dePaul and Salvation Army in this area, that purchases made for flipping are not only welcome, but encouraged.

Originally Posted by tonylumpkin

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He did it to support the work of the charity supported by the thrift store. That is done is done in several ways, only one of which is providing low cost clothing and household items to low income shoppers. Thrift stores often provide jobs to the handicapped, rehab programs to the addicted and training to the unskilled. All of these programs are supported by the sale of thrift store merchandise. I have been personally told by the heads of Goodwill, St. Vinent dePaul and Salvation Army in this area, that purchases made for flipping are not only welcome, but encouraged.
of course, Goodwill makes money no matter who buys the items. I'm just surprised to see so many "they don't need ___" responses.

Originally Posted by anon

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of course, Goodwill makes money no matter who buys the items. I'm just surprised to see so many "they don't need ___" responses.
Why? There are literally millions of unwanted garments in thrift shops across the country. No one's sleeping cold tonight because he couldn't find a shirt or sportcoat at a thrift shop.

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

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Why? There are literally millions of unwanted garments in thrift shops across the country. No one's sleeping cold tonight because he couldn't find a shirt or sportcoat at a thrift shop.

rofl