Thrift store prices rising?

[Flaminroids]

I'm not sure if the thrift stores have been hiking up their prices in your area, but here in Utah, it's getting way out of control. Receivers used to be $5-$10, CD players and tape decks were always $5 no matter what thrift store you went to, and speakers were almost never more than $10 a pair. Now I see crappy home theater receivers going for $55, CD players and tape decks going for $25, and I have yet to see any set of speakers going for under $35 as of recently. There is the occasional good deal (paid $15 for Advent Legacy II's in great condition), but it's insane what they are asking for everything else.

Has anybody else noticed the sudden spike in prices in thrift stores? In my area, we have Deseret Industries (ran by the LDS church), Savers (infinitely better), and as of last April, Goodwill. It's happened just the last few months and prices have gone up by at least 5 times on just about everything.

 

[vintageboy]

welcome to the reality, here in chicago is the same thing, a receiver is 80 bucks and a cd player is 25 to 30 bucks! forget it, I stopped going there, the worst is that the Goodwill got rid of the records where I live

 

[Snow]

Wow!! speakers selling for $35.00 or more per pair yup the world has came to an end all'right. What happened to the good old days where I could steal a 500-1k receiver for $5.00? It just isn't worth it anymore Actually the way I see if a set of speakers are not worth $35.00 to you then there probablly not worth having anyhow.

My guess is that the thrift store owners are getting a little more savvy regarding vintage electronics due to Ebay sales.

Where I live at our local salvation army store hasn't put out a vintage piece in at least 10 years at any price even though I know they get them in, I asked once after spying a huge stack of vintage silver faced gear along with a Sansui AU-999 and some Polk SDA's first I was told they had to be tested to see whether they worked before they were put out, a few days later after they had not been put out for sale I was told told to mind my own business by the manager after I had offered to buy several pieces working or not, :yes:

I rarely even bother going in anymore after several hundred trips and almost every one seeing one or more pieces of nice vintage gear sitting there one day and the next it's gone and never put out front it is pretty obvious whats happening.

I appreciate what they stand for along with the other charitable organzations it is just sad to see this type of stuff happening there.

Hell I wouldndt even mind if they put them on Ebay so I could get a chance to buy them locally.

REGARDS SNOW

 

[RamblinE]

Places like Ebay and AK don't exactly keep secret the prices people are willing to pay for these things or the value and demand placed on them. Why shouldn't the seller be able to get their money's worth?

 

[Snow]

Places like Ebay and AK don't exactly keep secret the prices people are willing to pay for these things or the value and demand placed on them. Why shouldn't the seller be able to get their money's worth?

I think it is a little sour grapes for not being able to get the scores people are used to mixed in with the expectation that a thrift store should sell something cheap because it was donated.

Personally if I wanted some vintage item at my local store I would happily pay full retail so I wouldndt have to pay shipping and to avoid damage, and besides it's for a good cause.



REGARDS SNOW

 

[RamblinE]

I think it is a little sour grapes for not being able to get the scores people are used to mixed in with the expectation that a thrift store should sell something cheap because it was donated.

Personally if I wanted some vintage item at my local store I would happily pay full retail so I wouldndt have to pay shipping and to avoid damage, and besides it's for a good cause.



REGARDS SNOW

I was just recently living in Florida. What I thought was pushing the boundries was that they were selling nice dress cloths and name brands for near retail price at the Goodwill's down there.

If I want to pay $30 for tie, I'll go to JC Penny. If I need to bolster my wardrobe for a job interview but every tie at the Goodwill is $20+, now that's sour grapes.

This hasn't afflicted the Salvation Army's up north yet though. Just last week I bought a pair of chino pants, a nice collared button down casual shirt from H&M and a much more rigid and nicely cut Abercrombie dress shirt all for $13. That's a better score then any audio in my opinion

 

[Snow]

I was just recently living in Florida. What I thought was pushing the boundries was that they were selling nice dress cloths and name brands for near retail price at the Goodwill's down there.

If I want to pay $30 for tie, I'll go to JC Penny. If I need to bolster my wardrobe for a job interview but every tie at the Goodwill is $20+, now that's sour grapes.

This hasn't afflicted the Salvation Army's up north yet though. Just last week I bought a pair of chino pants, a nice collared button down casual shirt from H&M and a much more rigid and nicely cut Abercrombie dress shirt all for $13. That's a better score then any audio in my opinion

Goodwill industries are independently run and they are in it for a profit, some more so than others 5 years or so ago the state of Oregon based goodwill CEO was paid in excess of 1 million dollars per year salary and much more with all the perks.

I guess it really doesnt matter to me if there is something I want I will pay full retail for it whether it be at the Goodwill or a retail store with a few exceptions of course like items that have warrantys at the retail stores but don't at the goodwill for the same item.

For the most part I feel like I am giving to a good cause and getting something I want in the process a win win for both of us.



REGARDS SNOW

 

[mfhale]

GW and SA are charities! Don't begrudgd them a few bucks.

Most of us have too much stuff anyway.