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Avid thrift store shopper here, just sharing info and hoping to gain more.
Goodwill (called Goodstart at this location) Valley/Amador - Mostly crap. Seriously. I stop in every few weeks and usually find something good after digging through mounds of really junky stuff, most of which will ultimately be garbage. Prices aren't in tune with the worth of the product. All furniture is ridiculously overpriced. Good deals on clothes, but currently all smell like smoke as their building had a fire last month. Every day something or other is 1/2 off (men's shirts, women's skirts, etc).
Goodwill (on North Main near Albertson's) - only went a couple of times, everything was terribly overpriced for used merchandise. I found a number of worn, used items (toasters, kitchen items) that I know could be purchased cheaper brand new at a Walmart or Target - what's the point?
Salvation Army (Idaho near El Paseo) - kind of similar to the Goodstart. Lots of really junky stuff, but more reasonable prices than Goodstart. Huge selection of books sometimes priced to clear for 10 cents each. Good deals on clothing. Has a "boutique" of better quality items (at higher prices) but I've found many deals here nonetheless.
Boys & Girls Club Community Connection (Solano north of Amador, just opened) - Good selection of all sorts of items. Went for the first time this weekend, scored a bunch of clothing for 60 cents apiece (all half off, normally $1.20). Large selection of decent housewares and doodads reasonably priced.
Gospel Mission Thrift Store (Solano south of Idaho) - Never again. Almost a year since I last visited and now I remember why. I saw things still there that I had seen a year ago. Piles and piles of stuff sloppily stacked in one room, most things without prices. Could be treasures hidden there but nearly impossible to find. The clothing section is orderly but when I saw the prices listed for items on the racks I left the store - pants $8, skirts $6, dresses $10-$20, etc. Far, far too high for a thrift store - I could find new items cheaper at Ross or Marshall's. While I was there two young girls came in and poked through the clothes a bit, said something about the prices, and left right before I did. If they lowered their prices they would probably see a lot more business.
ReStore (Valley/Main) - Awesome place. I've practically furnished my whole house with stuff from ReStore. Some items are innappropriately priced and you'll see them sit for a few weeks until a lower price appears. Good quality furniture, cabinets, lamps/lighting, carpet, etc. Lots of building equipment, tiles, wood, shelving, electrical items, plumbing, sinks, doors, etc. I once scored a retro 1960s stove for $20. Staffed by volunteers, supports Habitat for Humanity. Highly recommended.
The Gen (Picacho/Valley) - really more of a costume shop for Halloween, but this place has a HUGE selection of vintage and theatrical clothing & accessories, primarily used. Wigs, jewelry, accessories. Rents costumes for special occasions. Awesome selection of tacky 60s/70s clothing.
Big Daddy Flea Market (way out by Organ on Highway 70) - I'm amazed by the number of longtime residents here that have never even heard of this place! Basically a huge garage sale with at least 100 vendors all in one location. You never know what you'll find - won't be what you're looking for, but rather something else. Has a produce market indoors with unbeatable deals on fruits/veggies. Weekends only, go early.
The lovely Mrs. Tecpatl and I prowl the thrift/resale stores in search of cowboy boots. I pretty much agree with your evaluations above. I almost never stop at Goodwill on N. Main anymore..prices are ridiculous there for boots...20 to 30 bucks a pair for ordinary ones.
In addition to Big Daddys there is a pretty good flea market in El Paso at the old Ascarate Drive In on Delta Drive. Much bigger than BD, and we hit it every couple week for boot hunting.
Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary has a thrift shop at 144 Wyatt Drive. It's small but generally high quality, prices are not cheap but are fair.
Avid thrift store shopper here, just sharing info and hoping to gain more.
Goodwill (called Goodstart at this location) Valley/Amador - Mostly crap. Seriously. I stop in every few weeks and usually find something good after digging through mounds of really junky stuff, most of which will ultimately be garbage. Prices aren't in tune with the worth of the product. All furniture is ridiculously overpriced. Good deals on clothes, but currently all smell like smoke as their building had a fire last month. Every day something or other is 1/2 off (men's shirts, women's skirts, etc).
Goodwill (on North Main near Albertson's) - only went a couple of times, everything was terribly overpriced for used merchandise. I found a number of worn, used items (toasters, kitchen items) that I know could be purchased cheaper brand new at a Walmart or Target - what's the point?
Salvation Army (Idaho near El Paseo) - kind of similar to the Goodstart. Lots of really junky stuff, but more reasonable prices than Goodstart. Huge selection of books sometimes priced to clear for 10 cents each. Good deals on clothing. Has a "boutique" of better quality items (at higher prices) but I've found many deals here nonetheless.
Boys & Girls Club Community Connection (Solano north of Amador, just opened) - Good selection of all sorts of items. Went for the first time this weekend, scored a bunch of clothing for 60 cents apiece (all half off, normally $1.20). Large selection of decent housewares and doodads reasonably priced.
Gospel Mission Thrift Store (Solano south of Idaho) - Never again. Almost a year since I last visited and now I remember why. I saw things still there that I had seen a year ago. Piles and piles of stuff sloppily stacked in one room, most things without prices. Could be treasures hidden there but nearly impossible to find. The clothing section is orderly but when I saw the prices listed for items on the racks I left the store - pants $8, skirts $6, dresses $10-$20, etc. Far, far too high for a thrift store - I could find new items cheaper at Ross or Marshall's. While I was there two young girls came in and poked through the clothes a bit, said something about the prices, and left right before I did. If they lowered their prices they would probably see a lot more business.
ReStore (Valley/Main) - Awesome place. I've practically furnished my whole house with stuff from ReStore. Some items are innappropriately priced and you'll see them sit for a few weeks until a lower price appears. Good quality furniture, cabinets, lamps/lighting, carpet, etc. Lots of building equipment, tiles, wood, shelving, electrical items, plumbing, sinks, doors, etc. I once scored a retro 1960s stove for $20. Staffed by volunteers, supports Habitat for Humanity. Highly recommended.
The Gen (Picacho/Valley) - really more of a costume shop for Halloween, but this place has a HUGE selection of vintage and theatrical clothing & accessories, primarily used. Wigs, jewelry, accessories. Rents costumes for special occasions. Awesome selection of tacky 60s/70s clothing.
Big Daddy Flea Market (way out by Organ on Highway 70) - I'm amazed by the number of longtime residents here that have never even heard of this place! Basically a huge garage sale with at least 100 vendors all in one location. You never know what you'll find - won't be what you're looking for, but rather something else. Has a produce market indoors with unbeatable deals on fruits/veggies. Weekends only, go early.
Have I missed anything? Please share.
I was ready to chime in on ReStore, and then at the end of your post, you covered them. To me, that's by far the best of the bunch. And the staff there is very friendly and accommodating.
THANK YOU, fnord!!! I'm new in town & this list will be very useful! As far as I'm concerned, I just can't wait for SAVERS to open here in the fall (September?). I LOVE Savers to death!!!
Before long, resale/thrift shops will soon outnumber auto parts/tire stores, dollar stores and payday loan/tax preparations offices in LC Nawww....never happen
tecpatl, I forgot about the SHAS thrift store - that's another good one. Pretty small, but they do have good quality items at good prices, like you said. As of the time I post this, they are in desperate need of donations so if anyone has stuff they don't need anymore please surrender it to those who can use it.
THANK YOU, fnord!!! I'm new in town & this list will be very useful! As far as I'm concerned, I just can't wait for SAVERS to open here in the fall (September?). I LOVE Savers to death!!!
I think I went to Savers once in Tucson. Nicer presentation and quality of merchandise, right? Probably pay a bit more, but I'm sure there are still deals to be found.
Since there are newcomers reading this thread, the list isn't complete without a mention of Coas bookstore. If you love browsing through used bookstores, you'll be in ecstasy. Biggest used bookstore in all of southern NM, I believe. They have books, maps, DVDs, videos, etc, most at pretty fair prices. They offer a trade-in/credit program but I've never signed up, so not sure how it works. Two locations: big store right in the downtown mall and another smaller store on Solano north of Idaho. Downtown location has a nice little coffeeshop.
COAS is one of the great bookstores in the Southwest. A very rare and special place. Visit. Buy. Sell. Enjoy. Appreciate.
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Nawww....never happen
