Remember those $10 Taylor Smith Taylor place settings for 8, the $40 Brasilia bedroom sets, and the $3 Quartite table lamps? Those were the days.
I'm not sure when I noticed that things had gone south. Maybe it was the $2.00 per piece place settings, the $200 no-name laminate-topped writing desk with missing veneer and crayon scribbles, or the pieces with Goodwill price tags that were higher than the (still attached) retail stickers.
I told you about what happened with my ex, estate sales. You knew how I felt about that breakup. Now you've gone and broken my heart too.
I'd say it was me, not you, but your addiction to price increases has driven us apart. Maybe, with time, we can find each other again, but I'm through putting in all of the work for nothing in return.
Yes, the breakups are inevitable, aren't they? First we dumped thrift stores. Now we only go to estate sales when we've seen a picture of something too rare to pass up, and then we usually call the night before to make sure it's still there. We don't even do Craigslist much anymore.
ReplyDeleteThings are just getting too pricey out there for the little guy. All these picker shows, "thrift shop" music videos, etc have gotten everything all hyped up. Even Craigslist is getting much, much more expensive.
DeleteI think that a lot of people see what dealers in big cities and on the coast are getting for these items and then think that they can get the same here. That doesn't really work when incomes and cost of living are so much lower.
Nearly makes you HATE the use of the word "Vintage" doesnt it? I've collected Old things since I was about 7 years old. My Dad always used to make fun of me by saying "Vintage is "French"- for high priced old crap." I rarely use the word in a descriptive or snooty way because of that haha. I hate seeing the Suburban stay at home wives that gather up whatever old JUNK they can, slap the word "vintage" on it and then DEMAND $000.00 for it. Ugh, lets go back to just "old junk" please?!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteI just wish that the hype would die down a bit. People seem to have whipped themselves up into a frenzy and pricing is getting slightly insane.
DeleteSame problem here in NW Iowa. I used to furnish my house from the Goodwill--nearly literally. Now, anything good is scooped off and auctioned online. AND THE PRICES ARE ABSURD for anything else that remains: tattered, torn, worn out and, yes, often with prices higher than the yard sale price from the person who donated them. I had one last haven in my little area--a Catholic thrift store run by volunteers--where I've found teak lounge chairs for $4 (two!), stacks of dishware, etc.....but about two months ago, they must have hired a New Manager. And this one is a greedy Parker: Prices have shot through the roof ($8 for the ubiquitous Chromex tray??) and the thrill of the hunt has been ruined for me.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the return on investment is definitely falling precipitously. It usually just isn't worth the time to go to the thrifts anymore because the dealers who don't have a 9-5 have already cleared out every shop in town by 30 minutes after the thrift/estate sales have opened.
DeleteThrift stores, goodwills and flea markets were something I missed in the last year of being in india..but looking at your post..seems like i would have not been there even if i was there though..prices, junky stuff is def not what i would go to these stores for
ReplyDeleteI know that the thrifts have overhead and are doing charity work, but they are getting this stuff for free. They should at least price their stuff lower than retail. If they don't quit with the funny business, they're going to drive off their regulars.
DeleteI guess I have an unpopular opinion about the rise in prices at thrift stores - I am okay with it. I say that for the reason that you pointed out - they have overhead and are often charity-affiliated. I am perfectly happy with a thrift store or charity exploiting the popularity of products to benefit their charity/community/people in need. Does it suck for us? Yep. Is it awesome for the charities? HECK YEAH. I am lucky in that I have still managed find things for cheap (six Brasilia chairs for >$40, etc), but I also think that the junking is over-saturated right now and a lot of those awesome cheap scores are snatched up by other people. The well-priced items are out there, we just don't get to them first any more.
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