I love Goodwill. I really do. I love it so much that I racked up more than 300 points on my Goodwill Rewards Card {read up on the card HERE}, which meant I have a total of $30 in coupons.
I popped in to the Goodwill in Harlem {2196 Fifth Ave} and was on the hunt for an awesome dress, but I kept striking out. I found a few pieces but I wasn’t exactly happy with the prices. A Donna Morgan dress was $10 {original price tag was still on, $178}.
That wasn’t a bad deal compared to the original price but I kinda had my heart set on a dress under 10 bucks and the piece didn’t fit me perfectly. And then I found a Bebe sweater dress for $15.
No way! Maybe I’m just becoming super cheap or maybe thrift stores are becoming more expensive, especially in NYC.
I wasn’t willing to spend my points on anything less than an absolute gem. I was getting ready to walk out of the store with a serious case of disappointment but I ventured to the shoe section and found a pair of Nine West suede pumps…for $20. Um, that’s not a deal!
But on the next rack I spotted Stuart Weitzman patent pointy toe heels. And they were $13.
And a few feet away were peep toe booties by Luciano Padovan, also $13.
I used $10 towards the purchase {you can only use one discount at a time} and the total for the two pairs of shoes came out to $16.
Thrift shopping can be discouraging when you don’t find exactly what you want, but my suggestions:
- Go in with an open mind: it’s great to have a general idea of what you’re looking for but be flexible. If you’re only seeking a particular garment, in a particular color or material, you’re bound to be disappointed. Have a few pieces {little black dress, skinny jeans, wool trousers, etc} on your generic thrift wish list and any other gems you find will be added icing on the cake.
- Go back often: the inventory at secondhand stores is always changed from day to day and even hour to hour. Striking out at a store on Sunday may equal tons of goodies when you go back a few days later. Just be patient.
- Give yourself time: unless you’re a pro thrifter {and even if you are!}, try to allot at least an hour to browse the racks. It really does take time to leaf through racks or bins of clothes. And if you’re walking out after 20 or 30 minutes, there’s tons of merchandise that you’re missing out on.
Did you guys go thrift shopping this weekend? Have you noticed an increased price at your local secondhand store?
