bits and bobs: A random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things
USED Coffee Mugs $3.00 EACH
I stopped by the thrift store the other day for the first time in over 2 years and let me tell you Bob, I haven’t been missing much. $10 – $12 for a pair of used jeans, $8 for a used t-shirt, it was nuts.
I used to love going to thrift stores and looking for bargains, but these days they seem pretty hard to come by.
Maybe I’m getting old, but I feel like shopping at any store these days is like the equivalent of walking through an airport a few years ago and being in total shock to see they were charging $6 for a bottle of water or $8 for 4 ounces of grapes.
$5-$8 for single dinner plates.
Used and heavily stained casserole dishes for $10.
You can buy a new one for cheaper than that!
This square Anchor Hocking ribbed glass storage container was priced at $20. While it was sold as a “vintage design” when I bought mine from Crate and Barrel about 10 years ago, I only paid $12 for my brand new, out of the box storage container.
Canning jars are still $1.00. {FYI you can get a dozen new jars + lids and rings for less than that.}
A used Granite Ware canner with a rusty bottom was priced at $15.
You can get a brand new one {with the canning rack} from Tractor Supply for $22.99.
But enough about ridiculously overpriced thrift stores…
On Monday the HH had his 4th {F O U R T H} Moh’s sugery.
10 stitches! At this rate {4 surgeries in 6 years} there won’t be much left of him by the time we’re old enough to qualify for a senior discount.
Yesterday, after the prescribed 72 hours of “no heavy housework” time period was up, he rented the floor sander again.
And made quick work of sanding the other side of the house. He’ll finish up around the edges with the hand sander today, and then hopefully we’ll get the first coat of white wash on the floor tonight.
Poor Lucy. She just wants her house back to normal. {So do I Lucy, so do I!}
And last but not least, I finally got my tomato seeds planted. This is the latest I’ve ever started tomato seeds indoors. But since I can’t transplant tomato plants outside until the end of May anyway, I figure there’s nothing to worry about.
I’m banking all my canning hopes and dreams on two varieties this year: Martino’s Roma and Peron. Fingers crossed all goes as planned.
Here’s to a sunny and productive weekend,
~Mavis
Brianna says
I haven’t been to a goodwill or thrift store in years, but those prices are definitely for profit and not to just cover expenses of minimum wage employees and utilities. I always hated how they would separate pieces to a set and charge individually for each item. I went to the register to check out with a boxed set of books once and the clerk pulled the books out of the box and they each had a sticker and she rang up each book, I decided I did not need the set since the price was 5x more than the sticker on the outside of the box. I am amazed people shop there and are willing to pay those prices as the parking lot seems always full. I have found a lot of smaller nonprofit organizations such as churches who run thrift stores have reasonable prices.
Jamie says
Goodwill has become very overpriced. You have to find a small local thrift store if you want any bargains!
Gigi says
Same in my area. I was shocked last time I went. Not a bargain anymore.
Amy B says
I never go to Goodwill because of the crazy high prices!
We have a local non-profit thrift store that supports clean water projects, gives grants to support adoption, and many other projects.
And they have great prices!
Emma B says
The days of going to a thrift store and finding deals are over. I saw a dollar store sign at goodwill for 4 dollars! Even our small independent stores and just as crazy. I miss those days.
Carrie says
While I agree 100% goodwill is overpriced, I still shop there. Yes, I prefer smaller local thrift stores, their selection is much smaller and they often don’t have specific items I am looking for.
I went to Goodwill this week and got a nice long Pullman loaf pan for $2.99 (online for over $25) and a pyrex loaf pan fo$2.99 (online for over $10). I find I am constantly in shock of prices in general these days. I am still able to find high quality name brand clothing items for well under half the retail price and with growing kids that is a must! I lost 30 lbs last year (intermittent fasting) and had to replace most my wardrobe (twice as I lost the weight) for well under what it would have cost shopping regular retail or even regular retail on-sale. So yes $8 for a pair of jeans seems crazy but when a brand new pair is between $60-100 that is an amazing deal.
Jenell Martin says
Yes you have to stay out of Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores they up charge on everything you gotta go to the private Owned stores or stores run by churches.
Lana says
It is sad but we don’t thrift shop anymore either. We used to love the hunt for great deals. Hubby saw a new store while we were out yesterday and wanted to stop so I told him to go on in and check the prices on the mugs and we would know whether or not to bother with them. Sure enough they were $2. That was enough looking.
Elle says
Thrift stores here have never been as cheap as I’ve seen others post. Your prices are perhaps 25% higher than what I see but I haven’t been to a thrift store since covid hit the area. I suspect prices have risen with the overall higher economy ?????
Jennifer says
Goodwill in our area, Charlotte metro, is crazy. However, Habitat for Humanity is great – we have bought several nice arm chairs/comfy chairs for $25 – $35. These would hundreds brand new. I wonder if they read about how many people would buy and resale on EBay and figure they could raise the prices and no one would notice.
Deborah says
Our goodwill stores in southern Indiana have not raised their prices that high. Mugs are all .69. Canning jars too. Wednesday is senior day and they get an extra 30% off. It’s interesting how different parts of the country are priced differently.
Linda Sand says
My husband had several Mohs surgeries spread over a few years. But, they haven’t done any new ones for two years now so there may be light at the end of your husband’s tunnel.
Jamie says
I was at the goodwill yesterday looking for canning supplies and it was $1 orange sticker day – that is, everything with an orange sticker was only $1. I found a vintage pyrex refrigerator dish with matching lid that was in good shape that was orange stickered and originally $20. I know these go for less than $20 at antique stores around town, but never as low as $1. So, maybe there are still bargains to be found, but you have to be in the know and looking pretty hard?
Patti Vanderbloemen says
Speedy recovery wishes to your husband…I know it can prove to be quite painful…
Cindy says
Poor hubby best wishes for a speedy recovery. That Goodwill prices are outrageous, sticker shocked. We have 2 little thrift store on the east side. It’s a hit and miss. One is the senior thrift store and things in there go fast. The other is a boutique with good prices and inventory changes. I hardly find items at the Goodwill when I go. Lucy waiting patiently for things to go back to normal.
Mary says
I volunteer for a thrift shop that raises money for buying equipment for the local hospital. Our prices don’t even come close to what you are showing- canning jars are 25c each, we don’t even sell chipped or dirty dishes (plates are 35c). And we still raise $30,000 a year, being open only 2 days a week, and located in a small community. I find with thrift shops, it’s all about the search…. Of course when I go to the city, the Value Village there has prices like Good will where you are, and I wander around with my jaw dropping!
Mel says
I wonder if the rising costs are why it’s so hard to donate stuff these days. So many places around us have paused donations, and I thought it was just because everyone spent the pandemic decluttering or something, but maybe it’s because thrift stores can’t unload their inventory at those prices.
andrea d says
Took my kids thrifting a few weeks back and told them- you know the economy is bad when thrift store prices are too high (or I’m just super cheap!). I think the key is to frequent them often enough to scoop up good deals- which of course means leaving the house- and who wants to do that. Canning jars is usually the first thing I look for at second hand shops and it drives me crazy that they sell them for $1.00 each- I’ve even seen quart size for $2.00. I let the store know that new cost less and if they reduced the price to at least .50 cents I would have cleaned them out- and for awhile it looked like they listened. Until this year the price went up again. Oh well. For other things, if it’s something I have on my ‘list’, I usually make sure I have my phone with me so I can compare with the cost of new to see if it’s worth it.
Mary G says
I find that charitable/church thrift stores are still worthwhile, but our local Goodwill can be pretty pricey. Maybe not quite as pricey as what you found there, but I have seen some kitchenware things that I swear are low quality and overpriced and possibly priced higher than new items, which is just crazy!
PSUCHIC06 says
Yes! The salvation army near me…well prices went up and selection went down (rather quality did)
I go to a small chain and they are bit more reasonable & the money goes locally to prison ministry…so I figure it is being used to help those in the darkest places?
But yeah…some thrifts are pricing themselves out…why pay 10 bucks when you can go.to.ross and get a new shirt for the same?
Floors look good & good luck to your HH!
Joanne Cosh says
Wait until you price the canning jar lids. I just went shopping in New York State. The price for one dozen Ball canning jar lids was anywhere between a low of$3.59 to a high of $5.99!!
Mimi says
I gave up on Goodwill a few years ago when I noticed similar prices here on the west coast. Garage sales though…I still find awesome deals and most weekends will be on the hunt.
Conni says
My skin is similar to your husband’s and I have had so many cancers removed from my face that I like to joke that “I’m getting a face lift one chunk at a time!”
LindaT says
My HH was in the don a ton when he was young, working outside, etc. He wears a hat all the time now because he has had a bunch of squamous cell cancers in his ears. But lately he has had 3 Mohs surgeries on his hand. The latest deep enough so he saw the tendons. It’s scary. Just make sure he gets covered outside and gets a check every 3-6 mos so they get them early. I feel for you!
And Goodwill here in SW Ohio has little left of interest- jars, bottles, plates. And what they have, as you said, is over-priced. It’s sad.