Yesterday was thrift store day.
First stop, our {favorite} local shop which shall remain nameless because after an incident yesterday, it is no longer our favorite shop. It was my go-to place to donate items and now I will no longer be donating our stuff there. They do good things with the profit they make off their donations and it’s a small shop mostly run by volunteers. So that’s why I will not coughing up the name.
Here’s what happened.
Monkey Boy, he wears expensive boots for work. As in $150 steel toe boots. He pays for them, not me, so I have no say in the matter. It’s his money, right? As a parent you can only give money saving tips so many times to your kids before you realize you are wasting your breath and that some day, when they are living on their own or have a family to support, their tastes will probably change and they will no longer choose the $150 boots, but the $75 ones that work equally as well instead. Whateva. Moving on….
The Girl and I walk into the local thrift store with 2 pairs of work boots. I went back and asked the assistant manager of the store if she was interested in the boots as a donation. Yes, the laces were gone and they were used, but they still had plenty of life left in them for someone who needed a pair of quality steel toe boots. Did she want them? Did she think she could resell them?
Yes, she said, and took the boots.
The Girl and I browsed for a bit. My daughter didn’t see anything she liked and so she walked out to the car. On her way to the car she walked by their dumpster, looked in, and saw both pairs of boots we had just donated sitting at the bottom of the dumpster.
When I walked out to the car I noticed her standing by the dumpster and asked her what was wrong.
“THEY threw away his boots!”
“What?”
Sure enough, they were in there.
So, I climbed into the dumpster, grabbed the boots, handed them to The Girl, she put them in the car and we drove off. I was BEYOND furious.
Thrift store #2
I scored a pair of practically new DKNY Jeans for $5, a grey sweater for $2 and this a Prana black sweater dress for $5. Oh happy day. It only reinforced my belief that if you wait long enough, you can always find what you’re looking for at a price you are willing to pay. Brand new those jeans retail for about $50, the sweater $20, the dress $99. $169 vs $12? Or 93% off? I’ll take that kind of deal any day of the week.
Thrift store #3
The girl found a pair of True Religion Jeans {that fit her perfectly} for $9.99. She was thrilled.
Thrift stores. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes, they throw your donations in the trash.
~Mavis
Amber says
I can’t belive they just tossed the boots! What size, my husband just told me the $130 pair we just bought aren’t really jiving with him. Uugg.
Somer James says
Yeah switchpont takes donations throws them away and calls the police on needy people. It’s disgusting brand new Barbies brand new shoes Tommy Hilfiger all of it in the trash can and if somebody tries to say hey can I have that they call the police and run them off this has to stop its disgusting people have to know what’s going on now the Catholic Church Thrift Store they take it and put free everybody in Utah st. George gives it back to the community but they’re very greedy people at switchpoint there’s kids that live there that have nothing and they throw that stuff away it’s really disgusting me
Frances M Vandeburgt says
Why do they say they will take the goods then throw them in the trash
what is the logic in that?
Wendy says
One time I took some things to the thrift store donation center. One of the items was a cast iron kettle. It had some rust on it, because, well, it’s cast iron. The clerk told me she didn’t want it, because it had rust on it. I thought, “Seriously? You don’t want cast iron?!?” So, I brought it home and cleaned it up, which I didn’t do before I donated it, because I was giving it away – if I was doing to go through the trouble of seasoning it, I was either going to keep it or sell it … which is what I did. I sold it on my flea market table for $25.
I went to an antique store the other day and I saw almost the same kettle – all rusted just like mine had been. They had it for sale for $40.
I was insulted when the thrift store clerk was so dismissive of my donation, but I felt completely vindicated after I sold me, and even more so when I saw the one at the antique store.
Mavis Butterfield says
Good for you for selling your tea kettle! I think that’s great. I would think cast iron would be a hot ticket item.
Leanna says
My hubby wears steel toed Red Wing boots for work BUT each year he gets a work allowance that helps pay for them. He always upgrades to the waterproof ones since most of his job is clearing toilets and sinks at the county detention center. Unbelievable! You specifically asked if they would like them. The whole point of donating is to NOT put them in the landfill.
missy says
I really like the buy nothing movement of local person to person gifting because you are giving your unneeded items directly to other people in that group 🙂 Thrift stores can throw out so much good useable stuff!
Melissa says
Yes! I have found our local neighborhood buy nothing group to be really useful for gifting and obtaining random needs! That’s where I would try with the boots someone from your local area could pick them up from your porch!
Christy Danielson says
I decided I’m just going to set my stuff out in front of my house it was a sign that says free to anyone who would like it because I am upset that they throw some brand new stuff that I’ve never even used away I started to give them things and they said at least you’re just going to go in the trash and I said well then you’re not getting it put it back in my car and left I thought they needed the stuff to sell I’m sorry they don’t want it I just give it to people who really want it.
Linda says
I used to take my stuff to a large national thrift store until the donation person told me I was giving them garbage. Perfectly good stuff, plenty of use left. But he kept yelling at me and 2 other people who were attempting to donate. I won’t go back. But I’ve found similar attitudes at all the thrift shops in my area. I’ve been accused of trying to dump off junk. My stuff ain’t Prada but it isn’t garbage either. I wish there was another option.
UpstateNYer says
The other option is hosting a yard sale and selling them there. Try to get your neighbors in on it for a larger customer turn out.
Lace Faerie says
Other alternatives include Freecycle.org and local Facebook groups, our is called Stuff For Sale Whatcom County.
On Freecycle, I’ve given veterinary purchased dog food when my dog turned her nose up at it. I gave a rotisserie chicken roaster and a large George Foreman grill to students looking to furnish first apartments. And another time a brand new toaster oven my Dad was sure he needed but never took out of the box.
Recently, I have scored a high quality recumbent excercycle for my FIL’s pt. And baby swing for Grandma’s house for our first grandchild due in November (just a little excited about it!) Also found homeowners willing to share surplus fruits from the trees in their yards, a task chair on casters for my sewing nook, and occasionally score craft supplies or fabrics.
Mavis, with a little bit of elbow grease (hint hint) to shine those boot and some new rawhide laces, I bet thos boots would be readily accepted at any mission. Speaking of missions, I have donated frozen beef from the previous year’s 1/2 a cow. I went in on the soup kitchen day and asked the head volunteer if they could accept it and they were thrilled!
Kerry says
I would have gone back into the first thrift store and asked why they said they would take the boots and then threw them in the dumpster. Didn’t she look at them at all before agreeing to take them?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, she did look at them. And that’s what made me mad about the whole situation.
UpstateNYer says
Asking them why they threw them in the dumpster would only cause problems. They could have you arrested for stealing from their dumpster. I know, rediculous – but true!
Janelle Bagley says
The lady who you handed the boots to, should have been truthful and said no, I don’t think I can sell those here, but I know another shop that could, and most thrift shops have other places to donate when items don’t sell, glad you grabbed the boots and left, bummer.
Carrie says
Maybe donate to a homeless shelter or organization???
Good finds at the other stores! I am envious of the Prana dress. I love their clothes!
Teri says
Were you not tempted to go back inside and confront the assistant manager? I would be so ticked off. Love the good stuff you and the girl found elsewhere.
Mavis Butterfield says
I wasn’t. Because really, what what would she have said? I was mad, but I didn’t want to embarrass her.
Teri says
I understand. I just hate people lying to me so maybe would have told her that I took the boots out of the dumpster so she’d know that she wasn’t really polite and gracious after all. 🙂
Marie says
My retired neighbor thought she would get “ahead of the game” by volunteering at our local thrift shop as volunteers received first grabs at the donations before they made it onto the shelves. She has accumulated many wonderful items but tells me if the article doesn’t move within 30 days (color coded on price tag) it’s marked down to 50% and then the dumpster after that. It’s a matter of space for storage & labor to price, display etc. she learned that most people donate for the tax deduction/not to help others! Rude awakening for us both but still rings true 3 years later. Also, staff knows what sells in the smaller shops. Space vs profit. Most clothing is stripped from shelves once it does not sell, bundled & shipped overseas to be repurposed. Many Americans are just so wasteful.
Em says
It would make me wonder if she had lied to me in the past about things I’d donated…
And as someone already mentioned, I’d be tempted to go inside and… I don’t know, ask her if she has any steel-toed boots for your son.
lynne says
I worked in a thrift store for 3 years. After 3 years, you know what sells and what doesn’t. If the boots in the picture were the ones you donated, they wouldn’t have sold. Was it wrong for her to tell you, “yes, we’ll take them”, only to throw them away? Yes. Definitely. We used to get bags of stained, ripped, well worn, clothing…that would just end up in the dumpster. Unfortunately, many people use thrift stores as a local dump. NOT EVERYONE, but it is a high percentage. We once received a bag of urine soaked bedding…really??!! After that incident, it forced us to actually take a quick glance as to what people were bringing in, and either accept it, or say “no thank you”. LynneinWI
Nan says
I agree, Lynne- she should have been honest about them and truthfully, they look pretty beat up to me. i work with folk with disabilities who are pretty ‘poor’ and they wouldn’t have wanted them. I guess we all learn. After Christmas last year, I had quite a few Christmas decorations I wanted to donate. The man taking donations asked me if I had any Christmas stuff in the bags because they didn’t want them. I guess they would have been thrown away so I kept the bags in my garage and am about ready to donate them…trying to not look inside them haha.
Mavis Butterfield says
Gag. I agree, a lot of people use thrift stores as dumping grounds. I totally get that.
AmyWW says
I think it’s kind of like when you’re selling your house. YOU know that the little trim piece that falls off your stove handle every other day has no effect whatsoever on how well the stove or handle works and you just adapt and live with it. But a person who is house shopping and paying money for a house for doesn’t want a stove that has a piece falling off of it all the time. If you’re going to pay cash for something used, most people want it to at least look brand new, and are not so much concerned about how much wear it might have left in it. Maybe especially with footwear. I’d assume those boots had as much wear on the inside as they do the outside and wouldn’t have looked at them twice. I do agree that it was wrong for her to tell her they’d take them and then immediately throw them away!
Maria says
YES! I actually had someone donate the smelly sheets they had just taken off their kids’ bed just last week.
And I always say Yes, thank you when asked about a donation, regardless of where it will eventually end up. (If it’s gross – like dirty sheets, the trash. If it’s unusable for some other reason it goes to a cloth exporter to be sent outside the country.) But those boots I wouldn’t have thrown out – they’re worn, but men’s things tend to be more worn out than women’s things, and work boots with some wear left in them are rare things. That being said I don’t actually work in a thrift store, but a food pantry where we have clothing racks for our clients to browse.
Now let me tell you about the crunchy underwear I accidentally touched a couple days ago. It. Crunched. Crunched, y’all. Please, PLEASE, don’t donate your dirty underwear!
Peggy says
I’m sorry that happened. I help two of my brothers out (Asperbergers and Tourette’s) with food and clothing, neither of them work, and I’m ALWAYS on the look out for boots and tenners for them. Always. I would let the manager know that you realized they threw the boots away, and find a store that won’t. All the waste in this country, hearing that is really disheartening. I’m glad your daughter saw them, I’m glad you climbed in and got them, and I’m glad you got such great deals at the other stores. 🙂
Lolly says
My dh runs and runs and runs in his sneakers. He thinks after putting 600-800+ miles in the shoes, he should donate them. I throw them away. No one wants his sweaty, filthy, busted up shoes! Those boots look well worn in….which means they most likely conform to your son’s feet…which means they wouldn’t be comfortable for others. Perhaps the thrift store was trying to be nice when they accepted those boots. But honestly, those boots remind me of my dh’s running shoes….too old and worn down to bother donating. I would be upset to be lied to….but again, my guess is they were trying to be nice. We should donate things we don’t need or want which has good use left in it….not our trash. If the boots were that great….Monkey Boy would still be wearing them…
Mable says
I look at donating the same way I look at gifts–once I give something to someone, it is no longer in my control and they are free to do what they want with it.
annieb says
I totally agree. I volunteer at a thrift store that funds a battered women’s shelter and you could not believe the stuff people donate. There is no time or space to repair or fix up. If it has a tear, a stain, buttons missing, etc., it goes to the landfill. We are not big enough to own and operate a “baler” to send donations overseas (which is somewhat suspect as well, because why are we sending crap to other countries in the name of charity when it gets sold). Therefore, everything that is not usable is sent to the landfill, which does not happen for free, we pay big bucks. People act as if they are donating wonderful things–and sometimes they are–but a lot of what people donate and feel so superior about is just moving on stuff they do not want. I have to applaud the people at the thrift store for being gracious and taking the boots because they probably knew they wouldn’t sell but didn’t want to offend anyone.
Julie says
Anything they can’t sell in our charity shops is recycled, clothing, bedding, linens get sold for the fibres and is collected and the charity receives an amount per kilo. No landfill for anything that can be recycled.
John says
An interesting aside, all those clothes that get shipped overseas end up killing the local textile industry and puts large amounts of people out of jobs. It actually does more harm than good.
Now I’m not saying don’t give to the needy in other countries, just make sure your charity is actually a benefit and not a hindrance.
As for then throwing it in the dumpster, a person such as I would see that, and, if I were not the one that donated it, think “free boots, cool”. Free is better than any cost… Even if it does mean getting a little dirty
Maria says
If you can find a smaller, local textile recycler they might be willing to take your cast-off unbaled. The recycler we work with accepts bags of clothing. We don’t have room to store out of season things, so all those must go somewhere, I couldn’t bear to just throw them in the landfill! We were sending them to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, because they have a baler, but now we send them to a small start-up textile recycler who is much closer.
Mavis Butterfield says
My daughter, who is a runner, donates all her running shoes {with usually at the 300 mile point} to our local running store. They have a big box specifically for used running shoe donations. Here’s a good article about what they do with used running shoes. http://running.competitor.com/2013/12/shoes-and-gear/feel-good-options-for-old-shoes_90394
Tracie @ SomewhatAwry.com says
That’s excellent! I always ask my local Salvation Army if there is something I am in doubt about. My daughter had a winter coat that she had outgrown several years ago and when I started to donate it I noticed it had a big purple stain on the back. How in the world that happened in the closet I had no idea. She happily took the coat anyway. She said that if someone didn’t buy it (it was a great coat!) because of the stain, that they send those items away in bulk to a textile recycler. Purposely, so they don’t end up in the landfill. Please don’t mistake what I’m saying though! Do not send gross, cruddy things to your local thrift store!
By the way, I thought the boots were fine. Someone, somewhere would have appreciated them! I sold a pair of my husbands steel toed boots in a yard sale to a man for $0.50 once. He was thrilled and they stayed out of the landfill.
Rita says
Just a thought — maybe give them to the homeless when you give the flannel shirts. I’m sure someone would love to have them.
Mavis Butterfield says
The men’s shelter was actually my first thought. But since the local thrift store is closer, I checked there first. But, now they are in my car and then next time I’m over by the shelter, I’m going to stop in and ask.
Danielle says
I know this sounds really weird, but I keep my mismatched socks for a while, and if I can’t find the missing partner after a month or so I will put two similar enough socks together and keep them in my car. There are a lot of homeless people I encounter on my route each week. I’ll tell the people asking for money/food that the socks are clean and dry and I have never had anyone not want them. The clerk shouldn’t have lied, but sometimes it’s about finding the right market
Wendy says
I’m part of a team that goes to San Francisco on a regular basis to minister to the homeless–give them food, clothing, blankets, etc. I’m sorry but I don’t think they’d take them. They’re even suspicious of black socks, as they can’t tell if they’re used or not. Not what I would have expected, but that’s what I’ve experienced.
Cherie says
How can people who are being offered items for free be so picky? It kind of bothers me when organizations ask for only new donations. if you only need it if it’s new you probably don’t really “need it”.
AmyWW says
I live in Houston and our entire area is trying to recover from Hurricane Harvey. If you have lost everything you own except the wet clothes on your back, isn’t the least we can do for you is offer you new undies and socks? It’s not that if it’s not new you don’t really need it, it’s that people need basic human dignity just as much, and personal items are just that – personal. Not even a woman who’s lost virtually everything wants some other woman’s used bra and underwear.
Susan says
I must comment here. I so disagree with you!!! You are donating awful looking shoes and wonder why they were thrown in the trash. In the same post you are bragging about the great (new looking) items you purchased at great prices. What makes you think anybody else would want to spend good money on ratty shoes. You didn’t! It’s one thing to donate items and another to expect them to sell them. Personally, I wouldn’t even offer them as free (even though they are a name brand). The worker who was trying to save your dignity by graciously taking them was also trying to save the dignity of those who come in to purchase work boots that look nice (for a great price.)
I am thankful you didn’t name the thrift store because I think you are holding them to an unreasonable standard.
Love you Mavis and send many others to you for sound advice but not this time.
Mavis Butterfield says
I disagree with you on the being gracious part. I specifically asked if they could use them to re-sell and actually mentioned that if they couldn’t, I would donate them somewhere else. This particular thrift store is known for putting out a “full” or a ” no donations” sign when they have too many donations. I didn’t know if they would be able to resell them, that is why I asked.
Also, both sets of boots both had 4 months of wear on them and still had plenty of wear left. Yes, they needed laces, but I wanted to make sure they would go to someone who wanted or needed them.
Although I wouldn’t be in the market for a pair of 4 month old work boots, maybe the guy who makes $10 an hour and is trying to feed his family would have been thrilled to come across them for $5. That’s who I was hoping would get them. There is no harm in that.
And yes, I was proud of the deals we found. Why pay retail when you don’t have to? Everyone is looking for something different when they shop at a thrift store, and that is what makes shopping at them so much fun.
I will be bringing the boots to the men’s shelter in Tacoma next. And again, I will go in and ask if they could use them.
Melissa says
Seriously??? I’m a veteran thrift store shopper. If anyone in my family was in the market for boots, I would have snatched them up and been thrilled. I totally agree with you.
Helen in Meridian says
I do see men looking for boots at the Goodwill. You might grab some laces at Walmart to put on them, and lightly polish. I am sure they will be grabbed quickly by some real workmen.
Alice says
Good for you Mavis. I’m so happy to see you stand your ground. I never thought the boots looked worn out. As much as you give away, you would be the LAST person I would ever accuse of donating junk.
Pam says
Here in Farm Country, those boots would’ve been snatched up in a heartbeat. Even if they had already “conformed to your son’s feet”, they would be just fine for barn work and field work. Most of the farm families I know are not well-off by any stretch of the financial imagination…. it is a labor of love and second-hand steel-toes are simply a gift from above!
A gentle reminder, as well, that just because something isn’t shiny and new-looking doesn’t mean it’s used up. I agree that I wouldn’t purchase them as church shoes, but we’d look at them as comfy work boots because they’re already broken in. No blisters! 🙂
Cherie says
Before donating Mavis asked a store manager if they wanted the boots. For resale! Not for the dumpster. She could have thrown them in the trash herself. It’s clear she was wanting to get them to someone who could use them. What is too worn for some is a gift to someone else. She didn’t just drop them off. I would be furious too. The manager should have been honest and just said “no, I don’t think we have clientele for those”.
Shelia King says
Wow. Some comments are so rude! I have seen much worse in thrift stores. I would think they should have told her no thank you so she could donate it elsewhere or put them out for sale. Many go to thrift stores because they don’t want to ruin their “good” boots. Give her a break!
Deborah says
At the Goodwill they would have put a $50.00 tag on them!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep, I was thinking at least $20 at a Goodwill store.
Lilli says
I wear Georgia Boots when I am at any building project. They are expensive . Good boots too. Our stores accept all donations and sort them. I have seen lovely items that are tossed during sorting. If you happen to park on the side of the building by the dumpsters there are items on the ground. I have often wondered if they just sort so much that they don’t have to much time to pay attention to any one item. I often see items on the floor that are broke, missing parts, stained, ripped, and buttons and zippers with issues. I have learned to check my purchases carefully. Perhaps she accepted the boots and a sorter trashed them. When you donate something, it becomes their discretion. Perhaps putting laces in them and donating them to a mens shelter would be a kind gesture. I am sure they would be well loved and appreciated. I asked for a clean box spring by the dumpster and was allowed to take it. Trash Or Treasure ?? Dumpster diving not allowed but this item was needed for a fire victim.
Tess says
There are so many uses for steel toed boots. Not just to wear all day at a job. What about that guy that would LOVE to find a cheap pair to put on to cut up wood in his back yard for his family. He couldn’t care less what they looked like or if they were perfectly comfy.
Sue says
Well, my goodness the right person who works in construction or work like monkey boy does would be thrilled to get those boots for a small price. I’ve seen worse on guys working in house rentivation and plumbing. I certainly will be more aware off who I donate to after reading some of these comments. Sad, just sad that people waste so much. People stop throwing thinks away, there’s no away.
coleen says
I’ve seen this happen at my local GW……there are a few of these in my area, and one in particular throws items out all the time. So needless to say, I don’t go there. There is another GW that gladly takes anything and everything, but I have seen them throw out glass wear if is doesn’t sell, I guess they don’t have an outlet for used glasses….
Erin says
I wouldn’t be quite so hard on them. Yes, she should have been honest with you, but she was just trying to be polite. The problem with this country is we are inundated with cheaply made crap that wears out too quickly, leading us to then inundate thrift stores with way too much stuff. They just don’t have the space for everything they get. She may have already had a pair of good work boots on the shelf that were in better condition waiting to be bought and didn’t think these would sell in comparison. Anyway, if they were still perfectly useable, why did Monkey Boy get rid of them? That’s the real question, here. We replace things, even very well made items like these, far too frequently.
Ranee says
A point of interest that was touched on by a few people, is location, location, location. Farm communities and small town living often do not have access to any thrift stores. Anything found used or unused would maybe come from garage sales or maybe flea markets. The thrift stores in many areas are competing with Goodwill stores and Salvation Army thrift stores etc and as many have said, there is way too much stuff! If the overflow from some thrift stores could be transported to other areas that need it, there would be much less thrown away.We can be a bit snooty when it comes to what we think is valuable when selling or donating, and complain it’s too pricey when purchasing a used item for ourselves. The sorters are using there own discretion as to what stays and what goes. I know, as I worked in a thrift store and became a supervisor to a department in short time, due to many years of garage sale experience. There was a time when I could purchase bags of clothes from last day garage sales for $1.00 and took them to the small town I now live in, and sell almost everything at a quarter a piece or maximum , $1.00. Most of it was kids clothes and the farm families left with bags of clothes and shoes. Sometimes times are tough for a lot of people and they still don’t get the help or clothes etc that they need. We weren’t trying to make money off of it as much as trying to provide enough for all the families that could use it. The boots that you tried to donate would have been a coveted item at our garage sales and I’m sure would have been found useful for anyone still today. I hope the mens shelter accepts them. In some places, one mans (womans) junk, is still another mans (womans) treasure.
Tholl says
Seeing as how your son has already broken in the boot to his foot, wouldn’t it be worth looking into having them resoled rather than buying brand new boots again?
Leslie says
I totally get spending money on something like the right boots for the job. We usually resole my husband’s boots one time before the whole boot wears out, which definitely softens the blow of the initial price. He has a job with specific footwear requirements, so choices are limited. Added bonus: your boots are semi-broken in after resoling, so more comfortable that brand new!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes. That is great advice. I will tell him. Thank you.
Em says
Dave Page the cobbler is in your area (relatively speaking, since I’m in Texas). Check and see if his team does that kind of boot. He did some hiking boots for me and did excellent work.
Susan says
I’m not sure how widespread this is, but a local (Boston-area) company accepts donations of ALL textiles so long as they are clean and dry. They accept lightly used clothing, but also things like stuffed animals, ripped sheets, lone shoes, fabric remnants, etc. Usable clothing is of course re-sold, but the other materials are recycled into either rags or upholstery filling. I’d highly recommend others look into this for donating textiles that would otherwise go to the trash.
http://baystatetextiles.com/
Mavis Butterfield says
Wow! What a program.
Debbie says
I just found your blog and have been reading all of your past posts. I live in a suburb outside of Boston. Each of the schools in my town has a bay state textile recycling bin in their parking lot. It is is an amazing program and has helped raise funds for my child’s school. Donations just need to be clean. They accept stained and ripped textiles.. I am not sure if there are similar programs in other states. My family is struggling to make ends meet, and I have found your suggestions helpful.
Thank you for your blog, Marvis.
Traci says
I’ve seen this too. Only right in front of me. I dropped off a couple year old printer that was given to me but not needed after all. I explained to the volunteer that it was newer, had cords and ink and was in good working order. They said ok, took it and walked over to a large dumpster and threw it in. Crashing… On another note, and I hope you or someone with your zest for travel could give me some possible destinations for travel next week. or websites to find the deals, I’m having no luck. Fires in the PNW have changed the hiking plans, but my daughter and I still have a week off.
JULIE ANN says
Oh, now, Traci – that story is already starting my anxiety! I have 15-y-o LaserJet printers that still print well (and toner is only $20 these days LOL). The idea of a perfectly good, use-ready printer being trashed boils my blood! I’m sorry you had to see that 🙁
Brianna says
You could always take the cast iron tea kettle advice and buy some decent boot laces and clean the soles and leather and sell them. eBay has used ones listed in better and worse condition and it looks like they do sell, especially at auction. Keep the profit or donate it.
AlysonRR says
I’ve worked for a place that accepts donations for the homeless. No matter what someone brings, we would accept it. There was a real concern that if we didn’t accept a donation, that person would never donate again…
Sara says
I am really surprised at this! I wish thrift stores had a free bin for things they don’t think they can sell like people do at garage sales. I put out a free bin at my garage sale – you never know what people will want or find useful! I hope the right man who needs good work boots will connect with those! I just hate the idea of throwing anything away that is still functional. Someone might want it!
Eileen says
This has been a really interesting and timely post! Ditto all the comments. I am in the process of sorting through-well-EVERYTHNG and getting rid of things we no longer use/need/want. I’d been thinking about what to do with a lot of items-I’d really like to see someone get the use of them rather than just throw it all away. After reading this thread, I’m going to stop in at the places I’d been thinking of donating things and talk to them about what they can REALLY use before I pack stuff up to drop off. I’m hoping that asking first will save me from taking things in they can’t use and save them from having to sort through and throw out. We’re fortunate to have several outlets for gently used items nearby-Goodwill, Salvation Army, Rescue Mission, and two local thrift/consignment shops that donate a portion or all of their sales to a local food pantry and a dog rescue. The rest can either be saved for our yard sale next Spring or make the final trip to the dump. I hate throwing out still useful stuff but I realize some things just don’t have any value to anyone else. A good thing for me to remember before I purchase anything new! Thank you, Mavis, for sharing about your experience and thanks to everyone who commented.
Must Love Cats says
I think that I would still talk to the manager about the situation. Unfortunately, thrift shops get loads of crap that they cant use and this was a bad judgment call on their part. Is there a possibilty that the clerk wasnt the one who threw them away? Could it have been a sorter in the back?
Some people cant see past the things. Like another poster mentioned, it’s like buying a fixer upper. Some people cant see the real beauty or bones of a good home. Same situation with your boots I think.
I hope that you go back to the thrift store and talk to them. They need your donations and it would be a shame to let this one incident ruin your relationship.
Good luck and happy thrifting!
Mavis Butterfield says
There was one other person in the back room. That’s it. The woman who took the boots was the assistant manager and she would have known if they were not going to sell. This particular location often turns down donations do to space limitations, that is why I specifically asked if they would want the boots for a donation.
Heidi says
Two Points: It’s very likely that the person who accepted the boots is not the person who discarded them.
I’m going to call you out a little. In the same post, you and your daughter were so excited with your LIKE NEW finds. That’s what we’re looking for, like new or very gently worn items. Not something tattered or boots worn out and missing the laces.
JULIE ANN says
You are more gracious than I – I would have gone in the next week and offered them again Muhahaha!
As a person who wears leather boots daily, I know if I wore those type of work boots – I would grab those high-brand puppies and at the very least, use them for outdoor work. I would only invest in them as I know how to refresh old leather enough to make them clean up a bit and fit my feet (plus decent insoles for my flat feet). As a dedicated, conservative penny-pincher (the efficient poor, low-income Mom of 2 and Wife of a disable Hubby) I have learned how to get the very last mile out of expensive things. The internet is a wonderful source for information <3 To be noted though, I cannot nor would not pay very much for them 😉 Maybe $10 max (if they didn't smell like stranger's feet HAHAHA!)
Nancy D says
Just somethoughts …I love thrift stores and go several times a week. Like you, I have my favorites. It seems that they have different “personalities” (i.e. more/less organized, pricing, can specialize in different things like vintage or athletics as well as have more/less congenial staff).
While I agree that it was wrong of the person to tell you that they’d take the boots after seeing them and then throw them in the garbage. (ESPECIALLY when you were still in the store and could have viewed them going into the dumpster!) Perhaps it could be viewed as ONE person at your favorite thrift shop’s actions and not be perceived as the downfall of your whole experience with that store. I realize that employees, whether paid or volunteer, represent the places they work and have experienced superior or awful interactions at times. I’m so sorry that you had such a negative experience. It’s a DOUBLE negative when you donated something from your household that you took the time to set aside and deliver and it AND you were treated poorly.
I am hoping that as much as you expressed joy with this local shop in the past, that this one person who failed you didn’t ruin any future positive shopping/donations there.
Side note: I appreciate your blog and your outlook on life. You’re a daily encouragement to me! Thank you so much!)
Renee says
Perhaps cleaning them up a bit and get new laces and donate to a local homeless shelter or community clothes closet would be something you could do as well. From what I have seen at my local GoodWill store these were not in the worst shape. Ours has so much poor quality made items and when you do find something of quality it’s priced way to high. I can usually get brand new on sale and after discounts cheaper than Good will price for used. Good quality goods are often more salvageable and useful.
Tammy says
I’m sorting clothes from my attic today, and have collected a trash bag full to take to the thrift store and donate. I will drop it off later today, at a thrift store that sends proceeds of their sales to missionaries overseas. If they feel that some of the items won’t sell and end up throwing them away, I won’t worry about it. BUT I’m not going to ask them specifically…AND I am throwing away some of the things that I am confident no one would want to buy in the first place (stained and very worn out clothing). I donate clothing because we never have yard sales, and it isn’t worth the hassle to try to sell it via Craigslist or Facebook. When I have something that I feel I can get some money back out of, I take the time to sell it.
If I asked about something specifically and was told they would take it and then saw it in the trash, I would be upset…but I haven’t ever been in that situation!
Kathryn Sprowl says
What is so upsetting is you asked them upfront if they could accept them and if not would take them elsewhere and they said yes and then just threw them out even while you were there, so it felt like they lied. Perhaps the worker was a volunteer and did think they would take them, but the manager or backroom decided they were too far gone.
I have to agree with other posters that Freecycle.org would be a good option. Also could put out as free on Craigslist or “LetGo” or other such site as free and leave at the curb (depending on where you live) and someone can pick up anonymously. it could be picked up to be used by someone that needed it, or even by someone who would revamp or re-purpose into something useable. I have seen crafty gals spray paint and then create designs on boots like these that turn out amazing walking art.
Carol Strain says
Mavis, how did you manage to climb into the dumpster and then get back out?
Looking for how-to tips here. I am short 5′ 1″. Can short people do this? I would be afraid even if I got in I could not get back out.
I have seen some great things in dumpsters. Last week I saw artificial trees that looked really nice but I could not get them.
I am an alternative shopper also. 🙂
Shauna Espinoza says
Maybe keep 2 milk crates that have rope tied to them with you one for outside and one inside the dumpster so once you are in you have a boost & the rope is so you can pull your milk crate out when you are done.
Shauna Espinoza says
My husband gets his very expensive work boots conditioned & the soles replaced a couple times before he trashes them. It’s much cheaper than replacing them every time he needs new ones and he gets the full life out of the boots. Maybe something to look into for the next pair.
Kendra says
She probably didn’t throw them away, she put them back there to take home later…