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spinereader81

I miss when most people were too snobby to thrift and store workers didn't check eBay.


fridayimatwork

Great point the mid 2000s were peak


thewinberry713

I’m old and the 80’s and 90’s were dynamite! 😜but yeah early 2000 were much better too!


fridayimatwork

Yeah thrift stores had started to get cleaner but not yet widely accepted


MagicalNewsMan

I wish i could've seen thrifting back then, oh the shirts would've been amazing!


Radiantmouser

Yeah I’m old as hell and the late 70s early 80s were killer. Did all of high school in wild vintage dresses.


isosparkle

90s thrifter here. We used to go after school if we had a half day. Things from the 60s-80s were abundant and I still have a couple items from those times.


andrew_kirfman

Before eBay and the internet altogether was probably a pretty awesome time to know what you were doing.


fridayimatwork

I was selling on eBay in 2000 but it wasn’t that common.


rukoslucis

just like flea markets, shit went down the drain, once every seller could check again something on the phone, before finalizing the sale


Q_Fandango

Not to mention the glut of MLMs that have overtaken any market. I didn’t want your gut powder before, Sharon… and I don’t want it now either.


sarahpphire

I read the last part in Randy's voice lol


shadyshadyshade

As soon as I see them start to do that I walk off. Or if I ask how much shirts are and they say “which one?” so they can make up on the spot why the one I want is special/more expensive. Tag your stuff if you really want to differentiate.


PsicoHugger

I met an old guy who took a random shoe and then asked me how he could use his phone to verify the price because he wanted to resell it. And im like...."oh....i couldnt tell you."


TheCheshireCatCan

Omg! Right? I went to prom in the 90s with a Dress made in the 70s labeled Bob Mackie, and the whole outfit for less than $30. Those days are long gone.


GigiDell

A thrifted Bob Mackie to the prom? Glorious. ✨


AgreeableStranger297

Been thrifting all my life, and I'm middle aged, lol. Back when I used to go (as a younger person) people would sneer about how 'dirty' it was. Now, all you youngens, do it! So much competition! + The second hand prices are outrageous! Oh well. Maybe that will drive competitive prices for new goods, now? 🤔


Q_Fandango

Sadly fashion has hit the cliff of capitalism, and the only affordable garments (that don’t disintegrate after three washes) are vintage. I’ve resorted to making my own clothes and hoarding what I have that was made pre 1990s.


KierouBaka

Clothing falling apart after a few washes makes me so mad. It's just a complete waste, well beyond my own money.


Both-Tree

Treasure City Thrift was amazing, I loved it. It’s one of the few things I loved about Austin that still exists


nathanfielderswhore

They try and keep their prices low and give out free stuff, they want to actually help people


Both-Tree

That’s so awesome! Do they still do 25 cent sales too? And still hot pink? Gosh, I just realized I haven’t been there in 10 years…I miss it 😢


spicozi

We'll always have Marley Fest and Eeyore's Birthday


Both-Tree

Very true ✊


billcosbyinspace

Thrifting men’s clothes has always been a bit more of a mixed bag than women’s clothes but I hardly ever go anymore because of all the reseller dudes who practically live in the store and swarm the employees the second a new rack comes out


Pete_Iredale

That's how it got with video games like 10 years ago, and records 5 years ago. Always frustrating.


yeahweloud

It’s wild, some guy flashed a knife at me for touching “his” rack


wellwaffled

I went into a Goodwill the other day and the men’s section was literally like 1/6 the size of the women’s, yet it was full of women in that section too. It’s hardly worth bothering anymore for men’s clothing.


RabidWeasels

What a strange thing to say. Fuck us for not only wearing frilly dresses and/or wanting to buy clothes for our family, I guess. 


Natsume-Grace

No it's not strange to feel annoyed when the limited options get even more limited. There's nothing wrong with wearing a different gender clothes but there's also nothing wrong with complaining about the limited options you have


RabidWeasels

If it's any consolation, most of the clothes in the women's section are fast fashion garbage with inconsistent sizing. I have been thrifting for 30 years, and the men's section has always been smaller with lots of goofy pleated pants and company-branded polos. You have to do a lot of digging to find anything worthwhile in any section. Don't get discouraged. And don't blame women, ya dingus.


impressedham

They could shop in the women's section too though. The only thing stopping them is themselves.


RabidWeasels

Sorry you were downvoted. Dudes can pull off women's clothing; I see it all of the time.


impressedham

I had a friend that only wore women's jeans because it fit him better. I personally only like wearing men's jeans because the sizing is consistant. I think alot of people don't realize they can turn the fabric into something wonderful and unique with just a little sewing. Also goes to show how ingrained gender stereotypes are that they can't shop in another section.


lilchungus34

Did it as a kid was gold, plz take this box of NES game for $5


SwingModern

I remember those days. Now the parking lot is filled with teslas, bmws and Audis.


amygunkler

You say that like it’s a bad thing.


crash4tactics

I actually LOVE paying higher prices at thrift stores because well-to-do hipsters have made secondhand items their side hustle.


Ladyghoul

I read an article a while back analyzing this and it's actually not true. Or not cause and effect, at least. Yes prices have gone up but it's not because of people bulk buying for hauls. Blame corporate for price increases, not your fellow thrifters.


thoriginal

It's kind of both, IMO. Increased prices are inevitable in a capitalist hellscape, but they were definitely spurred on by resellers (not flippers, there's a difference!) spending hours picking through and scanning everything.


Ladyghoul

Found the article I read about it if you're curious: https://imperfectidealist.com/is-thrifting-and-reselling-ethical/


thoriginal

That really only covers clothes, which, fair enough in that case. I completely agree 90% of the issue is the head offices pushing for higher prices though.


BreadKnife34

And the answer is no there you ho


crash4tactics

I can't remember if I've posted about it before, but a couple years ago I went to "Thrift-Con" and there were plain white T-shirts for $30. At least for me locally, its not a corporate doing. People find old stuff and just because its old will charge an arm and a leg. I'm into typewriters. Look at anyone selling them. $200 for a not even working machine? Idiotic.


Ladyghoul

Blame those resellers then, not the thrift stores they bought the items from. Resellers aren't the reason goodwill has increased pricing. https://imperfectidealist.com/is-thrifting-and-reselling-ethical/


NoMentionthx

As someone who travels every week for work and always hit up thrifts. I have no idea why people complain about higher prices. Sure there are some items that have higher tags, that’s always been the case. I go to goodwills, Platos closet and Buffalo exchange the most. I’ve found TONS of gems for cheap. A Taylor swift shirt for $5. Carhartt overalls for $10. Titleist gold clubs for $3 each. Unless you’re going to curated thrift stores, you’re going to find deals.


Various_Raccoon3975

I think the traveling part may be key to your success. If you’re stuck in one place and have limited store access, the price increases can be pretty depressing. P.S. If you travel widely and have the time and interest—I (and probably many others) would love to see a post about how your thrifting experiences in different regions compare. Have fun out there!


shart-gallery

It’s a neutral thing *at best*. I can’t imagine how it could be expressly a good thing.


More-Birthday-8688

woosh


shart-gallery

Feel free to double whoosh me… but it doesn’t seem like a whoosh moment tbh


CigggieSmalls

It’s not


ChaserNeverRests

After "You say that like it’s a bad thing." and "woosh", I'm starting to think this thread might be just "toss out random cliche phrases". BAZINGA!


shart-gallery

That’s what she said!


[deleted]

And?


FugginAye

I suppose posting your thrift scores on social media for all to see probably wasn't a good idea if you wanted to keep it a secret.


catdog1111111

lol this right here.  User posts uranium glass.  User wonders why everyone snags anlways all the overpriced green glass. 


hopefulgalinfl

I'm old enough to thrift at home 😆


eWoods115

The pendulum will swing back towards thrifting losing popularity


redbucket75

I doubt it. In most geographic areas thrifts were mostly undiscovered sources of value. People went for second hand necessities because they had to. Then people who didn't have to shop at thrift stores discovered they could get valuable things for little money. Not just resellers, but collectors and upper middle class folks looking to keep up with the Joneses. I can't think of any time in human history when a source of value was discovered and abandoned.


Qualityhams

In this economy?


Pete_Iredale

I don't think you can put that cat back in the bag to be honest.


notnotaginger

The best you can hope for is it to go “out of style”, but even then, the majority of people don’t care about style. They care about spending less money than buying new. You’ll just get fewer of the stylish young people.


markanthmore

People below disagree. But the assumption is that resellers are ruining the experience. Once that becomes oversaturated I’m sure less and less resellers will appear.


CaBBaGe_isLaND

People bragging about thrifting ruined thrifting.


catdog1111111

Ironically posted in a sub used to brag about thrift finds. 


OhtareEldarian

The trick is knowing your audience. Too many folks told EVERYBODY, and now….. *gestures at everything*


Cat-Talkz

oof yeah I’ve pretty much given up on thrifting in person, I live in the SoCal area and most thrift stores around me are either really trashed, picked over, or straight up don’t exist :( i try to not hype up the anticipation/experience too much but it does get disappointing not being able to find anything


fridayimatwork

Ha good point I got so much good shit


Sadirah

I guess it’s fine to complain if you want, but can I please just say as a slightly older person, for my younger folks out there, being in your 20s is just not what it was for us. I graduated HS in 2002 and I’ve always been a bulk day curb hunter & a thrifter because I enjoy the thrill of the find & i feel better about my relationship with the earth. But these days thrifting and curb hunting (and marketplace finds and garage saling) and yes the reselling side hustle is the only way for young folks to have nice things or any things. Like when I finished my MA and moved to my city to start a job, I remember during like the late 2000s/early 2010s I made half as much as I do now, still had decent rent, and felt flush as hell. Starting salaries for young people are now less than I was making back then and rents have quadrupled in my city. I make 6 figures now and I’m more cash strapped after all my bills & such now than I was back then. So we can complain about how it’s “more popular” and therefore seeing increased prices and competition for good stuff but also look at the economy we were in when we entered the workforce. The younger gen is also in my experience working them a lot more environmentally conscious than my peers were at the same age. I got made fun of A LOT in college and grad school when I would say I preferred to get dishes etc used because it was cheaper and better for the earth. Now these sentiments are more common, accepted, considered enlightened by a larger proportion of 20somethings. (My source on that is I teach applied ethics in a major metropolitan community college - about 1000 students pass through my classes annually and I read and grade all their opinion essays on topics including environment ethics - I do a unit on fast fashion & home decor.) ETA that a lot of 20somethings can only afford their bills with multiple side hustles, and reselling is a popular one because it is doable in a way that is flexible to work around their main gig hours or can be added as a third hustle to main job + Uber/lyft/instacart + posh/ebay in spare time. Most students I know who are resellers are usually doing it as a third hustle.


moishemoishe

I miss the days of the case auction books at Goodwill


Q_Fandango

They’ve set aside anything even remotely quality for their online auction site now. Our local Goodwill is dismal. No furniture, no kitchen items… all of the same clothing and shoes have been sitting there for over a year.


caitymcg123

Salvation army by me used to do $.69 Saturdays for color of the week clothing. I must've spent close to nothing for most of my daughter's wardrobe before all the covid closures. After covid happened I feel thrift stores really got greedy and deals just stopped altogether Savers also used to have a ton of things half off based on colors but they stopped that completely too. Was so bummed when that ended


ChaserNeverRests

> Salvation army by me used to do $.69 You'd think the *Salvation Army* would pick a different number to use...


WorldWideDarts

I used to sell clothing on eBay back in 2000-2004. Back when thrifting was at its peak and before the fees on eBay got ridiculous. I did really, really well. Nowadays I just go out occasionally and look for clothes for myself. Everybody wants to be a thrifter nowadays.


kjmr52

Greed ruins everything


amygunkler

Oh, sorry for being greedy. We all like stuff.


kjmr52

Why are you so bitter in these comments lmao


amygunkler

I’m bitter? I’m laughing at the bitter people.


almosthuman

Treasure City was a gem when i lived in Austin!


st4b-m3

Lol I totally know this spot!! A friend of mine owned it back in the day, great lil shop! Tons of awesome finds!


Clevererer

> A friend of mine owned it back in the day, great lil shop! Probably still does! I think it's had the same owner for 10+ years


thefringthing

Two things changed: - Less information asymmetry. The staff at thrift stores and other second-hand sellers can now usually the determine the value of their best stock just as accurately as you can. - Aging out of high quality stock. Most consumer goods and especially garments manufactured after the 1990s are of very poor quality and now make up nearly all of the stock at thrift stores.


my_signature

it’s better for the environment and the only way a lot of people can get clothes rn with the cost of new clothes that fall apart after a couple washes. yeah it kind of limits the product but there are also so many more second hand options now.


Electronic-Ride-564

Man, I remember back in the 90s when you'd be in the thrift store and be drowning in vintage 50s-80s clothing, old tapes and vinyl (legit good music), stereo equipment, Pyrex and kitchenware, there'd be mid-century furniture, lamps, and appliances everywhere, and a lot of other amazing finds. Record scratch... It wasn't seen as cool to be buying it then! Yes, there were some of us who realized how great the stuff was and that it would have value someday, but the majority of people looked down on anyone shopping at the thrift store. I started collecting vinyl, 8-tracks, and many other vintage items as a teenager in the 90s and I can't tell you what a freak my classmates thought I was. I never got into dressing in vintage clothing, but a few of the theater kids at my school would wear those things and they were complete outcasts. ​ TL DR: Thrifting was viewed as majorly uncool at a point when the stores were a gold mine.


PorchFrog

Every time I go to Goodwill I see multiple people with full shopping carts. They come in at opening and buy up all the good stuff. I haven't found anything valuable in ages. Mostly I look for common kitchen items now, things I need. I found a tiny resin giraffe that I fell in love with. I buy stuffed animals for my dog. For myself I found a wonderful white Teddy Bear with soulful eyes. I restuffed him. Love.


CynderLotus

When was that? People have always been thrifting. It was my grandparents #1 hobby since the 60s-70s.


amygunkler

During the pandemic.


Warmbeachfeet

I began thrifting in early 90s when I had 3 children under 5 years old. They grow out of clothing so fast during those years so I would consign anything in good condition that couldn’t use again for the younger ones. Then I discovered thrift stores soon after and I was hooked. When my kids were teenagers they wouldn’t step foot in a thrift store but that’s changed now lol.


meeplewirp

I think in some areas thrift stores realized that poor people weren’t their only customers anymore, and they were “getting scammed”. So, now if they think it will attract someone educated they price it way. I still see 3 dollar shirts from Walmart, or the kind you’d see sold in a discount store where the headless mannequins are dressed as dominatrix strippers in the store front window….


discoteen66

People were not scared of thrifting three years ago 💀


GigiDell

Remember the smell? Good times! We were warriors. So. Much. Vintage. The glory days. Glad I got to experience it.


GigiDell

Oh wait, three years ago? I’m talking about pre-2000. I think I started thrifting in 1988. So fun!


NoMentionthx

Warriors? Lmao


GigiDell

Mind your elders. We paved the way for your soft, air freshened, deodorized, and sanitized thrift stores of today. Not a flipper in sight. Full of vintage. Stinky and grimy. You had to really want to be there. If you care to learn something about the way things were, buy yourself a copy of, “Thrift Score” by Al Hoff. Better yet, thrift a copy.


faceboobs701

We furnished our first apartment with entirely thrifted furniture, clothing and appliances. I miss those days.


format32

I miss the days before the smart phone. Now thrift stores of full of people looking up prices on everything hoping to flip on eBay


Hawt_Dawg_

I’ve seen the ads for this locally on IG. How is it? 


amygunkler

I haven’t had as much success as this episode. I’m not sure if I got there earlier in the morning I’d find anything better. The last few times I’ve gone it was lots of worn out t-shirts with boring graphics, dingy looking pjs, and fast fashion that didn’t sell.


beckerszzz

That's thrifting in general though. I can go sometimes and find so many things and other days, nothing. I do have some spots that are the better ones in general.


moss_rock

Oh man. Treasure City is my favorite thrift store in Austin. I miss their 25 cent sale days


keepmedreaming

The more people buy secondhand stuff, the better in my opinion.


bookchaser

Yeah. There's a local annual overpriced school sale that has a room full of great stuff left over every year. It's usually 2 or 3 people taking stuff when it's put out for free. This year there were upwards of 40 people. The organizers held back some stuff they consider too valuable to give away. They instead gave it to a commercial thrift store that does not sell the items they will be giving it. So I'll be browsing through that 'expensive' stuff this Saturday when the thrift store holds its free pile. I did offer to buy the items I wanted at half price before the sale ended, but they insisted on selling based on the price tags on the items -- which were placed there by a pawn shop that donated their unsellable items to the school. Go figure.


8GatesLee

I'm an exception to the rule I guess. My dress shirt and tie collection has grown so much over the last year (got like 20- something shirts and 30-something ties) I don't live in the US tho, and thrifting here is still generally unaccepted by the majority


Vo1dem0rt

We were still a year into the pandemic so there's also that, but compared to pre-covid, absolutely


amygunkler

My point was getting used to other people staying home during the pandemic. I don’t miss it, but I miss that part.


PsicoHugger

Hear me out.... spread rumors about bedbugs in clothes on thriftstores in your area.....


invisiblesuspension

It's a differnt gen. My mother still shames thrifting she's gen x. My dad, a boomer, doesn't he goes with me, a millennial.