Thrift Shop Advisor

Thrift Shop Roadtrip: DEARBORN, MI

2008-09-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was only in Michigan for a brief period of time, but was able to carve out an afternoon to visit a few thrift shops in this exotic port of call while my son attended the Michigan State vs. Notre Dame football game. Dearborn is an interesting place. Clearly a company town, you get no sense of the automotive industry's problems when cruising around. There are numerous gleaming Ford corporate buildings, as well as Ford named museums, civic centers etc. etc. Additionally, unbeknowst to me, Dearborn has the largest Arab-American population in the United States. This made for some interesting window shopping and eating. Should you ever need to purchase a hookah, this is the place. Could not wait to hit the thrift shops. This is what I found.

1. SALVATION ARMY GARDEN CITY FAMILY AND THRIFT STORE
28982 Ford Road
Garden City, MI
734-261-7175
Monday-Saturday 9AM - 8PM
Closed Sunday

There are many Salvation Army retail shops in the Dearborn area. I just picked one closest to my hotel, and I seemed to pick a winner. A large, filled to the brim shop with everything you would ever hope to find in a thrift shop. A beautiful art deco furniture set would have come home with me if I had a truck. Wonderful dishes and brick-a-brack. I had to forgo most fragile items, but did purchase a small ceramic springer spaniel figurine dated 1947.

However, I think the way to go here was clothing, specifically cold weather gear. Michigan folks will have to have lots of sweaters and coats to get through the brutal winters. I struck gold in the well organized seemingly mile long sweater racks. I plucked two pure cashmere sweaters from Pringle for $3.99 each, and a spring green cashmere v-neck from Macy's brand Charter Club.

My favorite find were the vintage Pendleton zippered front sweater jacket, and a Pendleton Western Wear wool camp blanket plaid blazer with suede edging. If unfamiliar with Pendleton Woolen Mills, check their website. These are garments of the highest quality in timeless classic styles. They have a true rugged western vibe. The company dates back to the late 1800's. Some of their vintage sweaters are quite collectible. Added to my pile were a stack of ties. Some designer such as Polo by Ralph Lauren, and some bizarre such as a classic looking tie with lion crest pattern and some writing in the background. The back translates the writing as "Don't let the bastards grind you down". Finally, I purchased a like new super large black rolling suitcase to bring home all my new purchases!

My grand total for all my booty was $23. Loved this shop

2. AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND THRIFT STORE
19322 W Warren Ave
Detroit, MI
313-336-5455

This shop was medium sized, but felt much bigger due to very high ceilings and bright lighting.

This store was not packed to the gills with merchandise, which was nice as no muscle was required when browsing racks.

A very clean store which had an overall higher caliber of merchandise. My big find here was a large leather faux crocodile tote bag. Lined in striped fabric, made in Italy it has a very high end vintage feel. I have not put it down. A perfect wardrobe basic! I also scored a mountain of high end ties. Menswear was 50% off, so each tie was .50.

Again, I would highly recommend a pass through this comfortable store with friendly and helpful volunteers whenever in the area.

Thrift Shop Roadtrip: CHICAGO, IL

2008-06-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

Impossible for me to attend eBay Live without visiting a few thrift shops in the exotic port of call of Chicago. I ventured out with a colleague who lives in Chicago and works for folks literally on the Forbes wealthiest people in America list (names you know). This friend knew where THESE folks donate-amazing inside information. My idea of a good time!
Here goes:

1. WHITE ELEPHANT RESALE SHOP
2380 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
773.883.6184
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.

The White Elephant is a somewhat large and cavernous shop in hip Lincoln Park. While the clothing selection is solid, there seemed to be more in the way of housewares, collectibles, prints, furniture and books. I got the immediate sense that there was possibility for true treasure here, and I was correct. Prices vary widely, but there were still fabulous bargains. I left with a stunning European lace blouse, and a pristine silk Tommy Bahama camp shirt, each five dollars. Actually, everything in this store was in perfect condition. I do not know if it is just the caliber of donations, or if the staff vets what comes in, but there is a palpable difference in quality from most thrift shops. I also found a vintage Roper cowgirl western shirt, and a medium sized Herve Chapelier tote for three dollars each. My friend left with a pair of KILLER black suede ornate embroidered books reminiscent of Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan-twenty bucks, and a classic Hermes silk tie for $10.

I could really get lost in their large and very special book department. I wish I had room to travel home with the many coffee table sized Elvis books, or what seemed like a lifetime collection of Sotheby's auction catalogs. I could not pass up a beautiful book of gnome art, signed by the author. There was a room of very interesting small furniture pieces as well. This shop is a TEN, and worth a special trip when in Chicagoland. Proceeds benefit the Children's Memorial Hospital, as if you need a reason to feel any better about your treasures! PS We left with our booty in big Louis Vuitton shopping bags.

2. THE ARK THRIFT SHOP
3345 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
773-248-1117
Monday-Thurs 10-6, Friday 10-5 (summer) 10-2 (winter), Sunday 11-5

Another thrift shop known by my eBay Live friend to be a favorite of her employer is the Ark. It is too far down N. Lincoln Ave from the White Elephant to walk, so we grabbed a cab. This is a HUGE supersize store, with furniture and housewares on the ground floor, clothing, shoes and accessories upstairs. Lo and behold, we were greeted upon arrival with the news that the upper level was conducting a five dollar bag sale. Best news ever in the land of upscale junk! However, the downside was that we had about thirty minutes to explore what could easily been a full day affair. No matter. I attacked the shoes with gusto and promptly filled a bag with 10 pairs of Ferragamo and other fabulous designer shoes, including a pair of Zegna men's formal tuxedo shoes. I did a quick lap around the massive clothing floor, but decided I had more then I could possibly fit into my suitcase and decided my work was done for the day.

Upon paying, with the lights closing behind us, it occurred to me that I did not have my camera (notice there is no photo of The Ark). I begged to be let back upstairs to check if I put it down while arranging my shoes in the bag (packing a serious "bag day" bag is one of my superpowers). No luck. Please know that my camera is the core of my eBay empire. It is also somewhat sentimental, as I purchased it with the gift card given to me by my colleagues when I left my job at Hofstra Law School. It was also quite expensive. As I was leaving my contact information with the store manager with a heavy heart, the CAB DRIVER who had taken us from White Elephant came running in with my camera. What a wonderful guy. What an amazing random act of kindness which I will pay forward as soon as the opportunity presents itself. So, Instead of a photo of the Ark, here is Afiye Abdulle, the nicest, most honorable cab driver in Chicago!!

3. GOODWILL CHICAGO
Washington Street Store
1201 W. Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL
312-563-1187
Monday - Friday 9-9, Saturday 9-8, Sunday 10 -7

While this medium sized Goodwill was not on my friends "treasure map", we decided to check it out as it is open later then most other thrift shops. This store was neat as a pin. While it looks like a garden variety Goodwill, upon commencing digging, it was clear that it held an abundance of treasure. Mixed in with the usual goods were J. Crew brand new with all tags jeans, fabulous Escada jeans, and a number of pieces I recognized from anthropologie, including lux lux and Elevenses pants and blazers. My friend picked up a vintage Custo Barcelona top, and a killer Anne Fontaine blouse. While the suits were marked a pricey $50 and up, there were a plethora of crisp chinos from Brooks Brothers and Polo for three or four dollars. Ditto for beautiful button down mens shirts, fresh from the cleaners from Ralph Lauren, Faconnable, Armani and more. The closer I looked, the more treasures surfaced.

I absolutely loved everything about Chicago, including the small, but potent sample of fabulous thrift shops!

GREETINGS FROM ACROSS TIME & SPACE

2008-06-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry about that.

Had some intervening, superseding happenings on this end. Hope to get back in the groove. I enjoyed writing about my passion of junking more then I expected.

Just back from my THIRD eBay Live in Chicago. While this was certainly the most subdued of the conferences (and could very well be the last of the lineage), it is one of the few gatherings where I feel that I am truly amongst my own kind!

I always find this conference to be extremely worthwhile. I was able to get much face time with eBay execs to ask questions and receive guidance specific to my two eBay accounts and stores (Electric-Estate-Sale for consignment goods, and Urban-Anthropology for my estate and thrift shop finds). However, eBay live is all about networking. I am always fascinated by the niches people have carved out-and how much there is to know about everything. This always excites the informationist in me.

I am anxious to slowly try to digest all that I learned to enhance this blog, and my entire eBay experience.

Exhibit A- I learned how to do THIS (I am not much of a techie so creation of a widget is a huge leap):

More on offsite eBay Feedback Tools

2008-04-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

The eBay community at large is gearing up for the upcoming changes to the feedback system. Most notably, beginning in May sellers will no longer to be able to leave neutral or negative feedback for buyers.

Another site which has been developed to level the playing field is AfterTheGavel. This rather innovative website has been created as an off-eBay destination to post, and access feedback about buyers.

As set forth on their site:

"AfterTheGavel is for sellers to be able to manage risk for their online auction businesses. As the world of online auctions changes sellers need to know who they are dealing with as buyers as much if not more than buyers need to know sellers. AfterTheGavel.com will serve as a balancing weight to keep this information available to sellers".

The addresses AfterTheGavel.com and LeaveAuctionFeedback.com both point to the same site.

Registration and use of this site is free. Another great tool in your arsenal for the brave new eBay world!

Fine-Tuned Feedback Finder

2008-04-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

When you take a look at a prospective eBay trading partner's feedback, and want to view any or all negatives received, it can be a long and tedious process to scroll through many (perhaps hundreds or thousands) of feedbacks to see what the problems &/or comments were when someone left negative or neutral feedback. An easy way to solve this problem is though the website Toolhaus.

Here you can just pop in a user name, and receive a result list of ONLY negative and neutral feedback received.

Toolhaus offers and entire suite of tools related to eBay feedback. Most interesting are the soon to be launched tools to deal with the seismic changes coming to eBay's feedback system next month. While sellers will no longer be allowed to leave negative feedback for buyers, it is posited that sellers will leave text such as "neg" or "negative" in the comment field for the mandatory positive only feedback. Toolhaus has designed a tool to detect such "false positives" as well.

This site is very useful, and plans to continue to evolve to meet the needs of the eBay community. A keeper!

Treasure Hunting on eBay

2008-04-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

The informationist in me understands the importance of keyword searching. Computers are a bit stupid in this one respect. Most search mechanisms can only produce results for the exact word you type into a search box. Therefore, if there is a typo in an eBay title or description, the result list will not include that auction. Listings with errors are viewed by FAR less people, and generally will sell for much less then a properly listed item. You may be surprised how many listings on eBay contain such mistakes. How does one find these buried treasures of eBay? You could run multiple searches for every possible misspelling or typo, which is quite tedious and time consuming, OR you can check out the following very cool websites:

The first tool for "sniffing" out such listings is TypoHound.

Type the item or keyword you are looking for into the TypoHound search box and it will generates a search with the following typos:

Character typed twice
Character omitted
Characters swapped
Key next to correct character hit
Key next to correct character and correct character hit

Another such tool for your arsenal is Missing-Auctions.com

This tool offers some advanced search options such as limiting a search to a specified category, "buy it now" items, searching both title and description, and more.

Both sites are excellent ways to find extraordinary eBay bargains! Yo ho!

Sidebar

2008-04-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

A corollary to "you never know what you might find" at a thrift shop or tag sale, is that you also never know what you might touch. For that reason, lots of regulars have taken to wearing surgical gloves while shopping. This is not a bad idea, but I am not willing to give up one of my senses (one of my superpowers is the ability to identify cashmere, or tell the cashmere content of an item from a quick touch). I solve this problem by traveling heavily armed with hand sanitizer.

If you chose to do so too, remember to look at the label of whatever sanitizer you choose. Some on the shelves, as well has some homemade and organic formulations which can be found on the web have less then the 60% alcohol deemed necessary to kill most harmful bacteria and viruses.

These sanitizers can not replace soap and water, but great for using while in the trenches. When I get home, I still roll up my sleeves and scrub to the elbows as if I am about to perform surgery!

Thrift Shop Roadtrip: HEMPSTEAD, NY

2008-04-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

It must be acknowledged that most thrift shops are not in high rent areas. The Huntington stores reviewed previously are a bit of an exception, as rents are generally lower in Suffolk County (for Long Island). Hempstead has a number of thrift shops, but it is not a great area. The informationist in me is acutely aware of the fact that someone is reported shot or stabbed in Hempstead every day (& who knows what isn't reported). In fact, the first stop on today's journey was robbed at gunpoint this year.

My conscience does not allow me to direct folks to these stores without a gentle reminder to always be aware of your surroundings. Also remember to dress down for these excursions. Leave your designer clothing, bags, and especially your jewels at home. I have been frequenting these shops for MANY years without incident. You might want to note that in the photos taken for this post, there is a BMW parked in front of each store. I always notice the number of luxury cars parked at these shops. There is a reason people from all socioeconomic backgrounds are making the trip to Hempstead.

1. SAVERS
188 Hempstead Turnpike
W. Hempstead, NY
516-489-1661
M- Sat 9-9, Sun 10-6

Savers is a huge chain of over 200 thrift stores in the US, Canada, and Australia (Some use the name Value Village). The shop in Hempstead is of the superstore genre. It is fairly clean, has its own large parking lot, and is extremely well organized. Great for everything under the sun- clothing, bric a brac, books, housewares, jewelery, handbags etc. etc.

What is most remarkable about this store is both the volume and the ever changing nature of it's inventory. Savers prides itself on bringing out 5,000 new items every day. This has created a bit of a cult following. Folks who spend all day, every day in the store waiting to see what comes out. It is like a more civilized version of Goodwill Outlet in this respect. Rather then view these folks as crazy, I only wish I had the time to join them. There is a great deal of treasure to be found if you are willing to either dig, or hang out. For example, on this visit I left with a number of mens suits (Zegna, Brioni, & Versace), as well as items from Etro, St. John, and a vintage Pucci tie. Mind you, this was after three hours of digging, and I did not get to check out at least half of the store.

Each week a color tag is 50% off. What does not sell is 99 cents on Monday (store opening on Monday morning resembles "supermarket sweep"-too hardcore for me). There are always many other promotions, and a calendar with a great coupon for each month. The vibe in the shop is great. They have prerecorded music which always has a great beat, and classic sing along tunes- often times everyone on both sides of the rack are singing along as they shop. The soundtrack is unfortunately interrupted by a wacky voiced Savers announcer reminding you that you can feel good about shopping there as these items are purchased from charities such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and further their missions. These interruptions are a small price to pay for tunes that enhance the shopping experience, and are way less intrusive then radio commercials. Frequent announcements reminding shoppers what color is on sale are also appreciated. The staff here is especially friendly and helpful.

The only downside is that there is so much merchandise, the racks are frequently overloaded. Actual muscle is often required to see the merchandise, and scraped knuckles come with the territory. However, I am willing to suffer a bit for my craft. Savers is one of my all time favorite thrift destinations. I was really surprised that readers of The Thrift Shopper blog gave this shop such low ratings. Yes, the prices are inconsistent, but I think it is a function of different people doing their pricing. Any high prices are ameliorated by their many sales and discounts. I think this shop is a "10".

This is presently Savers only New York location. I really miss the shop which recently closed in East Meadow. I read that they have also recently closed their Orlando area shops (bummer-I had been planning a Florida "business trip"). I hope to hit other Savers locations sometime soon. If anyone can share their experiences with Savers in other states (or countries), It would be most appreciated!

CLEANLINESS: VERY GOOD
ORGANIZATION: EXCELLENT
PRICE: GOOD. one color tag 50% off each week. Many promotions.
MERCHANDISE: EXCELLENT
MUSIC: EXCELLENT PRE-RECORDED COMMERCIAL FREE
RETURNS: YES, FOR STORE CREDIT. NO RETURNS ON BOOKS & FURNITURE.

2. SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE
194 Front Street
Hempstead, NY
516-481-7600
M-Sat 10-7

This shop does not have very much curb appeal. It is a storefront without dedicated parking, and is next door to a Salvation Army Men's Rehabilitation Facility. It has a rough and tumble, institutional look that might cause some to keep driving. I am glad I stopped. Inside is a medium sized, well stocked, busy shop. Mostly clothing, with a large bric-a-brac section.

The first thing I noticed is that they hang pants and shorts on their side. This seemed very strange until I started to look though them and realized that you do not have to push hangers apart and unhang each item to see the brand and size. A true advancement.

While the location and vibe seems very low rent, the pant labels I scanned when walking the aisle included Tommy Bahama, Polo and Armani. I left this shop with two Saks Fifth Avenue 100% cashmere blazers ($5.99 & $7.99). Not bad. I would say that this shop has true potential, and I would not hesitate to stop in again.

CLEANLINESS: VERY GOOD
ORGANIZATION: VERY GOOD
PRICE: VERY GOOD. one color tag 50% off each week.
MERCHANDISE: VERY GOOD
MUSIC: LIVELY RADIO
RETURNS: NO

Footnote

2008-04-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Friends and readers have been asking why I am sharing my favorite haunts with the world, and wondering if this will adversely effect my business.

The answer is that I really love what I do. For that reason, it is in my interest to make sure that my favorite thrift shops stay financially healthy. As of late, a number of my long time favorites have closed. I certainly do not want to see any other shops meet their fate. The more business these stores realize, the better for all thrifters.

I also say a little prayer for eBay each day- especially today, as I dragged home a few hundred dollars worth of soon to be eBay merchandise. The freedom of self-employment I currently enjoy is closely entwined with the health of eBay. Again, the more folks listing and buying, the better it is for the entire community.

Plus, I am completely confident that there is enough junk out there for everyone!

Thrift Shop Roadtrip: HUNTINGTON, NY

2008-04-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Huntington is the mecca of arts, dining, entertainment, and shopping on the North Shore of Long Island, New York. It also boasts a beautiful waterfront and boating community. This town is one of the few places on Long Island where the streets are still full of people after midnight- more akin to the Upper West Side of Manhattan then suburbia. Amongst this great energy and wealth, comes some great thrifting opportunities. Here are a few I hit today:

1. GOODWILL OF EAST NORTHPORT
1900 Jericho Turnpike
Huntington, NY
631-462-4219
M-Sat 9:30-8, Sun. 10-7

Lovely medium sized free standing store. Borders on swanky Dix Hills. When I arrived, the circular drive up donation area was crowded with luxury cars making donations of overflowing status shopping bags. The caliber of items in this shop are overwhelmingly high end, especially the woman's clothing. Lots of bric a brac, housewares, etc. My favorite find here was a few months ago- an original Trader Vic's Suffering Bastard Tiki Mug. I paid $2.00, and sold it for $230.00. Like a slot player, I continue to return to "play this machine" (return to this aisle) to see if it will "hit" again! This store also seems to get damaged goods, past season, and returned merchandise from Target. This is great. lots of boxed dish sets and small appliances for a fraction of the price. Also the perfect place for sheets and bedding still in original packaging. Certainly worth the trip if in the area!

CLEANLINESS: EXCELLENT
ORGANIZATION: EXCELLENT
PRICE: GOOD. one color tag 50% off each week.
MERCHANDISE: EXCELLENT
MUSIC: LOCAL POP RADIO
RETURNS: YES, EXCEPT FOR SALE ITEMS.

2. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FURNITURE THRIFT SHOP
1705 Jericho Turnpike
Huntington, NY
631-858-0380
M-Sat 10-6

Noteworthy in that this is a large, freestanding furniture thrift shop. There is a bit of dishware and framed artwork, but it is primarily a big used furniture showroom. There is a constant flow of new merchandise, and items are marked down every month they are in store. In addition to full dining room and living room sets, there are piles of beautiful headboards and mirrors. If you are moving, or redecorating, stop by often. The best merchandise does not last long. If you are quick you can nab a true high end treasure!

CLEANLINESS: EXCELLENT
ORGANIZATION: EXCELLENT
PRICE: GOOD. especially if what you have been looking for has been hanging around a few months.
MERCHANDISE: EXCELLENT
MUSIC: NONE
RETURNS: NO

3. NORTHERN THRIFT
2035 New York Avenue
Huntington Station, NY
631-673-4790
M-Sat 9-8, Sun 9:30-6

Huge freestanding thirft superstore, with its own large parking lot. I am not sure if this store is affiliated with any charitable organization. The employee's did not know if they were affiliated with a charity, and there is no signage to that effect. This shop may be huge, and quite roomy and comfortable to shop in, but the merchandise seems picked through. In all the times I have visited, I have never seen any true, high-end treasures. I have a sneaky feeling that the better items are sent elsewhere. The prices are also quite high. Best for interesting t-shirts and other less expensive items, or look for sale items. Otherwise, it is more of a "retail" priced junk shop. If you have some time to kill, it is worth a visit, but I would not go out of my way to visit this rather soulless store.

CLEANLINESS: EXCELLENT
ORGANIZATION: EXCELLENT
PRICE: FAIR. two color tags 50% off each week.
MERCHANDISE: FAIR
MUSIC: MORNING ZOO
RETURNS: NO

4. COMMUNITY THRIFT SHOP
274 New York Avenue
Huntington Village, NY
631-271-4883
M-Sat 10-4

A lovely, funky, smaller shop, more in the "old school" thrift tradition. This shop benefits Cancer Care, Family Service League, Huntington Hospital, Planned Parenthood, and Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, Inc. It is staffed by a large group of happy volunteers. Merchandise is always interesting. A great mix of high end old and new. Mostly clothing, but lots of other finds. Prices are not great (I get the feeling that the cadre of volunteers confer and debate what to mark each item at length. Even the tags are written out with great care and detail), but there are lots of one of a kind treasures to be found. Cash only.

CLEANLINESS: VERY GOOD
ORGANIZATION: VERY GOOD
PRICE: JUST OK
MERCHANDISE: VERY GOOD
MUSIC: NO MUSIC, JUST HAPPY CHATTER OF VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER SHOPPERS.
RETURNS: NO

After shopping, treat yourself to a meal or cocktail in this beautiful town.

Thrift Shop Basics

2008-04-01T03:59:00.000-07:00

I am almost ready to begin my quest of cataloging thrift shops in this great land of ours, one town at a time. Before I set sail, a few thoughts on how to approach a shopping experience which is part art, part sport.

1. Be Patient. These shops do not perform on command. It is not the shopping excursion for the person who tears a page out of a magazine and takes it to Bergdorf's to buy the whole look top to bottom. You can not expect to find a Chanel bag or Manolo's on day one. However, hang in there. Eventually pretty much everything shows up in these shops.

2. Buy something if it screams out to you. Chances are, you will never find that item again. Some thrift shops, such as Savers, will let you return items for store credit within seven days. Even if you can not return an item, mistaken impulse buys here will generally not dent your overdraft account.

3. Look for quality. Cheap is cheap. We are looking for VALUE. Take a good look at seams, zippers and hems for wear and tear. Hold sweaters and knits up to the light to do an x-ray of sorts for moth damage.

4. Look at labels. A vintage Gucci jacket can also easily be resold on eBay if you change your mind.

5. Do a bit of fieldwork. Find out when the shop brings out new merchandise. Most shops also have sale days. For example, the Savers in my neighborhood runs a half price sale on a certain color tag every Thursday. Whatever has not sold of that color by Monday is 99 cents. There are also Senior discount days, and other special promotions. A bit of fieldwork will get you closer to being awarded your black belt in thrift shopping.

6. Carrying a jewelers loupe or small magnifying glass is not a bad idea. I have fished a number of 14K items out of junk jewelery bins. Also good for reading marks on china and collectibles.

Remember that life may be a journey, but thrift shopping is all about the hunt. Think panning for gold, or playing a slot machine (buy something for a dollar, list it on eBay and see if you hit a jackpot). I hope you all get out there and hit a big one!!

AuctionZip

2008-03-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

My years of experience on eBay has piqued my interest in actual, old school LIVE auctions. I have never attended one for my own purposes-although I once accompanied my brother in law to a Sotheby's auction years ago. I remember the adrenaline rush of watching him bid and win the watch of his dreams. Now that I have the time, and a legitimate business purpose, I am thinking of giving it a try.

Of course, I want to start small and local. I have discovered a great tool for locating live auctions in any given area. AuctionZip is a site where you can search for auctions within any given miles of a zip code. The results can also be limited by category if desired. The results are presented in a useful calendar format. What really caught my eye are the self storage auctions in my area. While I have never attended, I have heard that one box (which may or may not be representative) is opened from each room. This is what the group bases their bids on.

Bidding on a room full of mystery boxes of junk is my idea of a good time! Especially after Paris Hilton's overdue balance of $208 on her storage locker caused its contents (sex tapes, diaries and other scandalous items) to be auctioned off, and chaos ensued. A perfect example of how ANYTHING can be in those boxes...

AuctionZip looks like a keeper for finding such events. Within each box lies potential treasure (or at least a good read a'la Ms. Hilton's diary) . I will certainly report back should I "slip though the eBay lookinglass" and attend a real LIVE auction.

How Hardcore are you?

2008-03-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

So, you think you are a serious thrift shopper? Are you ready to put your love of junk to the test? Then perhaps you are ready for Goodwill Outlets, which are the "thrift shop's, thrift shop". Here, merchandise rotated out of regular Goodwill retail outlets comes to rest, and is sold for $1.39 per pound (may vary a bit by location).

Now, you know I LOVE thrift shops. I find the digging relaxing, almost meditative. NOT HERE. I had the opportunity to recently visit a Goodwill Outlet in West Palm Beach Florida (the 1887 Old Okeechobee Rd Store). I was not prepared for thrifting as a full contact sport!

Picture a big warehouse filled with tables piled with junk. Watchful customers circle like vultures, awaiting the arrival of new merchandise, which comes out about every hour. My companion was a regular, and recognized most of the other shoppers as people who spend all day, every day awaiting the arrival of fresh prey.

The new merchandise arrives in a giant bin on wheels. So aggressive is the crowd, that the employee just launches it into their general direction, and the mob (including my companion) pounces in an insane feeding frenzy around the bin. I have been told that sometimes they pounce too hard, and the police must be called. My companion was able to literally wrestle out a vintage pure cashmere Mark Cross robe, then a jeweled St. John jacket. I have no idea how items of this caliber slipped through the Goodwill cracks, but it seemingly happens all the time. This is why a cult like following of folks are ready to do battle at these shops.

In chatting with other shoppers between incoming bins, I was told that in some outlets there is a line drawn on the floor shoppers must stand behind while the bins are emptied onto the table. The employees then utilize a hand signal to indicate GO, and the shoppers stampede and throw merchandise around like piranhas at feeding time.

Since I value my dignity (despite what some may think), as well as my safety, I chose to shop only once the alpha dogs had their fill. I was still able to pluck a few interesting items from the pile, but clearly- if you want more then leftovers, you must be willing to rumble.

I am afraid that I do not pass the hardcore thrift shopper test. I will stick to a zen-like perusal of the racks. However, it is worth a visit just to see the underbelly of the thrift shop world, and to find out if you are a true combat ready shopper!

INSIDE INFORMATION!

2008-03-28T04:12:00.000-07:00

Here it is- the HOTTEST TIP ever!
Mark your calendars for the GRENVILLE BAKER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ANNUAL SALE, in Locust Valley, New York.

This sale is like nothing else I have ever seen. It has been held for some forty years. The Locust Valley community includes some of the wealthiest zip codes in America, such as Upper Brookville, Lattingtown, Matinecock and Mill Neck. The residents of these communities are extremely generous and empty their closets each year and donate to this sale. Even folks who have since moved out of the area still ship their high end clothing and accessories to the sale. I have seen drivers come in from Manhattan bringing their employer's donations. Thus the ratio of Hermes, Chanel, Fendi, St. John, Versace, Brioni, and Lilly Pultizer to Levis is the highest you will find anywhere.

The New York Times spilled the beans about this heretofore well kept secret in this 2001 article.

The event is not for the faint of heart. I have taken friends who have spun around on their heel and run screaming. It is a huge gymnasium and a few auxiliary rooms filled to the ceiling. Dress comfortably, and be ready to dig. For those who know, this is truly the most wonderful time of the year!

The sale is run by a group of volunteers who do an extraordinary job of processing, pricing, and managing this massive sale. All proceeds benefit the Grenville Boys and Girls Club, which has serviced the youth in this community, and the far less swanky neighboring communities since 1947. It is really the "positive place for kids", and you can feel great about any amount of money you drop here. Probably not as good as you will feel wearing the timeless couture treasures you pull from the rubble.

The sale this year runs from THURSDAY MAY 8- WEDNESDAY MAY 14
10 AM -8 PM
SATURDAY 10AM - 4PM
(CLOSED SUNDAY)

135 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley NY 11560

You folks out in cyberspace now owe me- please share your favorite junking events by posting a comment!! I can also be reached via email at info@electric-estate-sale.com.

eBay Allows Me to Live Like a Rock Star

2008-03-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

The eBay community may have its issues with the seismic changes in policies rolled out in the past few months. However, the fact remains, that there is nothing else like the depth & breadth of the eBay marketplace, ANYWHERE. Yes, fees are going up, but the cost of doing business remains nominal compared to a brick and mortar, or any other establishment or advertising medium of comparable reach.

I actually have found eBay to be rather responsive to my needs over the years (for a huge multi-national corporation). Nowhere is the somewhat small town feel of this corporation and its community more evident then at their national conference, eBay live.

I have attended the past two eBay-fests, in Las Vegas and Boston. I have already signed up for eBay Live 2008 in Chicago. If you have never attended, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is really worth the trip for buyers, sellers or anyone contemplating either activity. It is a celebration of all things eBay, but really it is all about networking. I was able to mingle and share my thoughts and concerns with many eBay executives. Perhaps more meaningful was being able to speak with a number of Platinum and Titanium level eBay Powersellers, who were making a major living doing what they loved. (for example- a Titanium Powerseller must sell a minimum of $150,000 per month on eBay). The folks I met were enormously generous with their time and expertise, sharing the systems and procedures utilized in scaling their business to these big money levels. It was eBay live 2006 which planted the seed to take the plunge and eBay full time, and by 2007 I had made up my mind.

Again, there is something for everyone at this convention, and at $75 for three days, it is far less expensive then any professional conference I have ever attended, and is every bit as substantive.

Should you care to take a look at what I have been up to since I jumped ship from my job as a research librarian at Hofstra University School of Law (one of the best jobs in the free world), my eBay account names are Electric-Estate-Sale, and Urban-Anthropology. You can visit my eBay stores here and here. I have had the Electric-Estate-Sale account since 1999 (ancient history in eBay land, as the first item ever sold was only September 1995), and have over 4,000 feedbacks. I am now using this account for my nascent consignment business. Urban-Anthropology was opened in 2006, I have over 1000 feedbacks on this account, and am a silver level Powerseller.

The flexibility running my own business has afforded is incredible. The ability to turn my hobby into a full time job - PRICELESS

Diamonds in the Drop Box

2008-03-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome!
I am a long time lover of thrift shops (as well as estate & garage sales). I have recently left my day job in order to indulge my love of treasure hunting full time. This also gives me the time to write this blog, where I hope to chronicle my findings for others who understand that you can use select thrift shops as your own personal Neiman Marcus or Saks!

TOP FIVE REASONS TO LOVE THRIFT SHOPS:

1. CHARITY. Non-profit thrift shop proceeds benefit worthy causes. Think Goodwill, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent De Paul.

Even a for-profit thrift shop will usually buy its merchandise from a charity, thus supporting it's mission - Think Savers, which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters.

2. ECO-CHIC. Recycle, Reuse, Restyle. Green shopping is good for the planet.

3. VINTAGE COUTURE. Not everyone wants to look the same. Vintage couture is always in Vogue, yet you will not see yourself coming and going. Big name classics are always to be found in the clutter.

4. RECESSION. While experts may disagree whether we are in one or not, these are clearly not the best of economic times. You can really stretch your wardrobe dollar without sacrificing quality or style.

5. TREASURE. Not just personal finds that bring you back to your childhood and make you smile. I am talking about actual, real deal treasure. I left my job to eBay for a living. I have two accounts, Urban-Anthropology (for my own thrift and estate sale finds) and Electric-Estate-Sale (for my consignment business)- more on this later. I am able to make a good living from the garden variety treasure I run across. However, remember that actual, "change your life" caliber treasures are out there. For a recent example, see Michael Sparks, a Nashville music equipment technician who paid $2.48 at the Music City Thrift Shop in 2007 for what turned out to be a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence. It sold at auction for $477,650. Such things are possible!

So please bookmark this site, or join my RSS feed. I know a national overview of thrift shopping sounds ambitious, but I hope to scour the country one area at a time, and report back to you!! Any reports from the field that you would like to add are also MUCH appreciated!