What makes a GREAT thrift/consignment shop?

i love good prices, and don't mind searching! i go to the local goodwill a lot, and it doesn't have the best quality/organization/etc, but i definitely prefer the smaller, better organized, slightly more expensive and better quality thrift store that's a little farther away. organization is key, though! having things grouped by size is very helpful. also, a pretty store can never hurt.

I vastly prefer a well-organized store. That is, I like to be able to browse by category. My favorite thrift shop has a lot of things, and some items are neatly sorted into categories, and others are not. It's easier to search through a pile of napkins, to find a matching set of napkins, than it is to search through a pile of assorted cloth goods, which might include napkins, tablecloths, pillowcases, sheets, and curtains. Unlike the first responder, I'll look at clothes and other fabric goods because I make quilts. A shirt that has a big hole or tear in it can still be cut up and the fabric used for a quilt. However, these items should be separated into another bin and clearly labeled as damaged, and they should be priced accordingly. The key word in "thrift store" is THRIFT. The goods should be priced to move. This doesn't mean that everything has to be under $5, say, if I find something that's worth $500, then I would be delighted to pay $50 or $75 for it, as I would still be paying only a fraction of what it's worth. I've bought any number of junky, kitchsy stuff from thrift stores. I collect owls, which were very popular in the 60s and 70s, and are not so popular today. So I'll browse through the assorted decor items, looking for owl figurines, and I'm happy to pay a dime or a quarter for an owl statuette that other people have passed over. If I find a frog item, then I'll pick it up for my friend who collects frogs. The old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is really true.

great prices and well organized (slacks / khakis / jeans in separate sections and accurately sorted by size) nothing trashy (shirts with nasty stains, clothes with tears in them)

I vastly prefer a well-organized store. That is, I like to be able to browse by category. My favorite thrift shop has a lot of things, and some items are neatly sorted into categories, and others are not. It's easier to search through a pile of napkins, to find a matching set of napkins, than it is to search through a pile of assorted cloth goods, which might include napkins, tablecloths, pillowcases, sheets, and curtains. Unlike the first responder, I'll look at clothes and other fabric goods because I make quilts. A shirt that has a big hole or tear in it can still be cut up and the fabric used for a quilt. However, these items should be separated into another bin and clearly labeled as damaged, and they should be priced accordingly. The key word in "thrift store" is THRIFT. The goods should be priced to move. This doesn't mean that everything has to be under $5, say, if I find something that's worth $500, then I would be delighted to pay $50 or $75 for it, as I would still be paying only a fraction of what it's worth. I've bought any number of junky, kitchsy stuff from thrift stores. I collect owls, which were very popular in the 60s and 70s, and are not so popular today. So I'll browse through the assorted decor items, looking for owl figurines, and I'm happy to pay a dime or a quarter for an owl statuette that other people have passed over. If I find a frog item, then I'll pick it up for my friend who collects frogs. The old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is really true.

Thrift store shopping brings the thrill of finding something unique and it is usually pretty inexpensive. I like Thrift Store shopping as most of them donate to specific causes. I am a volunteer for a Kidney Thrift Store and I get a great feeling of helping someone less fortunate that me out. Location is important as I like to stay close to home. I do not think high end stores would do very well as most people who shop thrift stores have a limited budget and they tend to be pricey. Hope this answer helps you out.

i love good prices, and don't mind searching! i go to the local goodwill a lot, and it doesn't have the best quality/organization/etc, but i definitely prefer the smaller, better organized, slightly more expensive and better quality thrift store that's a little farther away. organization is key, though! having things grouped by size is very helpful. also, a pretty store can never hurt.

great prices and well organized (slacks / khakis / jeans in separate sections and accurately sorted by size) nothing trashy (shirts with nasty stains, clothes with tears in them)