Thrift shops, Goodwill, Salvation Army

[Kilted Musician]

I currently have 8 skirts and I bought them all at thrift stores. The prices? Between $3 and $5 each. With the differences in sizing [Petite, Junior Misses, etc.] I'd rather stick to 'brick-and-mortar' stores instead of shopping online.

My favorite story about buying a skirt from a thrift store: I tried on a white stretchy knee length skirt with an elastic waistband and decided to buy it. When I got up to the cashier, she said, "You DO know that this is a womens' garment, don't you?" I just smiled and said, "Yes." She got all flustered, her face was red, and she could barely finish the transaction!

--Rick

[STEVIE]

Hi Jan,
The response of that "kid", is awesome in lots of ways!
Society could learn a lot from this person!
Steve.

[JeffB1959]

I've bought a few skirts at Goodwill over the years. Can't beat the prices!

[denimini]

There is no doubt that one can get some good value at thrift shops, particularly the more individual charities and not big chains with paid valuers. I bought a great 100% viscose short skirt, grey with an elasticated ruched waistband, for $3.50, that has been so cool and comfortable in the warm weather we have been having. I wore it to a neighbours for dinner tonight and it also looks quite smart, although short. I have just done a search to find another and found something very similar in a nice green ........................
http://www.parlourx.com/isabel-marant-e ... -mint.html
I think I had better look after the one I have!

[partlyscot]

I bought a black suede leather skirt, actually 2, for $2 each from a church basement thrift store near me. I've posted a picture of the calf length one already under the title Christmas party 2015. The other one was too small, by about 2-3 inches. But...$2? couldn't turn it down. I have been piloting how to make it work for me, and have got it to a wearable condition. Want to do a few more refinements, then I'll post some pictures. Think it may end up being my most successful purchase.

[moonshadow]

Ahhh the thrift store..... Asian prices without the Asian sizes! Stopped at the local Goodwill today, picked up two skirts and a white slip for just under $10 total. (the hunt for a reasonably priced slip was the reason for my visit today)

Found a really cool layered denim like skirt that I just fell in love with.... but alas it was an XL.... woah! You could fit two of me in there!

I think the best thing I like about thrift store shopping is you never know what you're going to find! So many styles and colors to choose from!

[r.m.anderson]

Finding something a tad bit oversize it helps to have some sewing skills to tailor it to fit !
Unless the garment has some unusual characteristics generally you can tailor something
larger into something smaller. Making something larger out of something smaller is possible
by adding a panel or section between seams also depending on the garments pattern.
Buying a prize on the cheap one could very well destruct the garment into a pattern of parts
and increase the sizing from that point using fabric from a fabric store.
There is something to be said about making ones own clothing to fit.
Imagine:
I made a copy of that $400 dress just like what was on fashion show for less than a tenth and
I have a smile on my face unlike the models on the runway ! Well almost at least a smirk !

[dillon]

As I have mentioned before, I have reasons that I don't do business with Goodwill Industries. I think most of you will care about this and, as customers, you have the ultimate voice in how Goodwill conducts business.

I would not comment if this was a private corporation, but as a non-profit "charity", Goodwill is appreciably different from any private consignment or second-hand shop. They evade taxation and are permitted to give tax benefits to millions of donors, so Goodwill is essentially subsidized by the US Government, and by states with income tax - i.e. YOUR tax dollars. A private second-hand shop would buy used stuff and resell it at a mark-up. Tax deductions that Goodwill can give for "donations" is essentially Uncle Sam buying your stuff and giving it to Goodwill without any meaningful control on what happens with the proceeds of its resale.

I ask you to let Goodwill know you are customers and that you are unhappy with the salary and compensation policies of the organization. Don't fall prey to the apologists who claim that Goodwill's abuse of fair compensation for their disabled workers is alright. If people don't stand together, we fall alone. I'm not telling anyone not to shop there just because I won't, but if you do, the decent thing to do is to write to Goodwill and voice your objection to their policies.

http://watchdog.org/83209/policies-tax- ... ill-execs/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/ ... ddc8163d3b

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_Industries

[moonshadow]

As I have mentioned before, I have reasons that I don't do business with Goodwill Industries. I think most of you will care about this and, as customers, you have the ultimate voice in how Goodwill conducts business.

I would not comment if this was a private corporation, but as a non-profit "charity", Goodwill is appreciably different from any private consignment or second-hand shop. They evade taxation and are permitted to give tax benefits to millions of donors, so Goodwill is essentially subsidized by the US Government, and by states with income tax - i.e. YOUR tax dollars. A private second-hand shop would buy used stuff and resell it at a mark-up. Tax deductions that Goodwill can give for "donations" is essentially Uncle Sam buying your stuff and giving it to Goodwill without any meaningful control on what happens with the proceeds of its resale.

I ask you to let Goodwill know you are customers and that you are unhappy with the salary and compensation policies of the organization. Don't fall prey to the apologists who claim that Goodwill's abuse of fair compensation for their disabled workers is alright. If people don't stand together, we fall alone. I'm not telling anyone not to shop there just because I won't, but if you do, the decent thing to do is to write to Goodwill and voice your objection to their policies.

I can understand, and agree that those on the bottom rung of the ladder deserve better pay. However that being said, as we have discussed before... basically all retail businesses (around here anyway) seem to partake in their own part of "corporate welfare", which is, among other things the keeping of wages very low to the point where their employees must apply for government assistance in order to survive. $7.25 per hour, even at 40 hours per week, which is something few retailers allow, still just comes out to just over $1,200 per month, and that's BEFORE taxes and insurance (gross). I don't see how anyone can make it on that and not live on some kind of assistance, especially if you've got a family.

Tax dollars at work... look no further than our very own Washington County (VA) board of supervisors that voted to dole out a $15,000,000 carrot to Walmart for their new superstore at exit 19. Wonder how many small businesses could have used a piece of that $15,000,000 tax payer pie? Look a little further south, down to exit 7 and 5 towards Bristol, where Washington County, and the city of Bristol VA were fighting over a Lowes. Bristol VA won out, but only because of various agreements made with Lowes, not the least of which were substantial tax breaks.

The point being, as I said in the other thread, if one wants to avoid crooked businesses, then one would probably find that it's better to just not shop anywhere. Unfortunately, you've got to play dirty if you want to succeed in the capitalist world. I tried a business once, I tried to run it ethical, but I learned very quickly that in order for me to cut it, and make it work, I'd have to slit some proverbial throats and play in the mud. I decided my soul wasn't worth the all mighty dollar and hung it up and went back to stocking groceries for $8 per hour.

What can you do? Well for starters, understand that the big movers and shakers of this world don't give a crap about your ideals. They loose NO sleep over it, they know that their business is sound and they can treat their employees anyway they want. One boycotter out of 10,000 isn't going to do it. Look no further than the business practices of some of the other larger retailers.... and they just keep growing! In fact, it could actually make it worse, as the big companies bottom line profit decreases, they will further cut employee benefits, wages, and hours, in addition to treat their vendors like crap, which trickles down to their vendors treating THEIR employees poorly. Worst case scenario, the business files chapter 11, sells out, CEO's make out like bandits, and all those "poor" workers are just out of a job. But anyway, what we can do, from our measly little position is above all, treat these retail employees with dignity and respect. They are essentially modern day slaves that make our modern life possible. They are the unsung hero's that work EVERY holiday and weekend for practically nothing, just barely enough to offset basic life expenses.

As a retail worker basically all of my working life, I can say that there are still a lot of customers out there who are very rude and demanding. Some would say that there are also rude retail employees, but often times that jaded rudeness is hard to combat after year and years of taking customer abuse. Take the high road and try to make a retail worker smile, rather than "report to the manager". You'll feel really good about yourself when you're done, and you never know, you might just make someone else's day a little brighter too. Tell them you appreciate what they do, and know that it's not easy.

Also, if you meet a retail worker that has gone above and beyond for you, notify the manager so that maybe the associate might be properly rewarded, you might even write to the company about your positive experience. It may help the worker in question to obtain promotions and advancement in pay in the future. I know in the few times somebody called in to my employer about something positive I did for them, and it trickled down to me... it really put a lot of spring in my step that day... and often times, a true "good" positive feeling is something money can't buy.

[moonshadow]

As for other charity shops, around here most of them are ran by Christian ministries. And I'm not knocking that, I know they do good things for the community... perhaps it's just an unfair prejudice on my part (I'll admit it), but I get really uncomfortable in places that are very "church like". Male skirt wearing Pagans just don't fly 'round here in some parts. I donate to one here in town, but I normally do so while wearing my work trousers, and the pentacle necklace is under my shirt.

I've worn a skirt in the one downtown only once, and that was in the middle of summer when the streets were full of hippie hikers anyway, and really a man wearing a skirt isn't a big deal at that time of year. (a male hiker in a skirt is not really unheard of on the trail). There's a Christian thrift store in Abingdon that's the real McCoy, fancy and fixed up real nice (not your typical church basement kind of establishment).

I took a stroll in there when I first moved here, and that was back before I was even wearing skirts and I still felt like I was going to turn into a pillar of salt just for being there!

BUT Getting back on topic:

Let me just say, that this will be my first "yard sale season" coming up since I've been wearing skirts, and I can't wait to see what I find. Yard sale clothes can be downright CHEAP. A lot of times they are free! Only downfall is I'd have to watch for bigots. When you enter onto someone's private property wearing a skirt, beware...probably best to avoid those that seem a little "Dixie".

Bean: I wouldn't mind hitting up the Pulaski flea market a few times this season... You in?

[dillon]

If your county commissioners gave money to WalMart, they should be voted promptly out, especially after what WalMart has done lately in small towns. They built all these smaller stores, drove local markets out of business, then closed and moved on leaving the towns high and dry. WalMart is NOT a good neighbor to rural communities. Your commissioners must be idiots.

The one difference isthat WalMart didn't pawn itself off as a charity, and they did recently raise their wages. You could have been stocking those shelves for three dollars an hour if you worked for Goodwill.

[moonshadow]

If your county commissioners gave money to WalMart, they should be voted promptly out, especially after what WalMart has done lately in small towns. They built all these smaller stores, drove local markets out of business, then closed and moved on leaving the towns high and dry. WalMart is NOT a good neighbor to rural communities. Your commissioners must be idiots.

True... but you know how voters are.... the vast majority (which will carry the vote by it's very definition) have VERY limited memories. They'll forget all about the 15 mil when election time rolls around. The irony is that right now the townspeople are pointing the pitchfork at the company I work for because of a situation pertaining to a proposed new store in their hometown of Abingdon. It's too close to a bike trail they say... even though my employer just gifted the town 2 million dollars for a sports park adjacent. Seems rather tasteless of these locals to be attacking the company I work for, which is based in Abingdon, along with it's distribution center, probably brings a good thousand jobs to Washington County alone, many of the full time, almost 20,000 jobs across four states total. Yeah... they're protesting the local grocer I work for, yet walmart get's a free pass.....

Yeah... voters... pfft...

$3 per hour? Gheeze that is pretty low. I'll agree that just isn't right. I can't beat the sales Dillon, but I will at least try to write the company and throw my support in for fair wages for GoodWill employees. Although I am somewhat puzzled.... I always figured the federal minimum wage ALWAYS applies. How are they getting away with $3 per hour? They don't work for tips... even if they did, federal law states that if your tips don't equal the minimum wage your employer is supposed to make up the difference. Sounds downright illegal to me. Seems to me with the exemption they are claiming, a call to congress might be better.

Just don't be surprised if it get's chucked in the same bin as the Cato letter did. (still no response on that by the way)

[denimini]

I might have misunderstood Dillon's comments but to tax an organisation that funds an important function, as most thrift shops do, and then not spend enough taxes on that function seems unjust to me. An example in Australia is "Lifeline" which devotes most of the profit to suicide prevention which doesn't get enough government funding.

I had to travel away from home for a week and did the rounds of Op shops, wearing a skirt in all as it then seems quite logical to the staff for me to be looking through skirts. The huge supermarket sized store called Savers is slightly more expensive ($7.50 av for a skirt) but has a big range; I looked through about 120 skirts in the 10 to 12 size range. I really enjoy the fact that I could find something really great, particularly now I am more fussy and focussed in the type and style of skirt I will wear. I found some that I was happy with and went to the change rooms where there was a lady directing patrons into cubicles. I must have looked disappointed when I came out as the lady asked how I went and I told her that they were all a bit tight around the waist, she then went into a long and detailed explanation of various sizing protocols and the different brands approach to sizes. She even took a good look at me in my skirt and guessed my size. I thanked her and sadly took the treasures back to the rack.

[moonshadow]

I found some that I was happy with and went to the change rooms where there was a lady directing patrons into cubicles. I must have looked disappointed when I came out as the lady asked how I went and I told her that they were all a bit tight around the waist, she then went into a long and detailed explanation of various sizing protocols and the different brands approach to sizes. She even took a good look at me in my skirt and guessed my size. I thanked her and sadly took the treasures back to the rack.

That's a pretty cool story. It's nice that the lady was helpful. Around here, with the exception of Misty Mountain Designs, most of the attendants just look at me like I've got horns coming out of my head.... and as we know, I have been outright refused before.

I've actually gotten pretty good at sizing by sight. I can about tell if it's going to fit or not by just looking at it. Often times the changing room is more or less for me to see if I find the look agreeable on me, not so much to check sizing. Some of the smaller thrift stores, like the one down here in Damascus, I don't think have changing rooms, but if they did, I doubt this particular establishment would let me try on a skirt there. A pair of men's jeans? Yes. But I have a work around for just such an event... just hand the skirts to my wife, carry one pair of trousers in the fitting room, and have her toss the skirts over the door.

Ahh the things we have to do in the bible belt....

Although I think the lady who works the counter at our local GoodWill might be one of "my kind".... based on her compliment of my necklace. That's good news for me.

[dillon]

I might have misunderstood Dillon's comments but to tax an organisation that funds an important function, as most thrift shops do, and then not spend enough taxes on that function seems unjust to me. An example in Australia is "Lifeline" which devotes most of the profit to suicide prevention which doesn't get enough government funding.

I had to travel away from home for a week and did the rounds of Op shops, wearing a skirt in all as it then seems quite logical to the staff for me to be looking through skirts. The huge supermarket sized store called Savers is slightly more expensive ($7.50 av for a skirt) but has a big range; I looked through about 120 skirts in the 10 to 12 size range. I really enjoy the fact that I could find something really great, particularly now I am more fussy and focussed in the type and style of skirt I will wear. I found some that I was happy with and went to the change rooms where there was a lady directing patrons into cubicles. I must have looked disappointed when I came out as the lady asked how I went and I told her that they were all a bit tight around the waist, she then went into a long and detailed explanation of various sizing protocols and the different brands approach to sizes. She even took a good look at me in my skirt and guessed my size. I thanked her and sadly took the treasures back to the rack.

Yes, I think you did misunderstand. Goodwill is a huge nationwide tax-exempt charity. I am asking that the people who support it to help make sure it conducts itself ethically. Certain laws exempt disabled individuals employed by such charities from coverage under US minimum wage laws. These workers are often paid only one half the minimum wage, sometimes less, while records reveal that the charity's executives are salarying themselves and favored cronies at outrageous amounts. This is a blatant abuse of the public trust as expressed in the tax-exempt status. I think all that was clear in the links I attached; take a read of those.

A private business, i.e. a local consignment or second-hand shop must comply with wage and hour laws. I think Goodwill should do the same. The minimum wage in the US is already a disgrace; tax exempt charities should not be abusing their priveleges.