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Show us your Thrift and/or yard sale finds

Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
Well, I've done it again. I just can't resist the Viking dishes.

dishes2.jpg

dishes1.jpg
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
2012-01-13%25252022.38.07.jpg


I really like this school/factory clock. It seems to work pretty good. I'm going to clean it up, and since I don't currently have a garage, it'll probably go up for sale.

2012-01-13%25252022.38.52.jpg


Found this in the trash at the end of my driveway today. I don't really have a use for it, so it may end up on the market, too, after a good cleaning.

2012-01-13%25252022.39.37.jpg
 

katiesparkles

One of the Regulars
Messages
187
Location
Rhode Island
My God, where do you people live? I want your thrift stores!!!
I try to make my thrift round at least once every two weeks but the closest thing to vintage I've come here was maybe late 70s.
It's Craigslist all day, every day for me... haha! Maybe I just don't venture the stores enough though.. mh. The week needs more days, preferably more weekend days. :(

Really though, great finds people!
 
Messages
10,950
Location
My mother's basement
My God, where do you people live? I want your thrift stores!!!
I try to make my thrift round at least once every two weeks but the closest thing to vintage I've come here was maybe late 70s.
It's Craigslist all day, every day for me... haha! Maybe I just don't venture the stores enough though.. mh. The week needs more days, preferably more weekend days. :(

Really though, great finds people!

Maybe the pickings are better out here, but please know that more often than not I leave thrift stores empty handed. And my visits rarely last longer than a few minutes. Quite some time ago I had myself trained to quickly spot that one vintage jacket on a rack full of dozens (hundreds, maybe) of newer ones. The housewares department takes maybe a minute. Same for furniture.

The trick is to enjoy the hunt even when you get skunked, and not to go looking for any one thing in particular. Most all my chattel property -- my furniture, clothing, tableware, etc., etc. -- was bought used, and mostly from thrift stores. And I got some real cool stuff, if I do say so myself.
 

katiesparkles

One of the Regulars
Messages
187
Location
Rhode Island
I know what you mean! I still have a hard time "spotting" something very quickly, so I really have to take my time to examine everything - especially clothing. Definitely still enjoying the trips though, otherwise I wouldn't even bother and just go to one of the many, what are they even called? - hip, re-sale vintage stores around here. :) One day I'll score at Savers here in Providence, I SWEAR! :D
 
Messages
10,950
Location
My mother's basement
Those "hip, resale vintage stores" often get their merchandise from people who scout the thrift stores for the good stuff. Those who are dependent on the income derived from such scouting can often be found waiting for the doors to open on days when the thrifts have their big sales. I wouldn't do it that way even it it were my primary occupation, though, seeing how the overwhelming majority of the stuff for sale in thrift stores like Goodwill or Savers (Value Village out here) is of absolutely no interest to the keepers of those trendy vintage boutiques. I think I'd do better just hitting lots and lots of thrift stores day after day, because you never know when the good stuff will show up.

I'm on friendly terms with a keeper of one of those hip bricks-and-mortar vintage/junktique store who does most of her own picking. Her store is open but two days a week. The rest of her work week is occupied with visiting the thrift stores and estate sales and such throughout the region. It's a full-time job, and then some.
 
Messages
10,883
Location
Portage, Wis.
Word on the streets is that our local St. Vinnie's now has a guy who scouts out their good stuff and puts it on eBay. I've got connections there, though, and if they have something they know I'll want, they'll put it aside for me.
 
Messages
10,950
Location
My mother's basement
Yeah, I made my first visit to the St. Vinnie's in Parkland (just south of Tacoma) a couple of weeks back. The second floor there was mostly given over to stuff they had listed on eBay. There wasn't much there that held much interest for me anyway, but it still left me thinking that I won't bother swinging in again anytime soon. For that reason, I have to wonder if this practice might backfire on them.
 
Last edited:

katiesparkles

One of the Regulars
Messages
187
Location
Rhode Island
Those "hip, resale vintage stores" often get their merchandise from people who scout the thrift stores for the good stuff. Those who are dependent on the income derived from such scouting can often be found waiting for the doors to open on days when the thrifts have their big sales. I wouldn't do it that way even it it were my primary occupation, though, seeing how the overwhelming majority of the stuff for sale in thrift stores like Goodwill or Savers (Value Village out here) is of absolutely no interest to the keepers of those trendy vintage boutiques. I think I'd do better just hitting lots and lots of thrift stores day after day, because you never know when the good stuff will show up.

I'm on friendly terms with a keeper of one of those hip bricks-and-mortar vintage/junktique store who does most of her own picking. Her store is open but two days a week. The rest of her work week is occupied with visiting the thrift stores and estate sales and such throughout the region. It's a full-time job, and then some.



Oh, yes. I wasn't 100 % sure of it, but I knew there must be people who go thrifting for them bright and early each (or almost each) day. It's kind of a bummer to me that because I don't have the time to look every day (well, me and probably most other people) I might miss out on something but life's unfair so... that is that, I guess.

My landlady has an empty store front in our house and she thought about opening up a thrift store... told her I'll be her best customer. Haha. We'll see if that will ever happen.

I didn't actually know Goodwill puts it on eBay, but I'm pretty sure they have their own shop/auction on site. Or maybe it wasn't Goodwill, I can't seem to remember. But definitely one of the bigger thrift store chains.
 

katiesparkles

One of the Regulars
Messages
187
Location
Rhode Island
I only looked there once, months ago, but it was too confusing. They had stuff up that has been sold for days and some of the pictures were just awful.. meaning you couldn't even make out WHAT the item for sale is. Now I'm curious though, let's see what they have up right now...
 

Txmason

Familiar Face
Messages
68
Location
Texas
What beautiful finds! Does anyone know any good thrift /goodwill stores in the spring/the woodlands area in Texas? Houston is too far to drive. Any vintage aviation prints or vintage watches?

Jerry
 

Txmason

Familiar Face
Messages
68
Location
Texas
@mrnewportcustom: I have a Bronica SQA medium format in mint condition. But I need a prism for it. Do you know where I could find one? Plus I have a Canon A-1 35mm but can't get the film to advance.

Any advice?

Jerry
 

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