BinkieBaumont said:"Back in the 1980's I used to buy amazing things in "Yves Saint Vinnies" (Selfridges Trenchcoat) and other "Thrift Shops" now they are full of rubbish, I think they have a "Scrutiniser" who looks through everything, some gets shredded, some goes to the shop and some goes home"
Actually, a lot will have someone "on staff" who pick the eyes out of the place and put the good stuff on ebay. The shops that don't will usually be putting the good stuff under the counter for a mate who will then put it on ebay and give the staff member a kickback of the profit. You will have to be pretty lucky (or persistent) to get quality vintage in thrift stores these days. It happens, but usually only when the "scrutinisers" screw up.
I was talking to the lady at a charity store yesterday. Apparently, to stop this sort of thing happening, the item has to go on sale for 24 hours before the staff are allowed to buy it. That doesn't, of course, stop them from quickly calling a friend or even putting items on "lay-buy" until said friend arrives to pay for it. With the invention of ebay everyone is an antique dealer and a valuation of an item is only as far away as your 3G internet phone.