What's out: The mall. What's in: Thrift stores.
Filed under: Bargains, Recession
Have you been to a mall lately? It's sort of a depressing place. Lots of stores have vacated the premises, and with the clerks that are left manning the surviving shops and kiosks look like they're starved for social interaction. There's just no one there. The Christmas music playing over the PA seems out of place in such a deserted venue. The real shopping crowds this holiday season aren't at the mall -- no one's paying full price this for anything anymore. But you will find long lines at your local thrift stores, where you can purchase new and gently used clothes, furniture, accessories, and more for just a few bucks a pop, whether you're buying Levi's or designer jeans with the tags still on them.
Thrift stores are a great place to find inexpensive treasures, especially when "vintage" is so totally in style. Don't make the rookie mistake of thinking of thrift shopping as going through other people's trash. Lots of things for sale there have never been worn before at all, and everything has to be in decent condition before they put it on their racks, even at Goodwill. Tons of the things you'll find there are actually straight from the mall -- when stores can't sell all their merchandise, they send it to thrift stores to make room on their own clearance racks. These items might be a season or two behind the actual weather, but they're brand new, and the seasons will roll around again next year.
Secondhand shops are an especially great place for women to look for formal wear. So often, a girl will spend hundreds of dollars on a prom dress that she only wears once -- then it finds its way to the Goodwill racks after only a few hours of wear, and now it can be yours for less than $10. Avoiding the mall also means you're less likely to show up at your next formal wearing the same dress as everyone else who shops at JC Penney. (My local mall isn't very big, so my high school prom had 200 girls all wearing the same 10 dresses.)
Okay, so even with the economy as ugly as it is, a lot of people don't like the idea of secondhand Christmas gifts. If your loved ones asked Santa for clothes, you might still want to hit up the mall. But you can make room in your bank account for those full-priced outfits by shopping thrift stores for yourself. At an average of about $4 per clothing item, you can get yourself an entire winter wardrobe for under $50 -- the cost of one pair of jeans at the local mall.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-21-2008 @ 2:20PM
Noel Freedman said...
From our 30 years living above the Aurora Village Shopping Center, Shoreline, we watched the birth and demise of the mall; as if it was a shooting star's birth, flash/glow freefall, fade died spark. The rents were too heavy, and left everything along in the dark. Then along came COSTCO which was remarkable; like a Second Coming and again filled up the park.
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11-21-2008 @ 2:25PM
sarah said...
I remember when Frederick and Nelson was there and a nice movie theatre. The mall that go out of business are due to, in my opinion, greedy landlords who charge so much per square foot of mall space that retailers can't compete with non-mall stores. I prefer Value Village thrift stores all over the metro area. A dollar goes much further. And the executive membership at Costco pays for itself after the first year. Costco and Value Village are our family favs.
11-21-2008 @ 2:21PM
sarah said...
Mondays at Value Village the colored tag that was chosen the prior Thursday that went 50% off Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday--that tag goes to $.99 cents on Monday. No matter if its furniture, clothing, small appliances, cd players, tvs, stereos, shoes, jewelry, dishes, etc. I know every Value Village around where I live and I shop there every week. The older things are sturdier, better quality, and the dollars go MUCH further. Many of the items are still new, barely used. Best place to get music cds and books too. And if you bring in a donation, you get a coupon for 20% off. And they discount for senior citizens. I buy thrift store for birthday and Christmas gifts. It is FUN to see what you can find. Last week I found a Fenton aqua blue stretch glass beautiful pedestal dish for $3.99 at Value Village thrift store. Most things are not collectibles, but sometimes you find neat things!
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11-21-2008 @ 3:08PM
sandy said...
Omg. That is the only place I shop at. I am a single mother of three children. I cannot afford to buy expensive clothes for my children to tear, be soiled or to grow out of by the next season. There are so many good finds in a thrift store. It also teaches children to become appreciative of the less fortunate and grateful of their belongings. In turn, I have my children donate some of their good wear cloths as well.
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11-21-2008 @ 4:08PM
Dougie said...
It's so true, the rent is so high at our local Mall, the retailers have to charge high prices to make their rent. I shop at Wal-Mart alot, name brand items at reduced cost. Wake up Mall owners and decrease the rent so retailers can stay competitive!
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11-21-2008 @ 4:40PM
Constantly said...
The nearest thrift store is awful. Clothing is faded and worn. Furniture is busted but they still want $100 for it. I find better bargains at clearance racks at the mall and department stores.
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11-21-2008 @ 6:55PM
tara said...
aaahhh!!! shut up shut up!!! why is aol doing this/?? we thrifties have known for decades what the mall rats refused to believe....Salvation Army stores and others like them are wonderful hunting grounds for everything from toys to cosmetics to hunting trophies. Its true ...people have no idea how much new stuff is donated, and most of the old stuff is in great condition and can always be drycleaned or boiled, if you're that worried. You pick up more germs going to the toilet in a restaurant or sitting in a plane for 8 hours breathing everyone elses air than buying a second hand sweater....and ya cant wash the toilet!!!!!
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11-22-2008 @ 1:32PM
Charmingly Lindas Quality Consignments said...
More people are finding out about consignment than ever before. We are up this year over last years numbers. We have great stuff and better than great prices.
You have to be a fool not to check us out before going to the mall! Linda @ Charmingly Lindas Quality Consignments
http://www.charminglylindas.com
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11-24-2008 @ 3:16PM
dani said...
A really great way to still hit the malls & save a ton of cash is on off-season kid's clothes. I hit the clearance racks for my sons all year long and the prices are just as good as Goodwill. Last year, I picked up five polo shirts for my five year old at Old Navy & paid only 2.99/a piece. They were spring styles selling in late summer so the store really needed to move them. Their original price was around $20 so I was real happy to have them. The best part is that I always have something on hand when the weather changes so I never really have to shop for them at the last minute. Spring arrived early & I put on his brand new 2.99!! shirt for school one morning & he looked great..........Right now is a fantastic time to pick up his winter coat for next year. JCPenney is selling some as low as $10!! Just always buy a size up & you're good to go. Oh--and I'm a big fan of hand-me-downs, too. I'm forever exchanging with my sister & sister-in-law. Lands End snow boots that my nephew wore once last year were in perfect condition for my guy this year. Really, why pay retail for all this stuff if you don't have to?
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