Comments on: A Look Into the Gentrification of Thrifting

By: Leon Feingold

Leon Feingold — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:44:08 +0000

You could also shop to your heart’s content at thrift stores, and donate your own extra items to organizations which distribute clothing, shoes, housewares and more for free – like House of Good Deeds (HouseOfGoodDeeds. org), whose volunteers connect, sort, and host Good Deeds Giveaway events to make sure good quality items get into the hands of all those in need without involving churches or deities.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:42:48 +0000

I appreciate this article. It seems to be something nobody wants to talk about. The idea that the less fortunate are not interested in name brands , vintage or quality items is unfair. I prefer to shop items to save money and resell and or donate back when I no longer need it. I don’t have a problem with small side gigs or reselling occasionally. My problem is big time thrifing rings that also make money on YouTube and profit there too. The Niche Lady is one example. She doesn’t have a problem clearing the shelves ( with friends) of quality items and then going on a rant to a large audience, to complain about the prices. Unbelievable!

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:15:44 +0000

In reply to Rick. Did it ever accure to you that the needy would like to have name brand items too? There are easier ways to make money. I prefer saving money and the environment by buying thrift and reselling it when I no longer need it. That is only possible when I thrift quality items.

By: Lane

Lane — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:12:08 +0000

My mother in law worked at the sorting business in the 90s and 2000s. Essentially, truck loads of used clothes would come in. 20-30 women would sort them as they came on conveyor belts. Clothes were sorted based on order. So someone from NYC or Tokyo might come in asking for vintage levy’s or sone other designer clothes, paying the business more for those. Those clothes would sometimes cost over 100, and there was a market for that. Some clothes went into American and Canadian thrift stores, and leftover, poorest quality went into Africa’s and Asia’s poorest countries. I dont remember if anything was thrown out. So it was already sorted and a bit difficult to buy nice things. I never found anything nice at goodwill. My MIL would buy her family lots of quality stuff, found on those sorting belts. My friend buys lots of electronics and equipment, fixes them and sells them for profit. I don’t know what to think of this all, but it seems many people benefit from preowned things and it has been going on much longer than you all think. In other countries it’s actually more common to sell things that don’t work and purchase used as well without a middleman like goodwill. You just list things and sell them.

By: Teri

Teri — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 03:01:49 +0000

My daughter works at the Goodwill and anything of value goes to their auction site, essentially keeping it out of the hands of the poor. Also, they are expected to price items “competitively” with local stores- again, keeping it out of the hands of the poor. Seems to be just greed to me, as local stores pay for their inventory and the Goodwill doesn’t. I’m done with them!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 02:10:37 +0000

In reply to Connie. I agree that many thrift stores are fast fashion graveyards these days...but honestly I don’t think it’s just a product of resellers scooping up the good stuff, I think it’s a product of people completely over buying worthless, cheap clothing and donating it at rates never before seen. Where I live, a “large” Midwest city, a lot of thrift stores overprice true vintage- like a dooney and bourke purse might be $30. But other stuff and most all housewares have stayed cheap. I don’t know, I get the annoyance with resellers but to take the stance that people shouldn’t thrift unless they can’t afford anything else? Seems crazy to me. Normalizing second hand seems 100% necessary, thrifting is popular here and the stores are PACKED.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:19:26 +0000

In reply to Katy. Goodwill is a reseller themselves with their online auctions.

By: Connie

Connie — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 17:24:58 +0000

Good points. I have been disappointed with thrift stores recently I mostly see resale stock of fast fashion brands like Target, H&M, Zara. It’s much harder to find 100% wool and cashmere sweaters coats or pants which used to be common. I think we live in an economy where quality is being bought up and resold online. I have thrifted for 30 years and there is a dearth of real quality fabrics. I find the high end second hand resale shops are very expensive for women’s fashion so I would rather invest in new for that price. There is no in between price points anymore either cheap or very expensive designer fashion.

By: Lovey

Lovey — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 11:27:18 +0000

Interesting article. I see the word “gentrification” as a dog whistle term for a race-based phenomenon and to read an article on “gentrification” written by a White woman made me stop and think. I see this article being more about class than race. People who resale need the money and are using a business model that works. People who can afford retail and shop thrift are being super cheep. Yes, prices have gone up just as the cost of doing business has gone up.

By: Mika

Mika — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 05:50:23 +0000

As a thrifter, I really appreciated this article, Meggie. I haven’t read many articles like it. I will keep all of your points in mind from now on when I thrift. Thank you!

By: Vicky

Vicky — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 23:00:19 +0000

I’ve been thrifting for at least 30 years. Mostly out of need to find good products at great prices. I’ve furnished my home and my wardrobe. I rarely buy new. However, my favorite thrift store parking lots are filled with Mercedes Benz’s, Jags, Range Rovers and the like. There used to be a stigma associated with buying somebody else’s clothes or used household goods. Prices have definitely gone up and I hear customers complaining about it. I see people on their phones and tablets researching logos. Things have definitely changed.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 22:02:17 +0000

In reply to Rick. I have been thrifting for about 25 years and started to notice the change in price, and quality about 5 years ago. The last 3 years it has become awful. I inquired at a few of the stores about the drastic price increases and lack of quality merchandise. The managers at one of the largest thrift stores chains in the country said they have hired people to review the donations so they can keep the choice items to sell on their site. For the items that make it to the stores the managers all go to eBay listings to price, which is inaccurate since the solids tell you more about what the item is worth. I’m not a reseller but I will say....Oh Well, the good old days are gone.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 20:59:18 +0000

The idea that resellers are taking from the needy is simply not true. Resellers are very selective, because only a small percentage of items will generate a profit.
Name brand items are a want, not a need. Nobody needs a pair of Nikes.
Nobody needs a Michael Kors purse. Resellers are providing for their families and providing a service to their customers who do not want to pay retail for Brand name items. Nothing wrong with making an honest living.

By: Dominga

Dominga — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:48:49 +0000

I read all your input on this topic and it’s so surprising that this is the first time I come across someone writing about it I’ve drifted all my childhood till this day I enjoy thrifty for me or my kids or my grandkids that I can afford it when I grow up we were poor my mom made us dresses from fabric When I was 15 in high school I wore it with pride and I learn from it it’s not a shame to buy and wear something used because it is still in good condition, I have family members always telling me you sure do know how to find bargains Recently I found a jewelry box made in Italy worth more Then $10 that I bought it for, and activity said that I also bought porcelain made did not know till after three weeks when I brought it home I looked it up it was four times more than what I bought it for.

By: Jody

Jody — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 19:02:16 +0000

We donate everything after we no longer need it. I don’t shop at the outlets we donate to because I don’t want to take nice things that might be available at these places from people who need them. I have options to provide for my family, but lots of people don’t have those options. It’s a simple way for me to help our community by sharing our blessings.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:30:28 +0000

I also forgot to mention. I read an article one young lady started selling on depop to pay her way through college, because her single mother couldn’t help her.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:28:43 +0000

Very good article and yes it’s good to be conscious when you go shopping, however they have so much we can never buy all of it. When I walk into a store a joy comes over me, especially when I see something one of my long gone relatives used to have, the memories I miss come flooding back, thrift stores have cool stuff and not to mention quality we can no longer can get. Thrifting is not only helping the less fortune, but the economy as well. If you thrift and sell to help your family to pay bills or keep food on the table I don’t see the harm. I want you to know thrift stores take a lot of the valuable stuff never put it out and auction it off for high dollars, so there’s a lot that never hits the floor. If the prices are to high, because they are focused on resellers that’s horrible and should be held accountable. However, I don’t anyone should get mad at resellers.

By: Jackie Peters

Jackie Peters — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 18:03:12 +0000

In reply to Ruth. I "thriffted" for 2 yrs. And it was the best until my husband found out. Since we can afford to buy retail he feels thrift stores are for the needy. I say since I look for unusual items it's fair for me to shop. The deals are the best in small towns. Like the persian rug for $8.00, valued at over $2000.00!! Ye ha

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 16:50:37 +0000

In reply to Ruth. I agree. I thrift to save money and express my unique style. It angers me that others buy up all the clothing in the sale tag color with no regard for people who have economical hardship and no other place to go. For this reason I no longer donate to the chain thrifts, only local stores.

By: Katy

Katy — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:55:35 +0000

In reply to Ruth. Ditto. The main driver in price increases in our market is resellers. While store managers may not admit it to the general public, the conversation is very much had behind closed doors.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 13:59:08 +0000

It’s pretty unfortunate how things have unfolded in the past 10 years or so, I’ve been shopping secondhand since I was a child because that’s what I could afford. Prices have gone up and just about every shop now has young people who resell on depop and the like reaching over mothers shopping for their families. Often what’s left for the is second-rate clothes that are just as expensive as fast fashion online or at the mall. A lot of these resellers travel into poor and working class communities to hunt, I’ve seen organized teams at the Goodwill outlets, pretty jarring scene. Unfortunately I don’t see it changing much unless vintage goes out of style, profits narrow for resellers who can still manage to fork over the extra 5-15$ and still turn a profit, or these resellers and vultures gain a consciousness and heart.

By: Darin Marie

Darin Marie — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 17:29:57 +0000

Great article. Well done! Loved that you unpacked this topic. Good point about leaving interview suits for those who really need them. I’ve tried to thrift as much as possible and try my hardest to avoid major fast fashion companies. A very important read and one I’ll be sharing with friends :).