Not my own story, but the all-time coolest thing found at a thrift store: The costumers for The Wizard of Oz got much of the costume for the Wizard from thrift stores, and later discovered that one of the jackets had originally belonged to L. Frank Baum.
The local thrift stores are all associated with the museum where I work. If something comes in that looks “old” or unusual, they send it to us before putting it out on the floor. We’ve gotten the most amazing items that way.
One was a dress from around 1910, elaborately beaded and so gorgeous that I wished I could have snagged it to use as an evening gown. Another was a pink full length faux-fur coat from the 1970s. (I tried that one on-- it made me look like the Easter Bunny.) We have also gotten photo albums, diaries, collections of war letters, army uniforms (one from WWI in* perfect* condition) and even a well-worn corset.
When I moved to Vegas, I started collecting polo shirts with the logos of the various casinos. Most of them came from Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Savers (a chain of thrift stores).
My prize find was a shirt from the old Landmark hotel from Goodwill for $3. I’ve even had offers for it, but I love it too much to sell it.
Oh, forgot my favorite treasure:
1965 hardcover Lord of the Rings trilogy books in the slipcase. With the fold-out maps in the back.
An old platter for a buck or two. It has a wonderful tacky retro design painted onto it, but when I bought it (1988 or so), it was just plain tacky. The last 15 or 20 years have transformed it into cool and retro. I guess I should now sell it on e-bay, since it’s fashionable once again.
An off-the-shoulder Parasuco top for $4.00. When I was manager of a retail store, I sold that very top for $63.00. I still remember the time I caught a skank trying to shoplift one.
A pair of brand new Reebok walking shoes for $9.00, just happened to be in my size.
An Atari 2600 computer, with several cartridges (including BASIC) and the adapter to see the picture on your TV set AND the cassette tape drive, for $5.
An unused Radio Shack 8-track cartridge recording deck (the cord was still factory wound), also for $5.
I’ve also found records that were sent there to die, that I have never, ever seen in a store nor available on the web, all going for very little money. I got all The Beatles albums on 8-track, fer cryinoutloud, for a quarter each! They cost a mint from Beatles dealers!
A brand-new, tags still on it, Neiman-Marcus wool skirt. Gorgeous - black wool with a silk lining, extra buttons and thread still attached in a little plastic bag. Original price: $700 (SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS?!?!? FOR A SKIRT?!?!?) Priced down to $420 according to the store tag.
I got it for $3.20. Paid $8 to have it dry-cleaned. I get a lot of compliments on it.
A brand new, never been used EastPak daypack. Normally goes for about $30. I bought mine at Goodwill for $7.00.
My favorite was a dark grey pea coat for $5. I saw its brother at JC Penneys for $100 and change. This summer I found a great pasta maker with all the attachments for $5 at Value Village.
Need to go shopping this weekend…
A pair of Polk Audio speakers. I think they’re monitor JR, or something like that. (I’m not at home right now). I looked them up once and the closest match I could find looks like they originally sold for over $100 a piece.
There were $5 stickers all over them. I figured, “heck, for 10 bucks I’ll give it a shot”. Turns out it was 5 for both of them. After replacing a fuse on one, they rock. Best 5 bucks I ever spent.
I have a super-cool blue button-down work shirt I found at Goodwill: short-sleeved with a wide, flat, non-button-down collar. It’s a little snug on me, but makes my arms look huge. Looks very sharp when I wear a white or red T-shirt underneath it, kind of like a retro hipster/Tyler Durden style. Only four bucks!
An ashtray which is also a working map of Uruguay, 20 cents.
2 x amazing winter jackets from the 40’s and in really good condition.
I paid $6 and $8 for them.
[Spazms of Rapturous Joy!]
I have a leather executive desk chair for $30.
A very cool leather rocking chair that is The Bomb to sit in, for $70 ( the most I’ve ever paid for any thing there.) ( I bought it for my husband, she says with a wink and a smile, and when he sat upon it, the chair collapsed. It was glued together. So, my husband fixed it betterer and it could possibly withstand a nuclear strike.)
Recumbent bike for $50 that is so very quiet and the digital display thing is perfect. ( Retailed for about $600.) I got it so cheap because for reasons that I forget, had our trailer attached to my truck and the manager went :dubious: about me saying " I can take it right now…for cash money…if the price is right…"
Of course, my delight is my husbands utter dread.
Picked up a foosball table complete with the balls (very sturdy, a higher grade one) for $50 and had a pistol of a time jamming it into the cavernous backend of my Suburban. ( had to take the legs off. Pays to bring basic tools with you everywhere.)
Scores of purses. ( I’m a purse whore and looking for The Ultimate Purse and The Ulimate Knitting Bag.)
We had a buttload of formal events to attend ( as we were the guests of honor and all that. It wasn’t glamourous as it sounds. ) and I was majorly depressed as any woman would be at the prospect of shopping for a formal and knowing that a) formals are expensive b) you are not the 18 year old girl that you use to be.c) looking at myself in a full length mirror d) spending that kinda money on something so vain that sits in the closet most of the time.
I hit the SA and scored two non-bridesmaidy beautiful formals for a total of $21 and then hit another SA and found the Ultimate Stripper Shoes ( sliver platforms) to wear under the dresses so I didn’t have to have them altered a bit. You should see the Old Lady Brigade at our German Club gape at these shoes. The best $5 spent.
The dresses and those shoes, those fantastic shoes, I would have to say are the best.
Recently I scored a fantastic leaded crystal vase for $9 that is probably at least $100+ ( Im researching it still online.)
To say I love Salvation Army would be a gross, gross understatement.
I need to stop at Goodwill/Salvation Army more often…
Other stuff found at other bargain places:
When I moved out of Mom’s again after Dad’s death (I’d been living with them the last two years to help care for him), it was to an unfurnished rental. Half my furniture came from El Patriarca; half from a furniture factory that had closed years before but only sold the warehouse about the time I was moving, so they needed to clear it out now. Except for a coffee table that’s from a “real” furniture store and was full price, the whole flat got furnished for less than $300. Most of my linens, plates, etc were hand me downs from Mom.
There used to be a store in my home town that carried items used in fashion shows and shots. The Moschino trousers I got there got copied and recopied several times (seamstress); the Valentino denim jacket was probably the most gorgeous piece of clothing I’ve ever owned. Both cheaper than “regular” clothes and a looooot cheaper than the same items “brand new”!
At a consignment shop, I once found a poker set from the RMS QEII, with a turning rack of good poker chips and two decks of cards (one still sealed to this day), leather cover, personalized initials (not mine), for $10. I imagine that as a QEII souvenir it sells on board the ship for over $100.
A beat-up saxophone with case. Looked like it had spent a lot of time riding around in the trunk of some guy’s car and could tell a lot of stories. Works great. $50.
Mr. S once found two, count 'em two, espresso machines, still in the box, identical to the one at home for which he needed a replacement part. Now he has parts galore (and two extra carafes). $10 each.