I wonder if vinyl-static sticker or low-tack adhesive technology is cheap enough yet to compete with the ‘crappy paper tag with super-sticky adhesive’ that leaves paper and glue residue when you try to remove.
Too many used goods stores (or new goods discounters) use those damn paper stickers which are impossible to get off, and leave marks/residue when you do get them off, ruining the finish on the item. :mad:
It’s a pleasure when stores use nice sticker which just peel off the item, leaving no trace - these stickers always seem to have some plastic (or other polymer) coatings on them, so I guess they ain’t cheap enough. 
Forgot to reply to this:
Yes! I have seen those advertised on the net. However, I have yet to see them ifor sale n Canada (I cannot justify spending $20US for shipping to Canada that most of these places charge over the internet).
As soon as I see one here, I’m picking it up!
Zenster… that’s a nice looking pen… a sterling Parker pen in a ciselle pattern is a wonderful thing… even if it is a ballpoint.
I don’t frequent the thrift stores that much as they rarely have anything I’m looking for although many have my number in case interesting items (pens) come in for sale.
I do however, volunteer my professional services to the Salvation Army antique store by doing pen appraisals for them.
This benefits us both as I get to take a first look at any (fountain) pens that come in and they can then get a better price on any items I don’t buy… I get a great discount for my services.
Sometimes it’s nice to get valuable items for a few cents on the dollar but on the other hand, you have to live with yourself afterwards. I need that peace of mind of knowing that I haven’t ripped anyone off.
I feel a little guilty for snagging a Parker 51 sterling fountain pen and pencil set from the antique mall a few weeks back as the vendor could have easily made ten times what I had paid but the mall does have a no haggling rule (and the manager is a complete asshole about this).
And rules are rules…
The difference between Value Village and Goodwill is that Value Village is a for profit company that “partners”"with charities for it’s goods.
Goodwill is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide employment and training for people with barriers to getting jobs. They claim that a large percentage of revenues go directly to meeting this mission vs. the much smaller percentage that goes to charity in the case of Value Village.
If you wanna good deal, go wherever you want to, but as far as helping a “charity” goes, Goodwill’s probably the better bet!
We don’t have a Good Will here, although we do have a Sally-Ann.
SirRay, you do not know how it broke my heart to see them ruin that Dr. Seuss book. The adhesive sticker was smack in the middle of the lavish color jacket illustration. Removing it was going to tear the paper off without a doubt. They had instantly dropped the value from nearly one hundred dollars to less than fifty. It was criminal.
Sadly, these morons had it under the counter and did not need to tag it in the first place, but that did not deter them from ruining it.
Feynn, what part of “no haggling” don’t you understand? [wink] I’m glad you liked my catch of the day. Oh, how I wish there had been a fountain pen in that set. You’re a pen expert. Did Parker ever make a fountain pen in that same ciselle pattern? Also, what is the history behind the pattern? I have always been enchanted by its appearance and am stoked about having added it to my Mont Blanc, Cross, Parkers and Koh-i-noor Rapidographs.
Good on your for evaluating donations and educating the store’s personnel about the items that cross their path. I always point out items of significance or hidden damage to vintage pieces so that they realize what their correct value should be. I cannot begin to list the incredible treasures I have found in thrift stores. I’m happy to say that many managers give me price breaks because of the help I give them.
I don’t know where you are, bernse, but when I lived in Waterloo, there was a Goodwill just down the street from me.
Funny enough, the Sally Ann was out in the middle of nowhere.
Bernsie my love, I think the Urban Outfitters down the street is selling them. I betcha I could ship it to you for far less than a commercial outfit would.
Perhaps the person doing their pricing thought, “Ooo, a computer!” and just slapped a random price on that Atari?
As mentioned, people sometimes are that dumb.
Esprix
Just saw this! Thanks for the offer! While I do indeed want one, I’m not going to go out of my way for it. I’ll pick one up if/when I happen to see it in a local store.
Thanks very much though! I really appreciate it!
I love the thrill of the hunt at the variety of charity places around here. I don’t get to go into them much because the kiddies tend to go bonkers, but the last time I was in Goodwill, I picked up a Liz Claiborne cardigan for a whopping $1.00 and a set of stainless steel mixing bowls (that are what I wanted anyway) for $2.00.
Me very happy.
So, Value village is like an overpriced goodwill?
Kinda sorta. The one I go to has a lot more stuff than the Salvation Army store next door and is better lit. Kinda like a K-Mart with used stuff. And I usually find stuff much cheaper than it would be elsewhere.
But, I’ll note, it seems to vary by store (just by the posts on here).