Make sure to look over your items before purchasing them
Posted on 21. Dec, 2009 by Brigitte in Uncategorized
I just got back from thrift store shopping and found some real gems as I always do. This time it was a sugar and cream set made of melamine. A type of plastic material used back in the day. These items are very collectible. I found a cute set for $1.99 for both and was have a “heart pumping” moment as I like to call them. I headed for the counter with all my items in tow (I also had some dinner plates I bought for the holidays, how can you go wrong for 99 cents each?) and luckily I examined my sugar set a little closer since I was standing in line and noticed a crack inside the sugar cup. Darn! Good thing I noticed it then and there. Had there not been a line I would have just placed it onto the counter, paid for it and not noticed until I got home or when I went to take photos.
This is a good reminder for us all. It’s easy to get so excited when we find that money making treasure that we throw in our cart and away we go. Make sure to examine your items! Do like I do and just place them in your bin or cart and look at them later if need be. Actually, I do this anyway to get a total of all my items. It’s not uncommon for me to have a $75 total at the thrift store! I mean, that’s like $500 at the mall!
So although I too forget, I do try to look real close. Sometimes the stores put the stickers right onto the chip or crack and you don’t notice until you get home. This has happened to me a few times. Those suckers! So now, if I find something I really want in the ceramics niche, I ask if I can look underneath the sticker. Don’t be shy and do this too!
Same goes with clothing. Look at your item very thoroughly. I know you can have tons of clothes in your hand so like I said, when you think you are ready to check out, go to the corner of the store or sit on a couch or chair (if they don’t mind) and check out your items. Looks for missing buttons, holes, stains. Be ESPECIALLY thorough with white items. There’s a high chance for a stain.
Hope this is helpful for you all. Please leave any comments or questions and I’ll make sure to answer them.
Lois Dupre
29. Dec, 2009
Hi
I too am bad about looking items over before I buy them. My husband is really good thank goodness. One of the things he does, that I forget to do, is “tap” glass and pottery items to hear the sound it makes. A dull sound means you should be looking for the crack.
Thanks
Lois
Anauted
Brigitte
31. Dec, 2009
I’ll have to remember that, thanks Lois.
rosemary
30. Dec, 2009
One extra thing to look for which I found out the hard way.
If you are buying any blouses in particular, turn them inside out. You can have deodorant stains on the arms that wont come out if you try to remove them-and they dont show from the outside on initial exam..
Brigitte
31. Dec, 2009
That’s right! thanks for the tip Rosemary!
Gwendolyn
07. Jan, 2010
I had what I thought was a score on some Brooks Brothers patchwork shorts that looked like they had never been worn or laundered. They were a 32 waist according to the tag inside. I sold them for a good profit but when the buyer got them they measured a 29″ . They had been professionally altered and you could not tell. I did not measure so it was my fault and I had to refund the guy his money. Be sure to measure, preferably before you buy but for sure before you list.
Brigitte
08. Jan, 2010
Wow, never thought of that, great tip.
Deena O'Daniel
08. Jan, 2010
Great Post, Brigitte..thanks. I’ve been buying men’s Hawaiian shirts – and one thing I do, though it may sound gross, is smell the shirt, especially the armpits…so far so good, I haven’t been knocked out, and all the shirts I’ve bought have been clean. But you never know. Also, one of the thrift shops I go to puts the stickers on the bottom of china and pottery, right over the name – I just peel it back, have a peek, and put it back.
Brigitte
08. Jan, 2010
Hi Deena, well, if we want to keep our feedback high than we have to do what we have to do. We should smell them too. I say “no odors” on my stuff but I can’t say I take a good sniff (ooh gross right? haha) As for the stickers, yes you’re right. Also, do this to make sure they aren’t covering a chip or a crack. I once bought a hula girl little figurine (remember I talk about those in the book) , got all excited, came home and under the price tag was a huge chip. Gosh darn it. Luckily it was only 99 cents but still, not good.
Fran
08. Jan, 2010
Make sure all the buttons are still on a shirt, especially the top one (at the collar). A couple of times, I thought I had checked carefully for buttons, but got home and discovered the top one was gone. I don’t button my top button so I had not looked there as carefully as I did the rest of the buttons.
I also had the alteration problem. Mine was on a pair of dressy jeans. They too looked brand new, and the alteration must have been professionally done, as the jean hem looked original, but the ladies’ jeans were actually a petite length, and the tag did not say so.
Brigitte
09. Jan, 2010
Make sure to look at my cleaning tips page for all the items I use that really help me out a lot. I just added the air cans that save the day!
Gwendolyn
11. Jan, 2010
Lighter fluid is also another handy thing to keep around as sometimes it will remove sticker residue that Goo Gone just smears. But be very careful with it and NEVER use with open flame or while smoking. Also cheap hairspray will sometimes remove ink stains from inside purses and on clothing. Just spray it on and rub the area vigorously. The cheaper hairspray the better but it must be aerosol–not pump.
An art gum eraser from the art store can sometimes gently remove pencil marks from old books ,etc.
Brigitte
11. Jan, 2010
ooh, great tips Gwendolyn. thanks!
Terri C
10. Feb, 2010
I had the same kind of situation as Gwendolyn did…except mine was a pair of Levis jeans…looked like they had never been worn and CHEAP! So I sit down to list them and although the tag stated 32 length…they had been professionally hemmed and were 28″. Im OCD about measurements, so I did catch it before they were purchased, but I always try to look a little closer now.