We buy inventory from a lot of places, estate sales, private collections, downsizing clients.
But we also thrift.
Sometimes for sourcing…
Sometimes just for the entertainment.
And lately? It’s been entertaining for all the wrong reasons.
The “Boutique Thrift Store” Problem
I’m in thrift stores weekly. Mostly Goodwill because it’s close, but I also hit places like:
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Salvation Army
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St. Vincent
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Local spots like Corner Cupboard in Dayton
And here’s what I keep seeing:
Some of these big thrift chains have completely forgotten what they are.
They got the item for free…
…and are pricing it like they’re running a high-end online collectible shop.
They’re glued to eBay comps.
But they’re missing one critical detail:
👉 They are not eBay.
They are:
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In a strip mall
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In a single city
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Serving a limited, local audience
They do NOT have millions of buyers scrolling daily.
The Shelf of Shame Is Real
There’s a Goodwill near me where I literally track items week after week.
Same broken figurine.
Same overpriced decor.
Same items… sitting there for months.
Six months.
For what?
A chipped item priced like it’s museum quality?
That’s not strategy, that’s delusion.
Pricing With No Logic
Let’s talk consistency… or lack of it.
Yes, they claim standardized pricing.
Until:
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One random shirt is priced higher “because it looks nice”
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A basic brand like Old Navy is marked up like it’s designer
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Damaged items are priced like they’re pristine
There’s no system. Just guesswork.
And guesswork creates:
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Dead inventory
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Cluttered shelves
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Slower turnover
Which, by the way, is the exact opposite of how a thrift model is supposed to work.
Here’s What’s Actually Happening (And It’s a Problem)
This is where it gets real.
People are starting to notice.
And they’re changing behavior.
👉 Donors are shifting to:
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Small local thrift stores
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Church-run shops
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Community-based organizations
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Buy Nothing groups
Why?
Because they feel like their donations actually matter there.
Not like they’re feeding a pricing machine.
Meanwhile… the System Is Breaking
Let’s call it what it is:
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Execs at the top? Paid well.
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Store employees? Underpaid.
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Time spent researching random items? Wasted.
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Shelves? Backed up and stagnant.
And the biggest issue:
👉 Items aren’t moving.
Which means:
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They get pushed to outlets
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Or worse…
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They end up in landfills anyway
So what was the point of donating?
The landfill trip just got delayed.
The Stores Getting It Right
Now let’s talk about the ones who do understand the assignment.
Smaller thrift stores:
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Price to move
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Reprice regularly
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Understand their local customer
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Support their community
Places like Corner Cupboard in Dayton are doing it right.
They’re not trying to be eBay.
They’re running a true thrift model.
And guess what?
👉 They win:
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More donations
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More foot traffic
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Faster turnover
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Better community trust
Final Thought: Thrift Stores, Pick a Lane
You can’t be both:
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A donation-based thrift store
and -
A high-end curated resale boutique
Those are two completely different business models.
Right now, some of these big chains are stuck in the middle…
…and it’s not working.
And For Shoppers & Resellers…
Pay attention to where you spend your money.
Because every dollar you spend is a vote.
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For pricing that makes sense
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For stores that actually serve their community
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For keeping items OUT of landfills
Support the ones doing it right.