The epidemic sweeping thrift stores nationwide

[IndySales]

Today I walked into a thrift store and saw a computer monitor with approx. 12 price stickers stuck to the front display. Not on the bezel – the screen itself. These were what I call “three strip” stickers since they are put on as one piece, but rip into three sections once you start removing them. The task to remove them all would have been monumental. Of course, they want top dollar for it. All 5 monitors I found in the store had the same insane number of price stickers on them. This isn’t new, though – I’ve been noticing it for years. Stores are also prone to just writing the price in marker on the display, an even more baffling method of destroying a perfectly fine monitor. Each day I walk into the local GWs and see the same monitors on the same shelf with the same sticker applied in the same spot. How are they not seeing that this is the reason they aren’t selling?

This is an epidemic – hundreds of thousands of computer monitors (some produced within the last 5 or 10 years) will end up in the landfill due to excessive price tagging/marker use. This is 100% preventable. I’ve already talked to one manager and will talk to more in the coming weeks. We can do this – no more trashed monitors by 2024! It’s a group effort.

Please, do your part: If you see something, say something.

[Ryanne]

i find this to be true with other items at thrift stores too, beautiful materials with Sharpie marker prices written on them. ruined!!

[SilverFoxFinds]

Ditto, Ryanne – I’ve seen several items where grease pen is used to write prices on the inside of bags, for example – right on the woven fabric! Not sure if it’s laziness or an attempt to stop reselling, or what. But I wouldn’t want to purchase something for myself really where it was ruined in such an avoidable way.

[Jay]

We were in a thrift store today when I saw a cool book. They put a tape sticker on the cover. I tried to get it off before I purchased it. But since it was obvious the cover was going to rip peeling the tape, I passed. Lost sale for the store.

[debitendcredits]

It’s almost like a comedy sketch. Are employees told to put the price tags in the most destructive and useless place on the item? At my local goodwill they alway put the price tags over identifying marks on ceramics. It drives me nuts – I have to stand there and gingerly peel off a label that identifies the product.

I understand that have to use multiple stickers to avoid bad players switching price tags. But does a coffee mug really need 4 price tags?

[Antique Frog]

peel off a label that identifies the product.

That’s what I do. The shops started doing it a year or two back; now it seems to be dying off. Local thrift shop marks down pottery with marker pen on the base- it washes off with toilet cleaner.

[simplicio]

It is indeed annoying. I wish they wouldn’t do that.

However, I can also report that it’s fun to read your post in a 1990’s World Vision telethon voice

[VintageTreasures]

I sell a lot of out of print vintage sewing patterns and some stores are now marking their prices on the paper pattern envelopes with grease pen or magic marker. Those stores are losing a lot of sales by doing so. I (mostly) only buy the ones with sticker or stapled price tags. The stickers come off easily if heated with a hair dryer before peeling.

[almasty]

Wow. I remember when thrifts would have boxes full of them and just have a sign on the box that said “10 for $1.” That’s crazy to me that they’re bothering to individually price them!

[tam from Tam’s Vintage & More]

I have seen a lot of this in the Illinois stores as well. Even some estate sales in the last year or so. Kind of mean spirited and short sighted in my opinion, but there is plenty of other stuff to buy.

[Author]

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