By guest Editor , Andrea Sims

Reposted from An Elegant Yard Sale 

Home / Blog / Elegant Yard Sale Commentary / Why Are Thrift Store Prices Sooooo High?

WHY ARE THRIFT STORE PRICES SOOOO HIGH?

We often hear the comment, “I went to such and so store and their prices are ridiculously high.”  Yes, people say that about us sometimes, also.  The reality is product cannot be given away.  We must make money to keep the doors open so that our customers can continue to shop in a thrift store venue.

WE HAVE A PRICING TIER STRUCTURE LISTED HERE:

1. For product that is donated to An Elegant Yard Sale: we try to stay true to the “thrift store” image, i.e. lower prices are best.

Please remember, we still have significant overhead to pay so that we can best present you with our product. Some of the overhead costs include:

• Payroll
• Liability Insurance
• Rent
• Utilities
• Internet services
• Web site services
• Credit card processing charges

Sometimes the parent store, An Elegant Yard Sale, does not received enough donations to keep the brick and mortar floor stocked and must purchase product.  When we buy, we MUST cover our purchase cost or close the doors forever.  We cannot operate for FREE.

(Please note that about every 6 weeks, we have an “Open Air 

Free Market” where merchandise IS put outside for free.  We have a lot of traffic there and many people receive product at no cost to them.)

2. Because, we cannot keep up with customer demand for product, we have implemented a consignment program.

We provide local individuals a platform to sell their product.  The goal here is 2-fold; 1-keep the floor stocked; 2-help people make money to support themselves. Our consignees’ have a monetary investment in their product and have to sell for a price that produces a personal income.

3. Our website supplies another source of pricing.

This platform competes with eBay.  We use eBay and Amazon.com as a pricing standard on product seen on our website.  If you compare our product prices to those listed above, you will find a huge price reduction with us.

An Elegant Yard Sale is part of 4141 Ministries, a community benefit organization.  We develop programs that help support the needs of our community, such as Build-A-Child, an after-school and summer program, worker training and work experience for those with barriers to work, and spiritual needs through an active church.

We try to operate our store as efficiently as possible so that your dollars spent with us flow into our various ministries.

The long and short of this conversation is:

Yes some of our prices are higher than you might like; but most of our prices are extremely low.

Even on our website, which features brand new product that is also sold by your favorite online retailers, you will find a wide range of prices but most are quite low.

SO, PLEASE RESERVE JUDGMENT AND BAD REVIEWS UNTIL YOU HAVE THOROUGHLY CHECKED US OUT.  WE BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU “MUST HAVE” AT PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD.

Photo by Andre Guerra on Unsplash