A Rural Squirrel visits the Denver Goodwill Outlet World
Going to the Goodwill Outlet is different than most other thrifting experiences. In the retail world, you shop in a regular store with sections and departments and things hung on racks and shoes paired up and on a shelf. Not in the Outlet World! It's more like walking into a teenage boys room with clothes everywhere, a single shoe with no match to be found, maybe even some tools or some school supplies sprinkled in. At the Outlet, you can get a terrific bargain, but you really have to work for it!
The merchandise comes out of the sorting room in back, in big bins on wheels. I sometimes call them "junk buckets" or "troughs". There is no major organization to the bins other than to be sorted by wares, clothes, or shoes. Some locations sort out their glassware, but not all. Otherwise, the treasures are just piled in the bins and you have to sort through and untangle the items you want. When the new bins come out, they call it a "rotation" and the only way that I can describe it is to say that it's like Black Friday on steroids every 30-60 minutes when the new rotations come out. The first time I experienced a wares rotation, it sounded like a Midwest tornado and it was several months before I felt comfortable enough to get into those bins during a rotation. Clothing bins are just as chaotic, but less noisy.
The cool thing about the Outlet is that you purchase your goodies by weight. I can usually find some nice things, and fill a shopping cart, for around $30.00. Today, I found a Lululemon headband, some Patagonia sneakers, some vintage strainers for my spring flowers, and this fabulous Irish dancing dress that looks to be hand-done and custom made:
At first, I just put it into my cart, thinking that it was cool and unusual but that I would not be able to wear it (not my size) and my girls probably would never. But it was so intricate and well made that I hated to throw it back into the bins, so I looked it up on eBay and they can range from $50.00 for a mass produced costume to an $800.00 custom made celtic dancing dress!! What??!!! Score! And just in time for St. Patrick's Day! This little sweetheart will find a loving new family on eBay!!
I spent most of the day there, and I usually do stay more that a few hours when I go. But with new treasures coming out all day long, it's hard to leave! Today, it might have paid off. The girls have a few "new" goodies and this dress will no longer be an orphan.
Let's see what we find next week!
In the meantime, keep up with me on my Instagram, Facebook, and of course, my eBay store!
view a_rural_squirrel 's store
The merchandise comes out of the sorting room in back, in big bins on wheels. I sometimes call them "junk buckets" or "troughs". There is no major organization to the bins other than to be sorted by wares, clothes, or shoes. Some locations sort out their glassware, but not all. Otherwise, the treasures are just piled in the bins and you have to sort through and untangle the items you want. When the new bins come out, they call it a "rotation" and the only way that I can describe it is to say that it's like Black Friday on steroids every 30-60 minutes when the new rotations come out. The first time I experienced a wares rotation, it sounded like a Midwest tornado and it was several months before I felt comfortable enough to get into those bins during a rotation. Clothing bins are just as chaotic, but less noisy.
The cool thing about the Outlet is that you purchase your goodies by weight. I can usually find some nice things, and fill a shopping cart, for around $30.00. Today, I found a Lululemon headband, some Patagonia sneakers, some vintage strainers for my spring flowers, and this fabulous Irish dancing dress that looks to be hand-done and custom made:
At first, I just put it into my cart, thinking that it was cool and unusual but that I would not be able to wear it (not my size) and my girls probably would never. But it was so intricate and well made that I hated to throw it back into the bins, so I looked it up on eBay and they can range from $50.00 for a mass produced costume to an $800.00 custom made celtic dancing dress!! What??!!! Score! And just in time for St. Patrick's Day! This little sweetheart will find a loving new family on eBay!!
I spent most of the day there, and I usually do stay more that a few hours when I go. But with new treasures coming out all day long, it's hard to leave! Today, it might have paid off. The girls have a few "new" goodies and this dress will no longer be an orphan.
Let's see what we find next week!
In the meantime, keep up with me on my Instagram, Facebook, and of course, my eBay store!
view a_rural_squirrel 's store
Comments
Post a Comment