BEST yard sale/flea market/thrift store finds!?!

13 years ago

I am admitted YS/FM/TS junkie! Go into serious withdrawl when the "season" for outdoor things is over and have to rely on thrift stores for a fix. I'm NOT into knick knacky stuff. Always on lookout for items (mostly kitchen) that I'm not willing to pay full price for. Often find things that I've seen on TV... obviously not great or owner would be keeping them. A few years back, we were bombarded with commercials for that pasta pot with the holes in the lid... guess for cooks who can't manage a collander?? They were everywhere at yard sales the following summer.

I have made some GREAT finds that I'd like to share.

Found a prisitine LeCrueset grill pan at Good Will... cast iron interior & perfect blue enamel exterior... $5... something like $100 at their site. Also at GW, a Cuisinart ice cream maker... $5... think they didn't know how to put it together... about $70 value.

At another thrift shop, found a KitchenAid hand mixer... still in box and beaters/dough hooks still in plastic. Sticker on box from Kohls said $69.99... I paid $5.

Cuisinart food processor with all blades... $8. Already had one. Bought it thinking, extra bowl. Ended up it was a step up from the basic model I had... slightly biger and definitely more powerful.

A few gidget-gadgets that I'm glad I didn't actually buy in a store. EX: Salad shooter (deluxe model with 5-6 different blades)... for $2-3 a good deal, but not a keeper. Bought a bread machine for a few $, cuz it looked like it had never been used and came with all the paperwork in the box. When I got bored with it, donated to thrift store for someone else to try.

Bought a mini version of a Tupperware container for $.50. Have a friend who collects them. SOmething rattled inside... bracelet and earrings... "silver & amber". Sell said... keep them. When I tried to clean them up, discovered a silver mark on them. Ended up they were REALLY silver and amber after all.

What great pre-owned finds have you made?

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Comments (6)

toomuchglass
13 years ago
I never seem to find great stuff. I got 2 snowcone machines at the GW for $5 each - new in the box. I use them sooo much .Nothing really exciting or valuable like you ! (But I'll keep looking )
susie_bird
13 years ago
Got 12 place settings of Mikasa dishes, including serving pieces and S&P, creamer, etc for $65.00 at GW. Came home and looked online - 5 pc (dinner, salad plate, soup bowl coffee cup and saucer) are $49.99 - and I got 12 settings, plus serving pieces. Salt and pepper are $29.99 online, and they still had stickers on the bottom. Never used!!! Best part is, I had just remodeled my kitchen and they matched perfectly.
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A new Goodwill opened up in Pierre. They built a big new building. Yesterday was the first time I was in it. It has been open for 2 weeks now I think. There weren't very many people in there. I probably won't be going back either. I know they brought loads of stuff in here that didn't sell any place else. They have racks and racks of clothes. I had found a couple of tshirts, but I held them up and you could see through them. So I put them back. all of there odds and ends stuff is on top of the clothes racks. I am short and I am not going to try to look at stuff that is not even organized. Looked like it was just thrown up there. Hardly anything was marked and if it was it was overpriced. I wanted to use the bathroom but I couldn't find one. There was one door that was marked employees only. I am sure that was probably it. If they built that big of a building you would have thought they would put a bathroom in it. A lot of the clothes looked old. Even the games looked old. There were a lot of ashtrays too. I can't even think of anyone even wanting to buy an ashtray. I haven't seen one for years. Maybe I was too picky I don't know. I will go to the other thrift store. All the clothes are clean and newer. I have bought sets of sheets there for 4.00 and they have them marked if they are deep pockets or not. It may not be as big put I think it is cheaper and the quality is better. Their help is all volunteer and the money goes to help the needy. I have heard that Goodwill gives very little to charity. I can't remember what their sign says. I know one part says something about employing people. I heard on the radio one day they had 13 employees and were looking for 2 more. WOW so they must each get a few hours a week.
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Thanks, Mojo... I'm finding it's kind of hard to get folks to respond, though. I don't know if there just aren't a lot of people from my area online in the forums, or folks just want to keep their favorite fleas, antiques places and thrifts their own little secrets. Their choice, of course-- but most people have very distinct taste and collections anyway-- so it's not like sharing will really make it harder to find stuff personally. Oh well. I'll continue to do detective work and try out these places on my own. Ah, the joy of RandMcNalley! :-) Have a good one, Jenn http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/
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maddie_in_ky
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I bought a beautiful (slightly used) Beverly Feldman purse for $20.00. I did a google on it, and found the smaller version for $500. I love it!
tlfox
13 years ago
Hmmm...I could write up a HUGE list, I love my area thrift store.

The best deals for this summer though...

Pottery Barn decor for $1 each that I found in the catalog from the winter for no less than $50 each.

A set of LeCrueset cookware still in the box for $25.

A box of what the seller called junk...that ended up having an almost complete set of antique french flatware, several great ironstone pieces (my first ones - yay!), and more great antique and vintage kitchen wares than one could possibly hope for - for the bargain price of $5. OMG...I almost felt bad when I got home and researched what I bought. But I had to remind myself - one man's trash is another man's treasure...and this was a treasure for sure in my world.
RedTurtle
12 years ago
So many things, but my two favorite finds- vintage marble lamp made huge again by shabby chic for $5 at a flea market (girl just gettin' rid of grandma's junk- had no idea what she had)
- coffee table made out of a hatchcover from an old ship - awesome nautical decor find, esp. cool since we live near the ocean - heavy, substantial, under $15...again, the guy had no idea what it even was.
User
12 years ago
Like you all, I have found some wonderful things, but.... my greatest find. A 1920's gold enameled locket with a fancy chain ---- with my initial on it. This was 25 years ago and I never take it off. Every time I walk into a jewelry store they offer to buy it.

It was $.25 yes, 25 cents.

BEST yard sale/flea market/thrift store finds!?!

Comments (6)

toomuchglass

susie_bird

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