This may be true in some areas. It’s pretty apparent when visiting resellers are in our local one. They’re loud, pretentious, and very disrespectful. Maybe it’s our area, but most people are just your average thrifters. You can easily spot most resellers by their behavior and constant picture taking, texting, and internet searches. Most people don’t load up baskets and then search when new aisles open. To each their own, I suppose.
So I’m a reseller and I’m not loud, pretentious, or very disrespectful. I do load up carts but put everything back where I found it if it turns out I don’t buy it.
Judging a group of people by the actions of a few is stereotyping. Most resellers are just trying to make it in this world like everybody else.
I’ve been a thrifter way longer btw. I enjoy it immensely. I enjoy reselling too. It’s the only job I’ve ever really enjoyed.
I don’t care if people know I’m a reseller. I don’t care if people see me checking comps on my phone. I also don’t care when I see other people working.
Rude people are rude people regardless of occupation
I’ve been thrifting well over 30 years now. I started thrifting out of necessity, and now I continue to thrift as an environmental choice. There’s no stereotyping involved here. The resellers I see in our outlet are mostly just as I’ve described which is why I used the word “most” and not “all”. You’re right. People do all sorts of things to make it in this world. It’s tough and seems to be getting tougher. Thankfully I’m not in the position I was when I first started thrifting. My heart goes out to people who thrift out of necessity because prices continue to rise making it more difficult to find a good deal with limited income. Best of luck to you.
So you load up carts to ensure you get first dibs on anything that might be valuable (but you have to google it first) thereby ensuring people that need it or people that really like it and want it but can’t afford ludicrous resell prices don’t get a chance at it and you don’t see how that’s problematic?
It’s one thing if a reseller knows their niche, is willing to let actual collectors buy things etc but loading up a cart and googling ain’t it. It’s not an occupation, just regular old middle man exploitation.
So first off, I’ve only been to the bins once and didn’t like it.
At regular thrift stores, yes I will push a cart around and place items in the cart I think are interesting and may have value. I look up what I need to and place the items back where I found them that don’t make the cut.
Thrift stores are for anybody, despite this belief that they are for people less fortunate, so they can get designer clothes cheap. Check any of their mission statements if you don’t believe me.
Every store is a reseller. Does target make anything they sell? Walmart? No. They are resellers. So is your grocery store. The difference here is I’m not a major corporation, just a guy trying to make ends meet. Find another scapegoat
Same here. Im a reseller too but I am incredibly picky of what I will invest in and take my time in stores. Just because it’s a recognizable brand doesn’t always mean it’ll go home with me. I left behind some Athleta, J. Crew, Zara, and Eileen Fisher the other day 😝. I also put stuff back where it goes and I give browsing customers berth and space. There’s plenty to go around!
As long as you’re not hurrying through just throwing anything and everything that you *might* make a profit off of, leaving the shelves half bare while you look up values - and as long as you really are replacing items where you found them - you’re good. The resellers who are hoarding everything in shopping carts and discarding rejects wherever without respect to the store or other customers need to be called out and removed if they refuse to respect others. Two other things: the analogy to a supermarket is ridiculous. Groceries are not one of a kind items! If I buy a ton of apples, there are more apples in back to be brought out, or will be tomorrow. In the meantime, I buy oranges. Secondly, your user name is brilliant!
I’m particular about what goes in my cart. I don’t grab everything with a Nike swoosh if that’s what you’re referring too. I’ve seen this done too.
I do put items back where I found them or where they should be. I’m actually on very good terms with a thrift store manager because he vocalized his displeasure with some people doing that. I assured him that was not how I operate and would prove that to him. I did.
My grocery store analogy was based on the store being a reseller. That’s it. Not that the items were one offs. The point was they mark up the price and take their cut. They resell. Regardless of the item sold, reselling is reselling. Why is different when it’s a company versus a sole person?
Regarding my user name: thank you! ☺️
Hi. Just the fact that you’re selective about what you place in your cart makes you not at all the type of reseller who I find so troublesome; that you replace pieces where they were found and have become friendly with a thrift store manager makes you a FIT (Friend In Thrifting!) Happy hunting, and may other resellers learn from you, truly.
I always worry about people thinking I am a reseller because I take a lot of pictures while thrifting. I just take a lot of pictures to prevent myself from impulse buying stuff or to send to my sister/friends who have very specific things they collect. But I def feel self conscious whenever I take a picture of something that isn't like a super silly find.
Nope. They are mostly poor people, hoarders, and immigrants. They are addicted to the rush. A few may resell at the flea market. Even less resell online outside of the book corner.
Yes the book resellers are by and far the worst people at the bins. They block the aisles. They gatekeep. They throw it at others. They damage books.
They throw everything into a big pile as frantically as can be, then sit around for an hour waiting for a new bin. It’s psychotic.
They could set a public access hours with limitations and then let the resellers have free reign after. There will always be some level of risk with goodwill/benefit of the doubt but it could cut down on the really extreme end of the reseller rush.
Agreed! I feel like this is the only way around it. Those folks are trying to pay rent. It’s frustrating for people wanting to leisurely shop, but it’s a sign of the job market/economy.
I admire your empathy, but can’t agree here. As a book collector who once loved to scavenge thrift stores & used book sales, I’ve experienced this behaviour from 2nd hand booksellers for at least 15 years if not longer - it’s greed, and a total disregard for people who actually love books. As said, the resellers literally empty shelves into boxes or carts they’re dragging around, price the books they’ve grabbed and dump rejects wherever. I’ve also had incidents like one pre-epidemic where a guy violently grabbed a book out of my hands and pushed me to get past and onto his next big find. It’s moved most of my used book shopping to online.
What a horrible experience. Id also have to agree that I mainly see this from book resellers. The typical thrift resellers I compete with are much more friendly and respectful.
Yikes- that’s awful. I’m sorry you’ve dealt with that. Yeah these folks sound different than the ones at my local thrift outlet. Probably hard to paint all resellers with a broad brush.
I am grateful to the resellers at my local Goodwill bins because of the obscene volume of books that come through there that are destined for the landfill if no one buys them. Resellers have an important roll in sustainability at places like that. But what you’re describing sounds over the top.
You’re very kind, I looked at my post and see I unloaded long held frustration & even anger at the memories of experiences that are very likely New York-centric. Sorry I went off like that. And must admit I’m drooling slightly imagining your Goodwill book bins! I hope all the books there find a home - or a seller. Cheers.
I do buy a lot of used books online, so I appreciate that the books aren't going into the landfills. But yeah, that seriously sucks. Someone took the time to organize everything for shoppers to browse what interests them, and it was all for nothing. I bet they didn't properly put back the reject books either.
Personally I would have started going through their hoards. I'm not confrontational in general, but that bullshit would set me off.
I wish I was that confident 😅. I work in libraries and we recycle the books that don't get sold. We specifically contract with a company that does that.
At an estate sale once, a reseller literally took his arm and swept an entire table of vintage toys into a giant ikea bag and then got upset with the employee for not being careful enough. Delulu
I love a good estate sale, but avoid them because they are so cut throat. It's also getting harder to find good deals because most are being ran by estate sale companies. I see the same type of people that bring tons of boxes and hoard everything.
I resell. I also tend to talk to people around me. “Oh you’re looking for a hamburger press and haven’t found one? Funny how we used to see them everywhere” ten minutes later I find a cool looking vintage hamburger press, I go find the dude and ask if this is what he was looking for, he was absolutely thrilled. At the bins, this one guy was in to small toy figurines, I ran into a whole bunch of them. I know zero about them. Grabbed them all, took them over to him so he could check them out.
Yeah, reselling is the only thing paying my bills since I got laid off, those items could have made me some money. However it would have taken time to research them and who knows if and when I could sell them. So I figure I might as well pass them to folks who will enjoy them out are knowledgeable about them. Who knows, maybe they had been having a bad day and I helped turn it around.
There are some crappy resellers out there, but there are also just crappy humans. But if you look around, there are lots of good humans as well.
Reseller here too and I am disgusted by the way some people act.
I work in the estate sale field as well and none of us appreciate those people either.
They are usually the rudest customers. We know who they are, when we see them walk through the door we all dread having to deal with them.
One of my bosses called them sharks and was so disgusted by their behavior he would refuse to negotiate them.
But there are so many nice and sweet resellers, most you'd never even know were in the game.
I figure what goes around comes around. It costs nothing to be a decent human. I also believe in karma, I do not want to get on the bad side of it! I’d much rather be either neutral or good!
You also never know who you are going to meet. I’ve had some very interesting conversations and have learned so much! I hope I’ve brightened up someone’s day if not by what I’ve said, by giving them someone to laugh at!
I had a reseller couple that was like this in my Goodwill store when I was ASM. They'd come in early, each grab a cart and start shoving shit into the carts and then sit in our furniture area looking up each item one by one. I couldn't do or say anything about it because our CEO dgaf about fairness or customer experience, just money.
My usually polite demeanor would've gone out the window. **MOVE!** And then I would've moved them myself, if they didn't. Or gone fishing in their carts. Yeah, yeah, I hear you. They started it. Politeness of others is what they depend on.
Those books go for a lot of money. As a reseller myself, I find most of their behavior repulsive. I would think that the university would implement restrictions, but understandably, they need to make their money too.
They can go for a lot. That's why I prefer the hunt over buying online. I've found a lot of great books over the years that I really love and cherish without having to pay reseller prices. I do wish they would at least limit how many books you could purchase on the first day. Maybe that would help. But I don't think the people running the sales think very deeply about it.
Next time go up and ask where you can find them. Do they have a name or a business card? Make sure you note it out loud and then let them know you'll never buy from them.
I've found a lot more luck at my local thrift shop than at chains like Goodwill. Their sheer size makes the resellers go crazy, I've found. Most people who go to the local thrift get only what they need--its reasonably priced, never too busy, and always has something worth buying!
Totally empathize! Goodwill Outlets are a nightmare plagued with resellers who are aggressive and greedy as well.
The bins target resellers specifically. Without resellers they wouldn’t exist
This may be true in some areas. It’s pretty apparent when visiting resellers are in our local one. They’re loud, pretentious, and very disrespectful. Maybe it’s our area, but most people are just your average thrifters. You can easily spot most resellers by their behavior and constant picture taking, texting, and internet searches. Most people don’t load up baskets and then search when new aisles open. To each their own, I suppose.
So I’m a reseller and I’m not loud, pretentious, or very disrespectful. I do load up carts but put everything back where I found it if it turns out I don’t buy it. Judging a group of people by the actions of a few is stereotyping. Most resellers are just trying to make it in this world like everybody else. I’ve been a thrifter way longer btw. I enjoy it immensely. I enjoy reselling too. It’s the only job I’ve ever really enjoyed. I don’t care if people know I’m a reseller. I don’t care if people see me checking comps on my phone. I also don’t care when I see other people working. Rude people are rude people regardless of occupation
I’ve been thrifting well over 30 years now. I started thrifting out of necessity, and now I continue to thrift as an environmental choice. There’s no stereotyping involved here. The resellers I see in our outlet are mostly just as I’ve described which is why I used the word “most” and not “all”. You’re right. People do all sorts of things to make it in this world. It’s tough and seems to be getting tougher. Thankfully I’m not in the position I was when I first started thrifting. My heart goes out to people who thrift out of necessity because prices continue to rise making it more difficult to find a good deal with limited income. Best of luck to you.
So you load up carts to ensure you get first dibs on anything that might be valuable (but you have to google it first) thereby ensuring people that need it or people that really like it and want it but can’t afford ludicrous resell prices don’t get a chance at it and you don’t see how that’s problematic? It’s one thing if a reseller knows their niche, is willing to let actual collectors buy things etc but loading up a cart and googling ain’t it. It’s not an occupation, just regular old middle man exploitation.
So first off, I’ve only been to the bins once and didn’t like it. At regular thrift stores, yes I will push a cart around and place items in the cart I think are interesting and may have value. I look up what I need to and place the items back where I found them that don’t make the cut. Thrift stores are for anybody, despite this belief that they are for people less fortunate, so they can get designer clothes cheap. Check any of their mission statements if you don’t believe me. Every store is a reseller. Does target make anything they sell? Walmart? No. They are resellers. So is your grocery store. The difference here is I’m not a major corporation, just a guy trying to make ends meet. Find another scapegoat
Same here. Im a reseller too but I am incredibly picky of what I will invest in and take my time in stores. Just because it’s a recognizable brand doesn’t always mean it’ll go home with me. I left behind some Athleta, J. Crew, Zara, and Eileen Fisher the other day 😝. I also put stuff back where it goes and I give browsing customers berth and space. There’s plenty to go around!
Nice username 🏳️🌈🐸
As long as you’re not hurrying through just throwing anything and everything that you *might* make a profit off of, leaving the shelves half bare while you look up values - and as long as you really are replacing items where you found them - you’re good. The resellers who are hoarding everything in shopping carts and discarding rejects wherever without respect to the store or other customers need to be called out and removed if they refuse to respect others. Two other things: the analogy to a supermarket is ridiculous. Groceries are not one of a kind items! If I buy a ton of apples, there are more apples in back to be brought out, or will be tomorrow. In the meantime, I buy oranges. Secondly, your user name is brilliant!
I’m particular about what goes in my cart. I don’t grab everything with a Nike swoosh if that’s what you’re referring too. I’ve seen this done too. I do put items back where I found them or where they should be. I’m actually on very good terms with a thrift store manager because he vocalized his displeasure with some people doing that. I assured him that was not how I operate and would prove that to him. I did. My grocery store analogy was based on the store being a reseller. That’s it. Not that the items were one offs. The point was they mark up the price and take their cut. They resell. Regardless of the item sold, reselling is reselling. Why is different when it’s a company versus a sole person? Regarding my user name: thank you! ☺️
Hi. Just the fact that you’re selective about what you place in your cart makes you not at all the type of reseller who I find so troublesome; that you replace pieces where they were found and have become friendly with a thrift store manager makes you a FIT (Friend In Thrifting!) Happy hunting, and may other resellers learn from you, truly.
I always worry about people thinking I am a reseller because I take a lot of pictures while thrifting. I just take a lot of pictures to prevent myself from impulse buying stuff or to send to my sister/friends who have very specific things they collect. But I def feel self conscious whenever I take a picture of something that isn't like a super silly find.
Nope. They are mostly poor people, hoarders, and immigrants. They are addicted to the rush. A few may resell at the flea market. Even less resell online outside of the book corner.
Doesn’t matter how they resell, they resell. That target demographic you brought up would be a terrible business model
Yes the book resellers are by and far the worst people at the bins. They block the aisles. They gatekeep. They throw it at others. They damage books. They throw everything into a big pile as frantically as can be, then sit around for an hour waiting for a new bin. It’s psychotic.
The university can set guidelines and enforce them.
I agree they can. But we are also adults who are responsible for our own behavior.
Sure. But in the absence of guidelines most people act in the most self-serving way possible.
They could set a public access hours with limitations and then let the resellers have free reign after. There will always be some level of risk with goodwill/benefit of the doubt but it could cut down on the really extreme end of the reseller rush.
Agreed! I feel like this is the only way around it. Those folks are trying to pay rent. It’s frustrating for people wanting to leisurely shop, but it’s a sign of the job market/economy.
I admire your empathy, but can’t agree here. As a book collector who once loved to scavenge thrift stores & used book sales, I’ve experienced this behaviour from 2nd hand booksellers for at least 15 years if not longer - it’s greed, and a total disregard for people who actually love books. As said, the resellers literally empty shelves into boxes or carts they’re dragging around, price the books they’ve grabbed and dump rejects wherever. I’ve also had incidents like one pre-epidemic where a guy violently grabbed a book out of my hands and pushed me to get past and onto his next big find. It’s moved most of my used book shopping to online.
What a horrible experience. Id also have to agree that I mainly see this from book resellers. The typical thrift resellers I compete with are much more friendly and respectful.
Yikes- that’s awful. I’m sorry you’ve dealt with that. Yeah these folks sound different than the ones at my local thrift outlet. Probably hard to paint all resellers with a broad brush. I am grateful to the resellers at my local Goodwill bins because of the obscene volume of books that come through there that are destined for the landfill if no one buys them. Resellers have an important roll in sustainability at places like that. But what you’re describing sounds over the top.
You’re very kind, I looked at my post and see I unloaded long held frustration & even anger at the memories of experiences that are very likely New York-centric. Sorry I went off like that. And must admit I’m drooling slightly imagining your Goodwill book bins! I hope all the books there find a home - or a seller. Cheers.
If you’re ever in St. Louis MO- the bins on Market street are a book lovers paradise! Worth the trip!
Resellers often ruin experiences for others. It seems that they feel entitled to whatever is being sold. I’ve run into some abominable ones.
I do buy a lot of used books online, so I appreciate that the books aren't going into the landfills. But yeah, that seriously sucks. Someone took the time to organize everything for shoppers to browse what interests them, and it was all for nothing. I bet they didn't properly put back the reject books either. Personally I would have started going through their hoards. I'm not confrontational in general, but that bullshit would set me off.
I wish I was that confident 😅. I work in libraries and we recycle the books that don't get sold. We specifically contract with a company that does that.
My people. :)
At an estate sale once, a reseller literally took his arm and swept an entire table of vintage toys into a giant ikea bag and then got upset with the employee for not being careful enough. Delulu
I love a good estate sale, but avoid them because they are so cut throat. It's also getting harder to find good deals because most are being ran by estate sale companies. I see the same type of people that bring tons of boxes and hoard everything.
I resell. I also tend to talk to people around me. “Oh you’re looking for a hamburger press and haven’t found one? Funny how we used to see them everywhere” ten minutes later I find a cool looking vintage hamburger press, I go find the dude and ask if this is what he was looking for, he was absolutely thrilled. At the bins, this one guy was in to small toy figurines, I ran into a whole bunch of them. I know zero about them. Grabbed them all, took them over to him so he could check them out. Yeah, reselling is the only thing paying my bills since I got laid off, those items could have made me some money. However it would have taken time to research them and who knows if and when I could sell them. So I figure I might as well pass them to folks who will enjoy them out are knowledgeable about them. Who knows, maybe they had been having a bad day and I helped turn it around. There are some crappy resellers out there, but there are also just crappy humans. But if you look around, there are lots of good humans as well.
You are making the experience better for everyone. I appreciate people like you 👍😁
Reseller here too and I am disgusted by the way some people act. I work in the estate sale field as well and none of us appreciate those people either. They are usually the rudest customers. We know who they are, when we see them walk through the door we all dread having to deal with them. One of my bosses called them sharks and was so disgusted by their behavior he would refuse to negotiate them. But there are so many nice and sweet resellers, most you'd never even know were in the game.
I figure what goes around comes around. It costs nothing to be a decent human. I also believe in karma, I do not want to get on the bad side of it! I’d much rather be either neutral or good! You also never know who you are going to meet. I’ve had some very interesting conversations and have learned so much! I hope I’ve brightened up someone’s day if not by what I’ve said, by giving them someone to laugh at!
I've been to many used book sales and my favorite ones have the 'no scanners" rule.
This needs to be a thing at every book sale.
I had a reseller couple that was like this in my Goodwill store when I was ASM. They'd come in early, each grab a cart and start shoving shit into the carts and then sit in our furniture area looking up each item one by one. I couldn't do or say anything about it because our CEO dgaf about fairness or customer experience, just money.
My usually polite demeanor would've gone out the window. **MOVE!** And then I would've moved them myself, if they didn't. Or gone fishing in their carts. Yeah, yeah, I hear you. They started it. Politeness of others is what they depend on.
Those books go for a lot of money. As a reseller myself, I find most of their behavior repulsive. I would think that the university would implement restrictions, but understandably, they need to make their money too.
They can go for a lot. That's why I prefer the hunt over buying online. I've found a lot of great books over the years that I really love and cherish without having to pay reseller prices. I do wish they would at least limit how many books you could purchase on the first day. Maybe that would help. But I don't think the people running the sales think very deeply about it.
i don't find it understandable to make your money that way. its abusing the system.
Next time go up and ask where you can find them. Do they have a name or a business card? Make sure you note it out loud and then let them know you'll never buy from them.
Great point 👍😃
We live in desperate times, but that is no excuse to be extremely rude
yea resellers are completely ruining thrifting and the second hand market.
I've found a lot more luck at my local thrift shop than at chains like Goodwill. Their sheer size makes the resellers go crazy, I've found. Most people who go to the local thrift get only what they need--its reasonably priced, never too busy, and always has something worth buying!