Thrift Store Review: Shelter Thrift

This week's thrift store up for review is Shelter Thrift, a small second hand store with a great selection, fairly cheap prices and friendly employees.  It's next to the post office off Pacific Avenue, just a block or two away from the store reviewed last week.  (Delta Humane Society)

In any case, what this store lacks in size it makes up for in presentation and charm.  Click below to find out more!

Thrift Store Review: Delta Humane Society Thrift and Gift Boutique

This week's post is dedicated to the Delta Humane Society Thrift and Gift Boutique, a small thrift store that opened recently on Pacific Avenue.  Proceeds go to the Delta Humane Society and the SPCA to fund their no-kill animal shelters for abandoned and lost pets.  It's for a great cause and this little thrift store is not one to be missed.

6 strange/useless things you'll only find at goodwill

I think my favorite part of thrift shopping, aside from the deals, is coming across really strange things that make me question why something like this was invented in the first place.  And then it makes me wonder who would buy this and think it was a good idea?  This week's post is dedicated to some of those special things.

1.

But first I have to know, what is this?  It looks like the first failed attempt at making an abacus.

Thrift Store Review: Goodwill Stockton, CA (March Lane)

This week's thrift store up for review is the Goodwill on March Lane (because there are a lot of Goodwills out there).  As an international charity with thousands of thrift stores across the nation, Goodwill probably has a shop not far from your home.  For Stockton residents, this Goodwill is a quick jaunt from the two malls and down the street from University of the Pacific.

While not as big as Superior Thrift, this Goodwill has a sizable facility and not shortage of interesting items to buy.

Thrift Store Review: Superior Thrift Stockton, CA

The people at Superior Thrift weren't being cocky when they named their store.  It is aptly named, and might be the best thrift store in Stockton that I've been to so far.  Although it is located in what is widely considered the "dangerous" part of Stockton, the bargains are worth it.  You could spend hours in Superior Thrift  only to realize there's an entire section of the store you haven't explored yet.

Used Book Store Review: Friends of the Stockton Public Library

This week the wonderful second hand store I will be reviewing is the Friends of the Stockton Library Book Store.  Here you can find reasonably priced books donated by the Stockton libraries or generous people in the community.  Although it's a small book store, there is a wide variety of books to choose from, and I've never left empty handed.

Stockton residents may know the location because it's right next to GymStars and David's Pizza, which doesn't seem like a wise move (calories next to exercise?) but it's easy to miss this little shop.  But if you love a good book then this is not a store you want to pass up.

Prices are extremely reasonable, much better than any bookstore I've ever been in.  Everything ranges from 50 cents up to 5 dollars, though I've never bought any book over 3 dollars.  

Pay special attention to the far right side of the shop just as you enter, that's where the classics and plays are.  If you have to buy a copy of Shakespeare's Macbeth or Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, you'd be better off searching at a used bookstore before going to a Barnes and Noble.  

The Pros and Cons of Online Shopping, Thrift Stores and Retail Shopping

There are a lot of different ways to shop nowadays, each with their own drawbacks and benefits.  Between online, retail and thrifting, which do you think is the best?  

There are arguments for each one, but because I'm biased toward thrifting, I'd like to persuade you to give second hand shopping a try if you haven't already.

So what's wrong with online and retail shopping?

The People: Hunters, Gatherers and Scavengers

Chances are when you go to a thrift store there will be a large variety of people roaming the aisles.  That's part of the fun of second hand shopping, both the people and the merchandise are always changing and providing a new experience.  But chances are you'll run into three main types of people there, and you can almost always tell what category they fall into.

Much like in the wild, shoppers are separated by their methods.
Are you a hunter, gatherer or scavenger?

Welcome to my thrift store information blog

Stockton is a great place to go shopping at second hand stores, not only for the good prices but also for the interesting people you'll see.  Going to the thrift store is an entirely unique shopping experience, one that you won't get while browsing normal shops in the mall.  Everything is different each time you go.

This blog will talk about my trips to the thrift stores of Stockton and provide reviews/directions that may be helpful to know before you go.

Please feel free to share your own stories from thrift stores or any other second hand shopping experience!