Recycle Ann Arbor’s ReUse Center

This place is a really cool place to thrift. From household items to building materials. Definitely stop out and check this place out if you’re a treasure hunter.
A little intimidating at first, but park the car and check it out. Also a good place to bring your salvageable items.

I love thrift shopping but it makes it rather disappointing when you walk in and you see some things with decent potential to fix or repaint… Priced well over regular retail value. I saw an old metal baby rocking horse style seat from the 70s is my guess. It was a little rusted, dented and scratched– worn and time aged. It would’ve been so awesome to sand, repaint and seal… except it was priced at $ 75.
I get it– antiques should be priced higher… And maybe someone would call it an antique except, no one else appreciated it either as it sat there for the next month or so.
Sadly, I feel like that’s how this whole place has turned and I haven’t been back in a while. I wouldn’t be surprised if the seat was still there.

I don’t normally write bad reviews but I had to point out the fact that their employees treated me very rudely. Granted, I did walk into a restricted area of the store unknowingly because their restricted sign was covered by a curtain, but the girl who came in to tell me that I was in the wrong area was very rude and mean about it and I told her I was sorry and that I’ve never been there before– I didn’t know it was restricted and she ridiculed me saying there were signs posted all over saying I wasn’t allowed in. Then not more than 10 seconds after this encounter, I overheard her telling her coworker how stupid I was and they laughed about it and kept making fun of me when I was 15 feet away from them. I did not appreciate being treated this way, it wasn’t entirely my fault and I apologized. I think they need to put a better sign up because that was a buzz kill and made me feel unwelcome and like I didn’t want to buy anything from them.

It used to be really great — there are still a lot of great things to be found there. The problem is, over the last year, Recycle Ann Arbor has capitalized its inventory for maximum profit — they’ve squeezed me right out. An $ 80 rusty kids bike is not acceptable — no matter how «classic» it is. $ 150 boards, an $ 800 refrigerator that we don’t know works. Since the prices went up, we seem to be finding more electrical and electronic things from there that don’t work — I have asked about whether or not they test items, and have gotten vague and confusing answers — the most honest of which, I think, is «No, almost never.»
I, sadly, think of Reuse now as «Resale Items at Retail Prices.» There are still good resale stores around AA /​Ypis, but I can no longer recommend this one.

So here’s the thing, I do want to review Ann Arbor ReUse Center because if you are a «Do It Yourself“er, home owner, or antique collector this is the place for you. I don’t want to review it because I don’t want more people there grabbing all the good stuff! Seriously though if you are in the Ann Arbor area this is a must stop place. Even if you peruse for 30mins you’ll find something cool and purchase it. Oh and everything needs a little TLC, but it is super cheap!

You might find some cool stuff– after you get around the Riff Raff, pretentious off-​putting staff. Every time I’ve come here it’s as if we’re some how interrupting their day. And just like the other post, prices are high. Higher than normal Ann Arbor mark up. You’re much better off finding similar stuff on Craigslist or the Share House on Jackson Ave, who while having a bit of a nutty owner, is at least nice to you when you’re shopping.

I’m afraid I must agree with some of the other posts. Many if the items here are higher than many other thrift stores.
The most interesting part of this «thrift store» is the wood section that carries raw wood planks of various sizes & thicknesses. Walnut, cherry, mahogany, and slices of pine branches suitable for making signs.
Some of the staff, specifically one blond haired lady of the 40 – 50 age bracket wearing a ball cap, was pulling glass items off a rack and smashing them into a tote. That was somewhat disturbing to my self as well as at least 3 other customers whom I overheard comments from as she not just dropped the items into the trash tote, but with effort, smashed them. I mentioned that maybe instead of doing that she should be a little more subtle. Also a suggestion I made to her that maybe instead of smashing them in front of customers, they offered them for free with a $ 3 or $ 5 purchase. She responded that most if the stuff we get in here is just junk anyway, and «…that would be a good suggestion. But, the boss wasn’t there. He won’t be here until next week.» She then continued at her same pace of smashing glass into the tote. I mentioned to the cashier, the same suggestion. With a sigh, she said «I don’t know. You’ll have to bring it up to (that same lady)…
Guess I’m not donating or spending my money here in the future. That’s too bad that a few bad apples spoil the whole bushel.
Head down the street a little further to the other thrift store. They’re more customer aware and friendly.

I find this place and its pricing practices offensive. This used to be my favorite thrift store in town; after today, I will not go back again.
Over the past year, the prices have gone up, turnover has gone down, and quality has really decreased. I would disagree with their website’s claim that they offer“affordable prices” and that items are priced «at fair value.» Furniture is especially not a bargain here, it’s often a rip off. Items may be stained, chipped, even broken, and still priced high for a thrift store. A pair of used rubber garden boots: $ 25. A dingy two-​piece chest of drawers for a kid’s room: $ 70 total ($ 30 for the top half, $ 40 for the bottom).
Today I saw a tiny telephone bench there; the upholstered part was stained and covered with a thick layer of cat hair, the actual seat was broken in half and shoddily nailed together with an extra piece of wood, the seat frame was broken and barely holding the seat in place, the wood’s finish was chipped and water stained. Price? $ 170. When I inquired about the cost and pointed out that the whole thing was essentially falling apart, I was told «We knew that when we priced it.»
It’s especially maddening because the inventory here is DONATED. Yes, a thrift store needs to make money to pay facility costs, keep its employees employed, and fund whatever its mission may be (in this case, «supporting other waste diversion activities in the community,» according to the website), but it serves another purpose: Giving another option to people who are on a budget or can’t afford to pay «regular» prices for household items. Thrift stores aren’t just for people digging for vintage treasures or antiques, but that seems to be the thinking at the ReUse Center. I’ll save my money for the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Store nearby, which somehow manages to be successful *and* offer great deals. Maybe the folks there could offer the ReUse managers some tips.

The prices have increased of late, with prices on furniture being, frankly, unrealistic. I’ve noticed a lot of the stock doesn’t turn over, perhaps this is the reason. This place has dramatically declined in inventory, both quality and quantity since the former director left; and my suggestion is that whoever is pricing spend less time trying to equal the unrealistic prices they see on eBay and instead price items to actually sell. It is a shame, because there are still a few deals to be had here that the prices on other items (esp. Furniture) are so high. They did get the stock free to begin with, most staff are volunteers and there is minimal refurbishment on usually damaged items so there is really no excuse. I think they are trying to emulate the cable «picker» shows, and generally following the also too high prices at the local nearby Salvation Army outlet. It wasnt always like this here, it really has gone downhill lately. Treasure Mart has better deals and nicer items, at least for furniture and knicknatchs. Sporting goods and books are still OK here. Forget the electronics… they are all picked over and missing something but they still ask top dollar. The furniture… oh dear… some prices seem like a practical joke. At least they could do some mild clean up of items with the (too) high prices they charge for inventory they got as free donations. It’s shame, this place USED TO be one of the best resales in town.

This place is bizarre but awesome. Plan on having time and patience — that’s the only way to get the full experience. From furniture to old TV’s and LP’s to figurines and flatware, they have pretty much everything. And it’s all used. And so that means you’re going to find a ton of junk but you’re also going to score some awesomeness.
There are certain things you have to be careful of — old paperbacks can smell musty or come with critters, plates may have chips or cracks — but you’re likely to find quite a few treasures. Our new exchange student HATES roosters. We had a desk to get rid of. So we dropped off the desk and found some rooster plates. Selected one and it was chipped on the underside (which I didn’t notice). The man working gave it to us for free (which wasn’t necessary but was great). It was waiting for Danielle on her dresser when she arrived.
I think this place would be awesome for artist types… store window displays, theatre or movie sets… you could definitely find that early 80’s chunky vcr with the plugged in remote or the yellow glass topped coffee table that would work in the Brady House.
A fantastic place in town to wade through on a rainy Saturday morning.

Easily one of my favorite stores in town. I have found everything from a vintage Leica camera to numerous road bikes. It’s just a matter of digging a bit.
Their book selection is also pretty impressive, I have purchased really nice photo books, novels, even textbooks.
When it comes to their kitchen section, you can find EVERYTHING. I’ve gotten an espresso cup set, Noritake plates, cast iron pans and pots, etc etc from my diggings.
The staff is extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you out. It’s a shame that a lot of people don’t know about this jewel inside the city.

Lots of things there. I love the wood plank shop (
), never knew where you can find these kinds of things — now I just need a project to use them in.

Rolled thru Treetown last week and my visit wouldn’t be complete without a visit to south industrial. I’ve shopped here for the last ten years or more and it’s true you never know what you’ll find.
I made some built in bookshelves a while back and this is where I got my oak boards… nice and wide 14″ sometimes… found drainage pipe, insulation hangers, and yes… even a urinal for 35 bucks…
Being a member of their buyers club is pretty neat too. If I could give this place TEN stars i would. Parking can suck sometimes but it’s worth it. In the summer I come here to stock up on quality steel shovels for the winter… old skool steel at nice prices.

A must go for anyone stopping by in the A2 area looking for Odd finds! I have always found something every time I have paid a visit and its paid off! It seems to be growing every time I go back. Limited parking which you may have to fight for but its worth taking the time going through the whole warehouse full of items including golf clubs, old building house materials, roller blades, phones, lighting fixtures, dishes, and MUCH MUCH MORE!

This is a great place to find household/​art/​books/​random/​furniture/​stuff. It is fairly organized considering the amount of different items they receive.
The bulletin board near the front door has a number of interesting things on it including business card for local handy people. Many of the decorations in my home are from recycle Ann Arbor. My family replaced a 20 year old microwave with a brand new (really nice) stainless steel microwave that found it’s way to the shelves of RAA.
At times the manager will work on unreasonable prices to make them more reasonable.
Cell phone chargers can be found here! Along with any other cord or wire you would ever need.

I have dropped off a lot of stuff at Recycle A2 over the years. They offer you a receipt that you can complete to turn in for your taxes.
I have also bought a few things here over the years:
* A set of small Corelle dishes for feeding the cats.
* Tons of baskets (cheap!) that we fill with goodies for the judges at our dog club events.
* Corningware baking dishes that match my set!
* The occasional book.
* 12″ square marble tiles — I put rubber feet on the underside, and I have a set of very durable trivets. I got some smaller ceramic tiles and did the same.
* Book cases and desks and chairs, oh my!
You never know what you’ll find there, so stop by frequently. Sometimes the place seems tapped out, other times it has a lot of treasures.

This is one of the best places in the area to get beautiful lumber and wood for smaller projects (like making tables, stuff for architecture school, etc.). Stunning grains and fairly reasonable prices. The best thing about it? The lumber is harvested from trees that the city cuts down during construction, landscaping, etc. Good to know these gorgeous trees aren’t just getting shredded into sawdust.
Also a great place to find things for home improvement projects. True, it’s hit or miss. But I found a set of seven almost brand-​new, fully-​functioning contemporary doorknobs for 50 cents a piece!!! (Home Depot charged $ 18 each for the same ones). Sometimes there are even designer sinks and faucets right out of the box that make your jaw drop (though still a bit pricey for my budget). Point being there is some classy stuff here, not just tacky brass and faux-​crystal 1908s home décor.
There are even some pet supplies (lots of cheap used aquariums and dishes), humidifiers up the wazoo, and piles of lighting fixtures. Check out the photos for an idea of more things they carry.
Outside the warehouse there are also many miscellaneous items. Don’t hesitate to ask a volunteer or employee if they have something specific — they seem to know where EVERYTHING is! (I think they have insane photographic memories.)
Easier to come here with a huge list than with a single item in mind as the turn-​over is huge and inventory fluctuates drastically.
You have to have patience, a resistance to histamines, and wear clothing you’re not afraid of getting a bit grimy. It might take some digging but you’re likely to find a treasure.

One of my favorite places in Ann Arbor. a real gem of a thrift shop! Isn’t nearly as dirty as some of the thrift places I have been and they try to organize the randomness.
No clothes, no accessories, etc. Just books, housewares, furniture and a ton of randomness. Some of it is a little junky, but you never know what you will come across. It is luck of the draw at this place– people line up their cars and drop stuff off all day long. So you never know if you are pulling up right after some cool stuff has been dropped off… Unfortunately they have a ton of regulars that hover the place all day long, so a lot of the good stuff gets snatched up pretty quick.
The prices are fair and the staff will sometimes bargain with you if you ask them.
Great place to stock up your dorm room or apartment… glasses, dishes, TV stands, desks, etc.

If you really want to Go Green your next move, try getting all secondhand — or re-​use some furniture. You’ll probably find some gems up in here. They also have furniture that’s on showcase — it goes down a certain percent the longer it stays. It’s the stuff that’s in much better condition than the rest of the items.
They have appliances here, like refrigerators. They have tiling. Bedside toilets. I came with my friend to look for desk chairs and they certainly have some that will fill your retro-​aesthetic needs. When I needed to buy baskets for my nursing stations (breastfeeding mothers know what I’m talking about), they had a decent selection.
It’s a huge warehouse filled with treasure.

Wow, did I love this place! I’m a fan of second-​hand and vintage shops, freecycling, and rummage sales and this is like all of those things rolled into one big building. It’s like a gigantic yard sale only slightly more organized. You’ll also find some things at the Reuse Center that you’re unlikely to find at the yard sale down the street; for instance, I noticed two wet suits for sale when I visited.
This place has used books, kitchenware, yard and garden stuff, building materials, furniture, and more. My husband was tempted by the selection of used sporting goods as was I. They had a large number of used ice skates, and I found a pair of ladies skates in my size for $ 5. The blades were a little rusty, so I opted to see if there’s a sporting good store in the area that does blade sharpening. If I can find one and the blades look like they’re not too pitted, I may go back and get them.
One thing to note: the building isn’t air conditioned, so if you go on a hot summer day like I did, be prepared to sweat a little.

Occasionally, they put a really far-​out price on something that just isn’t worth it. But most of the time, the deals are unbeatable.
You can’t live in Ann Arbor and not know about this place. There are some great finds and the proceeds go to the city recycling program.
Anything you need around the house they have in spades: kitchen appliances, TVs, phones, furniture, lamps, heaters, stoves, washers and dryers.
I’ve gotten a wind-​up phonograph, power tools, books, electronics and other stuff. They also have computers, some building materials and a room full of antiques.

The Reuse center is a great local non-​profit tucked away down on S. Industrial Hwy. The next time you’re cleaning out your garage and finding all sorts of great stuff that you’ve been hanging onto because «it still works»… but you really don’t need it or want it… well, bring it here!
The Reuse center accepts small household appliances, furniture, electronics, office supplies, building materials, etc. You can drop off during business hours almost any day of the week; don’t forget to grab a tax-​donation form on your way out.
On the same note, if you’re searching for any of those things I previously mentioned, well, you can go dig around here! There’s some junky stuff you may have to wade through, but it could be worth it when you find that great Coleman cooler or set of golf clubs. Did you spill some coffee on your keyboard?! Don’t go to Best Buy! Find one here for $ 5!