Salvation Army Family Thrift Store

The pricing structure of the SA stores overall teeters dangerously on the brink of full-​on retail. This particular location of SA is totally not near any of my other errands. It has surly customer service and idle cash registers and I grow a long white beard while I wait to pay for my stuff.
Yeah yeah, I know the «new» SA has wider aisles, a cleaner shopping experience, ample parking. Whatevs. So does Target, and their prices ain’t that much higher than the SA’s now.
So why the hey do I bother going to the West Humboldt store, and why am I giving it four stars?
Because Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to noon is EIGHTY SEVEN CENTS A POUND SALE TIME!
A corner of their parking lot is sectioned off for this blessed weekly event and they roll out troughs and troughs of the items that are unfit to sell as «upscale thrift». Grab a cart if you dare and start digging. (It’s pretty crowded though so I suggest using a basket or bringing your own canvas bag.) Inventories vary from week to week. There could be bales of 5K t-​shirts, or enough winter scarves to choke a Yeti, or Hammer Times where I can buy a whole box of pink parachute pants if I want. (I don’t.) But you know what? I have gotten a TON of crazy crap, as well as some tres chic items NEW WITH TAGS, plus also designer clothes in decent condition for my daughter. The best part is, if I get something home and it sucks, I can just donate it when I come back the next Wednesday. Who cares because IT ONLY COST 87 CENTS.
Eighty seven cents! Jeebus. I know, right?

If you’re one of the hopeful bargain-​hunters for their tan-​tag Saturday $ 0.69 sale, you need to come in when the door opens at 0900 hour, bright and early.
I’m not that serious, so I thought I would see what a Saturday was like in a Salvation Army Family Store. I came a bit too late; by 1700 hour there were little tan-​tag items left.
I saw some possible candidates awaiting for me to purchase them; however, their conditions weren’t pristine enough for my liking.
Other than that amazing $ 0.69 tan-​tag sale at all the north-​side Chicago SA stores, the white-​tag items were 25% off, depending on what week of the month is. There’s a rotating schedule delineating what color-​tag will be on sale at whatever percentage of discount.
If you can’t keep up with all the discounts and tag-​colors, Salvation Army thrift stores are pretty technology-​savvy. The big TV monitors will occasionally flesh the sales information, as long as your eyes can catch it.
This particular location isn’t at the best neighborhood, but there’s a huge parking lot and very easily accessible. I was still on my feet patronizing my beloved CTA. The CTA 53 (Pulaski) and 65 (Grand) buses can take you there, safe and sound.

I just happened to stumble upon this location. Nice big store, and very clean. Unlike other thrift stores I’ve been in, clothes and other items were neatly displayed. However, I was surprised at the high prices on some items. But just like most thrift stores, if customers take their time and look around carefully, many great deals can be found.

We were in this nice new place we had over 200 bucks worth of stuff that we were going to purchase in our cart. One of the employees decided that we didn’t need it and while we were shopping they put all of our stuff back and took our cart.
When confronted the manager asked his employees if they had which they all denied but somehow some of our items were back where we had found them… hmm so not only did they put our purchases back up but then had the gal to lie right to our faces about it when jesus they put the stuff back! Forget this place and their idiot employees

It’s new. It used to be the Hobo store, which I miss. It’s cleaner than many. Large. Lots of furniture. Lots of housewares. Record albums. Books. Rugs. Lots of clothes, but that’s not why I go. Nice big parking lot.
Pretty decent all around.
Why only 3 stars? Salvation Arny as a whole has got a pricing problem. As in, much too pricey. I heard an ad over the radio, «thanks for shopping the high end thrift store» or something along those lines. Yeah, I don’t think so.
I’m really getting bored and weary with their over-​pricing.

I called this morning at 7:15 am.
Charles answers the phone.
I asked what time they opened today (Saturday after grand opening). He told me 8:00. I cleaned up and jumped into the car. I did not want to miss all the good stuff!
Needless to say it is now 8:20am and the doors are locked. Being the thrift fool that I am I waited till 9 o’clock. There was a good amount of people waiting to get in. Good amount of furniture. The prices on the furniture is kind of high.
WARNING…
No discounts until March 17 because the store just opened.
Racks and racks of clothing. Why do places always place plus size clothing next to maternityy???
Place is bright, clean and large. It would be nice to be able to get 2 carts down an aisle. It killed me to pass up Lenox Poppies On Blue coffee cups. 99 cents each. I really do not need them though.
Nice DVD selection.
One problem I did have was that my partner in thrift was not around to keep
me away from the books. Oops!
I would stop by again once the discount sets in. Interested to see if furniture prices go down.