Boomerangs

Before I start, I just want to state that I do love this place. The variety of items they have is usually pretty good and good quality. I got a really great party dress here not long ago for $ 10, and I like that it benefits a great cause. It’s a typical thrift store and I’ve had really good experiences with most of the people here. They seem to be pretty friendly.
That being said, I didn’t give it five stars because I had a weird experience here recently. I came in one night not long before closing and tried on a couple items of clothing. I accidentally left my water bottle in the dressing room and didn’t realize it until late that night. I went back first thing the next morning to see if they had found it, figuring that perhaps the person who closed the night before would have found it while checking the dressing rooms and left it in the lost and found. Well, it wasn’t in the dressing room, nor was it behind the counter. The two employees near the counter didn’t recall seeing any water bottle like it (It was recognizable, but not particularly fancy or unique, not to mention it had some chips on it from dropping it so many times on the pavement. It was definitely used.) One of them suggested that it might be in the donation box, but I thought that was really weird (who leaves a donation on the floor in the dressing room?) and just assumed I did bring it home and misplaced it in my apartment. As I was leaving, another worker who had overheard our conversation indeed found it in one of the donation boxes. This leads me to believe that whoever found it either didn’t realize the seemingly obvious fact that it could most likely belong to someone who had accidentally left it there (especially since it was full of water at the time), or didn’t care, dumped the water out, and hoped that whoever left it wouldn’t come back to claim it. Fortunately, I did get it back. But it makes me wonder about their ethics now. Do all lost and found things just end up for sale on the floor?
Not to mention that they would want to sell a definitely used, banged-​up (it has teeth marks on it, for goodness sakes) water bottle in the first place…

This place rocks. I went to the auction because I had to have this table that I had seen in the window. It ran exactly as the manager said – I think his name was Brandon. I took one last look at the book, where you write your bid and I bid $ 2 more than the last bid. He started the auction at 6pm and I got the table for $ 62. He even said I could take it right then and there after the bidding was done. LOVE this place and love the auction. Very nice people.

I have been a longtime shopper of three of the Boomerang’s locations and a supporter of Aids Action Committee since before Boomerang’s was invented. I am very sad to say that something is not honest with the bids for the display window items. Just so disappointing! I had called the West Roxbury store on Friday, Oct.31 at 5:50 PM to find out what time the bidding was closing. The clerk told me it was closing in 10 minutes so I dashed over and bid on an item I had seen earlier in the week. I filled out the log book and bid $ 80.00. Five dollars more than the next highest. I was there when bidding closed and asked if I should pay now and take. She said to wait for a call on Saturday. When I didn’t hear by Saturday afternoon, I called them. The woman who answered the phone looked it up and informed me that I was outbid. I said «That’s impossible, I was here when bids closed.» She said all she knew was that the book showed someone else paid $ 90.00 and had already picked it up. So much for the honor system.

I’ve never been to the thrift store itself, but I am writing a review regarding my experience donating, or attempting to donate, to Boomerangs. I am moving to a smaller apartment and had an extra couch that I no longer had use for. One of my friends works with low-​income families in JP who often are in need of furniture and she suggested I look into donating. It seemed like an ideal solution for both sides, so I sent a request to donate through their website. I received an e-​mail back from Colin a couple of days later, sent him pictures of the couch and explained that I had a deadline to move it by because I was moving. I specifically asked him if the photos were sufficient and explained that even though the couch was only a year old and overall in good condition, there were some scuffs on the wooden base and some stains. I totally understand and agree that there should be a vetting process to determine whether the furniture is suitable, as they are reselling it, which is why I made sure to confirm that the pictures were up to par and was upfront about the negative aspects of the couch from the get go. Colin said the pictures looked great and gave me a time slot for the next week. I thought we were all set.
Today, the truck arrived a half hour before the time slot started. I was lucky that I ended up taking more time off of work this afternoon than I had originally planned and that I was here to receive them. Immediately, before entering my apartment, one of the movers tells me that they don’t know if they want to take the couch because they parked far away. I explained to them where there was parking right outside my building on a side street, as my building is on the corner of a major street and a smaller, quieter side street which always has parking right outside the building. There are two elevators that service both entrances. Instead of seeing if he could park the truck closer to the building, he then walks over to my couch and tells me he can’t take it anyway because there are stains and scuffing on the wooden base. It honestly seemed the mover had made his decision before even looking at the couch and that he just didn’t want to have to carry it to wherever he had parked, even though there was parking right outside the door on the side street.
They ended up leaving without my couch and I now have one week to figure out what I’m going to do with it. I completely respect their decision not to take it, but am now stuck between a rock and a hard place because their vetting process was insufficient. What is particularly frustrating to me is that I specifically disclosed these things and asked to make sure the pictures were detailed enough for their decision. I took the afternoon off of work and lost a week of time to try to figure out what else to do with it. If you are moving and are looking to donate furniture, I wouldn’t recommend relying on Boomerangs.

I came here again and found the most bomb diggity clothes for un-​be-​freakin-​lievable prices in the single digits. Coworkers who spend $ 150+ per article of clothing asked where I got my flowy blouses. Heh heh those suckas be paying mad dough for the same s*** i get here. It’s the same s***!
The staff here are genuinely nice and down to earth too, making you feel comfortable unlike the aloof nice at many high end retailers.

This is a great thrift store. I love that they have staff picks which are usually the best things in the store. The pricing is pretty good and the rotation of clothing is well put out. I always stop by to see what they have.

So great. We called Boomerangs to take a bunch of housewares and furniture out of the condo we were moving out of. I left a voicemail on Monday and got a call back from Colin the next day (other donation offices never even called me back) who was so helpful and polite. The guys called 30 minutes before they arrived, were right on time the day we were scheduled for pick up (actually, they were 10 minutes early!!) and were swift, kind and helpful. Will recommend this to anyone over and over again. Thank you, Boomerangs, for making the whole process smooth and stress free!

Best place bar none to buy books. You can take home an enormous bag of books for less than $ 10. I have stumbled on some real gems while scouring the store as well as having some great experiences reading books I would otherwise have never touched because I wouldn’t be inclined to pay full retail to buy them at a bookstore. When you’re finished, keep the ones you want for your library and re-​donate the rest back to the store. Yes Simba that is the circle of life.

Great staff and so fun to donate to so skip the ‘salvation’ and get over here.

Thank you Boomerangs for furnishing my entire apartment, putting stylish shoes on my feet, and giving me a second chance of owning that MC Hammer cassette tape.
I am a fan of all the Boomerangs, but this one is more spacious, and very well kempt. And my weekly visits have allowed me to get to know the manager and her staff. Love her! Love them!
I always leave with a smile on my face, whether it be to my most recent score of a wooden Elvis portrait, knowing I’m getting heaping spoonfuls of good karma by shopping there (all proceeds go to AIDS Action Committee), or just having a friendly face to chit chat with over our shared love of pyrex mixing bowls.
So go there, shop, find your own wooden Elvis portrait like treasure!

A bit dingier than the JP store but welcoming staff and some good finds!

Sure, Boomerangs is advertised as a «finer consignment shop with a good cause.» However, they have some poor business practices– I was charged the wrong price for an item that was unmarked, and was refused a refund for that item. They have signs posted that say «unmarked items cannot be sold» yet I was still charged for this item because the woman at the register could not leave to check the price of the item (a chair). I was, at the time, tied down by my infant daughter and could not carry the chair to the front of the store. When they realized the error, the people at the store tried to get me to buy something that was more expensive to replace the item I had wanted. Sorry, no, I did not want to pay more money. Nor did I want the merchandise credit I was offered because of a mistake they made and their ludicrous policy.
(Also, if you ask, you might find that they don’t actually donate all their profits to AIDS research as they say they do). They do not respect their customers and will not be receiving my business again. I’d rather write a check directly to the Jimmy Fund or another research institute than ever shop at Boomerangs.

Had my first visit to this location today. Got boots for $ 1 as well as a big tote bag for work for $ 4! The people who work there are very nice and labels are clearly marked. The store is kept very tidy and organized and is definitely worth going to. I want to visit the Jamaica Plain location now, too. :)

Oh Boomerangs… how do I love thee?
I moved to West Roxbury about 10 months ago and presently I’d say about half of the clothes that I wear regularly were bought at Boomerangs. I’ve been «thrifting» (as the kids say) for a lot of years and this store — hands down — has the best selection I’ve seen. Not just clothes either — I always see furniture in there for dirt cheap. They’ve got housewares, books, cds, dvds, you name it. I’ve actually never been to the JP store so I can’t speak to that one but the W. Roxbury branch is pretty freakin fabulous.

I’ve donated to the West Roxbury location a handful of times but hadn’t been up front. I had been to the JP store a long while ago and assumed it would be just as crowded, cramped, and cluttered.
Last night they didn’t have anyone working the back drop off spot so I had to bring my things up to the front, and WOW I am so glad that happened! The two women staffing the store were remarkably kind, courteous, and genuinely appreciative of my donation and business. The store is very well kept, spacious, and prices are clearly labeled. I hadn’t planned on making any purchases but I left with two nice hardcover books and two really cute baskets all for $ 9! I am definitely visiting the front of this store more often!

The good: cool jewelry, including some that isn’t used. I bought my sister a necklace and it’s awesome ($ 12).
Brand new urban outfitters shoes (at least this week)! Lots of them!
The bad: Minus the jewelry, I couldn’t find anything I liked. Other people seem to have better luck. I found one really cool thing that was too big for me but most of the stock was old or out of shape.

The staff here is vet friendly and helpful. This location is most certainly well organized compared to their JP location. Most hot home items are available in multiples so it way to make a set for your home or as a gift. I purchased set of 6 napkin rings for only $ 3 and a couple candle stick holders for only $ 5.

It hurts me physically to give any Boomerangs less than four or five stars, but this place, unfortunately has gone downhill a bit since I wrote my initial review. They’ve essentially cut the space in half, reserving the now «back room» for what appears to be processing. I was given a vague suggestion that the downstairs area, which I assume would be relatively expansive, is now offices or a training space.
They still have great stuff, but they no longer sell furniture and their general stock has been hedged back significantly.
If you’d never been to the store with it’s original configuration, you probably wouldn’t even notice, but it’s definitely a downgrade. Sorry guys.

In this economy a friend suggested I try the local thrift stores. It saves me money and helps a good cause. In this particular instance, AIDS research. I stopped in to browse and spent $ 30. Got at least 10 things, including two necklaces. There is a lot to pick thru and some of it looks like it has been there for decades but that is to be expected. It was actually quite fun! Not a large selection of kids clothes tho. Staff is very friendly and appreciative of your business. I’ll go back!!!

«Makes me want to move exactly ½ way between the jp store and the w rox store… somewhere of centre st between the two rotaries would be good.
really, both stores are great. this location has only been open for a week. (long ago there used to be a shop in allston/​brighton and it is no longer).
the clothes and all items are clean, modern as well as vintage, desireable items… i walked out with a snazzy bracelet for $ 1…
Boomerangs shops are to benefit the aids action committee :):)»