What does your local thift stores charge on average for gear?

I've got a few stores all in close proximity here. The majority of them just seem to throw a random # on the equipment and toss it in a pile.

The Disabled Vets thrift has perhaps the best overall selection. Apparently they've got a guy who tests everything, but I'm not sure to what degree yet. They do, however, allow you to hook things up and test them yourself to see how it sounds.

Pricing there is typically $40 for floor standing speakers (regardless of brand).
$40 for Amps/Recievers.
$20ish for CDPs/cassette Decks, etc.
~$20ish for Bookshelf speakers.

So, for me, I basically have a store with consistent pricing and a rotating inventory.

Suddenly I'm thinking I should have picked up that Sansui 6060 for $40 as well.

Heh, can't help ya, at least your thrift stores HAVE some gear...

Most of them just have the standard BPC, but the Vets do have a larger selection it seems (with lots of BPC as well).

Local we only have a GW and I have only found a couple of pieces worth buying in the last 2+ years. The best thing I have seen there was a Pioneer SX-650 tossed into a Bin in the back and from what I could tell it never hit the floor.

Once in a great while a VG condition LP. and once in a great while a NOS Hi bias Cassette tape.

In Salem much the same.

I have the main GW that I have found my Klipsch KG-4's and my JBL L150a's at; for less than 23 dollars invested!!

GW right next to my work carries CRAP for WAY too much friggin' $$$. Like Fisher late-eighties Rent A Center rack system speakers for $200!!!

Yeeesh!

FWIW; I have NEVER seen an amplifier at a thrift/GW/whathaveyou....



Matt

I've had some great luck at the thrifts, but nothing really for a couple of weeks.:yes: Times are getting tough.:yes: Brad

I have five thrifts in a 6 or 7 mile radius; mostly VCR and BPC heaven, but each will produce silver paydirt at times with mostly uniform pricing. Most of the 70's receivers that show up are low - mid range models such as Kenwood KR-5400, Realistic STA-220, Marantz 2240. A couple of places are really reasonable at $8 per receiver, the others range from 12.99 to 19. Speakers seem to be priced by size but also condition. I picked up a pair of Infinity QAs with knicked up cabinets for $5, I've picked up small/large Advents in need of foam for $19. Not just 70's stuff - I've picked up Kefs, Polks, A/D/S - all priced like uniform speakers! :)

Yeah, a Sansui 6060 for $40 - you'd like to see it priced at $8 like the other receivers, but it would still be a no-brainer for me.

5 bucks for amps ... 5 bucks for receivers ... 5 bucks for cd players ..etc ...

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/07/money/image/5dollarbill.jpg

It's completely hit an miss here.

A store called Value Village is usually EXTREMELY overpriced IMO because it is usually crap that doesn't even work with these prices. Once in a while a nice piece shows up though. $9.99 (tuners, tape decks, vcrs - $79.99 amps, receivers, tvs with no rhyme or reason to brand/quality. Records are $1.99 each. They seem to pay a LOT of people to stand around in the general area of the cash registers yet only open one till at a time so waiting in line for 10-15 minutes really makes you think twice about your purchase.

Goodwill and SA are usually priced ok but RARELY have anything worthwhile. $5.99-$14.99 for most gear. Though I did score 2 tube amps and a regulated power supply all for $5 once because I don't think the manager even knew what they were.

The best deals are at the Drop N shop at the dump. Usually anything electronic has $10 put on it. They move stuff VERY quickly though so you really have to be lucky. Records 25-cents.

Good thread....I've been wondering about this. I've just started cruising the Goodwill and St.Vinnie stores here. About the only stuff I've found that I'd consider buying is a Teac tape deck for $30, but it didn't even work so I passed. There is a pair of EPI 120c's for $40 that have been sitting for a few weeks. The foam seems ok and the woofers move nicely but I can't decide if it'd be worth it. From what I've read here some of you folks are absolutely stealing this gear. $40 seems like it might be a little high.

Thrifts in NYC proper are way too expensive mostly. In Long Island, where I work, there's one GW that has some decent stuff on occasion,mostly $20 for receivers or speakers (pair). There's a Savers that used to have good stuff at very good prices, I got a HK 410 integrated in perfect shape for $5, but that was over a year ago. Lately it's just BPC, don't know if the well dried up or there's somebody on the "inside" now culling all the good stuff.

if you can find anything anymore at the local thrift stores.. prices start at $7.99 to about $40 for audio equipment.

Clearly about value, so moved to Dollars and Sense.

We have one SA, and everything else is run by local Churches/charities. Pricing is all over the board. Good gear is in short supply here... but sometimes I find a gem. Speakers as low as $2 each sometimes (for good vintage stuff), as high as $89.99 for light-weight modern stuff beat to death.

One place had a very nicely designed old mono tube radio/tt console. It had obviously been stored in an area open to the outdoors, the TT section and the cabinet were full of leaves. :smoke: They started it at 9.99. Still there a week later, they had moved it to a place of prominence and priced it at $89.99, "On Sale" for $59.99. They are still moving it around the store and changing the price every few weeks a year later. At one point they had it roped off and priced at $299.99. :lmao: If it ever gets back down to $9.99 (only been as close as $24.99 so far) I'll take it home.

You just never know how they'll price things at thrifts. At the Value Villiage they have a pair of AR 2ax with a blown (over extended) woofer, a non-working and non-original tweeter, cabs are all scratched up and the grills are broken.... Price $128 for the pair. Down the road I picked up a minty-looking pair for $35.

There is one thrift store in town that prices everything so high that nobody buys anything. The palce is stacked to the rafters with overpriced crap! Soon, they'll have to close because you won't be able to open the doors.

Oh.. here is a good one. I was in my favorite thrift the other day and the electronics section was packed with TVs. They had them all stacked up three-high in a row and every set was turned on. I counted 21 TVs. Here's the funny part, they were all puluged in to ONE OUTLET with 5 power strips daisey chained together. The cord to the first powerstrip was about to melt it was so hot. I told the lady at the counter that the place would burn down if they didn't do something about it.