What happened to cheap?

[rivstg1]

Dang, my lock goodwill has prices that are nowhere near what I read stories of here price wise. Ouch

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That's amazing.

I NEVER see vacuums that high in thrift stores.
I've paid a little higher price for CERTAIN things. However, I usually find things at a nice, if almost ridiculously low prices.
Maybe the 'new 'plastic stuff is just worse than ever.

 

[ultralux88]

This is a trend out here in CO! A depressing one, but they seem to think they have something really special when they come across a Kirby to price...

 

[huskyvacs]

All Goodwills price items differently. It is up to the descretion of the employee in the back room that is pricing things that day. They just give you a lot of giant rolls of price stickers at different increments and tell you to make your best judgement on what you think the item is worth. That's all there is to it. Blame the employee that put that price on it, not the corporation as a whole.

People at my Goodwill put $60 price tags on 10-15 year old Keurigs that are clogged to hell, when you can get a new one for $40-$50 now.

Your best bet is to go on half off days, but I can guarantee that that Kirby would be gone in the blink of an eye. My Goodwill prices vacuums from $19.99 to $29.99, but if you go on half off day it takes some of the edge off the price.

One time I went in there they had a Mighty Mite, complete with floor nozzle and bags and everything, for $4.99. I originally thought it said $14.99 so I didn't consider it, especially since it smelled likethe locker room of a football stadium but it wasn't until I looked at the photo later that I seen it said $4.99. It was a half off day too. I went back the next day, it was long gone.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I am willing to bet that it works good and they know what they have. Go on one of their sale days if you want to take a chance at getting it. If it does work reasonably well, it would still be worth it.
I saw a G5 at the Plano GW for 30 when the plastic ones were 20.
I saw a vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster for 30 without bowls. However I once did score a Sunbeam radiant control toaster for under a buck...

As said, pricing can vary as much as the employee turnover. My ladyfriend collects vintage (80s-90s) clothes and she see it in that area too sometimes. A short robe for $12? You can get one at Macys for that on sale and with a coupon. Salvation Army is the same way sometimes. Typically they are 2-5.

However, do not let that discourage you from thrifting. Revisit the store each 6 weeks for a brand new selection.

 

[rivstg1]

that G4 was in GOOD condition

the plastic Bissells were all less expensive. I saw a Heritage II w/tool caddy and SOME tools a while back there, I didn't get it b/c it was missing the few tools that mine was missing...vacuum was in okay, USED shape for $29. I traveled a lot further away to get another Heritage II JUST for the mini emptor and bag, so maybe I should have picked it up...but, I got mine for $15 and fixed the belt issue. . I hear of all these ridiculously low prices people on Facebook Vacuum Collectors page and here....seemingly in the midwest, ugh, I"m envious

I found a guy who is selling 63 Kirby's all shined up and ready to use with the hoses/attachements...but will only sell them as a package. Kinda tempted to make an offer but they are all G models and ...I don't know if they've been 'gone through' the internals..... with the purpose of reselling most of them.... Kirby's just don't sell great ( used ones) and its a long drive to get them all. hmmmm. these are KILLER used buys for vacuums and especially Kirby's....but as others have written here.....the demand for deep cleaning machines has REALLT died off as people prefer convenance/light weight/NEW, so I question whether I could off load them much for a profit

 

[hmc1981]

Thrift store pricing

I’ve too noticed an increase in pricing for your more premium appliances (Kirby in particular - at least in my area - St. Augustine, FL). It used to be I could run across them for no more than $20. Most recently I saw a G3 (in terrible shape) for $75. At another shop there was a very deeply scratched and filthy Sentria for $100, right next to it a decent enough G5 also for $100. I couldn’t imagine paying that much for any of those machines, heck I bought a flawless 2017 Avalir with all attachments (was only 7 months old at the time) for $120 - private sale.

But I think that there are a lot of folks out there who are aware that machines like Kirby are top notch and figure it’s a good deal. Most people simply either don’t know or don’t care about vacuums, and associate a name with expense, and probably figure it’s now or never and wind up buying the moth eaten/rat infested Sentria for $100.

It’s been a horrifically long day. I’m tired.

 

[myles_v]

I got my relatively recently made (since the name change) Aerus upright from a Goodwill for $4.99. Just a few counties north of me I saw an old, filthy bottom of the line Miele with a bunch of attachments missing for $80. It seems to depend on the store and on whoever is working when the items are put out.