Arcadia Welfare & Thrift Shop

Arcadia Welfare and Thrift shop is an excellent place to go for obscure items as well as great bargins on clothes and shoes. One of my most treasured finds is a very old museum crate used to move artifacts from archiological digs. It's of sturdy but rough wood worn smooth by time. It now holds center place in my bedroom and contains all my fine linens and precious things. I got it for about $19. Then there is the friendly but hands off staff who go allow you to go about your business unless their help is requested. It's one of the places I go on a Saturday morning, just to relax. Oh yes, and they play the best 70's music.

Prices here used to be affordable and I always found something that I needed. I used to love to buy records, a deal at seventy five cents per lp. Or used furniture from the yard outside...a table for $30 or chairs for $5 each. Now, unfortunately, this place has become greedy. The manager only negotiates better prices for people that she likes (I guess I am not one of them) and the prices have skyrocketed over the past year. Let's face it, most of the customers are "dealers" and climb into the manager's pocket. However, I am just a humble customer, like others, looking for things that I NEED at affordable prices. It is a thrift store, after all. Now the records are priced according to what they feel they are worth, mostly $3 and $4 each!! Any other thrift store charges a MAXIMUM of $1. The deteriorating furniture outside, which has been sadly weakened and bleached by the scorching Arcadia sun is marked UP. No more tables for $30, and good luck finding one for less than $100. I am seeing the same stuff, inside and out, with the same old prices on it. What business sense is this? Price it to move!! But don't worry, you can still get a deal...just ask for the manager and BE CHARMING...she'll give you a deal...if she likes you.

Comments (1)

specmom - 10/12/09
I have been to this shop many times and I love it!. I am a larger woman and often find bargains on beautiful designer name clothes at a fraction of the price. You do have to glance at the whiteboard before going in so you can see what is on sale. There is always a sale. When I needed a new mattress they even delivered it to my house for free!