ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Is it still worth it to shop at your local thrift store? With costs rising, people are looking for ways to save, but inflation has seemed to hit thrift stores, too.
For non-essential items like clothing, people told me they're trying to be as strategic as possible to save as much money as they can thrifting.
"It is a really good way to save money," Jennifer Johnson told me.
Johnson has been shopping resale for years.
"I've furnished my whole new house by thrifting," she said.
She even has a business that turns vintage textiles into clothing called Sewcial Anxiety, so she's hip to the trends, noticing an increase not only in resale shopping but an increase in prices.
"I think it's because of the online reselling. They're trying to get their money out of it, too, instead of re-sellers and it hasn't been good," Johnson said.
Deliechia Borndes has also noticed the increase but said that thrifting is still worth it.
"It makes a big difference because it's much cheaper it helps with our household," Borndes said.
At the Salvation Army in Rochester Hills this week, it was busy. Manager Becky Ramm said it typically is.
"In a lot of big box locations, you might only be able to get a shirt or shorts for under $50. Here you can essentially re-do your entire closet for under $50," Ramm said.
When it comes to rising prices, Ramm said despite inflation, they try to stay within 1/4 of the initial retail cost.
"There might be a $1 or $2 increase, but it's nothing extravagant that makes it unaffordable for the average shopper," she said.
That extra dollar or two is worth it to shoppers like Dawn Devine, who always finds a way to save.
"It still is cheaper than going to the malls, etc. Be careful because sometimes, they're not the bargains that you hope for but in general, I can always find treasures," Devine said.
It's also worth it for Alexis West-Taylor, who came in needing dress pants for her new job and walked out with Ralph Lauren pants for $2.
"If you get a couple of shirts and a couple pants at like Kohls or a regular store, it costs over a hundred bucks and I'm on a budget," West-Taylor said.
While costs are rising everywhere, the consensus seems to be there are plenty of savings to be had at thrift stores.
With demand staying high post pandemic, thrift stores are continuing to open in the metro Detroit area. The Salvation Army opened a store in Novi this year. Goodwill plans to open a store in Southfield in April. “The secondhand retail market has grown significantly in recent years, with people shopping at thrift stores for many reasons — to save money, to find name-brand clothes at lower prices and to help reduce waste and keep goods out of landfills.
When Goodwill of Greater Detroit opens its new Southfield store this spring, the metro Detroit community will have a brand-new option for thrift shopping and for donating gently used clothing and household items. What many people don’t know is that 92 cents of every dollar generated at Goodwill of Greater Detroit stores goes back into free job training and skills development programs for community members with employment barriers, including those with disabilities. The more people donate to and shop with Goodwill, the more people we can help.” said Jeff Ukrainec, vice president of Donated Goods Operations at Goodwill of Greater Detroit.
