I was reading a recent article in Apartment Therapy about the best way to speak to dealers at flea markets. It got me thinking about the best ways to talk to thrift owners and consignment shop staff. And hence, we have this little ditty today.
There are so many different types of thrift and consignment shops. Home goods, clothing, art, even equine thrift shops can be found all over. Many are for profit, like my shop. And some exist to support a particular charity or cause. If you love secondhand shopping, you’ve probably been to all types of shops in all types of places. Whether you’re looking for bargains at these shops, being environmentally conscious, by shopping secondhand or supporting the associated charity, there are best practices when speaking to owners and staff at these establishments. Just consider…
Don’t Make Negative Comments About the Inventory
My Mom drilled into us the adage, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” This is sage advice when talking to owners or staff at thrift and consignment shops. They hear you and your conversations when you’re shopping. And the last thing that will get you anywhere with any of them are negative comments about the store or the store’s inventory. If you say things like, “this store is full of junk, “ even if it is, you’re not making friends. And it’s unlikely you’ll be given any favors (more about that later). Don’t comment out loud about the fairness of prices, organization of the shop or cleanliness of the items. If you don’t like these things about the shop, just don’t go back. But if you plan on frequenting the locale, zip it to stay in good with staff.
Asking For A Deal? Understand Shop’s Policies and Pricing First
So now let’s talk favors, the chief one being price reductions. If you want staff or owners to seriously consider a lower than asking offer, you’ll want to keep two things in mind. You’ll want to have observed the first rule of consignment shopping and not have spoken badly about the shop in the shop. The other key thing you’ll want to do before bargaining is understand how the shop works. And how they set prices. Some shops, like Consignments Ltd. , have written contracts with their consignors. This guides them as to when and if they can consider your offer. Other shops (also like Consignments Ltd) mark their items down over time, so this should guide your bargaining, as well. Shops use color coded tags, markdown schedules and dates as part of their pricing rules. If you understand and respect these guidelines, your offer will be much more well received.
Looking For Something Specific? Get To Know The Staff. Get on Their Wish List
Other “favors” you might be looking for at thrift and consignment shops come in the form of your shopping list. If you are searching heaven and earth for that one particular something, staff and owners can be your best buddies. If you cultivate relationships with these folks, they are far more likely to remember that you’re hunting for that special thing. Treat them kindly and they’ll make a mental or actual note of your wished for items. And they may even offer to place you on a wish list (digital or written). I mean c’mon. Who doesn’t want to get a call from a shop when a copy of The Bride Game comes in? And yes, I’m embarrassed to say that this vintage game is on my list of searched for treasures. LOL. It’s a terribly sexist game that I enjoyed the heck out of as a child and I want to own just because. It’s one of the many reasons that the true junkers among us remain a mystery to the rest. So talk to the people at your local shops. It may reap some unexpected benefits and you might even add to your list of friends.
Still hungry for more reading? Check out some of my previous blogs, like: Best Time of Day to Visit Thrift and Consignment Shops and Why Buying Fake Designer Handbags is Bad.
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