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Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment [Edit]
Neighborhood: MissionMon-Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
"Really cute clothing boutique. Cool music playing on the stereo too. Saw a really cute dress in the window. Stopped in. Checked the price…" read more »
The #1 Thrift Store in San Francisco....(this location only) Geary Street is the worst! ....now, now....let's focus on the best! I thought I would wet my skin....all the sales had in that store....a brand spankin new North Face Jacket 4.99,
Best days to shop are Friday and Saturday 50% off days...show up at noon and comb through the racks left on the floor to be hung first...then comb through for jewels!!! Plenty of jewels to be had....Oh, forget about looking at "RED TAG"! Red does not stand for "HOT" it stands for bloody mess!
Clothing for both men, women and children are the best....2.99 with 50% off a brand new Burberry skirt! Oh, and don't skip the shoes, I found new designer shoes from Italy for 4.99 with 50% off.
Everyday something is on sale....Monday's are usually NOT good days!!!
Need vintage, then this spot is in for you too!!! Staff are really friendly, manager will give you a senior discount if you ask.....even if you are 12 years old....asking is the basis for receiving...make sure you ask....and the crazy lady in the red tag area.....is a bloody mess.....don't bother to bring the "exclusive" (NOT) red tags item to the regular register to purchase....she will scream over the loud speaker code "10"! Bloody Red Tag Queen!!
I promise you the very best in thrifting in San Francisco!!! Did I say cheap ting, good ting?
God Damn! Nailed it again. Looking for 80's gear for my B2B costume and there she is, a tie-dyed old school wieghtlifter tank top with the 24 fitness logo on the front. Add a hillarious hat and a couple other must have's and I was set. 50% of everything too!
This place gives me a cheap crap boner!
I've come here 2 times for halloween costumes and found exactly what I was looking for. I was Ned… Read more »
Thrift store heaven comprises of two parts: 50% off everything in the store so you can be even cheaper than you anticipated and finding one of a kind pieces that some unknowing person left behind. In these cases, for my friend Stef, it was three Vogue vintage posters at a whopping $2.50 each. Unbelievable. I don't go to church, but I definitely believe in thrift store heaven. We were with Stef's parents who were first time believers. They came in the store knowing that there would be great prices, but I believe they were skeptical. That was until I pointed out Asian printed ceramic items. Stef's mother brought sets of plates, bowls, soup spoons, pots, serving trays--all adorned with Chinese writing that we couldn't understand but knew was authentic because of the "Made in Taiwan" logos.
Stef's parents bought so much stuff that we had to haul a cab to take the items back to their hotel. The adventure was topped off with a taxi ride from San Francisco's official greeter: Ben the taxi driver. He had a shaggy beard and enunciated well. He was helpful and we enjoyed his dinner recommendations.
This is the most overpriced goodwill in san francisco. I saw a very used, dirty Ikea tv stand priced at this goodwill for $199 which is $100 more than Ikea charges for it currently in the store. What the hell? Thrift town leaves this place in the dust.
Call me crazy but I swear, S.A. has gone chi chi! $110 for a refurbished twin mattress. Which I would go for considering the bed bug horror stories I hear in S.F. I actually like some of the things I've seen there lately, although they are not what I would call super cheap any more but it's nice not to make the trip only to find complete junk. I saw a couch I would buy if I needed a couch. . So I say, go there if you are doing the thrift thing, you might find some nice stuff.
Update!! We were just there and the mattresses were 75% off. We found a posture pedic twin with a couple of minor spots and decided to replace the old one. $27.00!! It is so comfortable! $27.00!! When they want to move merchandise, it moves! Check with them often for their sales, it's worth it.
Not that much great stuff for a store this size. As with most SA stores, there are some definite ???s with pricing. H&M, 'xhiliration' by Target and Toujours Vingt et Un (Forever 21 heheeh) in the 'Better Clothing' section for um...$30?!?!? And then a silk dress from DKNY COLLECTION ($$$$$) from the recent season mixed in with the regular stuff...for $7.50? It works out well for me though hahah that they don't know what they are selling :O).
I was happy to find a pair of cream satin vintage Freed of London ballroom dance shoes for $4!
Not my #1 SA choice, but if I am the 'hood I will go in to see what's shakin.
Scenario: I went on a Friday morning looking for a halloween costume; trench coat and a fidora for an Inspector Gadget getup.
Price: Not sure since there wasn't anything I wanted during this trip.
Service: The guy at the counter was friendly and willing to answer my questions to help me find what I was seeking.
Atmosphere: Lots of floor space, calm, clean but nothing fancy, and there was a little section of nicer stuff like leather jackets and nicer dresses.
Uniquity: It's the Salvation Army as opposed to something local or Goodwill.
The Salvation Army is a bit creepy, I know they do 'good work' and all that, but there's something really 19th century, deserving and undeserving poor about it all. It's kinda like pre Goldberg v. Kelly ADFC when in order to get your welfare check you had to let snoops into your home for midnight raids to make sure you weren't shacking up with a man. See 397 U.S. 254 (1970). I don't think the current Salvation Army is that bad, but their thrift store prices are. Selection is no good either.
The creepy in store radio that encourages you to shop with 'zany' commercials whose humor and sentiments are some kind of bastard child of the comic pages' Cathy and Garfield with Ned Flanders at his most sanctimonious as godfather make it next to impossible to really get in and dig for clothing, books, or bric-a-brac without being nauseated.
Back in the day (mid 90's) this was one of the best thrift stores in the city, but now? It's the sort of place where they have an entire rack of ill fitting dead stock K-Mart acid wash jeans that they're charging 2 bucks less than list for. A morbidly depressing thrift store experience, more-so even than a whole pile of shirts that you know came from some dead grandpa's closet.
Support the Salvation Army! There is so much dirt cheap stuff there. Granted, the cheap stuff might have a bit of dirt but whatever. It all washes off.
Of course, I haven't made the correlation to art in quite some time but the Salvation Army is fantastic for people who want to create book art and/or collage, mixed media work. Seriously, you can find some awesome books for, like, 50 cents! Insanity! That, by far, is worth it. Trust me, if you look at a Franz Kline piece, you'll want to step it up from newspaper and paint to book pages and Old Holland Oils. Yes, my artsy friends, there is loads of inspiration at SA.
Last but not least...you can find some amazing vintage kitchenwares! It might take some time but you can seriously find some rare but cool stuff.
Although the place always seems picked clean (spare), I come back from time to time for the shear thrill and terror of the place--it smells bad, a lot of stuff is broken, and aside from the books, items are incredibly overpriced.
This particular thrift store never ceases to piss off my husband-- probably because the cashiers are always super slow and don't know what they're doing (even though they're the same ones we've had previously) and because some of the things on the floor aren't marked.
If an item isn't marked, you can't buy it. The item goes back to the center to get re-priced. They used to "lie" to you and tell you they'll call you when they have re-priced it, but they have since stopped this silliness.
My husband has a theory that the items on the floor that aren't price aren't priced so the employees can buy them. I tend to doubt this theory.
Today I had some fun before my husband got frustrated with their taking back the unpriced Raggedy Andy ceramic piece. It wasn't anything special... just something he wanted to get to cheer me up.
What did I find?
Bad Cat: 244 not-so-pretty kitties and cats gone bad
Dr. Oetker German Cooking Today
Shakespeare's English Kings by Peter Saccio
The Orton Diaries edited by John Lahr
A pop-up book of The Wizard of Oz (damaged, but still cool)
Native American Lady Cloth Doll in Navajo Dress (small)
It was July 4th so I got 25-30% off.
The books are $2.50 for hardcovers and $.75 for paperbacks. I thought I had great finds.
This Salvation Army store and the one is Daly City on Mission are however the thrift stores I have to gather strength to go to... maybe once or twice a year. They are ordeals that are sometimes worth it; most times not.
If you want to laugh hysterically without stopping, go to their special "upscale" collector's items area. It's exactly how Sankar R. described it. $35 for a statue that had its head broken off and glued back on, chipped vases, and who would want to pay that much for a rancid wooden salad bowl???
The furniture? The furniture is how Amy K. and teddy w. described it--hell, I've dragged furniture off my street corner that were similar to things they were charging top dollar (antique mall) prices for... only, the Salvation Army didn't have the same level of quality and you could pick up a skin disease or bed bugs just by touching it or staying in the area too long.
If they want to charged higher prices for quality items, they should really apprentice themselves for a day or two at an antique store, an estate sale, or the Junior League thrift store... just to learn about quality and an idea about the ball park price for certain items. People would probably buy the more expensive items if the prices were closer to "reality." For example, I don't see anyone snickering at having to pay $45 for a pendant at a church thrift store when the proper research and "thought" had been given...say, it's an Alaskan "mask" done by an artist.
The Salvation Army could probably sell more items if the prices didn't seem so insulting. They've missed the mark if people are snickering, "no way, they've got to be kidding."
Waited for the truck to arrive at the regularly scheduled time window of 12:30-3:30pm. When 3:30 rolled around and there was no sign (nor call from SA), I decided to dial the 800 number and see what was up. After getting some incoherent speech from the Customer Non-service Rep about the drivers having had 'some difficulties at their last pick up', I asked for a supervisor and was told she 'was on a break or not in today'. WTF?!! Finally, at 5:30 I took my dogs out to the corner park for their afternoon pee, only to see the SA truck rounding the corner.
Next time I'm giving my stuff to Goodwill!
This is not on my A list but I stop in now and then. Yes, the prices have gone way up since they "remodeled" but they probably have a wider - and better quality - furniture selection than most thrift stores in San Francisco (for the price), and while their prices are high, they're only high by thrift store standards. Most of their stuff is still a bargain (though I think I'd probably go with craig's list first, for furniture).
All thrift stores price chipped bric-a-brac as if it were perfect, when really, if it's chipped, it's just junk! But occasionally, something really valuable will show up here and they don't know what the hell they have, so you can get it for cheap. I bought two serving plates in the Arabia Anemone Blue pattern here, for $12.50 each in the "better china" department, and sold each of them on ebay for over $100.
Their clothing selection is pretty poor, considering the amount of space they devote to it. They sell stuff in crappy condition that frankly the Goodwill would only sell at their $2 outlet store, if that. And, if they get anything halfway decent, they overprice it and put it in their "boutique." They have a pair of Dr. Scholl's exercise sandals for $35 (since January - it's now April) - these things sell NEW for $31.99 on the Dr. Scholl's web site!
However, just today I stopped in and got a lovely sweater, which I believe is hand-knit - it is beautifully beaded ALL OVER - as in, the beads were slipped onto the knitting needles and worked in as the knitter went...so they're not going to fall off like some sewn-in beads. It's gorgeous - and I paid $15.50.
One thing to know is that they usually don't have "this week's half-off color" like the Goodwill, but they DO have discount pricing. All items are discounted by 50% if they haven't sold after a certain number of days (this number varies by the department). So, look at the date on the tag (which may be post-dated, for some reason - I've seen items in there dated LATER than the date I was looking at them!) - usually clothing is half-off 15 days after the date on the tag. So if you're wondering if it's still full-price, take it up to the register and have it scanned - they'll be happy to let you know if it has passed the magic date and reached discount territory.
Some of the managers tend to be kind of nasty to the staff, in front of customers - that has happened recently and I found it very distasteful to watch.
Also today, I bought a Sears Kenmore stove/oven for $120 - it's spotlessly clean and is much bigger than the stove I currently have in my 50's efficiency kitchen. They give a 30 day guarantee on their electronics and appliances - but if the stuff doesn't work, they only give you store credit!
On a humorous note, they used to have a woman working the register who would opena plastic bag by putting her lips around the mouth of the bag and blowing....like, she really clamped down, and it gave me the creeps - I don't want to be handling someone else's saliva when I'm removing my items from a bag, thank you!
For overall quality, prices and turnover of merchandise, I recommend the Goodwill in SF, and I love Thrift Town for clothes. If you want vintage, the Goodwill on Haight is probably best (I would have said, the Goodwill on Mission 18th/19th but they recently shipped out their merchandise and it's now a $1.99 store).
This is based strictly on the drop off as they will take almost anything that includes Xmas trees!!! Fricken fantastic. Helped my bffe pull all the crapola out of her house and they took 8 monster bags of stuff off our hands. Vaya con dios, someone else can use it!!!
Some of the prices were great, some were like "what are they thinking asking this much?" But overall a super awesome place to find furniture and any other used item.
It seems like they don't have enough cashiers working ever, but some of them are very nice and down to earth people.
I'm not a huge fan of this SA. It's got a good location though, never too busy, and tons of open space, so you don't feel like you're jammed in between musty coatracks like some thriftstores.
I actually just scored a Feng Shui abundance bowl. It's made of glass and round like a fishbowl, bulbous. Ah yeah, it marks the manifestation of abundance in me and my baby's life.
I also scored a little white and baby blew pewter spoonrest for our gas stove. You know, for spatulats and soup spoons when you're cooking and you need a place to put that food-bespeckled utensil.
I also found another good pewter coffee mug, pinkish-colored and rotund.
Total? Well, they were having some kind of half-off sale. $7.
I had been looking for the first two things for a while.
I'm nothing like my baby in terms of thriftstore-junkie-addiction. But can I say? She's from St. Louis, where the thriftstores are (well, at least they used to be) grandiose, and you're actually likely to find something really freakin' amazingly cool.
The Mission SA isn't very impressive but it's worth a glance if you've got something specific in mind like I did.
Large selection of clothes, furniture, and various sundries, but the shit is overpriced. I still come here though because they tend to get some pretty unique items. I found this badass mirror with golden flecked scrollwork carving down the sides which was exactly what I was looking for but couldn't seem to find anywhere.
Even though the prices here suck, the employees have been some of the friendliest I've come across at the various thrift stores I go to.
Though it loses a star for the sometimes creechy-factor, nothing beats diggin' thru the junk for more junk at the Salvtion army!
Check out the collector's corner for great old sewing machines, fancy furniture and other objects that make you say to yourself... "I thought second-hand meant cheap?"
Best Deal: Books. Paperbacks are .75 and Hardcovers are...either 1.50 or 2.50. I've been able to find books by Joan Didion, Michael Ondaatje, Paul Auster and they always seem to have the classics on hand. The downside is that you have to search for these books in the bookshelves and that can be tedious if you don't have the patience.
Worst Deal: Furniture. I rarely see an air chair for under $50, unless, of course, the chair is old and scrappy. Yes, they have a good selection, but you have to pay for it.
Inconsistency: Sometimes you have to check your bag behind the counter when you walk in, sometimes you don't. The one time I decided to be good and wait at the counter to check my bag, I waited for five minutes until someone helped me. I would just shop until they make you check your bag.
Prices: The women's clothing here can be a bit pricey, but I'd rather pay $6 at Salvation Army (where the money goes to a good cause) than $20 at Buffalo Exchange. Men's clothing tends to be somewhat lower-priced ($4/shirt). Be sure to find out which color tags are half-price. Also, they often have sales where all clothing and books are half-price.
Alternatives: If you are looking for a better deal on clothing and furniture, check out the Goodwill in Bayview. The prices are low, they have a parking lot, and no one ever goes there.
This again is another fun afternoon shopping adventure of hunting through the racks and sorting through the junk looking for hidden treasures. The great thing about this place is they have tons of furniture, they have the best selection of furniture out of all the thrift stores, so this is the place if your looking for that "new" desk or chair.
Not everyone is down for the rummaging and preworn clothes of the Salvation Army. But for those of us who are, this Salvation Army has $1 fluffy pink cardigans and $0.50 magenta sweaters. Oh my god. When I moved to the city, I did a lot of walking and wandered into this place. In LOVE, I tell you. The cheapest and the best selection. They had furniture, too, but last time I checked, they were renovating the giant furniture section of the warehouse-size building, so I don't know if it's there anymore.
The Salvation Army in South SF used to be the best one but it's turned to crap, just like the one in Belmont and the one in San Bruno. This one on the other hand actually has some decent finds. The shoe selection is always kind of amazing, just in sheer variety alone. I probably shouldn't be posting this, huh?
as far as thrift stores go, this one does pretty well in terms of quality
strengths are furniture
weaker on clothes
good sales sometimes
Salvation Army is a cavernous, well stocked thrift haven to find respite in during the bleak, picked-over pre-Burning Man months. Lots of good scores at reasonable prices, a little bit higher, but worth it for the convenience of one-stop shopping. No better selection of mumus in town, hands down.
whenever i have to get rid of clothes i don't wear anymore (and buffalo exchange won't take) i take my stuff to salvation army...
it's really close by so it makes it pretty convenient...
High marks for clothes -- some great finds in the back, where they keep the designer stuff -- but it's at prices closer to Buffalo Exchange than ThriftTown. And for furniture? Wha ta fuh! I got my wooden TV stand (with a lazy susan!) at Community Thrift for $14 -- just saw the same one at this Salvation Army for $65. SO when I saw the perfect perfect coffee table, I couldn't bring myself to buy it for $85 because -- I'm sure to see it somewhere else for less! (Let it be known that this coffee table will haunt me to the end of my days. So you might not want to listen to me.)
All I can say is that it was raining and cold. I bought a jacket and all of a sudden my bitchings were cured for a mere $12. And where can you get some rubber nunchucks for like $2? And let me tell you those 'chucks got put to use. Most things are overpriced though, which is why you should't buy furniture there.
Just the right price! So, we need some olive-ish green shirts for our cheap ass costumes. Found 3, and since it was half off(Halloweener discount over the weekend), each shirt was only a buck! 50% off? Might as well pick up that couch with the cat scratch fever all about it. Maybe a kids bike for $12.50? We lugged that couch down to the shop, about 1.5 blocks took forever. Took a couple sit down breaks on the sidewalk.....heavy!
I once bought some used heavy duty work boots here (made in America)for $5 that I wore almost every day for five years. After that, I bought some new ones (made in China) for $50 elsewhere and they lasted six months. So, by comparison, the deal on the used boots was 100 times better (1/10 the price and 10 times the durability for the S.A. boots.) I am subtracting one star because I have not been quite so lucky here since that one great deal.
good place, but nopt is crap
Got me a perfectly running bucket for only $350 from their used car lot... can you find prices like these elsewhere??
don"t ever buy any vehicle from the lot's of these crooks..... lot staff diagnoses vehicles wrong and does not assume responsibility
South San Francisco, CA
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Community Service/Non-Profit
San Francisco, CA
Category: Local Services
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Thrift Stores
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Used, Vintage & Consignment
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
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