Vintage Values II

Reviews 3

M.

M. B.

Cross-posted to Yelp. This is for the Vintage Values II in Lexington Park. I have shopped at this store for 15 years and it has gone down the toilet over at least the last 5 years, I cant seem to leave without either being ignored or insulted. The prices are ridiculous and the sales advertisements are misleading (A rack will have a sign saying "ALL SHIRTS 1/2 OFF" but when you go to buy one, the story is "well, all shirts except the ones with pink or green tags." Ive seen beat up Wal-mart furniture and stained Fossil purses for more money than they cost new. Pricing: You used to be able to get a pair of Converse sneakers for .50c, now a pair of dingy slip-ons are $8. Used sweaters run $6-$15. A chaise lounge came in while I was there and I asked how much it was going to be; they hadnt looked it over yet but said probably $275!! They have increased their prices because their primary customers were relocated (a Section-8 community known as the Flat Tops), and they take advantage of those who now drive to the store. Customer Service: No service . If you arent completely ignored, you might get an answer, and that answer might change by the time you check out. The attitudes of the store manager and some of the cashiers are those of 4 year-olds- they are clearly incompetent of professional sales service and this store would not survive if it were a private business. They will insult you just a few feet away, and give you lip if you have so much as a question. Maybe they are just too used to treating their disabled "volunteers" this way. There are one or two kind associates, but they cant make up for the managerial shortcomings. Ease of Shopping: If a unique item is not marked they make up a price on the spot, and that price might also change. I tried to buy a camera lens and was told was $4- at check out I was told I had to buy the whole set including camera for $25 (the set did not match, 3 different brands). I tried to buy a loose comforter another time and they said I had to find (i.e., dig through all the bins) and buy the matching skirt and sheets; which also were of different brands. Apparently something is a "set" if it all got donated together. There is no rhyme or reason as to how clothes are organized. No complaints about the shopping carts near the front of the store- but they dont match and I wonder where they came from? Atmosphere: Is typical of a thrift store. Bare bones, they use their items to decorate, there is music playing..not the cleanest place, but no outright complaints about the atmosphere- the dressing room could use some work, there is only one, but it is better than what they used to have (stalls with curtains) Quirks: $10 minimum to use a credit card. No ATM. Real jewelry (pearls/gold/gems/etc) is kept by staff- no "finds" in this place. They do not wash clothes before selling. When you donate you can write your own tax slip at the exit. The whole place is a firm 1 star. I dont recommend them unless you are looking for one thing in particular, like a computer case ($10), a lamp shade ($4), a khaki blazer ($12,) etc. And just run in and out. I would not donate to them either, I tried to get back something sentimental my mother had donated and they said I could buy it back if I could find it; turned out they had "most likely" destroyed it. They treat their charges and customers like dirt, and dont care about anyones satisfaction- they talk about how awful the customers are and how they hate working there, right in front of the customers; which would get any regular employee fired, but not these self-righteous "volunteers". I suggest going to a small business instead.

JO

Jon Dough

Stay clear of these guys! I have been to several thrift stores and this one is by far the worst! The accept everything just about but they dont even check things out before they sell. Aside from dirty clothes that stink, old nasty clothing stuff with holes,tears and such that should been thrown out! Selling them and all other items as is?Come on people! They dont even offer return on electronics, cds, movies ,games that dont work. Not even store credit. They say cd games are $2 then someone else asks.Uh they are $2.50. Then they charge per disk if the game has an installation disk, a play disk or if its a disk 1,disk 2 disk 3 all one game. In our case for the games that had disk1 disk 2 and disk 3.They charged $5. Said they are more in the store. Yeah if they are knew people! Not scratched missing boxes and such. Another man even defended us and told them the same thing that they were in the wrong! They shouted back you dont work here! My boss said to charge more! These guys prices are outrageous! For mostly garbage! And they get that stuff for free! Your even paying taxes on items already taxed when they were sold new! The worst things of all is the thievery going on their by the two Black women that are working there. Which Ill get to in a minute. The serious attitudes they have yapping their mouths all day long and as loud and obnoxious as they want Talking about racist redneck, hillbillies so everyone can hear them. Cursing once and a while. Another thing is they dont mark many items and decide between the two of them what to charge.I saw the one black woman place some of it in register and some under the counter and I thought to myself... What a racketeer! Thats why they dont always give the receipts. Ive heard them tell customers their machine is out of paper. Another customer complained and the black woman in the corner by exit claimed "doing no wrong here not with the recorder on all the time." Laughing about it knowing she is in charge of those so called recorders (surveillance cameras"). We knew of a woman who used to work there before she went back to work. Say that those women would take out a lot of store items in black bags posing as trash take home and have their people sell them at auction and off e-bay. I believe it now more than ever! People think there helping out by donating to this Vintage Thrift Store. Unaware the only ones they are really helping are those black women and making there packets more full... Shame on them!

JU

Judith Smith Sullivan

I almost didnt go to this store because of other reviews. But I am so glad I went anyhow! Keep in mind when reading this review that I was looking for clothing. I give it 4 stars because there was a good selection and the clothing appeared to be in good condition. Many items were new with tags! I actually went on a sale day, and clothing was $1. The regular prices were comparable with other thrift stores. Dresses $7, suits $12, shoes $5-8. So I wouldnt buy much here if there was not a sale running. But since they were having such a great sale, it deserves a little higher rating. The building is a little run down, there are some unorganized tubs of clothing. I didnt find any knockout pieces (no high end designers. Mostly just brands you find at the mall). But I was overall pleased. The service was unremarkable--they were neither rude nor exceptional helpful. They just did their jobs. I recommend you give this store a try. I am happy I did and I would gladly go back.