Cowboy boots and overpriced thrift...

[stargirl52]

The only op shop who is still pretty cheap (although not as cheap as 5 years ago) is the teeny Red Cross that no one knows about - they have $3 Fill-a-bag every Saturday...

Good luck on finding your boots! Maybe try TradeMe (although they'd probably be expensive), local garage sales or school fairs/garage sales (they're awesome for getting cheap stuff!)

Heh, another coincidence- I'm doing a project on the red cross at school at the moment...
Anyway- Fill a bag for $3?? JUST $3? EVERY saturday? I'm actually beginning to hyperventilate. I must find a Red Cross. I must I must I must.
Anyone know of the location of any?
-G.

[jan_on_ice]

Well you can always come up to Auckland... It's the best shop ever! I've scored some awesome bargains there - 50c Pixies tapes, 50c "save the whales" tee, $5 rainbow rollerskates, $1 belts, $3 christmas tree, 10c Serendipity books... oh the list goes on... Look in the phone book - I've been meaning to see if there's another Red Cross around Auckland so I can check that one out too.

Oh and I just remembered that I overheard one of the ladies saying that they can afford to keep their prices cheap because they don't have to pay rent for the shop - some doctor lets them use it for free, so maybe that's why some op shops are expensive??

[Bee_U_Tiffle]

I've never noticed any cowboy boots in Chch but I'll keep an eye out now for you 
I have also noticed the huge variability in pricing and I'm sure rent must play a part in this.  I do not mind paying more for an item but it would have to be a good label and in excellent condition e.g. $6 for a shirt I know cost well over $100 new is fine by me.  I mostly buy kids clothing, there are still some great bargains there but you have to be careful.  I donated some kids clothes to the one in Fendalton and noticed they had priced one childs sundress badly stained with facepaint at $4,  I paid $2 brand new at the Warehouse for it!  Crazy.
I get the best bargains at garage sales and out at the Riccarton market.

[nikkicola]

ooooh i LOVE the riccarton market! and garage sales... they're how my extreme love of sheep first began *sigh*. and jan_on_ice... $3 for a CHRISTMAS TREE? amazing! the save the whales tee sounds great too!

*cole*

[jan_on_ice]

$3 for a CHRISTMAS TREE? amazing!

My boyfriend reckoned it was the exact same one he had growing up in the 70's. It pretty much sat in the corner of his lounge, undecorated, moulting plastic bits, and abandoned by Santa for about 3 months before we put it back in the box, but I'm sure it will come in handy next year when we have some babies to give presents to!

[nikkicola]

Heehee...
Hey, I just realised that that wasn't meant to be there. I just used excessive question marks.

*cole*

[viridis]

This is quite poss. too late, but anyways. Number 1 shoe warehouse had several different styles of cowboy boots when i went in there about 3 weeks ago.  They were all around the $30 mark, which is more pricey than most op shops, but is still heaps cheaper than anywhere else. I want a pair too, but i dont have any money for shoes at the moment

[bird nerd]

Just on a side note, I got cheapish chucks at the shoe warehouse. Damn fine and splendid!

I remember in fourth form, I was helping create costumes for a play and we went to the Sallies. 120 for a suit. And not even a really flash one, I think it was Pelaco and I can get them at work new for about  $150. You can get a whole suit and shirt for $100 new at Hallenstiens.

They were dreaming, those damn sallies.

[stargirl52]

Heh, I recently got emeraldy green (my favourite colour!) chuck-ish thingies from urban Angel for $20. I am so proud of them *glaces down at feet with soft smile...*, I really want those raspberry and bubblegummy pink chucks from shoe warehouse.. So... good...
I was considering shoe warehouse for my cowboy boots, but it's so far away! Curse my Fendalton locale...
Another really expensive opshop is the retro section on the Riccarton one. They have ugly dresses for like $25. Some of their stuff is splendid, like my rouched pale blue tutu-esque skirt ($10, which I considered a bargain).

-G.

[jan_on_ice]

Fake chucks at the Shoe Warehouse?!? As soon as I pay off my overdraft I'm there!

I went op-shopping the other week and was completely shocked at the price of dresses - $8-$10!! I couldn't believe it! I guess I'll just have to stick to my local Red Cross from now on. Although I did find two awesome Crochet books for $2 each and this amazing brooch for $3... but I would still consider those to be expensive compared with the good old days...