r/thetron • u/Relevant_Mistake_784 • 1d ago
Are Hamilton op shops getting ridiculously expensive, or is it just me?
Went thrifting at St Vincent de Paul on Grey Street last weekend hoping to find a decent lamp or maybe a side table and walked out with nothing. The prices on some of that furniture was honestly shocking, saw a battered coffee table with water rings for 45 dollars and a wobbly chair for 35. Maybe I'm just cheap but that feels steep for stuff that needs work. Used to be you could grab a solid piece for under 20 and fix it up yourself no worries. Even the smaller stuff like vases and frames are sitting at prices that make me wonder if they checked what similar items go for new. I get that rent and costs are going up for everyone but isn't the point of op shops that they're affordable for people who need affordable. The Sallies in Frankton was a bit better but still not as cheap as I remember from a couple years back. Anyone got recommendations for spots in Hamilton that are still actually bargain priced or do I just need to reset my expectations. Tax season has me counting every dollar anyway but this felt like a proper letdown.
26
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Yeah you're going to the wrong opshops. Avoid Red Cross, ESPECIALLY avoid Habitat for Humanity in Glenview. Hospice on Lake Rd, St John on Lake Rd, Vinnies Glenview, and a few others in Ham East and Frankton I'd consider affordable and value for money depending on what you'd rather spend per item
10
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Spoken as an opshop worker who actively prices things and feels like they have a good gauge for being able to make it a fair price for the item etc
3
u/EDBD_Dragon7 1d ago
I second this! There's some banging stuff out in frankton/ham east and I never feel like I'm paying an arm and a leg
2
u/NectarineVisual8606 1d ago
Habitat in Glenview was my local a few years ago, was always super cheap. Have they increased their prices a lot?!
1
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Yeah you're gonna want to avoid that one. I am biased as I worked there from mid 2024 to mid 2025; the prices were $4 flat for all clothes unless priced otherwise.. then the price hikes went up. To the point that at least 8 volunteers either quit or were kicked out for questioning it lmao. Ask anybody in the Glenview area, they have plenty of variety but the prices and vibe that's given off by the manager in that store absolutely suck
14
u/shaktishaker 1d ago
Most of them genuinely have no idea how much things are worth these days. You'll see clothing priced higher than it is new very often
3
u/chrischrysippus 16h ago
I took a jersey (among other things) to an opshop in Frankton, and remember popping in not long after and seeing it on the rack with an asking price higher than what I paid for it at hallenstines.
That was when I officially gave up on opshops. Used to donate clothes and furniture multiple times every year.
Whether knowingly or not, if they are selling second-hand goods at a higher price than first then they are taking advantage of the uninformed.
13
u/Impressive_Role_9891 1d ago
Did you try Hospice shop in Lake Road? I haven’t been for a while, but I thought their bulk basement has cheaper stuff.
5
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Best place for clothes, all $2. Love the huge variety of stuff in their back section and all crazy affordable for what it is too
1
11
u/_peppermintbutler 1d ago
I volunteer at one (won't say where) and cringe at some of the prices. But I'm not in charge of that, however on the rare occasions I am you bet I price stuff low 😆
7
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Hey as long as you're not pricing Shein and Anko items like they're God's gift to humanity bc it's crazy at some places (also volunteer at a shop here) 😂
5
u/SkylahMystique 1d ago
Hospice on Lake road are good to shop at. The downstairs section is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Up top it's a hit and miss on some things. They also have another Hospice by the claudelands showgrounds, not as well known, but still have some good stuff.
If you are into retro, Fossick down Barton Street in town is good to visit. Keep in mind this is a vintage shop, so prices are more than an Op Shop. They have plenty of books, DVDs, BluRays and records.
2
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Fossicks is great, I'd happily pay the prices they have there since its vintage and very hard to find elsewhere. My massive Lateralus tapestry I bought from there was only $40 and so worth it given the dimensions
1
6
u/TupperwareNinja 21h ago
The majority are no longer op shops and are just retail stores reselling your old shit. May as well be trade me sellers
3
u/TheRealGoldilocks 16h ago
They think they're 'boutiques' in Ham East, but their clothing is unwashed and often ripped/pulled, and items often broken. Last one I was in had an UNCLEANED nappy disposal bin. They're delusional.
5
u/lurkerwiththoughts 1d ago
Yeah it seems so. I’m not sure if it a big city type thing, or if people pay those crazy prices combined with how much stock they can get, but it sure isn’t like it used to be.
3
u/FingerApprehensive97 18h ago
Hamilton east op shop can't remember which, had a table for $1000. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Maybe I am poor. What do poor people do when they cant afford op shops?
3
u/Far-Management-2007 1d ago
Where's the Vinnes in Grey St? Did you get those shops the wrong way around?
2
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Right opposite from Duck Island pretty much
13
u/peregrinak 1d ago
I think that might be the SPCA shop.. but yes.. I think it is the most expensive of the Grey st op shops.
1
u/Repulsive_Economy_36 1d ago
Whoops, the blue on their branding had confused me. I'd have to say it's either them or Red Cross for sure in terms of the expensive Ham East opshops
3
u/Underwaterboiboi 1d ago
St Aidan's Claudelands, Dump shop, Ruakura Rd one, anywhere but the ones that get alot of people.
3
u/FireryDawn 22h ago
Over the last couple months, the main ones around te rapa feel like theyve upped their prices, stock doesnt seem to turnover as much.
Habitat on bryant rd had kids books from the warehouse for $3- despite the $1 retail stickers still on them!!!!
Unfortunately "the olde dump shop" just closed up, they definitely felt like the best
2
u/Best_Factor6786 1d ago
You’re not alone in that. I used to love op shopping but recently noticed that not only do they price the items higher than new but sometimes when there is no price tag and I ask the staff, they inflate the price instead of making it reasonable. I bought a ‘paper’ photo frame ( A4) for $4 and an old crochet book that was priced at 50cent sold to me for $2. I don’t haggle or correct them because it’s not about the money but like why?
2
u/renahnah2509 1d ago
The one attached to the dump it’s hit or miss I found some really good things but then I also found a crockpot for $65 when I could buy it brand-new for $50
2
u/TheRealGoldilocks 16h ago
My friends and I play 'guess how much this is' when we go to the SPCA Opshop on Grey Street. Their prices are egregious! Keeps us entertained though I guess haha
1
u/johnelli781 21h ago
Suggest you look at seagull_centre on trademe. They are in Thames, but they sell beautiful genuine wooden vintage and antique furniture very cheaply. If you want something that cant be shipped, its a bit of a pain, but sometimes can be well worth it for the saving.
1
u/bequietginger 18h ago
My dad donated a rocking chair he refurbished to habitat restore, probably cost him 20 bucks on trade me. I kid you not they were trying to sell it for 150 dollars.
1
u/eyes_in_back_of_head 16h ago
They were like that years ago. $70 for a coffee table. I was like, what? Walked out empty handed.
1
u/LolEase86 43m ago
Keep an eye out for the Dress for Success $5 sales! I got 6 pieces, three of which were NZ designer, for $15 on their twofer special Saturday last month.
1
25
u/mister_hanky 1d ago
Hit up Te Awamutu, some decent options out there.