First impressions - hey this is great ! A thorough look through and sadly nothing for me on this…read moreauspicious Saturday in Spring . But hey that's not to mean someone won't be dropping of that wish dress or unwanted Marc Jacobs bag ? Will they ? I love the idea of clothes recycling at the end of day everybody wins , Stores get money , people dropping off clothing maybe get a small percentage and if the store has a heart they take leftovers to the city mission so a homeless soul can get kitted out in a Versace jacket ! #winning

Finally, I've discovered a second-hand clothing boutique actually worthy of the title 'Boutique.'…read moreEncore is everything you want it to be: an absolute treasure trove of used designer clothes, well priced and well ordered. What separates this store from the others such as Recycle Boutique and Finders Keepers is that they actually make it feel boutiquey rather than op-shoppy in there. This means luxurious Laura Ashley-papered walls, funky lighting and spacious changing rooms and staff who can help you pick out outfits and advise you on almost anything in the store. The brands they sell can be anything from Vivienne Westwood to Kiwi favourites Karen Walker and Zambesi, all at massively discounted prices. Of course, you're still going to be paying more for the privilege of owning these items than you'd pay for lesser quality items in a chain store, but what you'll get in return are pieces that will last you a lifetime...or indeed items you'd probably be able to resell again for a tidy profit.

Vixen: A retro-monster that swallows you whole and then spits you out some time later, slightly…read morelighter on the cash and a little wiser in the wonderful ways of all that is vintage clothing. This shop has everything - men's, women's, and a kick-arse haul of vintage boots. It's the best place to start any serious hunt for a specific vintage piece, whether it's a dress, a sweatshirt, or something from the amazing range of accessories - gloves, handbags, scarves, and sunnies. Unlike some other large retro clothing shops, the stock at Vixen changes all the time - a testament to it's large fan base that keeps coming in and collecting goodies!

If you're wondering how cool Vixen is - let me tell you a story. A few years ago now, a young…read moreAmerican walked into the store to have a look around, but the store assistant told him Vixen was closing and he would have to come back another time. After sending the man packing and scratching his head, the store assistant would later click that she had sent alt-country superstar Ryan Adams on his way; she was to see him in concert that night. If you're looking for a secondhand store that is packed enough with Americana to entice Ryan Adams, and too cool for him to even get a look-in, Vixen's your place.

There's this bright pink sign catching your attention on Cascades Road, which immediately signals…read morethis is no mechanic shop along a busy industrial district. What a Girl Wants is a second hand store, but packed with top quality bits and pieces. There are bags, clothes, shoes, books, furniture and ornaments, all geared towards the classy women of East Auckland. I thoroughly enjoyed having a browse, and picked up a nice singlet for a whopping $2! It's next to a coffee place and also an antique store, so your vintage tastes can be quenched, along with a nice spot of coffee afterwards. You can just park on the gravel outside, which is really handy. The shop assistant was friendly enough, and the way things are set out is really eye catching. It's awesome to see some creative thought going into the layout of a thrift store, considering most of the time, you have to rummage to find anything particularly useful. Here, it's all on display, in order of size and product. Good stuff.

What a Girl Wants would be a solid four star shop if it weren't for the staff…read more The two times I've been in I've wanted to stay longer, they have some amazing bargains and a very well organised shop, and overall the quality of their stock is excellent. The problem is, the two ladies who work there were very, very loudly talking politics both times I went in. As there's a dance school directly above them, it's fair enough that they need to raise their voices a little to be heard. But maybe don't stand on opposite sides of the shop? Or don't go on loudly about how much you dislike beneficiary bludgers who just sit around all day doing nothing. I mean, you're running a second hand shop, people...perhaps put two and two together and come up with four?

Whoa what a cool store- this store is what I would like my future apartment to look like with it's…read morecool vintage mix and match-ness of random objects and no rhyme or reason organisation that somehow just works. So many cool things to browse- it's like a garage sale combined with an op shop with a high end vintage store housed in a big warehouse. Has kitchen things, furniture, clothing, handy-man DIY knobs and pretty much anything under the sun as well as commercial products. Well worth a look!

We went here today in search of a desk, and sadly, didn't find one. Well, we did, but it kind of…read morehad a SOLD sticker hanging off it, and when we enquired as to whether it was actually sold (since the sticker looked old and was hanging on by a corner), no one seemed to know, or wanted to find out. We had a look around anyway, and this place is a hipster's paradise. Most of it is genuinely old, and slightly overpriced. I got two sewing patterns for $2 apiece (and they weren't even that great), and other op shops are selling them for around 50 cents each. We also grabbed a couple of spanners for $2 each, and I got some zips and piping for another $2. There is a large section of stuff that isn't secondhand and is brand new, and is extremely expensive. I saw a set of double bed sheets with foxes on them for $214. I know foxes are "in" right now, but seriously. Obviously very much taking advantage of the whole "vintage vibe" that people are loving right now, and good on them I guess, but I was looking for genuinely old, unfashionable secondhand stuff, and of that there just wasn't that much, sadly.

I love this Tattys for all the reason why I hate it's older sister on Ponsonby Road:…read more- really great selection of clothes without the tag being the reason why it's in there. However, still got great labels coming through all the time. I've bought cheap Karen Walker and Comme De Gacon here as we'll as, - vintage: I have a vintage store, so see vintage go by all the time, but found the dress of my dreams at this Tatty's - good music that gets me groovin' Staff are still sullen and unfriendly though. But nothin' ain't gonna touch my 5 stars as every time I find something that I love!

This place was charming and drew me in with a great window display. And there appeared to be a…read moregreat amount of inventory. Had I had more time, I would have perused the racks. Unfortunately, I was in a rush. But if you're in the neighborhood, check out Tatty's if you have time.

Recycle Boutique is one of the biggest secondhand stores in Auckland. It stocks everything from…read moreclothing, to accessories, shoes to jewellery. Although when first entering the store it can be overwhelming - there is so much to look at - don't be put off! Take your time to sort through the racks and you'd be amazed at the eclectic, funky garments you will find, and also what good condition they are in. Last time I was there I stumbled across the most gorgeous bright red high-waisted denim shorts. They fit like a glove and only cost me $15. My best buy of the summer! Tip: Not only is Recycle Boutique a great place to find cheap retro clothing, it also stocks lost of current fashion garments, and is the perfect place to keep in mind when clearing out your own wardrobe. It's worth taking any items you no longer wear along to the store - you never know, the Recycle Boutique may buy them off you.

I am extremely disappointed with my experience…read more I left my belongings there in good faith and after 23 days my items had still not even been placed out. When I went back to request my belongings returned to me, I was treated very rudely and received little to no communication afterwards. I sent multiple emails on May 5th and May 6th as requested by the staff member assisting me, yet I received no reply at all. I then had to personally return several times just to confirm whether my emails had even been received. I was repeatedly told that someone would contact me, but weeks have now passed with no proper update or resolution. What is most upsetting is that several of my belongings have now apparently "disappeared," including valuable branded items. I never authorized any donation or removal of my belongings. I simply asked for my items to be returned to me because I am moving. This situation shows a complete lack of responsibility, organization, communication, and respect for customers' personal property. People leave their belongings there trusting that they will be handled honestly and professionally. In my case, that trust was completely broken. I can no longer continue waiting without clear answers or a proper resolution. I sincerely hope no one else has to go through the same stressful and frustrating experience.

I usually shop at the Savemart in Northcote, but decided to give this location a go. I googled it…read moreupon arrival to see what others have said about the place and to see if it would actually be worth my time. This location was amazing!! I found items from Boohoo with the tags still attached. The items are in very good condition. Of course like many of the locations in NZ there aren't many people asking if you need help finding something or help with anything, but you can always ask a cashier at the front. There were only two checkouts, but if you shop there as soon as the doors open as I do, you shouldn't have any issues or experience long lines. The prices were fantastic in my opinion. The only thing I didn't see much of were belts, hats, purses or shoes, but this is the beginning of the year so I am sure there are loads of new stock. Don't take my word for it. Go see for yourself :-)

This shop made me feel like it wasn't even a recycled clothing shop. It was massive and had…read moreeverything. The moment you walk in you see a butt load of clothes. I found some stuff from Nike and Adidas. The environment was great and had a nice range of stuff. Would recommend!

Second Debut has long been a great preloved clothing shop, and happily it was recently taken over…read moreby the very lovely Mary and Harriet, who have given it a new boost of energy. You have to come here next time you're in this part of town. I'd say it's even worth a special trip if you're serious about your preloved clothes shopping, or if you want to have some clothes sold on commission for you. Second Debut focuses on the mid to upper end of preloved clothes - its not all very high end, but you won't find cheap clothes in here. It's more like quality over quantity here. The new owners alos seem to have brought more of a fashion focus to the shop, which is great. Aside from women's clothing, they have a well-edited range of handbags, jewellery, and shoes. I never walk out empty handed!

While the name is "boutique", I didn't hold out much hope of this shop being very upmarket given…read morethe faded yellow signage outside. To my surprise, as I got closer I noticed the sign outside requesting Trelise Cooper, Annah Stretton etc, and curiosity got the better of me. When I walked inside I noticed that most of the stock looked to be of good quality and in good condition, but looked to me to be for the funky, older ladies of Birkenhead Point. Definitely catering more for the 50-somethings than people of my age. I had a chat with the shop assistant and their selling policy seems pretty fair, and equitable with most recycled clothing shops around town. They seem to be quite discerning with their choice of stock too.

You can either win or lose with a shop like this. You definitely need to be in the mood for some…read moresifting when you come into this small corner store. The racks are jam packed with clothes so there's not much room for maneuvering around inside. If there are other people in the store at the same time as you it can get a bit tricky making your way around. The racks are all colour co-ordinated so you can at least rule out any items you wouldn't want based on colour. But that's about all you can do to help your hunt. Once you've established where you're going to start sifting, sifting is all you can do. I came here last week and pillaged through many of the racks. I tried a few things on and did come away with a gorgeous top. It was a beautiful soft heavy fabric and was the most brilliant blue-ish colour. I also tried on a red dress, which I decided I didn't want to pay $40 for. The shop assistant told me to come check in again as they lower the prices of unsold items after about six weeks. I will certainly be doing so!

Huge amount of clothes in a big site. Found some dodgy shirts here (dodgy in a good way)... A…read morelittle scared to bring my partner here... I might lose another wardrobe to her clothing.

Came here on Saturday to do some shopping for a baby shower. Was served by a lovely Islander girl…read more Wish I asked her name. I will next time. Great clothing, huge selection and phenomenal customer service. Thank you. I will return :)