**UPDATE**
This has been our favorite thrift store for a long time but recently things have changed and now Bargains Galore is sadly at the "BOTTOM" of our list of local thrift stores. :(
The prices are even HIGHER than Goodwill!
If you like antique stores where the prices are higher than on eBay, this is the place for you. They used to have a small antique section and there were always new things being placed out because they were selling all the time. Now, it all has piled up so high and coupons do not include antiques, so they have had to resort to placing antiques all over the store on top of clothing racks. It's truly a mess. I'm not really interested in antiques, so not a huge issue but I used to enjoy finding good deals for friends and family.
It's not just the antiques that are overpriced though, EVERYTHING is overpriced, even the JUNK! HA HA!
Today, I tried giving them another chance and wandered in. I had an hour to blow so I thought, with that much time I should be able to find SOME reasonably priced treasure or trinket. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of cool things on the shelves but EVERYTHING I saw could be purchased less expensive on eBay (even including the costs of shipping)!
I came across ONE thing that looked like a good deal though. A brand new Ravensburger puzzle with a $4.99 price tag seemed like a reasonable thrift-store price! As I was walking on to continue my search, I realized it was a "GOODWILL" price tag. When I turned the puzzle over, I saw that Bargains Galore had priced it at $14.99!! Seriously, how stupid is that?! They didn't even bother to take off the Goodwill price tag that was CHEAPER! I turned around and put it back. Goodwill sold that Ravensburger puzzle new for $4.99 and now it's going to sit on the shelf in Bargains Galore amongst ALL the other cool overpriced things in their "collection". I spent the rest of the hour carefully walking through the store picking things up and setting them down, shaking my head.
Bargains Galore used to be like their name but now they should change their name to "OVERPRICED GALORE".
Their business model used to be LOW PRICES & FAST TURNOVER. I used to be able to go in EVERY DAY and find great deals because the items never stayed on the shelves for very long and new items were always coming out.
Not only that but they no longer allow returns! AT ALL. I purchased something and tried to take it back but was pointed to a "tiny" sign that read "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" and got a "sorry" from the employee. No store credit, nothing but a new policy that was well-hidden. When I mentioned it to them on Facebook, they said "Sometimes exceptions are made." So, does that mean a person has to rant or make a scene in order to get a store credit? BAD POLICY. Bad management. Sad.
EVEN THE GOODWILL ACCEPTS RETURNS FOR STORE CREDIT and the GOODWILL is the bottom of the barrel. :(
I mentioned these problems to Bargains Galore on their Facebook page and they just used my comment as an opportunity to mention a promotion.
When I was looking around, I noticed the customers are not the happy shoppers I used to see but instead the same desperate resellers who frequent the Goodwill. Standing there indiscreetly scanning the barcodes on all the CDs, DVDs, Books, and other items to pull out anything they might make a small profit on reselling on eBay and I watched as those shoppers left with little or nothing to show for their time.
The employees don't look as happy anymore either. I've watched the tone of the employees and the customers shift over the course of several years and it's truly sad.
A depressing hour-long experience.
Save yourself the drive. It's not worth the trip. Unless the idea of visiting an "secondhand zoo" sounds like fun. The money they might be making from selling less items for more will be funding the janitors they are going to have to hire to DUST it all for sitting there for so long.
We will be back from time to time to see if you guys decide to do the right thing and get back to the ethics of the quality thrift store you used to be, but as things have gotten worse and worse, our expectations are very low. read more