Thrift shops can be a little hit and miss, but that's half the fun isn't it!? Call me tinny, but at…read moreNew Beginnings in Takapuna I always seem to HIT. An example of some recent hits.... Hit 1: A Chloe (YES CHLOE) trench coat. It cost me $30 (which yes, is a little steep for an op shop) but my, oh my, this coat is lovely. I wait, with anticipation for someone to stroke my coat and ask where it's from, just so I can explain the story. I'm practically a walking advert for the City Mission Hit 2: A beautiful eggshell blue daisy vase. It has prime position in my kitchen window and I've seen the neighbours giving it jealous stare downs as they pass. Back off - it's mine Hit 3: A flax back pack/bag. No, not like the one you tried to make as a 10 year old. This flax bag is the BOMB. It's secure and makes a perfect gym bag. No more smelly gym gear. I guess because it's a natural, breathable material, even wet towels come out of it smelling fresh. Hit 4: Of course, one of the biggest hits is that all the profits go straight back to the City Mission. It's great organisation and shopping at New Beginnings is perhaps the easiest (and most rewarding) was to support it

Staff were honestly so friendly and found 2 Tommy H. Polo's which were sold for $5!!!! Such a good…read moreprice and they were honestly nice enough I got a 50% off!! I found some Ralph Lauren's and even more famous brands and they were in good condition!! Would honestly highly recommend :)

Take 2 is a recycled women's clothes boutique nestled down the end of Westpac Plaza. They carry a…read morelot of labelled clothing or interesting items/fabrics. It's sandwiched between beauty and nail parlors so is a good pop-into shop if you're waiting for your appointment. You usually only need a quick browse as it can be pretty hit and miss. When you hit, you hit. I once picked up a nice floral skirt that I still wear today for only $30. I'm starting to think that it was a once off though as I haven't had much luck since. Perhaps the regulars snap all the good items up as soon as they come out! It can be slightly pricey too, but I guess as the clothing selection in Orewa is so dismal they price how they like

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?

I love popping into this Red Cross when my mum's going to the supermarket nearby. It's awesome…read morebecause you never really know what you're going to find. And because it's on the shore there's way less 'vintage' hunters stealing all the good stuff. The other day I found the most amazing brown boots that will do me so well for winter. The prices aren't super cheap compared to some other op shops but the clothes they sell seem to be of a higher quality. It's like they filter out all the bad stuff and only put good quality, rather new pieces out. They also make the front window display really good which adds to the higher quality theme. The staff obviously care about this store and try really hard to make it a great place for their customers.

I like this op shop the most because their pricing is not as outrageous as some of the others,…read moreBrowns Bay is quite the op shop destination. They also colour coordinate their clothes and put extra special effort into their display window. I also like the conversations you can't help but overhear, people being kind to people. That's what it's all about.

This op shop would have to be in my list of top 3! I found out today that they were previously in…read morePonsonby, then K Road, now in Avondale, but looking for new premises again. I hope they don't move too far away where ever they go! The woman behind the counter has always been really friendly, chatty and helpful when I have been in. They have a long rack of children's clothes for those with youngsters, a decent range of men's wear (generally x-large though), lots of women's clothes, books in an organised fashion, some great crockery (I have bought some matching vases) and glassware. The best bit really is that it is the most affordable I have seen in Auckland. Not only do they have a $1 rack out the front with decent enough clothes, but they also have on offer 50C containers of clothes (children's and adults). It offers prices that most of us would expect to pay for second hand. This isn't me being stingy, this is me being practical - these charity second hand shops support the needy and they sell to those of us who struggle to fill a wardrobe with brand new clothes. Keep up the good work guys!

I may be bias because I am from the shore but this is hands down the coolest department store I…read morehave ever been to! Home to Stephen Marr, Lucy and the Powder Room, Karen Walker, Black Box, TopShop as well as a myriad of rotating NZ designers, this place is nothing short of brilliant. Expensive, but brilliant nonetheless. On my last visit I was delighted to see they now also have a wonderful range of quirky terraniums and indoor plants. Definitely well worth checking out if you are looking to add some greenery to your office or home!

Quite a special place, for a morning coffee, quick lunch and afternoon relax, with greens and…read moreflowers. You wouldn't notice that you are actually in paradise. Yes, Paradise has the meaning of 'Garden'. Top Quality coffee, good cheese scone, caramel chocolate slice. Menu is not too complicated, ease for mind when you just into the sunny mood and some inner peace. Or you can choose just grab a coffee and have a stroll in the department store, finely selected fashion there waiting for the right person. Choose a beautiful day, and amaze yourself here. There is nothing more beautiful with a nice coffee I the warm sun.

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 :)

I think this is a pretty neat idea. People donate their old, unwanted clothing and household goods,…read moreit gets sold cheaply to people in need and then money goes to save poor defenseless animals. Everyone's a winner. The shop itself is really well laid out and light and airy, and the items themselves seem to be numerous and really cheap as chips. I saw a sofa and chair set in fairly good condition for $80, and the sign in the window says they do specials for beneficiaries as well, so if you had a community services card you could probably know the price down even further. Proof that humanity and altruism do still exist.

Loving this store. I always make the effort to come into this store. A good range of products…read more. clothing and accessories, toys, games, furniture, craft, bric-a-brac and other homeware items. All are set at very reasonable prices. Always leave with something. Staff are friendly.

I'd really rather you didn't know about this Dove Shop. So please, go ahead and read this review,…read moreand then erase all memory of its contents. I think it's for the best. The St Helier's Dove Shop only has stock that's in totally pristine condition. Seriously, you won't find a posher op shop in Auckland. It's really nice and not at all stinky. You can pick up the most amazing stuff here, from men's and women's clothing, to furniture, homewares, kids' clothing, and games. It's not a matter of luck finding something you like, or something in good condition, the only gamble is getting stuff in the right size, so I end up buying something almost every time I visit. Also, the staff are really nice and onviously volunteering for a really great cause - the Eastern Bays Hospice. The prices reflect the quality of the stock here, but they're still extremely reasonable, and hey, it's put to excellent use.

As far as opportunity shops go, I have to say this one in St Heliers is pretty disappointing. Yes,…read morethe stock is probably expensive because of the St Heliers location which is definitely quite an affluent area, however I don't really think the quality of the stock matches the prices you pay. It is very neat and organised all of the time, however I'm not ever really a huge fan of the shop attendants who work here, none are overly pleasant and are definitely not the reason why I keep coming back here. Actually, I'm not quite sure why I keep coming back here - perhaps I have convinced myself that maybe one day I will actually find something I like that is not priced exorbitantly above what it should be. I guess I'll just keep looking then...

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.

The coolest second hand and collectibles store in Auckland for sure. The mass size of this…read morewarehouse is amazing and full of everything from a Tonka truck for the kid to vintage surfboards that make the man cave look awesome. My first visit to J & D I spent over an hour and a half just wandering back and forth peering at peoples past belongings. I have purchased a beautiful vintage glass cake platter the kind that nana used to have, and a glass perfume spray bottle that opens up and allows you to fill it up with any scent you wish. Prices are not too pricey, so won't break the bank. If you love exploring antique stores give this a try you might find a painting that inspires you, or a vintage lounge suite to redecorate with? Staff are helpful however, usually only one person working the store. Be prepared for cool and cool is what you will get.