Not even a fire could keep this Vinnie's store down!…read more Having recently risen from the ashes of a fire that took out this and the business next door, I was surprised, and pleased to see that nothing had changed when I went back to visit. Still stocking a huge range of clothes, Vinnies in Bayswater also has a large furniture section, including heaps of retro household bits & pieces, beds, chairs and couches. The record section is good too, with the staff choosing to stock quality over quantity, so you don't have to hunt through 100 copies of the Kamahl Christmas album to get to the good stuff.

Hands-down the best Salvos store in Melbourne! And that isn't a pronouncement that comes lightly…read morefrom me. About 60% of the store is dedicated to furniture, and though I don't buy or know much about furniture, it all looks to be in good quality and beautifully attractive. Lots of wood and vintage glasswork and tapestry. Also lots of art deco era beauties, and ornately carved wood pieces. The book, record and magazine section is large, with lots of antique books and a large array of magazines, especially national geographies, which is great for teachers and other art-scounger enthusiasts. Though the clothing section is on the small side, there are always decent finds and most of the items are in pristine condition. My absolute favourite favourite bit, though, is the jewelry selection. Never before in an op-shop have I seen such good quality vintage pieces. Beautiful ornate necklaces, screw-on earrings (amazing!), delicate rings. The works. If you need a bonus, the staff are also gems. Last time I was there one of the women helped hold my hair back while I tried on necklaces. Talk about service!

The Abbotsford Salvation Army shop should be your first point of call when ever you're looking for…read morefurniture, because they've got a really big selection of decently priced stuff to choose from. They are also quite happy to negotiate costs, so make sure you try to bargain with them. They also sterilise mattresses, so you can be some very good quality beds there quite cheap. They have a decent selection of crockery and kitchenware, books, and a particularly good selection of records on offer. They're also selling a grand piano at the moment, so it's really got something for everybody. The clothing selection is nothing to write home about, so I definitely wouldn't make a trip there if you're only after clothes, but if you're interested in household stuff, check it out for sure!

We were traveling and my friend outgrew the small suitcase she bought. We stopped here and I ended…read moreup buying a beautiful dress and shirt. They have a really nice selection of items that is well taken care of. There was a suitcase there but my friend didn't end up getting the one they had as it was as small as the one she brought. The ladies that work there were friendly and helpful.

Just behind Toorak Village is a little secret those hoity toity women like to keep hushed…read more The Toorak Op shop is a narrow little store brimming with labels where the stock reflects the location. Dresses, suits, shirts, shoes are all neatly arranged making browsing convenient, no real hunting here. The store is too small to even consider less than perfect garments and they have a consistently high turnover of stock. Think 80's Country Road, Feathers, Basque, Perri Cutten, Anthea Crawford, Regatta, costume jewellery, hats, party heels, etc. The staff all know their labels and price accordingly, the prices are still a bargain for the quality of stock but be prepared to pay between $20-$50 for a mens suit/evening dress. There are still some cheap fun things to be found, books, cds and records for $1

What a great store. It dosnt look like much from the outside but inside is fully of really nice…read moregood quality furniture. I have looked at atleast 20 furniture stores this week. And couldn't find anything I liked. Within minutes of walking into this store my girlfriend and I had found what we wanted. They even organized to have one piece stained touch another for only $100. And free delivery of both items. Staff were really friendly and helpful. I highly recommend them

If you want to get a good slice of living in a certain suburb, look no further than their local op…read moreshop. Unlike those that become chains and spread their good everywhere, the true locals can almost appear like some sort of time capsule. One thing I've started doing is going through the music and book collections more and more. I think maybe this gives a very different insight into the place. The Epilepsy Op Shop, located on South Parade near Blackburn Station, is one such op shop. The ladies behind the counter are courteous and friendly, and while you may have to speak up they can tell you all about the bits and pieces in here. The clothes are more fashion suited for women, with their flowing skirts and floral prints. My girlfriend managed to come across quite a few winners here, though the clothes I get for myself have more of a novelty value.. There's a lot of craft pieces - buttons, zippers and more - towards the back for those looking to adapt their own pieces from the clothes they buy, and the small range of furniture taking up the remaining space is hit and miss.

I stumbled across this place by accident. They have a great selection of vintage ladies/men's…read morejeans, jackets, dresses, bags, you name it! I got my hands on a pair of vintage Levi's for $50! Stoked! I'll be back!

The Discount Clearance Centre on Mahoneys road just opposite Forest Hill Chase is huge. They have a…read morelarge range of privately sourced stock that is on sale for generously discounted prices. While I was there I saw almost twenty couches, beds, bicylces, a few coffee tables and a variety of home decor items. It seems to be a family run business and they are so new to the area that they are yet to set up a phone line. The people I spoke to there were absolutely lovely and were super helpful when it came to answering my questions. Whilst they are still setting up, I can hedge a bet that this store is going to be quite good. Stock changes regularly and they have a sale board out the front where they write up a bargain of the day. Keep your eyes peeled on this one.

Hidden off in a residential street away from the main centre of Oakleigh, this op-shop is a bit of…read morea hidden gem. They have one of the best CD sections I've ever come across in an op-shop. If 90's and early 2000's pop is your thing, you're bound to come out with some excellent finds. There's also often good stuff to be found in the book section, but it's a bit disorganised so it does take a bit of hunting, The biggest strength of this store is the furniture section. They tend to have quite a bit of reasonable quality furniture, especially various types of chairs.

In our quest to find un-pillaged op shops my friends and I travel to some random locations. In the…read moresouth eastern suburb of Oakleigh directly behind Chadstone (there's a small mall around there you may have heard of?) is a Vinnies worthy of note. In a quiet side street five minutes walk from the Oakleigh station this shop houses a large and decent selection of secondhand goods. The big surprise to this shop is its large furniture selection. Follow the bric a brac selection and a doorway opens to a small warehouse filled with decent furniture including couches, retro dressing tables, dining tables and select white goods. There is also an interesting selection of frames and vintage (ok just OLD) women's clothing.