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!

St Vincent de Paul in Onehunga is the ORIGINAL op shop as far as I'm concerned. Back long long ago…read morewhen I was an awkward 14 year old setting out on my own personal style journey this was where it all began. I still have several items bought back in the late 80s from this very store; they are (I shit you not) family heirlooms I will be passing on to my daughter. Sixties green/red lurex shift with low back featuring a large bow? Yep, I own it and it was mere measly-bucks. In fact I remember this was the place where I got my forest green faux suede belted safari jacket. I LOVED that jacket so much I literally wore it out and have major regrets because when I bought it from here circa 1987 there were several others EXACTLY THE SAME right next to it. I think they were all completely unused stock from some recession-hit 60s groove factory. Oh those were the days. Anyway, these days of course you'll find the people who run these places are much more savvy and the good stuff costs a bit more. Also the word "vintage" was added to fashion-speak and ever since op-shopping just hasn't been as much fun. I do love this place though, but you can't be in a rush - these things take time. Another thing I love is the characters. Trannies, old dears (actually quite a lot of trannies); they all still come here and I love it. I think they even may be the exact same people who were shopping here from the early days. Like me.

The dopest of the dopest. The wrinkliest of the wrinkliest. The dustiest of the dustiest. From the…read moredollar racks to amazing 3 piece 80's business suits, all roads lead to St Vincent de Paul. This massive shop actually used to be two op shops - from competing churches/ parishes. Ah those were the days. What makes me sad though is the vultures who are just there to buy stuff to trademe. I guess it's just another stage in the evolution of second hand shopping. I just try to ignore them because their two dimensional greed can definately ruin a good op shop buzz. Tip for insiders - if you want a 15% discount tell the counter ladies you are a friend of Jesus.

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.

This has got to be my favourite place to shop. It's sinister. It's grubby. It's dangerous…read more (seriously you can snag your arm or leg on a dirty old metal thingy and get tetanus) but it's also enticing and exciting. The proprietor is a piece of work. I don't even know what I mean by that. Maybe I mean "a work of art" if that art is alternative, and an acquired taste. Don't go there. Leave all the treasures for me. Take cash!. Don't expect change! Don't expect small talk! Don't expect a friendly smile and warm handshake... but you just never know. PS You know how to haggle, right???

What more can you say about Super Trash, other than the following things:…read more 1. It's called Super Trash. 2. It looks like a kind of derelict world war two bunker. 3. It has the words "no eftpos" painted about the door in the kind of demented scrawl of a possessed child. It's the perfect place to go if you love masochistically trawling through dirty, dusty, rickety piles of other people's discarded crap. I am down with the cause. I once bought a ladder from Super Trash for a show I was doing. It was wooden and shitty and great. I was able to climb up and down that ladder every day for about three weeks and it didn't break. It was a friggen miracle. I love that ladder. It only cost twenty bucks.

The reviews from 2013 might have been accurate for the time…read more But coming to you from 2015, this place is rockin'! Not going to give it the full five stars because it's not the cheapest or nicest looking store around. I expect cheaper prices as the place gets drabby-errrr. But that is by no means a reason not to go, just initially misleading. The place is much more organized than what I read, even has a 16+ section which is nice. Also note, the men's section is microscopic, even considering the smaller sizes of men's sections at charity shops, it's almost overlooked. But for women, it's great. They have a sale rack out side, a $2 rack indoors, 50 cent table, boutique or price-ier items section, intimates and swim separated out and in baskets of different quality and prices: glorious. The selection is wide in style and in size. I found basics I was looking for, like black leggings, and ridiculous cocktail dresses that I would't find anywhere else. The ladies working there were extremely friendly and on top of making sure the people milling about the place got what they needed. They were really nice to one girl shopping there, helping her in the fitting room and encouraging her fashion sense, which, coming from snobby-mall culture, I appreciate. They were having a 30% off day when I went which made everything even more of a bargain than the tag prices. I spent $24 and got a cocktail dress, nice black stylized leggings, a velvet+sheer shirt, two bras and maroon tights. The girl who rung my up was sweet, funny, talked to me about clothes, gave me tips of other charity shops around and was just great. Maybe not 5 star status, but this place is awesome. Should totally be a must on your thrift-list through Auckland.

No doubt a good place to find some good second hand deals, but I personally found the layout of…read morethis store absolutely claustrophobic and dizzying. It was really hard to keep up with sizes and different items of clothing, as it was all very mixed up. They have some more expensive items out the back if you're seeking a discounted ball dress or two. Yet I could find nothing in my size, because I guess the store assistants would rather natter to each other than organize them into appropriate sizes, or colours, or something! It's a sanguine's room in there without the decency of a bed. If you just want a deal, and you don't mind spending countless time sifting through racks and racks of clothes, then great! If you'd like a more efficient experience, perhaps a Cotton On Outlet down the road will do?

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...

This is absolutely my favourite Mercy Hospice shop, mainly because the ladies who work here are…read morejust so lovely which makes a change from the other branches. I recently found out that all the Mercy Hospice shops are run by ex-retail managers and that explains a lot. They should probably try to remember though that they're not in Smith & Caughey now darlings - it's for CHARITY. I recently went to a Mercy Hospice fundraiser and watched people drop tens of thousands of dollars on the auction items so perhaps some of them are a little out of touch with their customers. Just saying. Anyway, the lovlies here greet you, they smile, and always have a bit of a chat about what you've bought. They are still of course pretty adept at spotting the good stuff and it costs a bit more but hey, it's still cheap. I've bought some gorgeous bargain vintage china from here as well as some cool clothes. Often I won't be planning to stop but something in the window or on the rack outside will catch my eye and before I know it, I've speed shopped my way into something old and beautiful and also had a good old yarn about its possible origins. Like I said, you'll pay a bit more for the really special china but that's ok, some things are worth paying a bit more for, especially when it's for CHARITY. Sweet old ladies, sweet place for a bargain.

Growing up in a family of women, it is soon ingrained into you that you always have time to "pop in…read morefor a little nosy" to an op-shop. As Mercy Hospice sits between a liquor store and a supermarket, it frequently demands my attention with it's bright green and blue finish. Once you're away from the CBD and K Rd, most of the little op-shops are the same. A tiny rack of men's clothes, odd and worn shoes, the rest of the store filled with women's clothes and a smattering of junk to fill the shelves. Every now and then they will have plenty of cheap books. They're right opposite the changing rooms and between the counter and the staff room so you'll be in everyone's way while browsing, but no one will be speeding past you- polite, whispered requests are the language of op-shops. In reality, you have about 5 minutes browsing time in Royal Oak's Mercy Hospice.

This shop really looks like the home of someone who has just moved in, but someone who has spent…read morehis entire life collecting stuff, and now he has just moved into a studio apartment in the city. It is seriously unorganised madness inside. Well actually that's unfair because most of the items do seem to be organised somewhat categorically. Anyway, it's a bizarre place that has quite a random selection of second hand goods for sale; from books, CD's and DVD's to artwork to other decorations, appliances to swords and basically anything else you can think of. The swords are so cool and there are heaps of them (actually they were the things that attracted me to the store in the first place). However, I can't help feeling that everything in here is a little bit expensive for second hand stuff; maybe this is because it's on Queen Street so the prices are bumped up a little.

First off, the owner here needs to rename the shop 'Uptown Secondhand Trade' - lower Queen =…read moredowntown, Aotea Square = midtown, K Road uptown - geddit?? Anyway, I digress... This is one of those shops where you just walk in sometimes and start making irrational purchases, totally off the cuff. There's all sorts of random, quirky, weird and wonderful stuff in here, and you just decide you need it! In previous visits I for example have developed a sudden need for various bags, satchels, watches and ceramics. There's lots of other stuff from there I'd like too but I can't quite justify it when there are so many things I actually need. At any rate, this is a great place for a peruse - sometimes you just can't quite believe the treasure you find here!

I love nothing better on a lazy Saturday afternoon than trawling through op-shops. I don't know why…read moreas I rarely buy anything, I just find the whole thing therapeutic...and a lot kinder on the wallet than doing the same thing in a mall. However, there's something about Paper Bag Princess that I just don't like. Actually there's a few things, but the main one is the smell. Yes, I know all op-shops have that same aroma but it just feels particularly pungent in here. Thing is, I wouldn't mind so much if the clothes were actually half-decent but they're not. I like how everything is nicely ordered (sections for dresses, sections for short-sleeved shirts etc) and colour blocked, so it's pretty easy to find stuff but every time I've been in here it just feels like there's nothing actually to be found, everything just kind of looks like stuff your nan threw out in 1973.

This is an op shop. That's all there is to say on this one. It's as generic as they come. It sells…read moreclothes. It's pretty hit or miss. I think I've bought one thing from here ever, and I pop in every time I'm on K rd. Something about this place just doesn't quite sit well with me. I don't know what it is. I just don't get the feeling I normally get when I'm trawling through op shops from the Paper Bag Princess. Maybe it's the walls and the lights and the floors. It's all pretty sterile. That's probably it to be honest. It feel like and office or something. I dunno. Maybe it's better for girls.

It's so easy to walk right past the Red Cross shop on Karangahape Road, because it's really just a…read moredoorway and a sign, but it's totally worth keeping an eye out for it. Now I consider myself to be a pretty brave op-shopper, undeterred by unusual odours and willing to do the hard yards to find the bargains, but entering this shop does put me off slightly - it's a bit like squeezing into the hallway at your mad uncle's house; you never know what you might find, or what condition it'll be in. But, as I've found with most Red Cross shops, it pays dividends to the more intrepid shopper. In any case, everything is so cheap (especially for an op shop in the middle of town), you might as well be brave and shop shop shop for charity.

For me the Red Cross Op-shop on K'Rd is a symbol of hope. Not trying to get too deep about what the…read moreRed Cross do, I just mean that whenever I go in I'm always hopeful. Red Cross. They'll have what I'm looking for. Or if I'm just browsing, they'll have that unknown gem that's eluded me at all the other places. But I honestly don't think I've ever bought anything from the place. Years of roaming the narrow racks, and I'm yet to actually succeed at finding anything I want. And yet, the next time I'm in town, no doubt I'll be going past and think 'Ooh. Maybe I'll just pop in for a quick look. Maybe this time...' My theory: Everyone else is getting great deals here, and their enthusiasm for it has leaked onto me. So don't let my failures put you off, someone must be scoring some sweet threads from this shop...