Op shop shopping

[Boobycino]

I'm not snobby, but I've never really shopped at an op shop for clothes, maybe for other things, but never clothes. Money is very tight at the moment and I've gone up 2 dress sizes between becoming pregnant and now 7 months after having my son - I dont plan to stay at this weight, but I'm sick of having nothing to wear and having badly fitting clothes!

Also, DS is growing very quickly and I cant afford to replace his entire waldrobe every 3 months either.

I guess I want to know from those who have shopped in Op shops, what to look out for, how to save money etc. I've browsed my local Vinnies stores and found they seem to be pricing their clothes around the same as I would pay at Target or Kmart on sale - I was hoping to be paying $2 to $5 for an item of babies clothes, not $5 to $15 for 2nd hand clothes. (am I being unreasonable?) I've not looked at Ladies items, but I'm assuming if thats how they're pricing babies clothes, not even brand names, like OKAY maybe if it was Osh Kosh or Pumpkin Patch, but the clothes they had at $5+ were unknown brands, and definately 'pre loved'.

Anyone in Sydney have any suggestions on where abouts to go, as I live in the Lower North Shore and I suspect that maybe the Vinnies in this area think that because its a wealthier area they can put the prices up higher? I dont know, it just seemed quite pricey, I'd rather buy clothes new from Target than 2nd hand if its the same price.

What do others think?

[little_froglette]

i LOVE op shopping! i love all the vintage stuff you can find and also that its not all in store anymore so not every one else is wearing the same thing.. i find it all an exciting hunt!
I think Sydney must be heaps more expensive than Adelaide at op shops..
here salvos is probably the most expensive op shop..
Maby try ebay?

[PeppaH]

Hey what size are you? I have some clothes Im willing to give away!

[MothersMilk]

Some op shops are well over priced - you could buy new for the same price or a few dollars more.
Some are quite good though and i have found great quality stuff for very cheap. The trouble is you have to look around and it can be time consuming searching for stuff.
I've heard from a friend in Sydney that op shops there are not worth it - better off just buying new at cheaper stores - but i don't live there so can't say for sure.

[PeppaH]

oohh I just found this website. It looks pretty niffty.
http://www.mumswap.com.au/index.asp

[mum2bubba]

Do you have a Savers near you? I always shop there for clothes, shoes, toys, things for the house etc and save heaps. I went there the other day with $50 and bought a whole heap of baby boy clothes as well as a pair of runners for Skye, a bouncer for baby and a play gym for the baby I had $10 change left. I'd be in there all day if I could.

A few girlfriends of mine bought the girls a whole bag of clothes from there the other day too, some things still had their tags on them.

[3bubsplus1]

Where about are you?

[lachys_mama]

the op shops around here are REALLY reasonable, i got ten pieces of clothing at a church op shop for DS for $3.50 and one of those items was a quicksilver hat in really good nick! I bought me some pants for $7 a couple of weeks ago as well. Depends on where you are for prices though :s I know some places have to mark their prices up because of expensive shop rent etc...

[Electric Rodeo]

I lurve Op shopping.:yelclap:
I get everything from there LOL.
We have a pretty good assortment here of really reasonably priced ones (Albury). I find in the city that op shops are overpriced. If you can track down small ones that are tucked away somewhere they are usually cheaper and you can get great stuff for very little.
There won't be great stuff everytime you go in but you never know what will be there the times you do. I'm an addict. Have been for years:laughing:
If I am going to a new town or area, I just google op shop and the name of the town and see what comes up.

[Boobycino]

I'm in Crowsnest in Sydney (to answer 3bubsplus1)

I'll definately go check out Hornsby, I have a girlfriend in Hornsby, I might see if she knows where they are and if she wants to shop with me!!!

Peppah - oh gee, do I really have to admitt to this :laughing: Im a size 14-16 :no: from a comfy size 12... pretty crabby about that, but I think I still have a nice shape, it just does nothing for my appearance or self esteme to have clothes tight on my brand new flabby bits!

[PeppaH]

I'm in Crowsnest in Sydney (to answer 3bubsplus1)

I'll definately go check out Hornsby, I have a girlfriend in Hornsby, I might see if she knows where they are and if she wants to shop with me!!!

Peppah - oh gee, do I really have to admitt to this :laughing: Im a size 14-16 :no: from a comfy size 12... pretty crabby about that, but I think I still have a nice shape, it just does nothing for my appearance or self esteme to have clothes tight on my brand new flabby bits!

:laughing: I know the feeling. I will PM you!

[princessmummy]

i went op shopping for the 1st time a few months ago i loved it i got lots of pumpkin patch stuff really cheap & it was all in good condition i went to a few around newcastle & found most womens items were $5 and kids were $2

[Boobycino]

i went op shopping for the 1st time a few months ago i loved it i got lots of pumpkin patch stuff really cheap & it was all in good condition i went to a few around newcastle & found most womens items were $5 and kids were $2

$2 - $5 is what I'd have hoped to have been paying!

I'm going to a friends place today, she isn't in snobby lower north shore area! I imagine if there is an op shop in her area it shouldn't be so bad as my area for prices! Also, I cant imagine she'd be aposed to the idea of finding a bargain!!!

[WorkingClassMum]

First - you have to get to know the shops.

I go to a Salvo's in a posh suburb that's mostly residential so the stuff is pretty much always quality, where are the Salvo's in another Posh suburb is a waste of time as there is many transient people also in the area, and the store is well picked over.

I have three favourite stores, and a few I drop into if I'm in the area

Always check out the item carefully. Make sure all the buttons are there, that the snaps and zips work, that the hems are intact, that the item still has shape and look for fade marks and stains by holding it up to the light. For baby clothes I always check out the neck area for smells too.

Think about the seasons also, it's a waste to buy a thick padded coat when bubs will be about that size in the middle of summer, or to buy shorts that'll fit only in the middle of winter.

Never buy shoes unless they appear totally unworn.

Think about also next year - I buy clothes up to a year in advance, but never more than that.

Good luck

[jag5000]

First - you have to get to know the shops.

I go to a Salvo's in a posh suburb that's mostly residential so the stuff is pretty much always quality, where are the Salvo's in another Posh suburb is a waste of time as there is many transient people also in the area, and the store is well picked over.

I have three favourite stores, and a few I drop into if I'm in the area


care to share which stores??? :D

I :bee: op shops!!!

[WorkingClassMum]

care to share which stores???

I :bee: op shops!!!

Balwyn Salvo's - generally pretty good clothes, fair prices - often brand name clothes :thumbsup: - lots of collectibles

Camberwell Salvos - forget it - well picked over

Blackburn Epilepsy - really clean, good prices, well sorted stuff - great teenager rack :thumbsup:

Blackburn North Doncare -really clean, good most days, has $5 fill a bag days :thumbsup:

Nunawading Salvos - ok, drop in if I'm going past - great for books :yelclap:

Glen Waverley Salvos - well picked over but very clean

Forest Hill Lions - v.dirty, v.untidy/messy, over priced, has 1/2 price days

Blackburn South Animal Aid - very clean - good pices

Doncaster Salvos - well picked over

Kilsyth Salvos - very ordinary

Caulfield ? Salvos - very clean - almost boutique - very little kids stuff

Doncaster Lions - untidy, overpriced clothes, good for collectibles

Doncaster Salvos - picked over - bit ordinary

Doncaster Doncare - very very tiny shop - claustraphobic disorganised

[cyn]

Have you looked on ebay?

For my girls, I often pick up bundles of clothes off there, of 50+ items, and never pay more than $5 an item. In fact, the last lot I got was size 1, and about 60 items for $50 including postage!

I find it handy cos I can shop in my pj's too!!

[jag5000]

ooh, thanks WCM! I never saw that you had written that response.. how rude am I not to thank you! :D

[WorkingClassMum]

ooh, thanks WCM! I never saw that you had written that response.. how rude am I not to thank you! :D

that's cool - I've been n emptied them all now anyhow..... :devil:

[jag5000]

haha .. I'll just have to wait until you lose more weight, they don't fit and you donate it back!

in fact.. let's cut out the middle man and you can send clothes right to me! :D

[mysonroger]

i usually can't go past an op shop with out popping in. i have so much furniture in our house from op shops, i buy toys (just plastic ones , not stuffed animals, etc)and books too. i try not to buy videos and DVDs though as they usually are of poor quality from being used so much. I was lucky enough to live near Lutwyche in brisbane where there were fantastic op shops.

in melb. recently my friends took me to Savers in Sydney st, and i bought sooooo many clothes for my kids that were in good condition.

recently i had incredible luck to have found a pixel chicks roomies house (in working order)that retails at $98 (i think) for $4 and a beautiful 100% wool black fitted ladies tuxedo jacket for $45. that is more expensive than usual but the jacket fits me like a glove and looks super stylish. discovering that was the sort of moment you read about in "shop till you drop" (as corny as that sounds...:laughing:)

[A Party of Five]

oohh I just found this website. It looks pretty niffty.
http://www.mumswap.com.au/index.asp

Heaps of really nice stuff :yes:

[bellangel3]

I love opp shopping, love getting a bargain!! I'm finding it hard to get size 3 / 4 girl items now though. I'm also finding that the major ones now are getting pretty expensive. I loved the little independent ones which are increasingly hard to find these days!
With ebay and the baby and kids markets there are bargains all over the place to be had!!!:yelclap: