How Hardcore are you?

So, you think you are a serious thrift shopper? Are you ready to put your love of junk to the test? Then perhaps you are ready for Goodwill Outlets, which are the "thrift shop's, thrift shop". Here, merchandise rotated out of regular Goodwill retail outlets comes to rest, and is sold for $1.39 per pound (may vary a bit by location).

Now, you know I LOVE thrift shops. I find the digging relaxing, almost meditative. NOT HERE. I had the opportunity to recently visit a Goodwill Outlet in West Palm Beach Florida (the 1887 Old Okeechobee Rd Store). I was not prepared for thrifting as a full contact sport!

Picture a big warehouse filled with tables piled with junk. Watchful customers circle like vultures, awaiting the arrival of new merchandise, which comes out about every hour. My companion was a regular, and recognized most of the other shoppers as people who spend all day, every day awaiting the arrival of fresh prey.

The new merchandise arrives in a giant bin on wheels. So aggressive is the crowd, that the employee just launches it into their general direction, and the mob (including my companion) pounces in an insane feeding frenzy around the bin. I have been told that sometimes they pounce too hard, and the police must be called. My companion was able to literally wrestle out a vintage pure cashmere Mark Cross robe, then a jeweled St. John jacket. I have no idea how items of this caliber slipped through the Goodwill cracks, but it seemingly happens all the time. This is why a cult like following of folks are ready to do battle at these shops.

In chatting with other shoppers between incoming bins, I was told that in some outlets there is a line drawn on the floor shoppers must stand behind while the bins are emptied onto the table. The employees then utilize a hand signal to indicate GO, and the shoppers stampede and throw merchandise around like piranhas at feeding time.

Since I value my dignity (despite what some may think), as well as my safety, I chose to shop only once the alpha dogs had their fill. I was still able to pluck a few interesting items from the pile, but clearly- if you want more then leftovers, you must be willing to rumble.

I am afraid that I do not pass the hardcore thrift shopper test. I will stick to a zen-like perusal of the racks. However, it is worth a visit just to see the underbelly of the thrift shop world, and to find out if you are a true combat ready shopper!