Which reigon of the U.S. has the most undereducated (value wise) Thrift Stores,Pickin' Places ???

Where's the best place to pick y'all-State/Regin. Whos got the most most clueless Thrifts,Fleas,Garage Sales in the Country ? All o f the US ?Thanks!

 

@anundverkaufen

 

From experience, I’d say the more rural the better for picking but the stuff is spread further. Urban areas tend to be a bit more savvy but there’s much more to look through.
Lately my best picks have been from other pickers and dealers, let someone else do the work.

 

Although I started out in my early twenties picking way out in country regions, my later and most exciting experiences of picking were in and around large port cities: New Orleans, and New York City.
Doubt it's because they don't know what they had, but rather because they are moving and need to get rid of everything.

 

I live in a large metropolitan area and occasionally vacation 3-5 hours away in rural spots. Though I have come across a few treasures out in the sticks, the vast majority of my best finds have been in the many large thrifts local to me.
What I have noticed is that the best stuff comes from thrifts that offer a pick up service, not just drop off. I surmise that they get more house clean-outs after parents'/grandparents' deaths, rather than just random stuff dropped off by someone doing their spring cleaning.

There are lots of people who travel the USA, thrifting and antiquing. Some even come from other countries to do so. I think many people may prefer not to "advertise" their area and invite competition.

 

Unfortunately even folks in the sticks have i-phones now. I really think its just luck at this point. Someone screwed up and put stuff out not knowing what it was. Im still astonished by the silver candlesticks I found at Hoodwill.St. petersburg used to be the finds capitol of the state of fla. All those old dears moving down to Gods waiting room ! That was in the 80s (for me at least) and I still long for those days ! Gorgeous stuff everywhere and no i-phones !

 

Yep All-I'm getting ready to stuff I picked in the 70's-80's for 50 cents up to 5 Bucks.If I went out on a serious hunt in the 80's I'd take $20-$40 max ! I always found something.

 

I have lived in 15 states & shopped in at least 40 of them. I found the best replica antique furniture in New England & Tennessee / Virginia border! From using bird shot on raw wood and soaking it in a swamp to emulate wormholes to quarter-sawn oak on the top and cheap wood on the underside. A bank President from Boston said he has never made more money until he retired to a small town in northern New Hampshire and sold "antiques" on the side of the road. He sold decent furniture at a reasonable price. Every one of his customers thought he was a hick & that they were screwing him. The joke was on them.... and he NEVER misrepresented what he was selling the table beside his chair was a very valuable antique. Always let the buyer beware!

 

David-What a great Vagabond life.Re-living in 15 states.Were you in the Military,in Sales,or always a 'Picker' ? Sorry-don't mean to pry (no need to answer,no prob).

 

I have been getting my best jewelry at garage sales lately.

 

I think people are much better educated as to value than they used to be. At least they know how to use thier phones to look things up. I do know that there are some people who can't be bothered and just don't care (I have to think that is why Anund gets such great deals from the thrifts.). The trend is certainly toward utility vs. collectability among today's shoppers.

It also goes in waves, changes over time. I am not getting the buys I used to even a couple years ago. I had a great 6-8 year run where I was finding great stuff. Before that, it was harder since more peole were in to antiques back then. The dry spell now seems to be more of a supply thing. I think a lot of people are not letting loose since values are so depressed right now. I don't think the good stuff is making it to the general marketplace.

 

My own experience is that, everywhere I've been, well-to-do areas are the best place to find the good stuff. Charity shops/thrift stores often get "dump", as bluumz said, complete house contents (wheat and chaff) heirs can't be bothered to go through, and have no notion that it could be sold for money (as they themselves wouldn't be caught dead buying "used" stuff).
It's just only more exciting to find treasure where it was least expected (or kind of least expected, since you were looking)

 

I've heard of folks who hit charity shops in affluent areas say the same thing.If I get one screamer find at a particular store- i become a 'homing pigeon' to that location,just can't help it-might never find another thing-But...

 

All people have to do these days is get on this forum and ask! Not much easier than that.

 

Nuthin' in Michigan...nope....barren land....devoid of everything....don't bother coming....nothing to see around here...

 

Where I lived in Michigan they had even sold every rock forty years prior. Was once covered in glacial till but they sold every bit down to Detroit. Nuttin but sand left.

 

Sounds like Michigan was well and truly scoured by the Great Missoula Flood-the cataclysmic glacial lake outburst that swept down all the way from Montana to Oregon 13,000 to 15,000 years ago.Flood speed reached 80 miles an hour,maybe more-the Willamette Valley in Oregon was turned into an inland ocean,300-400 foot deep,only the highest peaks left dry tiny islands.Darn-right Biblical,Noah would've had to have been on his game.
Sounds like it flattened the heck out of Michigan.
Flat,flat & flat-dang !

 

Do you have a US map, Bosko?

 

I've only done my shopping on Long Island. Been doing it for 20 plus years.
It is pretty much hit and miss here. We don't really have antique stores near me, but we do have thrift shops and many estate sales and tag sales.
There are a few church thrift shops that get a lot of new stock and want to move it quickly so the prices are great. Some garage sales are good because they are moving and just want to move the stuff out of the house. When I see a print out of an ebay item on a table, I know they are going to ask high prices.

Some estate sales are good, others the prices are simply insane. I picked up a cookbook last weekend and asked how much it was. The person told me $5 to which I replied I will give you $2

She said some of the cookbooks are worth hundreds. I said, well this one is not one of those. I said how about $3 and she said ok. I have never sold a cookbook for hundreds of dollars. Some may exist but I would say that is pretty rare.

 

Bakersgma- You're 10000 times correct ! Michigan's waayyy East of Montana.Think I just wanted a reason to bring up the Great Missoula Flood-still amazes me,picturing a huge inland sea dotted w/ small islands (mountain tops) inhabited by paleolithic tribes.
Next time I play 'Professor' i'll check a map first !