Ypsilanti Thrift Shop

WE HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CLOSE THE SHOP TO HELP STOP THE COMMUNITY SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

We are sorry to have to do this, but we feel that erring on the side of caution is the best decision for our customers and volunteers and for the community at large. The shop will be closed immediately and will reopen when we can once again conduct business safely. Information about reopening will be posted here, on our Facebook page, and on the shop's outgoing telephone message: 734-483-1226.

Please take care of yourselves and loved ones in the meantime. You can find status updates at https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

ALL VOLUNTEER         

ALL PROFITS DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES

The Ypsilanti Thrift Shop has been serving our community since 1942.

We are a group of dedicated volunteers who work together to meet our major goals:

• Providing affordable, gently used  clothing and household items to our community; most clothing items are priced between $2 and $5 

• Donating funds to dozens of local organizations that provide for those in need in our area. We donated $72,000 in 2018!

• Creating a pleasant, fun shopping atmosphere for our customers

We sell clothing for men, women, and children; jewelry; household items, linens, decorative items, and countertop appliances; books, CDs and records and tapes; holiday items; toys; sewing and knitting supplies and craft items.​

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These are just a few of the charities we support:

Hope Clinic

Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels

Friends In Deed

Food Gatherers

Washtenaw Community Mental Health

Feeding His Sheep

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Want to help?

You can help us help the community in three ways:

• Donate items.  We accept donations of clean, gently used items (clothing without stains, tears, or fading) in good repair during our regular business hours.

• Volunteer!  We work hard, but we have a lot of fun doing it.  See the information below.

• Donate directly, using the PayPal link below.  We appreciate all donations, large and small.

What's New

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GUIDELINES FOR OUR DONORS

Without those of you who go to the trouble of donating to the shop, we wouldn’t exist. We are grateful every day for the wonderful items you donate for us to sell and the trouble you take to pack them up and bring them in.

A few months ago, the TODAY Show Web site featured an article titled “What Thrift Stores Want You To Know Before You Make a Donation.” And here is the main thing all thrift shops want you to know, as stated by Brendan Hurley, of Goodwill:
“We have a rule of thumb that we like to share with donors... before they give something…, they should ask themselves if the item is something that they would feel comfortable giving to a friend or neighbor. If the answer to that question is yes, then it's highly likely that it's something that can sell in a Goodwill store. However, if the answer to the question is no, then it's probably not something that's likely to sell.”

Please take a look at the article, which is full of good advice for thrift shop donors: https://www.today.com/…/what-thrift-stores-want-you-know-yo…

And here are some specific guidelines for our shop. Remember that you are donating items that we will try to sell. So please keep these guidelines in mind when you’re putting your donations together. Thank you!
CLOTHING AND LINENS:
- Donated items should be clean and free of mildew and odors.
- We cannot sell items that are stained or torn or that show significant signs of wear—frayed collars or cuffs, missing buttons, and the like.
BOOKS:
- We have limited shelf space, so we cannot accept encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, yearbooks, old dictionaries, out-of-date travel books
- Donated books should be books you’d gladly give to a friend—clean and in good condition. Please do not donate books that are mildewed, dirty, or water-damaged or that have broken spines or seriously yellowed pages.
HOUSEWARES AND SMALL APPLIANCES should be usable and in working order.

Our Blog

 Tips for Successful Thrifting

Thrift shopping is good for the environment, good for your pocketbook, good for the community, and a lot of fun...IF you know how to do it.  And yes, there are tips that can help you find great items and get the most for your shopping dollar.  Here are a few of them.

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TAKE YOUR TIME.  Thrifting takes patience. You have to be willing to go carefully through the racks and shelves to find what works for you.  People who don't do well at thrift shops are those who spend 15 minutes glancing at items and are then ready to go to lunch.  At our shop, we notice that shoppers who come with friends seem to have the most fun--and find the best items.

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SHOP AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.  Because all our items are donated, our stock changes literally by the day. You might find only a couple of wineglasses on one day, but a week later, you may find an entire outfit that you love--and that wasn't available the last time you were in.

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​HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.  It is always possible that you'll hit on an amazing find at the shop.  A pair of brand new ED sandals for ten bucks (retail: $45), a Calvin Klein patent leather trench coat for $7 (retail: $120), a men's Givenchy blazer in perfect condition, etc. You won't find deals like this every day, but you can find them. We've sold every one of these items at the shop. But it's more likely that, on any given day, you'll find a new-with-tags Coldwater Creek blouse for three dollars or an Ann Taylor dress for four. Still great deals!

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WATCH FOR SALES!  Thrift shops get lots of donations, and because our space is limited, we have frequent sales.  If you like our Facebook page, you'll always be alerted when the first day of a 50% off sale will be, and you can get to the shop before everything is picked over.

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BRING CASH.  Like many thrift shops, we don't accept credit cards, so be sure you have cash with you.

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BE SURE THE SIZE IS RIGHT.  We don't accept returns, so make sure your purchase fits.  Bring a tape measure if you're looking for a specific household item. Try on clothes before you buy. 

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BUY SEASONAL ITEMS OUT OF SEASON. The best time to buy Christmas decorations is after Christmas, when all the holiday stuff is on sale.  Best time to buy summer items?  At the end of summer.

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MOST OF ALL, HAVE FUN!  The best part of thrifting is in the great find--the coat you didn't know you couldn't live without, the soup tureen in the shape of a rabbit, an espresso machine at an incredibly low price. 

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