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Current news about Auctions, Books, Events, Rummage Sales, Second Hand Shopping, Thrift Stores, Miscellany.

RUMMAGE SALE NEWS

        One of the most interesting rummage sales around is held in May at the 37th Annual Mission Hills U.C.C. Christian Church.  This year it seems a little smaller but for this sale, that is definitely a plus! We saw several interesting items on the table just below the stage where the books are housed.  One was an old metal box which probably was imported from overseas (only $10!).  Near that item (to the right of the table) was a metal plate and spread out in between were lots of neat objects.  Prices are usually low at this sale and that is true in all areas.  More art this year and as usual, lots of great looking clothing in the boutique to the left of the entrance and down the hallway. Pots and pans and glassware were also of very high quality and we saw an extremely old juicer -- the glass kind, at $10.  Yet this one I haven't seen before in other rummage sales; it is truly unique.  Linens are located upstairs, purses are to the right of the entrance and jewelry, for the first time, is way back in the boutque.  Not as much as in previous years.  The books we saw were intriguing as well: lots of biographical books, new looking, current novels and one or two rows of very old books along with two rows of religious items.  This sale is known for stocking interesting books but again, that depends upon who donates!

This year's Mission Hills U.C.C. Christian Church' Rummage Sale housed lots of interesting items; some are shown here.

It is also a "tagged" sale meaning that items are usually marked with a red, yellow, blue, green, white or orange circle and the related prices are posted in easily visible areas, such as on adjacent walls.  Most prices, however, run between $1.00 and $10.00 -- on the lower side.

        Unfortunatley, we weren't able to see the outside furniture and other items on the patio due to rain so that will be a surprise to all of you.  Rummage Sale took place May 6th and 7th, 4070 Jackdaw, Mission Hills, San Diego. (619) 296-2169

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THRIFT STORE NEWS

(San Diego, CA)

SALVATION ARMY OPENS NEW STORE IN VISTA!

The SALVATION ARMY opened a new thrift store and boutique in late May in Vista.  The store contains appliances, household items, electronics and  clothing in the main area of store.  Antiques, collectibles plus gently-used brand-name label clothing can be found in the Boutique. 1234 N Santa Fe Drive, Vista, CA. (760) 732-3713.  9 AM - 8 PM.

 

AMVETS IN ESCONDIDO NOT THE STORE IT USED TO BE!

        The AmVets Thrift Stores have always been high on our list of stores we just  must  visit -- as often as possible.  Recently, we had an opportunity to visit Escondido's AmVets and unfortunately, this store was much different than the store we wrote about a year or so ago.  Although some of the collectibles remain on display in the front of the store located in glass-enclosed cases beneath the checkout counters, we suspect that finding collectibles here just isn't as good as it used to be.  We were surprised at that because  San Diego is a military town and if veterans donate to AmVets,  then lots of antiques and treasures from all over the world should be found here. We visited the Escondido store on a Tuesday and we saw very few collectibles and even fewer antiques.  Perhaps those items are going to other locations (the store off of Washington Street below Mission Hills in San Diego used to be good for collectibles as was El Cajon and Spring Valley).  Nevertheless, in addition to our disappointment over the lack of collectibles, we also found this store in disarray -- also different from our past visits.  We estimate that clothing must be what everyone is donating because again, the store is full of all kinds of clothes.  We saw some interesting household items and a very good book section yet the prices on most hard cover books averaged between  $1.95 and $2.95--higher than other thrift stores.  Also, AmVets continues to place sticky price labels on dust jackets!  Book lovers know how to get those stickers off yet very often the  DJ's can be damaged and if so, the price goes down when it is resold--something book dealers intensely dislike.  We have tried  unsuccessfully for several years to motivate AmVets to change this policy yet they continue to disregard it.

     In other areas within the store, there is a good "art rack" to the right of the household goods.  While we did not see much when we were there, we did observe an active San Diego art dealer walking out with two old prints under his arm.  And you can believe me when I tell you that if this guy is looking in this store, then you had better start checking out the art as well!  In the rear along the wall, lots of stereos and electronic equipment with vases and housewares continuing on to the right.  Good quality pillows of all kinds are on the opposite wall from housewares and nearby we saw long rows of linens.

     We will check this store again in a few weeks to be sure we weren't there on a day when they were restocking or following a heavy sale weekend.  AmVets stores are  what we refer to as  "old fashioned bonafide thrifts" and those stores are remnants of the past.  Many of today's thrift stores, especially the large chains, have reverted to calling themselves retail stores and that is what some of them, sadly we think, have become.  Check back with us in a few weeks and we'll see if Escondido's AmVets acquired any exciting new treasures!