www.thrift-finder.com

[neuropolitique]

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. When visiting other towns, I really need to search to find thrift stores. Usually, my efforts are fruitless, it takes too much time to hunt much, or the store is closed when I get there. The phone book is of limited use, because many thrift stores are too small to advertise, or too cheap - Goodwill.

So, today, I registered Thrift-Finder.com. For now, there is nothing there. The first design will be a rather simple "Select your State", "Select your City" deal. I may also separate large cities into different metro areas. This design is limited, I know, but it should serve it's basic purpose.

This is a call for help. I need contact info for thrifts in your area. Here is the info I need.

Store Name
Hours
Phone Number - with area code

additional info would be nice, but not necessary
Physical Address
Web Address - if any

Send any store info you have to thriftfindermail@gmail.com (mailto:thriftfindermail@gmail.com)

I plan to have a page up featuring Georgia, and more specifically North Atlanta, stores soon. I'm doing this in time between school and work, so bear with me if progress is slow. Hopefully, one day, we will have a valuable resource for collectors. Thanks in advance for any help!

p.s. I would love to add a Zip Code search feature. That, however, is beyond my capabilities. If anyone here could offer help in that area, please PM me. It's not something that will happen soon, but after the site has stabilized a bit. Thanks again.

[aaron7]

Awesome idea! I'll help as much as I can with Massachusetts. I'm sure many will donate some web-design time!

[AB Positive]

I have minor web design skills, an associates in multimedia design, and I can easily help out with the seacoast NH area for thrifts.

This is actually a brilliant idea, I'm in if you want the help :)

-AG

[Keir]

Excellent idea! The only thrifts I know around here are Salvation Army and Savers stores.

[Emily]

I doubt it will ever be that usefull. Most thrifts are kinda...sleazy? Low budget? It just doesnt seem likely that many thrifts will actually end up on their database other than mainstream ones- te ones that never have shit :/

[aaron7]

No, this is a game-hunter fed site. We will all post where these places are so people out looking won't get lost or miss one!

[neuropolitique]

I doubt it will ever be that usefull. Most thrifts are kinda...sleazy? Low budget? It just doesnt seem likely that many thrifts will actually end up on their database other than mainstream ones- te ones that never have shit :/

Actually, I envision the site to be the exact opposite. So called "Mainstream" thrifts already have a web presense with stores listed. What I hope to have is the small, independent stores people can't find. Ultimately, though, it will be only as good as the stores submited.

Thanks for the encouragement from everyone else. I got a tip today on how I may be able to implement the zip code search feature, so maybe that will come sooner. Any, and all help will be greatly appreciated.

[Flack]

I think it's a great idea -- I already have all the ones I frequent in a small text file, I'll send them your way!

[Drexel923]

This is a great idea. I have no idea where any of these stores are around me (if there are any). If I find any, I'll let you know.

[yuppicide]

I think it's a great idea as well.

You have any way to make free phone calls?! We need a way for people to also report if a place is closed.. so the database doesn't become full of dead places. Maybe someway to call and verify this info.

Also would be nice to have a little window that you can put in your address and it'll mapquest you a map.

[maxlords]

That's very very cool. I hope you're planning on implementing this for Canadians as well :D

[SkiDragon]

Well, there is already this page

http://locator.goodwill.org/

for Goodwill stores.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Excellent idea! The only thrifts I know around here are Salvation Army and Savers stores.

There's a Savers in massachutes? Where abouts?

[neuropolitique]

I think it's a great idea as well.

You have any way to make free phone calls?! We need a way for people to also report if a place is closed.. so the database doesn't become full of dead places. Maybe someway to call and verify this info.

Cell phone with free long distance. Yeah buddy! That's why phone numbers are important to me. I am calling to verify hours and address. I'm also planning a "Report a Store Closed" link so we can keep updated.



Also would be nice to have a little window that you can put in your address and it'll mapquest you a map.

Yes, that would be nice. I think, though, that Mapquest charges for things like that.



That's very very cool. I hope you're planning on implementing this for Canadians as well :D

I don't see why not. It doesn't take anything extra. Submit your stores!



Well, there is already this page

http://locator.goodwill.org/

for Goodwill stores.

Yes, I know. But like I said, there are a lot of thrifts with no web presence. There are a lot of thrifts without a yellow pages presence.



There's a Savers in massachutes? Where abouts?

Exactly 8-)

[christianscott27]

part of me likes the idea of this and part of me prefers to keep lucky fishing holes a secret ;)

as you can see just in this thread there are lots of MA people already combing the thrifts. why just yesterday i was at the savers in revere when i spied a bundled and bagged top-loader NES under the counter. it was marked $39, the same price as the N64 bundle next to it. i asked the guy who mans the glass case why the two consoles were the same price despite being a decade apart (never hurts to haggle in a for profit thrift). he said "alright i can go $24 on it" i told him i was gonna shop around first, which really meant i figured i should check in with wife before spending on something i'd only use as tradebait. anyways i thought heck why not but dont you know it, while i was away some other guy bought it.

the less folks cruising my thrifts the better the odds of me making a find, selfish but true. not that you cant find savers in the phonebook of course.[/quote]

[RetroGaming2004]

Great Idea! I should be able to get you 2-3 listings for San Diego, Ca. Ill email u later

[classicb]

Agreed this is a great idea. I can send you a bunch for Northern California.

[-hellvin-]

Lol, I think I could do damn near the entire arizona state. I've been to so many thrift runs in different areas from Glendale to Mesa and even Flagstaff it's rediculous. I might sit down later and list up some.

[Qixmaster]

part of me likes the idea of this and part of me prefers to keep lucky fishing holes a secret ;)

as you can see just in this thread there are lots of MA people already combing the thrifts. why just yesterday i was at the savers in revere when i spied a bundled and bagged top-loader NES under the counter. it was marked $39, the same price as the N64 bundle next to it. i asked the guy who mans the glass case why the two consoles were the same price despite being a decade apart (never hurts to haggle in a for profit thrift). he said "alright i can go $24 on it" i told him i was gonna shop around first, which really meant i figured i should check in with wife before spending on something i'd only use as tradebait. anyways i thought heck why not but dont you know it, while i was away some other guy bought it.

the less folks cruising my thrifts the better the odds of me making a find, selfish but true. not that you cant find savers in the phonebook of course.

Somehow i am a bit in the middle on this too. I really like keeping my favorite places a secret, but at the same time i would like to find more thrifts in my area or other areas when i go out to travel.

So i guess sacrificing where i get my goods for the knowabouts of where i can get other goods in other cities, states (and lord knows...) countries is a good thing.

-Josh

[aaron7]

Well, I rarely have any good finds... so I'll get a list together.

What about pawn shops and the like?

[Keir]

Excellent idea! The only thrifts I know around here are Salvation Army and Savers stores.

There's a Savers in massachutes? Where abouts?
There are a few of them:
http://www.savers.com/whoweare/us/ma.php

[Aussie2B]

I doubt it will ever be that usefull. Most thrifts are kinda...sleazy? Low budget? It just doesnt seem likely that many thrifts will actually end up on their database other than mainstream ones- te ones that never have shit :/

Perhaps it would be helpful to have a little description of each store? Somebody who has actually been there can let us know if the store seems safe or not, if it's in a bad part of town, if the prices are always too high, if it pretty much never has game stuff, etc.

I personally like going to lots of thrift stores, but being a woman, I put my safety first. I always try to know the area before going so I know I'm not putting my safety at risk. It's helpful information.

[aaron7]

Salvation Army
739 Water Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420

Area: Poorish, kinda shady, but very open with much traffic
Parking lot: lit, large, full of potholes
Staff: most friendly, one mean old lady
Store: smells lilke moth balls, sort-of dirty, quite large, mostly clothes
Games: occasionally, $2.99 each if there are any, systems from $19-39 depending on who priced it

[slip81]

Great idea. I'll email you the info on all the R.I thrifts I know of.