Sunday, December 18, 2011

Things I Regret Buying at the Thrift Store!

Hello Everyone, can you believe that we are only a few days from Christmas?! Today's post is about my not-so-successful thrift store finds. I have been doing some cleaning in the house, and discovered a few items that I bought with good intentions but never used.


I feel a bit dumb about the Vintage Tupperware Salt Shaker and Ketchup dispenser that I purchased at Value Village. I would say that I am much savvier of a thrift shopper today, but I think I overpaid for these - 99¢ for the salt shaker and $2.50 for the ketchup dispenser - more evidence about the silly pricing methods at our local Value Village.


I fell in love with these pale blue teacups and saucers that I purchased from the old folks' home thrift sale.


At 35¢ for each set, I can't feel too silly for this... except that I don't really drink tea out of dainty cups and saucers! The swirl pattern and delicate handles are definitely beautiful though.


I purchased this wooden rack, which I thought would be really awesome for harvesting veggies from my garden, or taking to farmer's markets. Nice thought, but in reality, I never used it.


This bag of chair webbing had a cool package and reminded me of my family's old aluminum patio chairs.


The only problem? I don't have any aluminum chairs that need to be fixed! I think this is the priciest item on my list, ringing in at $4.


My readers and lovely followers definitely know that I'm a Pyrex fiend, so I couldn't resist this Primary Blue 401 Mixing Bowl for 50¢ at the local thrift store. However, the condition is just so dull and flaky that I could never bring myself to use it.


Then there was this teapot with a bamboo handle and neat looking lid. The only problem? I've found so many great teapots that this one got pushed to the back of the line.

Of course, I can't feel too bad about these purchases. Most of them were from charity shops, and I'm sure they made good use of the money. I am planning to donate these next time I'm there; hopefully someone will snap them up!

Linking up to Flea Market Finds and Thrift Share Monday!

23 comments:

  1. Lol - I have LOTS of things that I regret buying but as you said at least if they were from a charity thrift shop you can just look at it as a donation. However some of mine are from garage sales...hmmm. Sherry :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think we all do that - more than we'd like to admit! Hah! I had a couple of badly scratched Pyrex bowls that I used outside for planters - they looked really cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nothing I would have bought, I've turned my nose up at Pyrex bowls that I considered very cheap in my city that were in better condition.

    I've recently been getting rid of a bunch of "thrifting regrets". I just went through a box of stationery that I have touched in years. Why do I need 10 very ugly Happy Birthday Mother, From Your Daughter cards!?! haha. I've so far go two boxes of junk to go to the thrifts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. *I've got so far to go two boxes of junk to go to the thrifts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think we all have been there, I just donated some beautiful mistakes. I hope someone will love them and care for them.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would make that blue Pyrex as a craft project. By spray painting it a really odd color. Then use a sealer to keep the color intact. And use a color not common to Pyrex.

    Then make use of it as a bowl for catching junk in on the counter.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those Delphite Blue Swirl teacups and saucers are a TREMENDOUS find at 35c a piece! I just sold a set of 4 dinner plates, 4 teacups, and a sugar! =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm glad you have all been there too! I think at thrift stores, because we know that if "you snooze you lose", we tend to snap things up because you only get one chance.

    Farm Girl Pink and Jill, thanks for the suggestions! Since I'm not very creative/crafty, hopefully someone else will be up for the task.

    Melissa, I wish those were Delphite pieces but they are definitely ceramic. Still a great find, but just not for me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do that periodically, go through my purchases and then return some to the thrift shops. Sometimes we have 'great' intentions! I do love those blue swirl teacups.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have a small pile of things that I will be returning to the thrift store soon as well. I try not to hang onto things just because I overpaid or because I don't want to admit I bought them impulsively.

    Your lawn chair webbing kinda cracked me up though. It does help to actually own a chair to re-cover.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love this post- I think we can all really relate! Defintely have a few "what was I thinking" items lying around. Although I think the more we thrift, the more discerning our eyes become.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sigh, yes, those teacups are beautiful, but I don't like having them collect dust while I ignore them!

    Haha, Mary I was totally laughing at myself too!

    Alyssa Bee, that is a good point - I am much better at scanning now - I used to spend forever perusing the shelves. Now I do a quick once over, then backtrack once for a re-scan.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think everyone must have thrift shop regrets. i totally understand how you'd have bought those cups, though; they're beautiful. but you're absolutely right, the charity shops you bought them from will make good use of the money and when you return them to a charity shop, think of it as regifting!

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh i like this post. i think we've all been there done that to some extent. i like how you shared your reasons, it's so true how we have intentions (or is it justifications? :)) for our purchases.

    i can see that wooden rack in the garden somewhere, holding a few planters. or gardening tools.

    happy holidays if i don't get a chance to drop by soon!

    ReplyDelete
  15. great idea for a post. i have a pile of stuff like this. usually because if something is vintage i just can't leave it there! no matter if i have room/will ever use it/it goes with my house.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Luckily the more we thrift, the better we are at making the right decision. Some things are so irresistable though, and there's no second chances at the thrift!

    I'm glad you enjoyed the post and can relate to some of my embarrassing buys.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have some terrible condition red fridgies that i use for the kids' erasers, scissors, etc. I have a topless Gemco sugar dispenser right next to it for pencils. No regrets! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Now you need to do a photo collage post of all the items you have shared this year that you do love and use. Then you won't feel so bad about these few pieces.

    The tea pot and cups would have made lovely gifts for someone if you did not want them yourself. Not that I'm hinting or anything...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good point, MWP, maybe I should do a Thrift Hits of the Year post!

    ReplyDelete
  20. The wooden caddy is actually a nice find, you can use it to create table centres or to hold nice vintage mason jars to store vintage buttons, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I definitely love the caddy too, it's just that I have lots of vintage stuff I already use for table centres or display. I think it was just a good time of year for us to declutter.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love this post--thanks for sharing, glad I'm not the only one with 'sale goggles' at the thrift store! but you're right, we'll just re-donate and they'll go to a good home and help out the shops!

    ReplyDelete