Banned for life from local thrift store!

[fatlazyless]

Me getting banned for life from local thrift store by woman cashier at cash register happened in about 60-seconds time over a dispute on returning a $15 silver 1980's Panasonic portable radio and tape cassette player purchased the day before.

The tape cassette player did not work so I took it back the next day, and asked for a $15 cash refund because I had paid $15-cash. She goes "We usually just issue a store credit." I say "I paid cash and the item is defective and N.H. consumer protection law says defective merchandise gets refunded same way it was purchased." She goes crazy, throws a handful of singles and fives at me and screams "get out of this store, and do not come back, this is a thrift store and we are all volunteers here."

So, I left and have never been back and that was 15 months ago. There are other thrift stores where I now go, and it taught me to be on my best behavior in all retail stores, especially thrift stores, so I do not get BANNED for LIFE!

[bushwack1]

Please. do tell, which store. The mystery almost makes your post Value Less. Just the opinion of an avid Thrift Store Shopper that has Always Had Happy Transactions.

[pondguy]

FLL you seem to make friends everywhere you go you just don't play well with others.

[fatlazyless]

Sorry, will not say which thrift store. Oh well, sometimes is best to move on to a different thrift store and N.H. seems to have a lot of thrift stores.

It's amazing how much really good quality stuff rolls through local thrift stores. There's like always more new stuff. The new stuff never ever seems to stop or slow down. Maybe it slows down in the winter cold but not too much?

Here today, and in the thrift store, tomorrow!

[8gv]

"We are measured by the company we keep"...

and also by the companies that don't keep us.

Your request was reasonable.

Perhaps the burden of many cranky customers was a weight the cashier carried over to you.

I wouldn't hesitate to shop there again.

She may not remember you and they might just have that Etch A Sketch you have been seeking!

[ApS]

Older electronic devices are not reliable. My BIL bought a car radio (for my truck) at a Salvation Army store. I couldn't make it work, so he tried to return it.

Marked plainly on the radio's label, was that it "wasn't returnable". He was irate--and took it out on the cashier.



As it turned, it was both speakers in my vehicle had gone bad (my truck's first failure in many years) and the radio is still good!

[fatlazyless]

Heart and Hands Thrift Shop at 8 Maple St #4 in Meredith had to close in the end of July, 2025 per their building landlord over increased rent or something and is searching for a new home somewhere in Meredith or maybe Laconia or Center Harbor?

That was a very well run and busy store in Meredith located between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Waukewan. Is too bad it had to close up and go on a long journey searching for a new home.

So, where-o-where-o-where-o-where can Heart and Hands Thrift Shop go to find a new home? Their old location was excellent, but finding a new home has been difficult to impossible?

Their Google info listing says it is "Temporarily closed."

If only Heart and Hands had a home ........ somewhere ....... boo-hoo? Anyone have a suggestion ..... ....... some address someplace?

[Descant]

FLL, maybe you should volunteer at the thrift shop you first desxcribed. Sounds like they need more help. And maybe free coffee for staff...

[fatlazyless]

Surprise, surprise, big surprise here ....... http://www.facebook.com/p/Heart-and-...0064878813198/ ...... announced on Sept 24, 2025 that Heart and Hands will be reopening in same building, different spot around corner at 8 Maple St, #3 which is closer to the Meredith Marina and one floor up from old #4 location.

Could become a good Thrift Store place to donate an old used canoe or kayak(in good condition) what with it being close to a busy Meredith Marina or something with all those motor boaters looking to go take a paddle.

Well, well, well, well, well, well, well ........ isn't this a big and welcome surprise ........ my, my, my, my, my (whatever that means?) ...... and good grief!

[WinterHarborGuy]

If the cashier had offered you $15 worth of used swim noodles...would you have accepted that?

I'm just asking questions here.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by 8gv

"We are measured by the company we keep"...

and also by the companies that don't keep us.

Your request was reasonable.

Perhaps the burden of many cranky customers was a weight the cashier carried over to you.

I wouldn't hesitate to shop there again.

She may not remember you and they might just have that Etch A Sketch you have been seeking!

Cashiers generally work to store policy.
She may have gotten the policy wrong - it happens.
Or FLL didn't state if he had a receipt.

Some stores the policy is no receipt they will give you store credit.
More stores now are simply not accepting the return.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by WinterHarborGuy

If the cashier had offered you $15 worth of used swim noodles...would you have accepted that?

I'm just asking questions here.

Walmart-Gilford has a lot of large foam noodles at reduced prices, right now.

Walmart-Gilford also has 46 different kayaks (one sup) that look to be stored entire winter in outdoor lawn and garden area. 46 kayaks is a lot of kayaks but the prices do not seem to be reduced?

Ocean State Job Lot-Meredith has kayaks.

Tractor Supply-Plymouth has kayaks including an expensive twin hull kayak designed to use an electric trolling motor.

Kayaks are everywhere with no reduced prices in October? Like, what's happening with all these kayaks in October with no mark-downs?

The ReStore in Plymouth has two el cheapo kayaks and a good sailboard for very low prices.

[Mr. V]

A cashier lacks the power to order and enforce a lifetime trespass: the words she spoke are, legally, meaningless,at least to a lawyer...probably got you going though.

Much ado about nothing...

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Walmart-Gilford has a lot of large foam noodles at reduced prices, right now.

Walmart-Gilford also has 46 different kayaks (one sup) that look to be stored entire winter in outdoor lawn and garden area. 46 kayaks is a lot of kayaks but the prices do not seem to be reduced?

Ocean State Job Lot-Meredith has kayaks.

Tractor Supply-Plymouth has kayaks including an expensive twin hull kayak designed to use an electric trolling motor.

Kayaks are everywhere with no reduced prices in October? Like, what's happening with all these kayaks in October with no mark-downs?

The ReStore in Plymouth has two el cheapo kayaks and a good sailboard for very low prices.

Ok that is good and all, but more to the point think about all the things you could do with 15$ worth of pool noodles, I bet you have some ideas....

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

A cashier lacks the power to order and enforce a lifetime trespass: the words she spoke are, legally, meaningless,at least to a lawyer...probably got you going though.

Much ado about nothing...

Yes much ado about nothing, but it is a conversation starter and we can see where the conversation goes...... after all the lake is going down... down ... down and boats are coming out, so what else is there to do with the time...

[fatlazyless]

There's an old saying that goes "Don't go where you are not welcome" so I found a totally excellent new and different thrift store in far-away Moultonborough, a long but very pleasant scenic drive and definitely worth it.

From wet suits to kitchen items to clothing to wide 6-lb hula hoops...... they got the good stuff at steal-of-a-deal prices ..... plus new stuff is always showing up at the Moultonborough Thrift Shop.

Three cheers for Moultonborough Thrift...... hut-hut-hut! ........

Anyone looking for a vintage mechanic's creeper with an elevated adjustable hinged head rest for working under a car ....... they got a very good one ..... right now on Oct 16, 2025!

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

A cashier lacks the power to order and enforce a lifetime trespass: the words she spoke are, legally, meaningless,at least to a lawyer...probably got you going though.

Much ado about nothing...

Depends. If she refuses to volunteer there because of a customer, the management has to decide if her free services are worth more to them than the customer in question.

Even paid retail employees, when they are stressed, we have to pay them more to deal with the stress, and thus we have to price goods higher to cover the labor costs.

Governor Ayotee pointed out that roughly 26% of NH is over the age of 60. In our area, that percentage is much higher. So a lot of businesses are already at a disadvantage. A volunteer organization might be even more considerate of that factor.

[fatlazyless]

Working as a volunteer at a NH thrift store is probably not all that different than working as an employee at Lavalleys Bristol NH.

[panjumbie]

So a question? What will you purchase (used) from a thrift store and what wouldn't you? Is there anything you might be concerned about? I've bought quite a few used items but probably wouldn't buy a few items for various reasons.

[TomC]

Buying stuff from a thrift shop should probably be thought of as a charitable contribution that comes with a 'thank-you' gift. Going in armed with one's "consumer rights" at the ready is probably not the best perspective. Just my opinion...

[fatlazyless]

I agree with that thought. I should have just gone with their store credit, and said "thank you very much." I learned my lesson on over reacting from that one. Oh well ...... live and learn ..... plus this thrift store that banned me is an excellent store and it permanently lost a good customer ...... me! I walk past it, all the time, and never go inside the store.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by panjumbie

So a question? What will you purchase (used) from a thrift store and what wouldn't you? Is there anything you might be concerned about? I've bought quite a few used items but probably wouldn't buy a few items for various reasons.

Like any retail store, every purchase is a separate and distinct choice, has a lot to do with the price, so whether or not to buy it is up to the customer? It's your money and your choice ...... live free or die! .....

I would not buy a 45-year old Panasonic boom box without plugging it in and testing everything, especially the tape cassette player. Just like a used car, a shiny bright finish on the outside doesn't mean all is good electrically and mechanically on the inside.

[TiltonBB]

FLL: With your substantial net worth wouldn't it be easier to purchase a new item, with a warranty, from Amazon, delivered to your waterfront house? No in person interaction so no chance of upsetting the seller.

Think of the gas money you could save!

[fatlazyless]

I used to buy second hand sneakers from eBay, which are totally excellent and a second hand pickleball paddle from someone in South Dakota. It smelled like it had been stored in a barn with that ammonia horse/cow smell still there, but it is an excellent paddle ..... ..... eBay actually has very high and strict rules on selling used items in terms of photographs that really show the item. eBay is pretty expensive, too, but it has everything.

When I walk into a thrift store I have absolutely no idea what I will walk out with, so's I end up with a ton of real high quality stuff at dirt cheap price that I do not really need, too much! ..... ..... like, do I really need three real good table saws, a Hyper Tough, Makita, and Ryobi? It's like I fall in love with the stuff, but the stuff don't love me back, too much.

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by panjumbie

So a question? What will you purchase (used) from a thrift store and what wouldn't you? Is there anything you might be concerned about? I've bought quite a few used items but probably wouldn't buy a few items for various reasons.

almost never buy anything that plugs in. if it was in good working order it probably would not have been donated. Or, anything with a bunch of parts since almost certainly something is missing.

I can't imagine ever returning anything.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Working as a volunteer at a NH thrift store is probably not all that different than working as an employee at Lavalleys Bristol NH.

Except that our employees are paid.
And our new system is probably more advanced than a thrift stores.

We can take returns at all the locations of stock items. The thrift store probably is not working on SKU or bar codes and so its systems are less supportive of the staffing.

We still need a receipt for a purely cash customer because the system will do the return based on that receipt. It can't look up their account if one doesn't exist; and it sees all pure cash customers (whether they use a check, cash, or card) as one entity.

It is pretty slick when the process is followed.
But I doubt a small store would be able to afford the system and monthly service.

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

I used to buy second hand sneakers from eBay, which are totally excellent and a second hand pickleball paddle from someone in South Dakota.

Nothing wrong with acquiring things that have been used by others.

Heck, my current wife had two different husbands before I stepped up to the plate.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

I used to buy second hand sneakers from eBay, which are totally excellent.

That is really gross! Tell me you’re kidding on this one?…with the money you have!…Do you at least wash them before you wear them??

[fatlazyless]

On eBay I found a pair of almost new Olympus 1.5. zero drop, Abound, trail hiking shoes, reg maybe $175 ..... selling in my size for $65 plus $10-shipping. I wear these a lot in the winter as everyday shoes. eBay has prices all over the place for used shoes ...... just do a search for men's or women's shoes in your size and see what shows up. Mostly, their used shoes have little use and were a bad fit or something. No smelly yucky diseased gross shoes ...... is not what you assume.

Plus, you are buying from a small eBay business somewhere in the U.S.A like South Dakota, or Indiana, or Texas from a real individual fellow American trying to make some extra money or something.

An excellent local store to buy new footwear is the Famous Footwear store in the Tilton Mall. It has a big assortment of many different brands, everything is brand new at bargain pricing. It is a busy store! It also has a lot of 4D or wide sneakers. When I say bargain pricing, they maybe cost $65/pr as opposed to $110, plus sometimes they have (buy one pair, and buy second pair at half price). The store is crammed to the ceiling with shoes, and is usually busy.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

Except that our employees are paid.

A short sentence that's very long on personal impact and importance, and something anyone should think about before retiring.

Probably, people volunteer their time working at a thrift store because they have a lot of spare time and are a wee bit bored. Is ALWAYS better to be paid to work.

I know an 83-year old guy who used to own a car repair and tire business for 30+ years, and now he drives a car parts delivery for AutoZone Auto Parts in Worcester, Ma rather than stay home and be bored.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

On eBay I found a pair of almost new Olympus 1.5. zero drop, Abound, trail hiking shoes, reg maybe $175 ..... selling in my size for $65 plus $10-shipping. I wear these a lot in the winter as everyday shoes. eBay has prices all over the place for used shoes ...... just do a search for men's or women's shoes in your size and see what shows up. Mostly, their used shoes have little use and were a bad fit or something. No smelly yucky diseased gross shoes ...... is not what you assume.

Plus, you are buying from a small eBay business somewhere in the U.S.A like South Dakota, or Indiana, or Texas from a real individual fellow American trying to make some extra money or something.

An excellent local store to buy new footwear is the Famous Footwear store in the Tilton Mall. It has a big assortment of many different brands, everything is brand new at bargain pricing. It is a busy store! It also has a lot of 4D or wide sneakers. When I say bargain pricing, they maybe cost $65/pr as opposed to $110, plus sometimes they have (buy one pair, and buy second pair at half price). The store is crammed to the ceiling with shoes, and is usually busy.

Alrighty then… This Frank Zappa song comes immediately to mind…

https://youtu.be/EmVu-Wxe-Uw?si=ISfcJQzDNBrRIlpx

Have a blessed day!

Dan

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

That is really gross! Tell me you’re kidding on this one?…with the money you have!…Do you at least wash them before you wear them??

Nothing surprises me anymore with this poster.

[fatlazyless]

The used sneakers have no real leather, is all synthetic materials made in China and Vietnam and the many eBay photos show them up close. Usually they are almost new with little wear like buying a used tire with just 100-miles. They are actually way cleaner than my older, more used sneakers.

Similarly, buying a used shirt at a thrift store guarantees it to be a laundered and pressed shirt, easily its #1 best condition once I own it.

Ditto that for the used sneakers ...... after I own it ...... it's all DOWNHILL for the sneakers. ........

The words, sneakers and shoes have become synonymous. In the past shoes were leather, and sneakers were canvas and rubber. Now-a-days sneakers have become shoes and the word sneaker is disappearing.

You know Frank Zappa died in 1992 at age 53 from prostate cancer. He was born on Dec 21, 1940 .......... thanks very much for your music, Frank!

[Kamper]

That decision should have been made by a manager. Rudeness and displays of temper by staff are poor customer service. If you are told to leave, leave then reach back to management. They don't want the loose cannon to give them a bad reputation. If you weren't the only person to be treated this way it might have contributed to the landlord not feeling inclined to cut them slack - even if it is a charity.

Charities are not immune from being held accountable for their staff. I had a couple high pressure incidents from someone selling church raffle tickets at the Hannaford in Hudson, many years ago. I was broke at the time and even if I won, a hand stitched quilt was not going to help me. I told this to the volunteer and she pretty much harassed me to buy a ticket. After the second incident, I spoke with the manager and suggested the church should not have that person represent their fund drive.

I found out later from my cousin, that due to complaints about her mother, Litchfield Presbyterian Church was no longer allowed to solicit there.

[John Mercier]

We can't fire them; because there is no one to hire.
If you let a volunteer go, you may not have enough to cover the store, and then you have to close the store... now all the customers and the charity loses.

The most we can do is see if a mistake in policy was made and correctly train the worker on policy.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Mr. V

Nothing wrong with acquiring things that have been used by others.

Heck, my current wife had two different husbands before I stepped up to the plate.

You may have broken the internet on this one! Too funny!