OP SHOPS! Who else shops there, and why do you love them?

[hammahorror]

I have been buying things from op shops since I was a teenager. I love browsing through the weird and wonderful things you might find.

Some are better than others, sometimes it's nothing but junk and then other times you can walk out with bags of amazing things!

Who else here is addicted to op shopping, and which ones do you think are the best to buy from?

[imastawka]

My very best buy was a little dish that someone had used

to mix hair dye in.   It was in a box labelled 10c  a piece

I took it home, soaked it in steradent (cos it looked promising.)

Lo and behold, it was a piece of Moorcroft pottery. A local dealer

gave me $125 for it, and then she re-sold it!

[serendipityricho]

Been known to visit an oppo shop on odd occasions-lol.

35 per week round in the local area and more further afield at times.

As other posters mentioned-the small independants are the best value.

More goodies go out the back door than the front at the -chain store ones........Richo.

[love*today]

I bought two drawings from an oppy in my teens. 20c each 🙂
They were from the sixties or seventies, one was of a couple kissing and in their hair was kids dancing around. It's hard to explain but their hair was like heaps of squirls and the other pictures blended in..
I've just been googling because I'd love to get my hands on them again but not having any luck 😞

Does anyone from that era know what I'm trying to explain and what that technique of drawing is called?

[cosmosgrove]

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@love*today wrote:
I bought two drawings from an oppy in my teens. 20c each 🙂
They were from the sixties or seventies, one was of a couple kissing and in their hair was kids dancing around. It's hard to explain but their hair was like heaps of squirls and the other pictures blended in..
I've just been googling because I'd love to get my hands on them again but not having any luck 😞

Does anyone from that era know what I'm trying to explain and what that technique of drawing is called?

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Psychadelic art maybe?

[lis351]

I use Op Shops as kind of a costumery, my boys are involved in a drama club and there is little to no point trying to find items in fashion stores, but also paying the price for something that is never going to be worn again. Most if the time, I wash the item after the performance and 'donate' the item back to where it came from. Ditto with items bought for a fancy dress party.

[horizon1907]

I love my Oppies. Can't pass one without flying in to have a look around. Have to admit though, the "Chainsore" types are getting Over the Top with their prices. Everthing "old" is not always valueable. 😞 Then again, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time I spose 🙂 🙂 Have found some gems just sitting there, waiting for me 🙂  

[debra9275]

I've also been going to OP shops since I was a teen, its something I used to enjoy doing with my grandmother and I think I caught the OP shop bug from her I've always had a passion and fascination for anything old and i love finding something special I also like the idea of recycling.  Today we went to a couple of local OP shops and I was thrilled to find an Etling transclucent glass bowl for $15.25 at a Vinnies store. Though the prices have gone up over the years, it's still possible to find the odd bargain.  A GF of mine recently found a 15ctrose gold fob chain for $5.95 ( someone had replaced the swivel clasps with brass ones, but.....)

[debra9275]

this is the same as the bowl I bought today ( not my pic. though, it's off the net)

&because I collect glass, I knew what it was and I am thrilled to add it to my collection

[purple_haize]

I have always loved op shops, when my kids were young all their clothes and mine came from op shops. Still like the smaller ones, have given the Salvos a miss these days, prices are too high for second hand goods.

there are plenty of small ones around where I live & close by.

Find some interesting things in op shops.

[debra9275]

we went to Ringwood today Val as there's the salvos, vinnies and savers all together but i didn't find anything I had to buy there. On the way back we called in at a Vinnies in Springvale Rd & that was where i found the bowl, sitting up high on a shelf, I'm glad OH was with me because i couldn't reach it