Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center — Attraction in Calimesa

There is a guy who lives in Calimesa who (whom) I have known for 33 years. I hadn't seen him in 28 years, but social media helped us to get back in touch. Me and the Wife drove from Anaheim to Calimesa to spend an afternoon with an old buddy and his fiance.

They took us out to show us the local sights. We had breakfast at Clarkie's, then before getting library cards at the local branch (why not?!) we found ourselves at this thrift shop.

Maybe it was the beers I shotgunned in the vacant field next door before coming in, but that visit was the most fun I had ever had at any thrift store anywhere. Ever.

The four of us were joking and messing around while we browsed. The other customers and the cashiers joked right along with us. Everybody was in a good mood and friendly. Great customer service.

Pro tip (I only went there once and it was only for about 30 minutes, but, yes - I'm a "pro"!): There is a secret room located on the other side of that doorway without a door at the back wall of the store. There is more stuff in that room. I found a Japanese drum like the ones in Karate Kid 2 back there.

That drum was...

I used to love this thrift store. Literally came in everyday to see what new treasures they had. However, they have changed the pricing manager and this seems to be the biggest problem . For example, they sell mismatch chairs that should be just thrown out for 20 dollars and upon doing a simple google search found that an item was $10 over what retail was selling brand new. I spoke with the pricing manager and she was only willing to make it a dollar cheaper then the retail store offer. Hah! What a joke! Desert industries needs to remember that they are a thrift store and not a retail store. They have made me no longer want to be one of their customers with their outrageous prices that seem to me, that they are now scamming people! Heads up, do your research on the items you purchase and make sure you can’t find them cheaper somewhere else brand new! Also, wanted to share to the people that donate, DI is making a huge profit off of...

Use to be a decent thrift store now everything’s really overpriced and the clothes are just really ugly to be straightforward, it’s like they send the good stuff away to sell it for more. This store use to have a great selection but now it’s the most basic clothes that shouldn’t be priced for more than a dollar. Also to mention the purse rack has been the emptiest and saddest looking i’ve ever seen it which is extremely disappointing. I’m really disappointed and won’t ever come back again, after seeing shoes being marked up to $40 for not even that great of a brand really solidified my choice of never returning. Might as well just go to a retail store at this point as there’s no incentive to going to this...