Haven -- Gainesville Attic Resale Store — Attraction in Gainesville

I’ve been going to this store the last four years of living in Gainesville and it really has a great selection and friendly staff. Earlier this weekend I was browsing the clothing with a friend and maybe five minutes after being in the store I was asked but an older blonde woman who I believe was named Jacquline to take off my bag and put it behind the counter. She claimed that this was policy and that backpacks and large bags are not allowed to be carried around in the store.

I found it odd that I have never been asked this before in the four years I have been shopping at this store, also, that my fairer skinned friend who was carrying a backpack was not asked to put her bag behind the counter, and none of the other customers in the store with similarly sized bags as mine were not asked to put their bag behind the counter.

I approached this woman who made this request of me and told her that I felt singled out. This woman then get very condescending to me and gently touch my arm and an “Oh dear, you’re misunderstanding me.” way and claimed that there are people that shop in this store all the time that know to put their bags behind the counter without even having to be asked.

I don’t know where these other people were, and I can imagine that being indirectly called racist is uncomfortable but I am not used to being singled out and treated like a criminal. Not in the Hospice Attic and not in any other store I frequent.

Many of the other employees at the Hospice Attic and very nice people, but I rather not shop at a place where I am made to feel like I’ve done something wrong by an employee.

It’s been a great couple of years Hospice Attic but sadly it’s time for us to part ways. I will be bringing my donations, and doing my shopping elsewhere.

I don’t want people I know to stop shopping there because of me, because if you stopped going to all the places where racist people were working you would have no where to go! I say this to share my experience (which I am also sharing with the people of the Hospice Attic). This is something that is common, this is something that I have had happen to me at other places in my life. It’s easy to brush it off and say it’s not about race and go on about my life but I know there are other black and brown people that have experienced this, while their white counter part is seen as innocent. I write this to say it’s happened to me and you...

I usually have a pretty good experience whenever I stop by to shop for yarn, crafts, furniture at Haven--but today's experience was the worst interaction I've EVER had at any thrift store in my lifetime.

The cashier named Lorrie watched as her supervisor gave us a discount on the yarn yesterday, and so today we went to her to simply ask if we could get the same deal on the same yarn today--to which she immediately said no but took it even further by yelling at us that we are "taking advantage of her kindness" and "this is NOT how we do things at our store and other customers buy the yarn AT THIS PRICE."

She mentioned there's a manager but there is no way that they would approve of the discount, but we said "it doesn't hurt to ask, could we ask her?" Which immediately ignited her extreme frustration which she directed towards us by yelling at how we are going to make her upset and angry for even asking the manager ...so we just dropped the issue and walked away. Even the other cashier next to us looked stunned.

Tldr; watch out for Lorrie because she will attack and embarrass you for asking for a simple discount-- felt like I was treated like a child and being scolded for asking a harmless question. I've never been treated so horribly at a thrift store (usually a very unproblematic experience), and this could've all been avoided if she simply said "sorry, no discount today" but instead she decided to publicly humiliate us and imply we are taking advantage of her kindness. My family and I were loyal customers but I don't think we could go back there after how we were mistreated.

Honestly, my mother and I first thought it was because we were the only Asian customers there and that it might’ve been a racist act… but later found out that our white friends were mistreated by her recently too! So it could literally happen to anyone, so be careful if you get her on register.

ALSO thought I'd mention they price their items according to the highest ebay listing for the item which means the prices are much higher than regular...

I always enjoyed shopping here for clothes and such, but it seems less and less nowadays. My husband and I have tried to buy furniture here on two separate occasions, and both times it was a hassle. The first time they sold us a dresser that had already been sold, and they had to give us our money back. The second time we bought a loveseat, could not schedule a time immediately for delivery, simply stating they would "call us". Well, a week later I called them to figure out what happened to my loveseat, (that I've already paid for), and they couldn't schedule an appointment until her boss came back the next day. I get a call back from the same woman the next day, and I get no specific time just "after 3". All the while, being INCREDIBLY snotty and rude, acting like I was the problem for their disorganization and poor customer service. Excuse me for wanting the product that I paid for. 🤷

I'll buy clothes here sometimes because they're cheap, but I'll NEVER try getting furniture here again. And there are only 85,000 thrift shops in Gainesville..Not even...