Avalon Exchange — Attraction in Pittsburgh

I really think management needs to reevaluate their staff at this location. I do a lot of online shopping at cute little boutiques and took my gently used items to Avalon in Squirrel Hill. I washed and steamed everything before taking it there but my cat did take a nap on top of the bag before I left. I have never experienced someone being soooo dramatic over pet hair. I was told they could not go through the large bag because it was consumed with pet hair, employees are allergic, and it was causing them to break out in hives. I said I was sorry but just the top 2 items had pet hair and I probably shouldn't have brought them. They were overly exaggerating and said it was flying out of the bag in the air. They acted like I let a litter of kittens loose in the store. I looked at both employees because I felt bad someone got hives as a result of my items. But no, there were no red spots to be found on any of the employees and it was all an theatrics. I was really nice about the whole thing because I work in customer service. As I walked away one of the female employees said, "HASN'T SHE HEARD OF A LINT ROLLER?!" My manager was with me at Avalon and our Saturday morning meeting that week was about how we NEVER want to make our customers feel the way Avalon employees made us feel. Especially never talk about a customer while they are in the store. I just got a very snobby vibe from the female staff. A guy working in the back helped me. I would immediately get terminated from my job if I ever treated customers the way Avalon treated me. We live in a society where customers are allowed to bring service dogs into businesses and even if someone has an extreme allergy talking rudely about a customer is not acceptable. I want to walk into a store like Avalon and be greeted with a friendly smile, not someone who seems stuck up with a chip on their shoulder. I was also sorting through what I did and did not want to purchase and an employee grabbed things I wanted to buy and put them away. Find some friendlier Pitt students to work at this store. Everyone is...

I wish I could give this store zero stars. DO NOT SELL YOU ITEMS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!! Please read about my experience so that I can explain why:

So I came in here with a ton of clothing items to sell. I understand that they don't buy a lot. It's fine. However, Avalon chose 5 of my items. The cashier tells me that "the store can offer you $12.42 for your items." So.......for 5 items (all of which cost me a total of ~$200, which is irrelevant to the thrift shop buying process, I know), you want to give me $12.42??!?!?! Avalon CLAIMS to give buyers 30% of what they are going to sell your item for. With this math, $12.42/5 (items) is $2.48 per item. If I'm getting the "30%" retail value back, that means Avalon claims they will sell each of my items for less than $9. Granted this is very estimated math, but you see where I'm going here.

If you've ever been to Avalon, you know that it's an expensive thrift store. There are no quality jackets there for under $30. No quality shoes there for under $15, etc. I'm kicking myself for letting them take my items, I was in a hurry and didn't think about it. It would've been so so so much better to just donate them to a store trying to do some good and not screw their customers over. Huge scam, they take advantage of their buyers like nobody's business.

!!!!DO NOT SELL HERE!!!! I've had infinitely better luck at Clothes Minded in Bloomfield (plus this location knows it's a thirft store (cough Avalon cough cough) and prices its clothes as such and even freaking...

My husband and I lived in Squirrel Hill for two years and I used to LOVE Avalon Exchange. I got some great designer pieces and used to run down the street to purchase as soon as something would post on Instagram. I was in the area yesterday and decided to pop in for old times sake. No one greeted me, or anyone, who walked through the door. As I flipped through my go-to designer rack the one employee took a call to store from someone who was looking for the manager. The employee was incredibly rude to the person on the phone stating that the manager wasn’t in the store and ended it with “I mean I wouldn’t just assume that we are going to buy your clothes”. When he hung up, it became apparent that the manager was sitting right there the whole time as they all laughed and joked about the interaction they just had! It was incredibly off putting. I had a few things I wanted to try on and had to stand at the counter for a minute until they were all done playing around to ask for a fitting room. I probably won’t be back given my latest experience. The quality of things they have pulled in recently has decreased and I honestly think it’s reflective of the poor experiences they are providing given other reviews on here. There are other designer consignment stores in Pittsburgh who I have regularly purchased from and trust more for buying...