Value Village — Local services in Mississauga

I appreciate the idea of thrifting and love the concept behind secondhand shopping, but I’ve noticed some concerning trends that make the experience less enjoyable and accessible.

Firstly, the pricing system feels off. Many items are significantly overpriced for a thrift store. For example, I once found a dress priced at $19.49 that still had its original retail tag of $19.99, only a 50-cent difference. That doesn’t make sense for a secondhand item. While pricing mistakes happen, it reflects a growing issue with overpricing in thrift environments that should be more budget-friendly.

Additionally, the store layout and setup can be frustrating. Pants and skirts are hung sideways, making it hard to tell their actual length. This makes shopping more time-consuming and creates unnecessary mess. The lack of mirrors and change rooms is also a big drawback. There isn’t even a private corner to try things on, which makes it uncomfortable , especially for Muslim women who might need more privacy when trying on formal or evening wear. Trying clothes over your outfit doesn’t give you a true sense of fit, and buying just to try at home feels wasteful and inefficient.

Jewelry prices are another concern , $20 for a silver ring might be reasonable for a new item, but in a thrift store, that feels too high. I understand charging more for higher-quality items, but some of the prices lean toward luxury rather than affordability.

Lastly, I had a disappointing experience with a cordless vacuum I purchased. It worked during the in-store test, but when I got home, the battery only lasted three minutes. Items like this should be properly tested in the back before being put on the floor. It’s not just frustrating , it...

I have donated quite literally thousands of dollars worth of items to Value Village over the years. I had since bought a cheap DVD player for $10.00 for a single use need I had of one. Needless to say it didn't work; no great surprise there.

When I went in to return it today, receipt for $10.00 in hand, I was told all electroncics are final sale; even though my receipt did not say that. Further, the floor manager advised, the price sticker must still be on the item and it too says final sale. Once again, nowhere did it say that.

Who in their right mind would buy any untested electronic from a charity shop WITHOUT an expecation that it could be returned if it didn't work? I told the lady to throw the DVD player and the bill in their trash and that they had seen the end of me. Not very customercentric in my humble opinion.

Value Village IS NOT a charity in the traditional sense of the word, but purportedly donates 'some' of its revenue to bona fide charities. There are real charities out there who will gladly take gently used items without the bureaucracy. You have a choice where to donate something. I will be donating (and shopping on the rare occasion that I do) elsewhere from here on out. The Sally Ann always seems to put it's money where it's mouth is by delivering care to the needy; whether you ascribe to their doctrine or not.

What does Value Village do with all the proceeds from their free inventory and dirt...

I love thrifting! Love it! That being said, I don't love thrifting clothes without a change room. With so many brands available, sometimes it's hard to judge if something fits. Their exchange at purchase location within 15 days, no refund is EXTREMELY irritating when you scour their racks, find what you're after only to bring it home and find out it doesn't fit. Now you've got to make sure you're back in store before 15 days and hope the items you saw but didn't really want are still there, because in my experience, there wasn't much new on the rack within that time line. And then do it all over again, until finally you give up and donate the clothing you bought and couldn't try on in store. That being said, they have a fantastic book selection! And sometimes you can get really lucky with furniture or other neat items, just watch the price vs brand, it's absolutely true that they ask to much for some low end items you can buy for a buck or two elsewhere. The Dixie and Dundas location is pretty good about having a larger selection than some other spots, so I'd recommend that one over some others, especially with its proximity to other thrift stores...