Reuse Planet — Local services in Gainesville

This store has taken a nose dive and FAST. I used to frequent this store multiple times a week (for years between this and repurpose project) because I needed to furnish and renovate my entire home on a tight budget. When this store first opened the deals were incredible, and it was SO nice to have a store that felt community oriented and like they wanted people of all incomes to be able to have BASIC items like furniture.

BUT...

Over time the items have gotten increasingly poor in quality while the prices have skyrocketed. I have multiple times pulled up a cabinet with warped shelves, deep scratches and scuffs being sold for $65 when it retails for $69 on amazon. I understand that buying used is not just for deals, it also keeps items out of a landfill, but at some point if $4 is what keeps me from having a cabinet with deep cuts out of the sides, and functional shelves, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to take the new one. This also goes for when they sell kitchen cabinet sets for $800-3500 that are beat up SO bad it would take hours of your own time to salvage them (which is just more $$ lost), when you could get brand new ones from Ikea for literally the same price. 100% of the time you can find the exact same item on Facebook marketplace, and our other local thrifts for less.

They have also begun to sell vintage items at absolutely absurd prices. I have a pretty heavy knowledge of antiques thanks to family members and know the value of most common antique items. I was shocked, mouth dropped open, when I saw an antique chair that retails for about $200-300 max for $500! They will take Literally any mid century item, it could be falling apart, and sell it for twice what you could get it at any other thrift store in town (like Haven for example) just because it's 'trendy'.

When people bring up concerns on their social media they always get super defensive and bring up that they are paying their employees a living wage and while that's wonderful, you also cant run a thrift store where you're selling literal trash for big box prices. That's like saying we treat our employees awesome but our customers can go f themselves. Especially since one of the main purposes of a low cost thrift reuse store is to be assessable to all people That's just not right. At some point we're sick of the excuses, just admit it, you're past helping low income people afford furniture and are more interested in selling rich white ladies a sofa for their...

Items seemed seriously overpriced, on the website, when I looked.

I can buy a brand new floor lamp cheaper at Walmart. This is sad, and unfortunate, to me, because I don't want to support Walmart, but, am on a fixed Disability income (of $898.10 sole income, each month.) The prices I see, on the website, for a floor lamp FORCE ME to buy from Walmart.

*NOTE MY EDIT!!

Edit: I ended up going to the actual store location, because, I ended up finding a stand up lamp, listed on their website, for $5.00! Sadly, when I arrived, after rushing there, AND GETTING THERE VERY CLOSE TO CLOSING TIME, I was told, "Sorry, the lamp is no longer in the store."

Wonderfully, for me, a gracious, tattooed, female, happy employee told me to "wait a minute," and went into the back of the store storage area. She came out with a comparable lamp, for me!

When I asked her, "How much is it?" She told me, "I'll just charge you the same price as the one you came in for." So, she sold it to me for $5.00!!

She was even kind enough to plug it in, for me, to make sure it worked, and informed me to "hang on to my receipt, because, they have a store policy where they will refund your money if whatever you buy breaks, within two days." What a doll, huh?!! (And so close to closing time, too! ) Great customer service here in Gainesville... pretty much unheard of!

I, joyously, and happily, brought home my badly needed lamp, and it's still working! I love it!

I will, without a doubt, be returning to this store to purchase any future items.

I LOVE supporting local businesses. I'm a major environmentalist, and I love that things are recycled versus thrown in the landfill to help save our amazingly beautiful Planet.

This is a terrific store! I was made VERY HAPPY!😄

I am, now, in the market for a new sectional couch, as my (majorly researched, Ocala purchased, not very old, over $1,300.00,) Rooms-To-Go sectional couch, now has dips, and holes, in it, (and is majorly uncomfortable.)

It was/is very low quality, and, sadly, probably not made in the USA, either.

I will, DEFINITELY, be looking for a new sectional couch, and anything else I may need, at Reuse Planet. I hope they never go out of business!

I LOVE the concept of this store, AND the employee I encountered left me feeling absolutely GREAT.

A+! BRAVA, and THANK YOU...

I'm temporarily living in Micanopy. Gainesville is the nearest city to me. UPDATE: today was my 2nd outing to the area and followed pretty much the same path. Still one of my favorite places ever.

I was lucky enough to find this set of stores. I had a great time shopping from the I walked in the door. I love the inclusivity statements at the entry, cheered me along with the upbeat soundtrack which together created the positive vibe. I browsed a long time before checking out. The clerk was friendly and we compared zombie dolls we had made. After paying she suggested I go to their other 2 stores, and I have the lunch special at Satchels Pizza near the other stores. The other store was jam packed with a creator's dream of inspirational odds and ends. From vintage paper goods, to used housewares, and a lot of vintage fabrics still on the rolls. A little bit of everything.

I highly suggest if you are looking for old items to reuse, repurpose, or use where your creativity leads you, visit these stores. And...