Grand Ol' Trunk — Local services in Manhattan

I enjoy thrift store shopping. Just browsing, finding all kinds of interesting things, the feeling one gets when one finds a hidden treasure at a great bargain price! It's like you won something! Many times I am willing to pay the "sticker price" for an item that is marked at a fair price, but then again, sometimes part of the fun, for me anyway, is making an offer that I think is more fair. All of these items are used, and in various conditions, and the owner must use his judgment and experience to mark an item at a price he deems fair that will still make him a profit, all while taking into account that, given the fact that he's running a THRIFT STORE, customers will make other offers. I have never been to a thrift store where the owner, or employees get downright angry when a customer makes an offer that is less than what is on the sticker ($6 as opposed to $8 in this case). Well, I witnessed it today! This poor woman in front of me offered the man (the owner) $2 less for an item she was thinking of purchasing and the man snapped her head off. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" He said, "I JUST put that out today!", as if this woman could have known that, or it even mattered. The woman politely told the man that it was fine and that she would like to purchase the item anyway, but that he didn't need to get angry with her. Then this guy (while ringing up at least a dozen other items) proceeded to loudly lecture the woman, telling her that this was a "THRIFT STORE" and "NOT A BARTER STORE!". He told her that it was HIS store and he'd been doing this for 35 years and he cannot stand people always trying to offer him less and that he buys his merchandise....and on and on and on. I can't believe the woman didn't leave the store without purchasing anything from him, but she paid for her things and left. I, however left my newfound treasures because I could not believe that a thrift store owner would be offended and angry at customers making offers on used items. Secondly, he may buy a lot of his merchandise, but I have personally donated there many, many times over the past 20 years that I've lived in Manhattan, not sold, but donated. Competitively, the prices at Grand Ol are significantly higher than those at the other local thrift stores. The store itself is significantly dirtier than the other thrift stores (although their antique building is nice and clean) and I did not encounter a single friendly employee in the bunch. If bargaining with customers is upsetting or offensive to you, owning a thrift store is absolutely NOT the business for you no matter how long you've been doing it. I'm not sure if I felt worse for the woman who was made to feel terrible for asking for $2 off, or the owner himself because he has to be miserable coming to work and tortured all day by people acting like they are at a thrift store or something! This review is too long, my apologies. I wasn't even the victim, but it did ruin my fun thrifting for the day and I left there feeling especially bad for those who really need something from there and cannot afford the extra couple of dollars of markup and are treated that way when they ask. I understand this man needs to make a living as well, and had he simply said, "sorry, can't go any lower there", I would not have written this. If he never lowers a price, and that works for him, then more power to him, but he owns a thrift store and for him to completely humiliate this poor lady in front of everyone for doing what people do in a thrift store was out of line, and right down mean. I will not donate there again, shop their dirty overpriced isles, or mention them to other thrifty friends and if you're looking to bargain, look elsewhere,...

Great place, but I wish it was pen on Sundays. Most people with jobs and money shop when they are not working and most antique stores are open Sundays - so is the mall ;) - so take a day off in the week (like Monday) and open Sundays....and sell more stuff! The old owners were very rude and seemed never to have checked out their competition (or the culture of bartering in thrift stores) , so I am hopeful about the new ownership. It is very dirty in there, I wish they dusted, I always feel like I need to wash my hands after going in there. I also wish they had more interesting items like old photographs, old cameras and better antiques. But they just take everything people give them, so there is no selecting going...

My two sons and I visited grandmas trunk today and we had a great visit. The gentleman behind the counter was so incredible kind to my youngest. My son has been slowly regaining his strength from being ill and this was our only stop of the day. He picked out some record books and was so happy to listen to them when we got home. My oldest was taking a few pictures for a school assignment and when we got in the car remarked how friendly the same gentleman was! Thank you for your kindness...