Thrift & Treasures — Local services in Ocean City

This “thrift” store was quite a unique experience for a Virginian myself. What most say about this place is true--it’s cluttered, but I don’t mind that. What made the experience go downhill quick were the extreme prices, especially since most items weren’t marked.

For example, I accidentally and lightly kicked a bronzed colored framed portrait sketch that was standing on the floor lying near the entrance in the clothing section by accident as I was in awe which the owner told me to be careful. This caught my attention as I saw the portrait and loved it. I asked the owner how much it was, since it had no price tag. She said she would check, pulled out her phone, and tried to use image reverse to figure out the value. When she found a listing, she told me she’d sell it for $40.

I tried to negotiate, starting at $25, but she returned from $35 instead as a counteroffer. She mentioned that the portrait -- featuring Jesus and John the Baptist -- was a real sketch. I informed her politely that it was more likely a replica of that artist’s work, based on my examination as it seemed more likely to be a fine printed portrait that’s framed. This encounter left me empty-handed.

What people say is also true -- she does tend to hover in suspicion, which can make the experience uncomfortable and hard to focus (though with the pricing, it’s hard to buy anything anyway).

That being said, the owner is nice to talk to, quite a religious person from my standpoint, and overall an interesting person. What confused me was what possessed her to make these used items so expensive, as if it pushes customers out quickly rather than drawing them in. Her business could boom if she priced things more reasonably according to customers' bias-- something that reflects the true character and condition of the products. I also think she needs a better system to move items in and out more efficiently instead of letting them sit around which would lead to tripping and fire hazards.

I genuinely can’t consider this a real thrift store -- it feels more like a “giant garage sale, but in my...

Seems super dangerous and scummy. I’m sure I walked into at least 5 things trying to navigate the store. Most of the paths don’t lead to an exit so I get why people say fire hazard. So much overpriced stuff that it’s overwhelming. Plus, it seems like everything she does is part of her scam. For example, there are no prices on most items like clothing, so she can decide on the spot what she wants to charge you. She has a sign that says the general prices of clothing but it’s entirely misleading. „$5+“ for tops for example. She follows you around asking if you „found anything truly beautiful“ and there is no way to respond that won’t result in you getting charged an insane price. She followed me and my girlfriend around and the sign made us think we’d be spending maybe 13 dollars on a skirt and a tank top, but I was in shock when she said „the tank top will be $17.5 and the skirt will be $25.5!“ she doesn’t accept credit card, and only accepts payment on like cash, cash app, Venmo, etc. I’m sure so she won’t have to decide a set price on anything. we didn’t have any of that, and she could tell from our expression we were not gonna buy it so she was like „here I’ll put it in a bag for you“. She knows what she’s doing and she does everything to guilt you into spending a horrible price on clothes she probably got for nothing. She goes „oh that’s fine, there’s an atm down the road, you can take it , I know you’ll be back!“ so my guess is either trying to guilt us into buying it or would just call the cops or something. For certain, she wants you to walk out with the clothing. She wants you to take it so she can make you feel like you HAVE to be back. I don’t know but definitely don’t waste your time. Definitely a scam. We walked out without the bag and did...

While I don’t believe that all of the negative reviews are completely accurate/warranted. I can agree that this store is not only a fire hazard but cluttered beyond belief, yes you can go in and sort through items and possibly find something worthwhile. But it comes at the expense of constantly worrying you’re going to trip over something. Parts of the store are completely inaccessible, trash bags filled with, who knows what on the floors in literal piles. There is no flow or organization to the shop at all, everything’s just strewn everywhere. Prices on some items are high but the owner can be haggled with, I didn’t notice much of a mildew smell, but towards the back of the store I did catch it. Overall, if you’re going here to find a "treasure" I can’t say with any confidence you will find something that interests you, the clothes also are not vintage, everything looked produced within the past 10 years, and the jewelry looked all like pieces you would find at a flea market, unfortunately it seems no more than a hoarder inviting you to come browse what they’ve collected...