Uptown Cheapskate Raleigh — Local services in Raleigh

I used to come here pretty often because it was the only thrift store in the area that sorted by size and item type, which where I’m from is standard but unfortunately very much is NOT so here. They didn’t have inclusive sizing- at BEST you might find a few XL pieces, mostly just shirts- but that was my only complaint for years. It was generally very clean, well organized, tidy, and well staffed. Basically a nice looking store when you walk in. A few times my husband and I found a really great find so it was always fun to hunt for stuff. Eventually I mostly stopped going because when I hit a size 2X/16 there wasn’t much in my new sizing but I recommended it to other people all the time.

Anyway, today we went for the first time in about 6 months because my husband needed a shirt for photos we’re having taken, and I was shocked by how bad it was the minute I walked in. It was visibly dirty at immediate glance with trash like straw wrappers and tags on the floors. There were clothes fallen off the hangers under the racks everywhere, which I’ve never seen before here. Everything was crammed so tight you couldn’t sift through things, and a LOT of it was items in the wrong size and place, you could tell it hasn’t been zoned in quite a while.

There were also a couple bins on the floor full of loose shoes, which in itself isn’t necessarily a problem (although it’s a bit disorganized) but it contributed to the general sense that they’re taking a LOT more items then they used to and can’t organize/fit it all any more. Or maybe they’re just in an extra busy season? It’s possible understaffing could explain some issues, though there were at least three employees at the counter when I walked in. Maybe I happened to come at just the wrong time and a team of obnoxious teenagers had just trashed the place and left. Hard to say when this isn’t at all what I’ve seen over the past three years.

Regardless of the cause, it was a bummer to see it like this. Since my husband couldn’t even find a single decent shirt, we probably won’t be back. Super sad...

The first employee I had who took in my clothes and explained the process was very friendly and helpful, and I would've had a perfectly nice selling experience...if not for the employee I had at the end who gave me the cash and clothes they didn't take. She was extremely rude, dismissive, and condescending when I'd done literally nothing but walk in and was told by the nice employee that she (the rude employee) would be with me in a moment. I remained patient and polite with a friendly tone and said please & thank you, yet she still acted like I was making her go out of her way to do her job and give me the clothes and cash. I did absolutely nothing to warrant an attitude like that. I still thanked her out of habit, but she had me wishing I hadn't. Why would I thank someone for acting like I'm not worth their time at all? Attitudes like this are a HUGE deterrent to coming back.

Just one upside is I actually got to leave the store. According to other reviews, you usually have to stay the whole time, but maybe the policy's a little more lax now or maybe I just got lucky with an employee who allowed me to leave.

Only reason I'd ever come back to try to sell again is because I got paid more than expected. I'd tried Plato's Closet right before and they took nothing as expected, but UC surprisingly took some. But even then, I think I just got weirdly lucky (which never happens) because usually these places never take anything. And I highly doubt I'll EVER get lucky like that again.

The quality of customer service really, really matters, even if customers don't say anything about it in the moment or show an overt reaction to how they're treated. Unfortunately it seems like it depends on the employee you get, which you--again unfortunately--can't control. I also filled out a little survey they email after you sell to them and aired out my frustrations there (in a civil manner), but somehow I have a strange inkling those things never have any sort of...

BE WARY! if you buy anything from this store make sure you check the garment before you go home!! I recently bought a dress there and got it home was wearing it the next day and discovered a giant hole on the side seam!! :( Now I know that a majority of the items in the store are resale but still shouldn't these items at the very least be free of holes and stains I mean you're still asking $14.99 for this dress with the giant hole.... This wouldn't be that big a deal (it was an easy fix only because the hole was on the seam) if I hadn't tried to sell clothes to the store as well. Their buying policy ask that clothes are clean and in good to excellent condition...holes in clothing = neither good nor excellent condition. The "buyer" was as vague as possible as to the reasons why they could take these things but then passed on others....and I am 85% sure they were just saying the same thing to every customer regardless of what they were selling...like do these people even look at the items?? "we passed on these items due to common wear and styles that just don't sell" WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?? I will be going back to this store because they do have some good deals (I managed to find an awesome Asos dress for about 12 bucks; that was also free of holes... STEAL!!) but again be warned if you want to find the good stuff you will need to have a solid amount of time to find it in this madhouse of various sizes, colors and brands(Organization??....I am really curious as to what exactly the employees of this store do...). If you are lucky maybe a more attentive staff member will be working and you might get a little help...but don't hold your breathe. Also don't expect anywhere near what you paid for the items you're selling with a pay out rate of 25-30% of what an item is priced for rarely will you be offered more than 7 or 8 bucks for an item. YOU HAVE...