Ponies were left behind

Cactusflower

Pied Piper of Ponies
MLPTP Supporter
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Jan 20, 2018
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It's with heavy heart I write this post. This was the first time in my life, where I left G1 ponies behind. Why, you ask? Value Village is just ridiculous. I'm sure others have noticed the staggering increase in prices all across the board, but this is just nonsense. I found Parasol, Trickles and Skyflier today. Parasol was priced at $15, Trickles $10 and I think Skyflier was $15 as well. The worst part was that they were not in good condition. All had marker on their bodies and hair cuts. It wasn't until now that I realized I don't have Trickles. Maybe I should have grabbed her, but I just can't deal with their ridiculousness. They know nothing about the products they sell. They have just caught on that G1's are valuable to collectors, but have no idea that these ponies are considered baits to many. Even if they had been $5 each, I would have rescued them, but I'm not about to reward Value Village for their disgusting behaviour and prices.

Did I mention I once found an open box of tampons for sale in a Value Village. Disgusting. They could have donated that to a women's shelter or something, but no, they want their grubby hands on every cent. So disappointing.
 
Value Village is a for profit business, so it's not entirely surprising. The part I find sad is that it's become trendy, which has helped drive the prices up. I've been going to thrift stores for entire life, over 40 years. I buy everything there and I always have. There are many people who can't afford new clothes, shoes, dishes, furniture and they have relied on thrift stores to survive. It's just sad, because the people who really need these types of businesses are having to pay outrageous prices now too.
 
Ugh... Those are terrible prices, for those quality ponies. D: ... A lot of Value Villages have upped a lot of their prices across the board... but I have found that a few overcharge more than others do. Some Value Villages still have decent pricing. You just kinda... have to shop around and figure out which ones are good, and which ones are bad. :/

That's disappointing, though. Whoever was in charge of pricing at that Value Village really was greedy. Here's hoping you find a much better quality Trickles at a much better price!
 
I find with the VVs near me (and there are about 7 in Ottawa) the prices on vintage toys fluctuates wildly. Sometimes there’s one grubby G1 in a bag by herself for $5.99, other times it’s 4 pristine ones together for $1.99. It doesn’t seem to matter which store you’re at, but I think it’s more about who’s working when the toys are priced.

One manager told me once that the pricing was based on weight, which is a load of horse manure.

I haven’t seen ponies in the glass display case yet, but I have seen other vintage (and modern, but vintage characters) in there sometimes.

Elf
 
As a former VV employee (many many years ago).

There is no actual “pricing guide.” The sorters are responsible for sorting and pricing out things (each person has their own thing they are responsible for). So the toy people are supposed to bundle “like” toys together and separate between traditional boy/girl toys. If they think something is of value or collectable they are supposed to research the item and price accordingly.

Now during peak seasons you’ll find a lot of good thing in the general bags and priced lower. This is because they have a lot of product coming in and they need them to move out faster. During non-peak season you’ll find less toys bundled up together and prices upped some.

Now, I feel like the ponies you found the employee found one and was like “yes this is it and this is the going price my job here is done.” Rather than doing what he/she should be doing and actually researching the true value. VV employees have always been over worked and greatly underpaid to do a job of multiple people. (Like the poor soul who has to clean the store for an 8 hour shift - these are literally the WORST and most infuriating shifts to work ever in the life of humankind.)

But yeah, sometimes the pricing is like “WTF VV!?!?” But other times it’s “omg I got an amazing thing look!!”
 
I have left ponies behind too, dont feel too bad about it. Someone might be willing to pay higher its always the case. Once I bought a bunch of dolls that had megan in the bag and the rest. I rebagged the dolls and sent back to the thrift store. I only kept megan and I just had to save her. Sometimes prices are the reason other time I already have that pony but depends on the situation or price for me.
 
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What in the hay? They shouldn't be trying to score profit like that!

I had faith that maybe they were still better than Goodwill, but not anymore
 
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Me being the gullible soul that I am who never sees G1 ponies in "the wild", I probably would've jumped on it. Glad you had more sense.

I do agree with you. My last trip to Goodwill, the prices have seemed to go up a bit over the years. When I first moved here, the plush toys were only 99 cents per item. Now they're up to $1.99. Still, not horrible, but it adds up! I also haven't seen any bagged toys over there, and they don't have much pony stuff. I believe $3.95 (or $3.50) was the going rate for a lot of things and when you only brought so much money with you, or have limited funds, you can't go nuts over there. (Other trip, I came out with less than half of what I came to the counter with because, silly me, I didn't add it up in my head and only had fifteen to spend. I had kind of an allowance thing going at the time, I'm not poor or something, just so you know!) So, yeah, my favorite Goodwill is getting too big for their briches, thinking they're Sears or something. LOL. Edit: I hope you find those ponies for cheaper by other means someday!

We don't have a Value Village around here, that I know of. The way things sound, I might not like it if we did.
 
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Here's the update. I happened to be out that way again where this Value Village is and the G1's were still there. Also, an outrageously priced BBE Ribbon, with a mohawk for $8. I was debating whether or not to buy the Trickles, because she is the only Rainbow pony I don't have (even though I was convinced I had her). Anyway, $10 for a pony that has marks which may not come off, symbol rubs, a cut mane and tail and a hard body is just ridiculous. I spoke with one of the store employees and said I wanted her, but the price is ridiculous for the shape she is in. I told her I would like to take her and clean her up, but it would be a lot of work. Anyway, she came back and gave her to me for $1.

19 cut plugs on her mane and a short tail. Good grief. Rainbow hairs are terrible to rehair. Too many colours. I'll clean her as best I can and she can wait for a hair donor or something. I was happy she was rescued.
 
Our vv went out of business. We have one salvation army, several consignment shops, and I think 8 goodwills. I've never found anything worthwhile in the wild. Dolls sometimes, but never ponies.
 
We do have tons of estate sales every week. Those can be great if you're willing to travel.

Btw, we'd still love to see you @Cactusflower !
 
Man, all we have here is a ratty Goodwill that rarely has anything. Certainly not toys. It's like sweaters and coffee mugs and maybe an occasional Willie Nelson cassette. If I get to go into Dallas, they have lots of thrifts, but rarely will you see ponies other than McDonald's toys. I don't think I've seen a G1 in the wild in a decade.

Thrift stores all seem to have gotten greedy. But they sure aren't sharing the profits with their workers, which is wrong.
 
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