Sometimes Used Is Better Than New

To the adage “never pay full price” should be added this commandment: “Buy used whenever possible.” But where can you buy good stuff cheap?

Some of the most dependable spots for used merchandise are the county’s 10 thrift shops run by local Assistance Leagues. Donated primarily by members, the used clothing, furnishings, toys and sports equipment are sold at rock-bottom prices, with the money used for Assistance League charities such as day care, dental programs, homemaking services and scholarships.

Scouring the clothes racks at any thrift store is like strolling down the Memory Lane of fashion trends, where bell bottoms, granny gowns and disco-era polyester shirts struggle for a second chance. But among the passe discards are hidden treasures--the timeless but forsaken trinkets that keep their rescuers coming back for more. And every bargain hunter is hoping to hit the jackpot.

Each store has its own tale of how some extraordinary donations caused a flurry of excitement. Like the time a Santa Ana Assistance League member donated a bundle of St. John Knits dresses, which when new sell for several hundred dollars each, and even the volunteers couldn’t resist them. They were quickly scarfed up at $75 each. Or the time in Newport Beach when a 14-foot Laser sailboat with a trailer swiftly fetched $350.

But most of the merchandise is slightly used clothing and household goods.

According to guidelines of the National Assistance League, which oversees all the local Assistance League shops, each store has to return more than 50% of its income to the community.

“Most of the stores return far more than that,” says Pat Spears, a National Assistance League spokeswoman. “Many return about 75% or 80% to the community.”

Each shop is staffed entirely by volunteers, who take turns manning the cash register, maintaining the store, laundering the clothes and pricing the donations, which vary from community to community. Each store also caters to a slightly different crowd.

Jeanne Mengos, chairman of the Assistance League of Santa Ana Thrift Shop, says her store caters to the low-income residents of the First and Flower streets neighborhood. Here clothing, especially shoes at $1 a pair, and bric-a-brac sell fast.

“First they want to clothe their children,” says Mengos. “Then they want to brighten their homes. I come in with a box of bric-a-brac and it disappears.”

Shoppers at the Newport Beach Assistance League Thrift Shop on 32nd Street are looking for something a little different, according to its chairman, Aileen Schrader. The most popular items here are furniture and work outfits.

Schrader tells of the man who needed clothes for a job interview. Volunteers brought out a Neiman Marcus suit in his size, and matched him up with shirt, tie and shoes.

“A few weeks later he came back in and told us he got the job,” she adds. “This is the kind of thing that makes us so happy because it shows that what we do makes a difference.”

Schrader adds that furniture is a hot commodity at her Balboa Peninsula store because rentals are plentiful in the area and residents are looking for inexpensive ways to furnish apartments.

Volunteers say many of their customers are regulars. In Santa Ana, there is the woman who buys several pairs of shoes nearly every day and is thought to be selling them at swap meets. In Tustin, an elderly man methodically checks the jewelry counter daily, only occasionally buying a bauble or two.

“You see the same people every day because it’s like the neighborhood department store,” says Mengos of the Santa Ana store.

A look at four local Assistance League thrift shops in the past week turned up the following merchandise:

At the Santa Ana store were men’s hockey skates (size 10) for $5, new-looking wet suits for $7, bowling ball and bag for $8.50 and a waffle baker for $6. Cookie tins sold for 5 cents each, silk scarfs for 50 cents each and leather gloves for $1. A new mailbox cost $8 and a blue I. Magnin women’s robe (size 5-6) went for $3.50.

At Tustin’s thrift shop were a never-used car radio for $5, Liz Claiborne jeans for $3 and a navy L.L. Bean knit dress for $1.50. Most of the men’s suits cost $12, and ties go for 10 cents each.

In Orange, a new-looking pair of men’s suede shoes (size 12) cost $10, a beige leather Cherokee handbag cost $4, a Liz Claiborne shirt (medium) cost $8 and a women’s Benetton shirt (medium) cost $5.

In Newport Beach were a Nordstrom sweater vest for $2, ladies sun dresses for $5, a woman’s Stanley Blacker cotton suit (size 4) for $12, and a two-piece Liz Claiborne knit dress for $8. The shop also had wedding dresses ($37.50 and up), an exercise cycle ($40), oil paintings ($15 and up) and a good selection of furniture and toys.

The county’s largest Assistance League thrift shops are those in Santa Ana and Newport Beach, according to the National Assistance League. Of the four shops visited, the Newport Beach store had the most variety and best quality. It also was the only store that had a large selection of furniture.

“We get lots of young families who are setting up housekeeping, and we’re the first place they visit,” says a Newport Beach volunteer. “These days, it’s hard enough to be able to afford the rent, let alone the furnishings.”

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE THRIFT SHOPS AT A GLANCE

Anaheim

Address: 1341 W. La Palma Ave.

Phone: (714) 535-1336

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday.

Fullerton

Address: 233 W. Amerige Ave.

Phone: (714) 738-9172

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday. Closed Fridays beginning in June.

Garden Grove

Address: 10932 Trask Ave.

Phone: (714) 530-2318

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Sunday and Monday.

Huntington Beach

Address: 16582 Gothard St.

Phone: (714) 847-6511

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Sunday and Monday.

Laguna Beach

Address: 526 Glenneyre St.

Phone: (714) 494-5977

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Sunday and Monday.

Newport Beach

Address: 505 32nd St.

Phone: (714) 673-6130

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.

Orange

Address: 20 Plaza Square

Phone: (714) 532-5800

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.

Santa Ana

Address: 1031 W. 1st St.

Phone: (714) 543-1120

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.

Capistrano Valley

Address: 526 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente

Phone: (714) 492-2880

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday.

Tustin

Address: 160 E. 2nd St.

Phone: (714) 544-2612

Hours: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday.