RESALE SHOPPING The thrill of the hunt Seasoned shoppers know an item's not a bargain if it's of inferior quality.

By NANCILYNN GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WHEN ROSIE ROKUS BOEHLKE needs to relax, she doesn't have a "girl's night out," she shops at resale stores. "It's fun. It's like a treasure hunt," she said. Recently, I went shopping with Boehlke at the Liberty Goodwill store, and I must admit that the thrill of the bargain and the education I received about finding them was enjoyable.
As I pulled into the lot, I parked next to a BMW convertible -- a sign that resale shopping isn't just for the person who can't afford retail. It's for the savvy consumer who realizes that you can buy more for less.
We began by looking at clothes.
"I'm a substitute teacher. I look for things that I can wear to school," she said.
Boehlke wears a lot of sweaters when teaching. They can be costly at retail stores. At Goodwill stores she can buy them for less than half the price.
She stopped when she noticed a white cotton one with an American flag on the front. After checking it for flaws, she looked at the price tag. "For $3.79, I might take a chance," she said.
Taking a second look
She put it back on the rack and proceeded to examine other ones. While looking, she found a sweater that still had its original tag attached. Again, she returned to the flag sweater, but after a second look, she decided that she didn't really need it.
When shopping for clothing at a resale store, Boehlke searches for items that are comfortable, washable, in good shape and made of good fabric. "If I have to dry-clean, I feel like I am paying for it twice," she said.
"One thing about resale shopping, people are usually friendly. You make friends," she said. As we browsed the tablecloths, a woman nearby joined our conversation on linens. Boehlke took a tablecloth with her, to think about the purchase.
While looking at picture frames, she commented that you should look over the items carefully. She removed the paper that covered the frame edges, and discovered that one of the sides had separated. She placed the frame back on the shelf.
The Goodwill Store in Liberty has a side room, which contains furniture and larger-ticket items. Boehlke said this is a wonderful way for a young couple or college students to furnish their first home or apartment. Boehlke also mentioned that she looks for items that bring a sense of nostalgia for her.
Finding creative uses
Perusing the dishes, teacups and saucers, we experimented with other uses for these items.
The saucers can be used as a dessert dish or candleholder. Buying teacups and saucers at resale stores is affordable and adds a touch of class to her entertaining.
After glancing at the items on the 50-cent tables and envisioning cut-glass oil and vinegar bottles as unique bud vases, we headed for the checkout.
At the checkout counter, she paused a moment asking herself, "Do I really need this?" The tablecloth was discarded. She bought saucers and a floral table runner.
Laura Dulay stopped at the Warren Goodwill Store the day before leaving for vacation. She visits resale stores for houseware items that are more environmentally friendly. "I buy cloth napkins and wash them instead of paper. You can buy them here for a buck," said Dulay.
As we walked through the store, she explained how to verify the quality of a lace item, such as a tablecloth. "I feel things. You can tell if it's real lace," she said.
Another reason that Dulay shops there is for the variety of the products. "You can find different stuff. Everything's not the same. Something unusual," she said.
Be prepared
Both Dulay and Boehlke advise shoppers at resale stores to know their prices before making their purchases. Dulay found a candleholder at the Goodwill Store in Warren that was slightly more expensive than a similar one she had bought at a retail store.
A constructive criticism that both women had was that they didn't want to ask the price or size of an item.
They preferred that this information be on the item. A black-and-white dress with a matching jacket caught Dulay's eye. Though she looked at it more than once, she decided against buying it because the size had been removed.
Losing the stigma
For these two shoppers and others like them, the stigma of resale stores has lessened over recent years.
"I think it's not as bad as it used to be. The fact that they are calling it vintage and they're giving it different names. Even stars are saying that they'll go buy secondhand clothes," said Dulay.
Boehlke added that when someone admires her clothing or a household item, she's proud to say how little she paid for it.
Shopping at resale stores such as Goodwill also helps many people. Goodwill Industries' job training programs are financed by their resale stores. As Boehlke said, "I got my bargain, and I help contribute to somebody else's success."