Salvation Army Thrift stores offer bargains galore

You don’t need a knack for recovering furniture, rewiring lamps or painting to turn a bargain buy from the local Salvation Army thrift store into a showpiece. Buyers across the metro area will find plenty of ready-to-go deals at these stores, where the castoffs and donations of others can be exactly what you’re looking for.

What you’ll find

There are five Salvation Army stores around town where the home furnishings, as well as clothing, are sold. On a recent visit to the Avondale Estates location, the floor was well-stocked with a range of furniture and home accessories. Desks, sofas, coffee tables, entertainment centers, china cabinets, hutches, dining and end tables, candlesticks, futons, foot stools, planters, lamps and artwork were on display. Kitchen items included the basics, from frying pans to $1.49 coffee mugs, as well as copper molds, teapots and complete sets of china.

“And this is one of the smallest stores,” said manager Sabrina Nichols, surveying the selection. “But we get a truck every day that has furniture we can sell. You might see a piece from Ethan Allen or other name brands. We try to keep it affordable so people can buy.”

Some price examples: A purple suede sofa, $259.99; a red floral Henredon sofa, $229.99; a leather love seat, $309; a pine coffee table, $39.99. Framed prints were $6.99; wicker baskets, $2. After 10 days, the prices go down 10 percent. Reductions are taken until the items are half off.

Best sellers

Bed frames and bedroom sets, along with lamps and other big furniture items, are among the first items to go. “Sometimes,” said Nichols, “we’re selling it as it comes in from the truck.”

Bigger bargains

Shoppers looking for rock-bottom prices may want to be at the Salvation Army’s downtown location on any weekday at 8:30 a.m.

“That’s when we’re moving items that aren’t selling in the stores,” said operations director Don Woods.

Auction items may include refrigerators, dryers, washing machines, televisions, microwaves, sofas, desks and dressers. The action’s over by noon, when buyers must take their items off the premises.

For a good cause

Recycle the items you don’t want by donating them to the thrift stores. Sales proceeds then benefit the Salvation Army’s Fulton County center that helps those recovering from a variety of addictions.