Thrift Stores in Durham, NC

“The Scrape Exchange Thrift Store's philosophy and business practices earns them high regard in my book.The vast majority of donations they receive are utilized and offered for sale to the public.I work in the recycling industry and I've seen A LOT of waste. Thrift stores and donation centers are not immune to the unfortunate practice of mindless disposal. The Scrap Exchange is an exception in that regard. The Scrap Exchange conscientiously manages the donations they receive. They are not wasteful. They offer for sale (at reasonable prices) the vast majority of the donated goods they receive.I've discovered that many of the other Thrift stores chronically throw away a high percentage of items that the public donates to their resale businesses. Consider that they all are dependent on free donations to operate their businesses. These type of stores are beholden to the generosity of the public. Donors presume that the items they donate will be given a chance to be offered for sale.The whole philosophy of donating to Thrift stores is based on society's obligation to reduce wastefulness.Remember: recycle, reduce, reuse.The Scrap Exchange exemplifies the practice of waste not, won't not.They value the generosity of their donors. And they provide an exciting, eclectic and satisfying shopping experience for their customers.For years i've treasured being a regular customer of their store.For most people, when they donate goods to second-hand resale operations, it's because the items are still usable. There's is often, also, the aspect that donating items for reuse will help less fortunate people. Many thrift stores, or restores, claim that the proceeds garnered from the sale of donations, are intended to be invested in providing something for poor and less fortunate people. Read the fine print... just because a business entity is a non-profit, does not necessarily mean that they are self-sacrificing and austere.The fact that Scrap Exchange operates as a non-profit is another of the many reasons to make them your go-to Thrift shopping destination! You'll love it!”

“Love this store! When I redid some rooms in my house I was looking for furniture and I was amazed as how many selections of furniture they had and really nice furniture too! I spent an hour trying to decide which couch to take home. I ended up leaving with a loveseat, rocking chair, bookshelf, table, salon chair and a stained glass lamp. Great selection of household stuff as well.My only complaint is the hours, I wish they were open more days!One of my favorite places to go when I can make it to Durham. Definitely a gem!”

“We had wonderful customer service. We had something we had a question about and the lady cashier was very helpful and got us in touch with Norman, who then continued to help us with top notch customer service. We were pleased with our visit and our purchases and we will be back! We also love that the money we spend helps to support programs and services for the homeless in our local RTP area.”

“When I donate clothes and things, I always come here. In tandem, I do a little shopping myself and always find great things at really good prices! I've gotten some great clothes, decore, houseware, and jewelry over the years. The bonus is that it is all for a good cause!”

“Doesn't have a lot of glassware, mainly clothing and media. But the books and DVDs are so well organized it's worth it if you're trying to find some new reads!”

“I have been shopping this Durham Rescue Mission location for nearly a decade. It's always clean, very well organized, and I never leave empty handed. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. This is one of my favorite thrift stores in my rotation.”

“I've thought of this place as a furniture thrift store in the past, but I noticed more this time: they have home improvement supplies (paint, parts) on the right side as your come in. They certainly have furniture (sofas, desks, filing cabinets, chairs). And they have typical thrift store items like books, housewares, decorations. I don't remember seeing much clothes, if any.”

“I dropped off my trusty old Travelpro roller bag at this Goodwill on Garrett Road in southwest Durham. The bag itself was in excellent condition except for the wheels which were missing their "tires" and therefore, the bag was relatively loud and a little bumpy when rolled. Like other Goodwill stores, this one has a separate door for donations, separate from the main retail store front doors. Goodwill is a no-brainer for off-loading items that are still in good condition and usable. During my visit, the hours listed on the donation door were: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-8:30pm Saturday, 9:00am-6:00pm Sunday, 12:00pm-6:00pm The donation drop-off area at this Goodwill is a narrow hallway with bins. When I showed up around 4:30pm on a Sunday, this location was busy with both donation drop-offs and customers going to the store. A young couple ahead of me dropped off a bunch of textbooks. I didn't know Goodwill accepted textbooks. I learned something new. A lady rolled up behind me in a Tesla SUV with a trunkful of stuff to give away including a floor lamp. There was one employee working the donation area. It wasn't clear where exactly to place donation items. No signs/instructions or anything, at least not that I saw. It looked like everything was being placed in the bins. I asked the employee if I should place my bag in one of the bins and he took the bag from me. I thanked him. If my wife and I need to give away any usable items in the future, I'll definitely keep this Goodwill location in mind. This Goodwill location is part of the Goodwill Industries of Eastern NC ("GIENC") network. There are over 40 GIENC locations, from Hillsborough to Calabash. In addition to this Garrett Road location, Durham has two other GIENC stores at 5267 North Roxboro Road and 5200 Wake Forest Road.”

“The staff here is very friendly. Jasmine went over and beyond to help me out at the register. She was very polite and enthusiastic. I would have never thought to have checked the DVDs to ensure the correct movie was in place. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy day to ensure that the customer would have a great experience.”

“The Durham Rescue Mission is not only great place to find gems but it's also a great place to donate gently used items that are in good condition such as items around the house that you no longer need or have outgrown. I love dropping off things that I know could use a good home, instead of trashing them or going through the hassle of gifting (or selling) them on Marketplace or Craigslist, etc. The Durham Rescue Mission takes all sorts of items and with joy. The guys that collect the items are fast and efficient. If you do go there to drop off things, I will say, be mindful of what you drop off and be sure it's not total JUNK. If you're going to donate, think of items that would belong at the Thirft store, and do not use the Durham Rescue Mission as your dumping ground for tattered items or things don't work. It's not fair to them. They also have a sign that says something along the lines of "we have to pay per pound for junk removal (and it's expensive) so please be kind and don't bring your trash." With that being said, they are open at super convenient times, and are located behind the shop on Glenwood. As of 12/13/23, donation hours are: Monday through Saturday: 9AM - 7PMSunday: 8AM - 4PM”

“It took some searching but was finally able to find one pair of black work pants in close enough to my size. Didn't get to see most of the store as it was closing time, will update review when I've checked out the whole selection. Staff were friendly enough. Had to deduct a star for the sketchy fitting room, I stood on my shoes to avoid the grubby carpet.”

“Friendly staff, interesting stuff, and good prices. A couple times I've been by, I've picked up some high-end designer stuff. Like all thrift stores, a couple times I've been by and found nothing. Park in the Food Lion lot by the car repair shops.”