Mercer Island Thrift Shop Review

Surprisingly trendy clothes and lots of neat antiques

Wonderful selection of used goods; delightful layout

The layout is nice and the store seems tidy and organized. Most of the morning staff consists of seniors in their 70's who are nice folks but rather limited in their capabilities to assist with any customer needs. If time is of the essence, I found I'm generally better off looking for things myself then asking for assistance.

I wonder if the generational gap explains the unrealistic pricing that has already been lamented in some of the other reviews. Like any thrift store you can find the occasional good deal. In general though I found the prices a little out of touch with reality. Here are a few things I looked at this week: used, scratched, teflon frying pan $20. Used, stained, no-name ski pants $35. Used Target t-shirt $8. For that price I might as well get the stuff brand new from Amazon or Walmart. They might be better off taking that label gun away from granny and leaving the pricing to some high school kid who knows how to cross reference prices on that thing we call the internet.

Always a fun place. Just wish their long sleeved shirts and sweaters had been on sale in this heat.

Whenever I need a gift, I always check here first. So many unusual and unique items! Staffed by volunteers who are helpful and courteous.

Prices are ridiculous. Please check the quality of the items and price them accordingly.. not just base it off the retail value. Sales are not even that good. Shoes with holes and missing parts should not be $12 . Check out Saint Margarets in Factoria. Great little thrift store. Great prices too.

I would have given this place 5 stars the first few times I visited back in 2013. There was a super nice guy working back then who was either the manager or the one in charge of pricing. His warm personality was always welcoming and I felt like a valued customer (he was the only staff member who actually greeted ALL customers upon entry AND
checked on guests throughout the store)... However, since 2014 I haven't seen this gentleman but the rest of the staff will watch me walk in the door, never speak and even staff members around the store just walk right by me. On several occasions, I have observed how other customers in the store are treated and notice a much warmer welcome. When I'm the only person of color usually in the store when I go, it leaves me to wonder if there are some prejudicial issues going on here. Why should a customer have to greet first or hunt down staff for assistance when the entire store is fully staffed? Hire people who want to serve ALL types of people. Find better production staff for pricing based on current value, trend and brand. I see responses beneath lots of reviews pertaining to customer service and pricing issues. What ACTIONS are being taken??

Clothing and items are carefully selected by a caring and personal staff.

Lousy selection and prices thru the roof! Leave this place to Mercer Islanders that think they are doing a good deed by shopping here.

Terribly over-priced and difficult to get assistance looking at items locked in showcases. I don't bother shopping here as often as I used to

A real gem on Mercer Island. They have such a large volume of items that it is worth checking every couple days. The staff are friendly and engaging, prices are a bargain, and you just have to keep a keen eye for that sweet find.

So many treasures to find! I especially love the seasonal releases. The cashiers always appreciate donations of paper grocery bags so I always try to bring a stack with me when I can.

Service is pretty bad, and prices can seem pretty random at times. But otherwise the selection of things is more and regularly have decent furniture

The tag sales are worth the trip. Men's high quality suits are $45. During the 75% sale on purple tags our son got an all wool Brooks Brothers suit for $11. We got a nice solid wood dresser for our daughter for $10 regular price.

This store is a nonprofit. They don't pay for merchandise, they don't drive around finding it, they don't pay taxes, I guess. But prices are way higher that you can find at flea markets where re sellers (who do pay taxes, working hard hunting everywhere for a nice collections, BUY it) sell for a less. Fake vintage coat not excellent condition $100... Similar quality/condition/style are appx $55-75 at Pacific Galleries antique mall, Fremont Sunday market or Sodo Flea. $300 for a jacket... etc. Be real....

Please price the Xbox in the back. I want to buy it.

Interesting stuff, still, prices are steep for a thrift store.

Great selection. Very expensive. Thrift stores shouldn't over charge just because they got a specific brand in. $50 used lululemon jacket? Craziness

Relatively small shop with decent items and prices.

I can always find great items and products here for a nice price.

Great offerings of high quality merchandise, if not a bit crowded and small.

My girlfriend and I heard all about how this place had great things. Didn't think it was all that great selection-wise. I understand this might change on a weekly basis but we weren't too impressed.

Place has gone down hill. I've been coming here for years but now a days their prices have gotten really high. $4-15 for T-shirts, $15-30 for mens button ups. Crazy shoe and accessories prices. They had a $19.99 Costco scarf in the glass case for $30 lol. If they're gonna charge such high prices they should at least do homework to make sure the item is worth the tag price. GW is cheaper.

Not sure I'll take the time to stop here anymore. Which makes me feel bad because I'd like to support their cause and volunteers... Just the management has changed for the worse I guess.

It was well organized, and the employees were very helpful.

They have lots of things. I like it and often shop in it. About 3 weeks ago, I bought a side table there. I liked the design and it looked good in the store, however, when I got home and found the table has quite a few small holes on the surface which was covered by a lamp on it when it was deplayed in the store. That made me feel not so good. I know it is second handed, but it still costs me $60+tax. It is not very cheap one and I did expect a better condition than what i found at home.

My favorite thrift shop in the Seattle area! Decent prices, some incredible items; this place is a well-kept secret of locals for good reason! Great cause and a great place.

Friendly, but overpriced. Closer to consignment store pricing than thrift.

Wonderful selection at cheap and affordable prices!

Ok place worth checking out for bargains once in a while.

Very good for a small town. Nice workers to help you around. Takes both cash and credit cards.

Cozy cute store, staff and kind and helpful. But for used goods it is too expensive.

This not-for-profit supports Youth and Family Services.
Been around since 1975 or so.
All merchandise is donated by surrounding community.

Ridiculously overpriced. Dress shirts for $20, jeans for $30, worn shoes for $20. You re better just getting new clothing from Nordstrom Rack. They were even selling an old NES for $150!!! You can find those online for $40.

If you want Designer clothings etc. this is the place to go & at very very good price.

Donation hours are different from store hours. 9am to 3pm Monday-Saturday. Put clothing donation in the bin if you come after hours. So many fun things to find here--take your time and cruise through the hardware and dish area as well as the clothing upstairs. Prices vary from great deals to higher price for luxury brand items.

A gold mine for thrift shoppers! Wide selection, friendly staff comprised of some volunteers!

Prices are sometimes high so try and shop during their regular discount days. Small store compared to the "chains" but a good selection. As always when second handing, come prepared to not find what you are looking for but to find what you are not looking for.

Some nice things. Some prices are good, others too high for used items.

Nice little shop, it was busy when I wast here.two floors full of odds and ends,clothing to tools. Great prices for what they had on sticker items. Staff where friendly and helpful. This is a place to visit if your looking for something to do. I will come back again.

All ways good to go there service good , stuff good price only one problem you have to go weeky turn over is fast

Mercer Island Thrift Store is very organized, and have very good products. The prices on items are very low. They have sales ccontinually.

Wonderful community resource, to reuse, recycle, and support valuable youth and family services.

you would really have to come with luck to find anything good here. the price is alright. I think it is also more expensive than regular thrift store in Seattle

I purchased many things at reasonable prices in 2014. Suddenly in 2015 the prices inflated just like the real estate on the island. Also, the music is annoying--a lot of whiny, boom-boom disposable crap pouring down on your ears like syncopated brimstone.

Name brands, organized, fair prices, crowded, not very "host" like staff

I love this little community store and what it supports. The staff is diligent and dedicated, and the store is clean and full of bargains. Do visit!

Well organized and low priced. The visit before writing this I found a handful of useful items for my home and my hobbies, one of which I was then able to remove from my ongoing Amazon cart. I spent $1.70 on the item instead of $18.99. I have found something interesting, low priced, and worth picking up on every visit so far.

Went in and an employee showed me around. Abigail was super helpful!

The store has a nice variety of goods and everything was well organized.

This place is more like a curated vintage store than your usual thrift shop. I've gotten some awesome things there. It's also a little pricier than Goodwill on some things, but not a lot, and when it is it's worth it.

Great prices, awesome special discounts (black label)

I always find something good here. Definitely in my top 5 thrift stores in all of Western WA.

Their merchandise changes daily. It's a great place to purchase nifty, quality used items, all while helping the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services organization!

3.5 stars. Nice stuff here, kinda hit and miss like most thrift shops. Somethings are kinda pricey.

My favorite thrift store on the Eastside. Prices aren't cheap but the quality is good.

Nice stuff poor customer service to help with furniture if you are buying something

Favorite thrift store. No return policy is a setback. But I still enjoy finding treasures here.

Great prices, quality is excellent, the staff are always helpful!

I grew up on the island and have watched the place go down hill. I remember the 10 cent T shirt bin! Now its 8$ for a worn Target brand T. They act like its a boutique not a place where people dump off the old, worn out, out of season, dated items then no longer have use for. I go for the kids clothing and toys now because at least SOME of those still seem to be reasonably priced. I won't be paying 25 dollars for a pair of jeans for myself anytime soon. Ha ha they had all the "ugly christmas sweaters" priced like they were vintage prized pieces...Ya know its actually very embarassing because I can't afford the real store prices and now I can't afford the thrift stores either. MITS is supposed to be supporting people like me.

This was a great experience. Prices are very reasonable and the staff at the shop are very friendly and helpful.

I purchased a dress shirt for 12 dollars then found it at JC Penny's new for 15. What is with thrift stores these days, kind of over priced.