I have shopped at flashbacks before and my experience was mediocre. However, recently I tried to sell them some clothing and my experience was far from okay. They told my sister and I that we could leave our clothes with them and come back when they were done. So we left and came back after twenty minutes. I took note of the pile they took from the both of us so I could see what I would be coming home with. I noticed that they hadn't taken a single pair of shoes from either of us so i asked the manager if she was buying shoes at the time. She gave me an answer about how they couldn't compete with the quality of my shoes and that they wouldn't be buying any shoes from us. Upon going back home my sister realized her designer shoes were missing from the pile. They had stolen her designer shoes. We went back to the store and got them back but the sneaky manager claimed she had purchased them from us. Which was not the case because as I said, she told me she wouldn't be buying our shoes. She hid them from us while we were gone and then proceeded to lie about it. Flashbacks is a dishonest establishment with thieves for employees. I don't recommend doing business with them unless you are prepared to take a hit from them or have eyes like a hawk. read more

I was in need of 20s & 30s era clothing for a weekend festival in New Zealand. Sophia was an incredible help in my quest. She not only found perfectly fitting dresses, pants, and tops, she found furs and hats! I haven't had this much fun shopping in 10+ years. Sophia was knowledgeable and sooo much fun to work with. Give this girl a promotion. read more

Super expensive for a thrift store! An already super worn top for $15? A pair of pants is almost $40? In terms of merchandise, it's mostly Halloween/tacky costume stuff, almost no vintage. The workers are not super friendly either. A friends little sister had her moms credit card to buy something for her and they wouldn't let her use it due to "store policy". Thats fine, but the cashier was super rude about it and made it seem like she had stolen the card. Save yourself the time, hassle and money and go to one of the other thrift stores in the area. read more

I used to love this place, however not so much anymore. I've been shopping here for years. The girl who manages (I believe her name is Jessica) can be complete bitch. She treats her own employees awful (I have been in there multiple times and I have overheard her talking to them like they children). She also treats customers badly - her fake smiley attitude is pretty transparent. Last time I was in the store she proceeded to talk badly about me (because I did not inform her that one of the costumes were previously damaged - as if that's MY responsibility) WHILE I WAS IN THE DRESSING ROOM. I clearly heard her and she knew it. She said " Ugh, (sigh) the least she could have done was tell us, god!" In a rather bitchy attitude. I refuse to go into that store any longer, simply due to Jessica's attitude problem. I will no longer give them my money, and the clothes aren't that great anymore anyways (unless your dressing up to go to a themed party perhaps). I recommend going to HOME, across the street!! read more

Went to the one in hillcrest and it was a lot better. Whats with encinitas kids? They're awful. I still dont like this place. I'm just not into the whole tacky costume vintage cheap thing. but maybe you are read more

Meh....waste of time. Went in on two occasions to sell - they don't buy anything unless it's SUPER vintage (think things that you would never wear out except to a costume party). Brought in Marc Jacobs, Alice + Olivia and more... and nada! Time is precious and the amount of sorting and carrying it into the shop and out of it is a complete wash. I have yet to find a great second hand store.... The search will go on... read more

There's another one in Hillcrest that is waaaaay better. The staff at the Encinitas store are clueless and the clothes selection is just not as interesting. And the store is too tight and the fitting rooms are haphazard. I don't know why there is such a big difference between the two stores. All I know is that I've never bought anything at the Encinitas store but I've never left the Hillcrest location without a ton of stuff. I make the longer drive to Hillcrest, no question. read more

Walked in here with 2 huge bags of clothes, they only took 3 items (picky ppl) & some how when I walked out my bags were extremely smaller. Steal much? Mmm I think so! MY OPINION ! read more

I really like this re-sale shop as they are sooooo organized. Everything is separated into color and then year. They also sell new accessories such as wigs in every color and style and jewelry for each period they carry such as 70's earrings and shades. The window display is always the best and I would even say better than most boutiques around town and beyond. They don't give you great prices for your stuff and they are also very picky so be prepared if you are selling for some sweet rejection. They also play good music in the shop. read more

I had a horrible experience here. Staff makes you feel unwelcome and sadly they do not care for their customers.

The stuff here is stupidly over priced and not very cute. I was here abut a year ago and the stuff was slightly cuter but still over priced. The customer service leaves a lot to be desired. At least it's organized somewhat but seriously not even worth browsing. You're better off at a regular thrift store not catered to over privileged white girls. Takes more work to find vintage but totally worth it for the under $5 bucks finds you can't find here and I know the location is in Encinitas but come on read more

Excellent and fun variety of vintage and retro clothing. The store exudes a spirit of Carnaby street, circa 66' and Tony Manera Brooklyn, all the while playing appropriate music. The staff is hip, but refreshing polite, enthusiastic, and helpful. Stop in and check out your mind, you might be surprised at what you find at this groovy psychedelic shack! read more

Walked out with 4 quality name-brand dresses for $40 dollar. Nuff said.

this place is always clean & organized with good prices. i've found some cute vintage things here. they seem to have more 60's/70's fashions, i tend to appreciate the 50's more, but it is nevertheless a good store to visit if you like vintage & are in the area. read more

Ah thrift stores! Back in the day (won't divulge my age, but the Berlin Wall was still standing and I watched the countdown to the opening of a new tv station called MTV) thrift stores were just being discovered by the hip and cool. Bowling shirts with names like Bud or Jerry on a patch were de rigueur, authentic pencil secretary skirts, or leather fringe jackets could be bought for a few dollars. The favs were Wear it Again Sam and Buffalo Breath. Only the truly adventurous would try their luck in Amvets or Goodwill, and then there was the annual trek to LA for diehard scavengers. Why go to a mall and look like everyone else wearing Benetton sweaters and Guess jeans. Couldn't afford them anyway. It does my heart good to see the tradition is still being carried on at places like Flashbacks. The shop in particular is well stocked with clothes, shoes, and accessories. Like any thrift store, the fun is in the search, like panning for gold. Sometimes you leave empty-handed, but then you strike it rich with a real treasure. Don't expect Amvets prices - it's on Coast Highway and mamma's gotta pay rent! The service is friendly, not snobby like in LA. But if it's crowded, don't expect them to gush all over you. It's still a business, after all. Also, don't expect top dollar for your trade-ins. That cute dress you paid way too much money at UO might not be something the buyers believe others will want to spend top dollar on. I'd recommend Flashbacks to locals and tourists. Maybe not anybody driving more than 10 miles away unless they are truly thrift junkies. Happy hunting! read more

A lot of unique pieces for those of the more alternative and unique fashion. Workers were kind and helpful upon entering and also talked to me upon browsing. Would love to return if i come back to San Diego read more

I effing love this place! Everybody that works there has always been incredibly fun and helpful, and I've never walked out of the store empty-handed - they have new AND used clothes so there's always something to find. Be ready to spend some time browsing the racks. Its a great place for costume shopping too. Half my wardrobe consists of Flashbacks purchases. :) read more

I have never been a fan of recycled clothing, but Flashback's is an exception. There store is so organized and mostly color coated. They have tons of dresses, shoes, jeans, sunglasses, wigs, 80's rock pins, jewelry, belts and more. I found an bitchin pair of like new Prada shoes there for $45 bucks. I get loads of compliments on them. I love taking my niece Chelsea there, she loves that place. read more

If you are the type of person who likes to dress up, or wear a very unique fashion, this is your type of place. You can find basically any item of clothing or accessory. There is an assortment of new and used clothing from various eras. What it all has in common is that it is bizarre. This is not to say, however, that you can't find fun clothing that can be worn on a daily basis. It is a great place for creative minds. I would have given them 5 stars if it hadn't been for one employee who was rude to me and accused me of trying things on just for fun with no intention of buying anything. Not only was it not true (I had bought a dress the previous day) but it seemed to me to defeat the purpose of the store, which was obviously made for dress-up type fun. Despite this experience which soured my feeling towards them a bit, I still recommend visiting the store for your next costume or random-outfit need. read more

I came in today with my daughter searching for end of the year dance/promotion dresses. First off, the staff! They were all extremely awesome and helpful. We ended up with two adorable dresses for less than the price of one dress she tried on across the street that im so glad we didn't buy. I can't wait to go back! read more

My review is going to sound like I work there or am friends with someone there. But I've never stepped foot into this place before going and don't know a single person who works there. That said, it was an incredible shopping experience. I went in for an 80's themed party, and I could not have been more impressed with the service. In addition to being some of the most happy people I've met (not in the "I want to smack you because you're annoyingly happy" sort of way, but in a genuinely good mood sort of way), they were very helpful. They tried hard to find something that would work for the party, but when they didn't have what I was looking for, they called their Carlsbad store and made sure a few items were put on hold for me. When I arrived at their Carlsbad store, I received the same amazing service ... and found something for my party. I referred several other people who were going to the party to Flashbacks, and they reported back the same experience. Other retail shops need to take a cue from Flashbacks, or at least the experience I had. I still recommend them to others, and I'll go back for any themed party I have in the future. read more

I am completely broke (thanks to recent unemployment) and was hoping to sell some clothes that I wasn't wearing and get some clothing that I desperately need. The girls behind the counters were nice- the guy at the dressing room must have decided that I wasn't worth his time since I came in wearing exercise clothes with my hair in a messy bun. (Hey, I'm on my way to the gym. It's freaken Encinitas. Whatever.) They took two blouses from me that I could have sold on ebay for more or even at a yard sale. (Betsey Johnson and Anne Taylor Loft from a few months ago never worn.) They passed on a really sweet summer dress with the tags still on that retailed at the gap for $80 and some of my other stuff which I admit was a little "worn." (The expression they used.) But here is the thing- EVERYHING in that store screamed, "worn!" The shoes looked "worn," the dresses looked "worn," the blouses looked "worn." OOOOh a "worn" pair of Jessica Simpson shoes. (Whoopie!) Most of the stuff that I saw looked like it could be a costume, a stripper outfit, or something you'd wear to a PHISH concert. I found some tanks from Bebe with the price tags still on them but they fit weird, which is probably why someone never wore them in the first place. I used to go to a place called, "Rags To Riches" in Boulder so maybe my standards are a bit high. Or maybe this isn't the place for me. If you are twenty something and need something funky for burning man you might like this place. Hopefully I will be able to spend my $10.00 in credit and get a basic cute tank top...or something... I guess I'm just not into "vintage" so I shouldn't have bothered with a place called, "Flashbacks." My bad... read more

Great place but I sure hope they MOVE the store back to way it used to be 8 months ago, they have it so it's way to crammed now. Nice staff very accomidating. Really glad they changed management the colored girl (sorry) didn't know her name manager was rude, and super snotty. Now they have a Gay manager and he ROCKS! Should of been manager all along. Great deals, clean. Bad parking. read more

They have a ton of stuff. When you walk in you feel overwhelmed. Ask one of the empolyees to help you out and find what you need. They know wear everything is. Super helpful. read more

Very nice place to go if you want to dress up as a disco chick from the 1970s for halloween. Otherwise I would pass.

Fun place to shop for 2nd hand clothing. Great employees and good turnover of articles. Usually in good condition but if you find a torn item in store please show them and they'll get it off the rack. There are 3 locations at the time of my review. read more

This place is by far one of the best thrift stores I've yet to encounter. I would NEVER recommend anyone unless I personally tried them out lol. Their HIP, well priced, and have styles for ALL ages! Have fun it's a great place and I highly recommend it so now your good to go hahah! read more

I've bought some cool stuff. It was cheap and pretty much new. I like browsing there.

Great spot - great fashions, something for everyone. A whole new level of thrift/consignment store. Pretty kitschy but deals everywhere and some very nice offerings. Shoes galore and for a small fraction of the price. Cant miss this place. read more

I had a blast with my wife here after breakfast near by. Found some shoes for myself an two pairs of denim for her. We'll be back!

We stop by here every year when we come down for vacation and are never disappointed! We always find great stuff at great prices.

I love this store! I am all about vintage and antiques so this was a gold mine for me hehe! I ended up purchasing a 60s style hat and pants when I went and will be back for more very soon! Loving the selection! read more

I have never done consignment here but as a shopper I give this spot a 5. Reminds me of a smaller and more laid back Buffalo Exchange. There was tons of cute stuff, although nothing is sized so it really is a treasure hunt. Found a really awesome vintage tribal print crop top and some funky earrings. The staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

Yeah... definitely not beginners luck. Since I've been back I've scored a black rayon dress with pink flowers, from the 40s, a blue velvet and lace dress from the 30s, and a blue polkadot dress from the 40s, with a white collar and sleeves. All in good-excellent condition. And for pennies compared to what I'd have to pay on Etsy or Ebay, or at most vintage shops. I feel so lucky! read more

pretty cool inside, wish I had to time to look around. I was only in there to sell clothes, the guy was SUPER nice and cool. Has a good vibe and I was only in there for a few minutes to donate a dress to cerebral palsy. read more

Flashbacks is a lot of fun for browsing and a lot of the time I find little gems (chunky wool sweaters and the like) that are much cheaper than their full-price retail counterparts. Selling clothes here is relatively easy (make sure that you bring your ID), but they'll only give you a small fraction of the retail value (it's a much better deal if you take store credit instead of cash) and will only take items that are in excellent condition and in season. Overall, though, great service and much cleaner/hipper/nicer than the average thrift store. read more

I'm not sure how to describe this place, because it's funky and exciting and they have a ton of merchandise. However, their prices are outrageous! As a young adult I definitely don't have the money to dropping $40 on a shirt that looks like it came from a garage sale (even though 75% of their stuff is actually pretty new). I appreciate what they're trying to accomplish, and their staff is great, but honestly there are so many better vintage stores in San Diego. read more

Good stuff! I never walk out of here empty handed. It's a wonderfully curated collection of vintage things. But their prices are cra-cra. I understand that it's the good stuff, but c'mon. Again, though, I always buy something. Got the most delish pair of leather pants here a week ago. read more

I'm totally in love with this shop. shop weekly almost actually....everyone is so helpful and friendly, and best vintage clothes around at super reasonable prices!! read more

Flashback's gives me a flash back! Back to when I was in my 20's shopping for inexpensive cute clothes in the 90's! How I loved this store! Always something unique ended up coming home with me! Flash forward 20 yrs and my 21 yr old daughter loves Flashback's! She's always excited to show me her new purchase and what a great price she got it for! Glad you're still here and I hope you're around for another 20 yrs so my future granddaughter can browse your racks as well! read more