Shopped at Thrift City Surplus for the first time today, 11/10/23...very cool shop owner, Ms…read more Stacy...My Mom & kiddo each got some very nice things, gifts the kiddo purchased, all in amazing condition, and some nice bracelets, necklace and wrist watch Mom got for herself. I found a beaut of a black jet bead necklace with additional collectible crystal spacer beads. Ms. Stacy is so great, she gave Mom & kiddo each a gift for spending a certain amount; and is so gracious, and neighborly...very pleasant, and friendly! We will be back. Thank You, Ms. Stacy for such a well designed, laid out, and organized, happy thrifting experience. You are a rare gem, Ms. Stacy.

I bought yesterday $ 360 dollars in souvenirs but when I checked the bag there's was only a few…read morethings, I got a big surprise today, I think they kept the rest of my stuff and only gave half of my shopping, please check your bags before getting out of this store, I feel l was robbed in Vegas what a shame

Get ready to go on the biggest crystal treasure hunt of your life !!!!!!!…read more I spent about 5 hours here today literally crawling on my hands and knees with a flashlight. Search high, search low, search deep and take your time as your new crystal energy awaits. Don't rush or you just might walk by the greatest treasure on earth. There is a little something for everyone here. And an awesome place for gifts. I met Susan at a local gem show in Santa Rosa at her Lucky Handicraft booth. I can not imagine doing business with anyone else and knew that I must see her 2 stores. Go full or pack snacks because this can be an all day event. Thankfully they have a bathroom for you to use. Susan has always been so generous with me. She is very patient with me and I really like her as a person. The other staff members are very helpful. They do an excellent job of packing up your order and handling it with care. From pocket rocks to statement pieces this store has it all and it's easy to go nuts in here. Impulse control, which, I had none today......LOL They have a larger store in San Pablo and I visited both locations today. No one will beat her prices, selection or legendary deals. I can't wait to come back. This place is a must

I Had A Very Unsavory! Treatment From Elderly Asian Man!…read moreThat Works There On Sundays. All Other Staff There Are Extremely Generous! Except That Older Man That ooks To Be around 75+ Harassed Me while Shopping! While Embarrassing The Sale Clerk! Tom! I am Considering Not Going There Anymore To eave My valuable Cash There.

In preparation for 3 separate Halloween parties (including Yelp's Day of the Dead! in Sacramento &…read moreYelp's Jet Set Fête in Oakland) over the weekend just before All-Hallows-Eve itself , I came across the perfect costume accessory at this funky little shop in Point Richmond. From the outside, the Art Lounge looks like a traveling circus crashed into a BDSM dungeon. Inside, however, is not a fetishist's paradise. It's more like a temple to all things kitsch. Every square inch in this place, from floor to ceiling, is packed with various trinkets, baubles, curios & knickknacks. The curator of this bizarre bazaar is a nice & lovely lady with plenty of stories of her travels during which she procured some of the interesting items for sale in the shop. While purchasing my Day of the Dead necktie, she shared a few tidbits about a tray of handmade costume jewelry pieces she had brought back from Croatia. The Art Lounge is a funky cool shop with an eclectic selection of odd & off-center accessories, ornaments & jewelry. I'm sure the next time I need that 1 weird piece to complete an ensemble for a Yelp event or whatever, I'll be back here to get it.

I was surprised to find so many stores are closed on Labor Day. Perhaps I spend most Labor Days at…read morehome BBQing. But this year we were headed to do some hiking in Point Richmond and ended up walking around downtown instead. Walking in here was initially a little overwhelming. That's because there is so much stuff. And it's all so unique and sparkly and fun. From dressed up rubber duckies (probably 100 different ducky outfits!!) to jewelry and watches, to furry coats perfect for Burning Man. We walked around and found a great hat for my husband and a headband for me. Crochet pens fashioned to resemble adorable animals and sparkly pins to put on your collar; there was so much to look at. A small room in the back has an adults-only section with some awesome naughty birthday, get well, and wedding cards. We grabbed a few! It's not a spacious store and it's not huge, but it's medium small-size is separated into a couple even smaller room sections. The prices were great (our total came to $21.25) and we really had fun talking to the nice lady that was working. It wasn't her store but she was very friendly and we wouldn't have known it wasn't if she hadn't told us. A great employee and a great stop on our visit to Point Richmond. Note: The sister store, Park Place Lounge, is only a few doors up the street. It has more clothing and shoes and nicer pieces of jewelry, but is much smaller.

This place has so many cool things and even a great designer section. The best part is that sales…read morego to a good cause!

They were promp and very kind in there response, but did not end up with them because of the size…read moreof my bookshelf. Also, they do not pick up.

I have never had a better experience at a store doing an exchange!…read more I shop mainly at dd's with many receipts to prove!! But I won't go into detail but a return I needed to do...not money back, just exchange but since it was a fry pan I used Once ....i was told at another store, I couldn't bring back! As an 83 yr old woman....i wouldn't give up! I called another DD's and an asked for a mgr! Well, an absolute amazing man named Caesar took my call & heard my problem & didn't hesitate to rectify & do an exception...understanding the defect in the pan! He is what a mgr is all about!! He really cares about his customers & they come first! I hope he is appreciated & he definitely saved a good patron of DD's!! Kiddos to Caesar!! And the security guy was excellent too, but didn't get his name! I miss Laray, other secutity on vacation! I know I spelled his name wrong...sorry! You guys made my day!!

If the dollar store and Ross had a child, it would be dd's. Useful bargains here on purses, kitchen…read moregadgets and baby clothes, and two long racks of scrubs (health care uniforms). Prices are much lower than Ross, with lots of handbags in the $5.99-$10.99 range. The other clothes are of the cheapest possible quality, as opposed to Ross's odd lots and close outs, and crammed onto the racks. Then again, prices are very low: $5.99 for a turquoise velour hoodie. Fitting room is clean and staff are very friendly.

I've walked up and down Fillmore daily and never walked into Warren until this past weekend. I saw…read morein the window a few interesting things and had no idea there was a thrift estate sake store here still. I saw a really cute littke Snoopy figure in the window and went in to ask about it. I stood in front of the salesperson who was behind a counter on a phone or just distracted and I said hello. I asked about the Snoopy in the window. He told me it was $50. I asked if I could see it. He told me I would need to buy it to see it. What kind of store does that? Apparently this store that I won't be buying a Snoopy at. Ugh. There's so much random stuff in this store that I don't understand it at all. Unpolished silver, used vintage silk tops with armpit stains, hats, art to decorate your oldest living relative's house...and a Fender Knock off guitar in the window selling for $450, but worth less than $60.

I told Gary that I was looking for a nice bag to use as a brief case but it had to fit my 16"…read morelaptop. True to form, he found me exactly what I was looking for: a genuine LV bag in terrific condition. He pays attention to what I gravitate toward and presents me witch great options. We check in at Warren a couple of times a month for new items and to see Gary. Thank you for being a great sales person.

I have attended the White Elephant Sale since I was 12, and now at 26 I feel that the sale has…read morediminished in quality, quantity, value, and overall experience. The White Elephant sale has honestly felt very different since 2020. Before the pandemic, there were walk up donations, the warehouse was always full, and the March sale was still packed with treasures to be found. Now the warehouse feels empty even during preview, all walk up and drive up donations have been eliminated, and the March sale is advertised as a "clearance sale" because of how empty the warehouse is. Stopping walk up and drive up donations has seriously hurt the sale. The number of small trinket items to be found is much smaller than it used to be. While there may be costs saved by not having to sort through and discard items that are not sellable, is the loss of profit from not having those smaller items greater? People like me used to donate all the time to the sale, but now donate to thrift stores that have walk up and drive up options instead. How many other people also have a bag full of great items but are not donating them because pickup donations are the only option? I have also found that in recent years the staff has become less and less kind. This year there was not a single visit to the warehouse that was not met with rude or unprofessional behavior by volunteers. That is not to say there are not wonderful volunteers, because I have had great experiences as well, but the number of negative interactions I have had seems to be increasing. I have been accused of stealing, had snarky comments made toward me, and have been accused of price switching. It has gotten to the point where going to the White Elephant is no longer bringing me joy, and it is difficult to see volunteers act with such low levels of kindness. You often emphasize being kind to volunteers, but shoppers deserve that same level of kindness and respect. One thing that stands out when it comes to how empty the warehouse has been, as well as the general morale of the volunteers, is the changing culture of reselling. I recognized dealers from Alameda Point and various antique markets as new volunteers, which makes me wonder if they are partially contributing to the diminished quality and quantity of items this year. In the past, almost all volunteers seemed to be there because they believed in the mission of the Oakland Museum. Now it appears that some newer volunteers may be more motivated by making money. It also raises the question that if they are pricing items they later purchase, were those items priced fairly? Especially when their ultimate goal is to resell items and make money. In addition, there seems to be a lack of willingness to receive feedback. As another reviewer mentioned, it can feel like the organization operates under the idea that because it is for charity and run by volunteers, feedback should not be given. That approach is simply unsustainable. I attempted to provide feedback both in person and on Instagram and was met with very combative responses. This is confusing, as feedback is essential when running such a large sale, and experiences like that make me hesitant to return. I have heard from others that the White Elephant has been "cleared out" this year. Without the return of more casual donations, stronger screening of volunteers, and limitations on what volunteers are able to purchase during presale events, the White Elephant will likely continue to decline. As a loyal shopper, I truly hope the organization will begin taking feedback seriously and consider changes that can help bring the sale back to its former glory.

I've gone to the white elephant for years, 10+ to be specific. This year the selection was…read moredrastically different than previous years (I'll get back to this). Not only that, the prices were the highest I had seen. I included photos of some examples of what was priced super high in bric a brac (on your Facebook page the admin said to 'show specific examples') so I took photos of items I couldn't fathom being that high (even after looking on eBay to compare- the prices were just outrageous considering condition and quality). Not only that, but the selection on preview day (im usually in the first 30 people- and first to the department I shop) it already looked picked through. From what I understand the volunteers shop the sale before- but it's very disheartening and worrying when I recognize people who are new volunteers and I regularly see them sell at local things as resellers (nobody is saying you can't do that!), but it's more so the piecing together the lack of vintage and quality goods this year on preview, and the new volunteers, it's easy to assume there is a correlation. I worry that the integrity of the sale may be lost- and will only worsen as the years carry on. I know departments can vary year to year- of course that's a factor I consider. This is not a normal amount of variation- it's not like there was 30% less of something I have ALWAYS seen at your preview sale- it was 100% gone. And when I'm the first person looking- I know someone at preview didn't get it ahead of me. I heard from others who attended- even some people who didn't! They both said the same thing- white elephant was cleared out this year. Culture shifting about second hand and thrifting should be a consideration and something to keep in mind- the structure of this sale will collapse if it isn't. I'd imagine in the next couple years, the amount of resellers volunteering will outnumber the volunteers who have been there for years due to them retiring/ no longer doing it - and in turn will diminish the sale itself. I think how the preview tickets sold out in a little over a day vs a week last year, should convey how there is an increase in demand, to the degree that people will try to covertly get around it and 'ahead' by volunteering. Correct me if I'm wrong, but many new volunteers this year didn't follow through with their commitments after they shopped on their preview- it makes you wonder.