in the past six months, say from November 2021 to June 2022 I've seen the prices climb…read moreterrifically, as if a new manager swept in and thought that all prices were too low. Pricing sets of silver out at $4,000-$8,000 for example, or sets of European goblets out at $1800 smacks more of the old antique-dealer one-upmanship that we often see at antique shows than a humble offerings of a thrift store dedicated to Children's welfare.
The fun of the place had been that one might find true bargains, and I felt that that was in keeping with the nature of the business, a charity for children. This high-falootin' spirit may be contrasted with the demeanor of say, and ARC store, where there is a spirit of mutual helpfulness. Donations lead to fair prices or even bargains, and that in turn brings in lots of revenue. La Cache was never as cheap as ARC of course, nor is the quality of their merchandise equal, but the truth remains that the spirit of the "old place" and old pricing structures are definitely gone.
Now, at La Cache, goods sit and sit and sit, which was never the point, never the spirit. There are always ten employees in this small shop at a time, and they can hound you, especially if you drop by in your work clothes, as they suspect you might steal. Being followed is a creepy experience.
They now get two stars rather than one, just because they're reportedly in the business of helping children's hospitals. As far as "antiquing" goes, I'm giving up on this spot. Their system of dropping prices in accordance with the amount of time an item has sat unpurchased, is a bit arcane and off-putting. No one lives near this shop, and to try to coordinate travel with their drop-dates on your favorite item, well, it comes off as a bizarre system. This system of three price-drop dates also leads management to price too high at the outset.
Really, this outfit sold a lot more when things were priced "to go." As there are many very nice people associated with this enterprise, bringing back a feeling of "sociability" shouldn't be hard. Good luck. We customers appreciate a thrift store with interesting wares above the ordinary pale, but the respect should go both ways.
[As I later edited this text--7/16--for the typos which existed, I saw that on the same date, someone countered my every remark in a review. ROFL! I let you folks out there be the judge.]