Southbury Training School Thrift Shops

I have gone to this thrift store for many many years and spent countless hundreds of dollars purchasing items and also have sent many, many people there on my recommendation.

This morning I was in the area and decided
to stop by. As I’m walking in the parking lot I picked up (2) BROKEN ornaments in the driveway that I had hoped to repurpose despite them being broken. I walked up toward the donation area to go into the back door like I have so many, many times before and on my way in paused to look at some of the items laying all over the donation area.

All of the sudden a woman comes over and accosted me saying “what do you think you’re doing??…you’re not allowed out here…you cannot buy anything out here! We are sorting!!!…”. I apologized and explained that in the past I have always been able to purchase items from the porch after bringing them inside to have them priced to which she informed me that they are “waaaaaay too busy…” to price unmarked items and scoffed at me saying that for years I have purchased items from the porch after getting pricing.

I was extremely disappointed in her snarky and nasty attitude towards me and the pejorative tone which she felt she needed to convey herself toward me with. There was absolutely no need for her to treat me like that and I was so hurt and offended by her egomaniacal power trip over me looking in some boxes of donations that I immediately left without purchasing anything. Also to clarify, it was 9:45am and there was about 4-6 volunteers there and maybe 2 other customers aside from myself at the shop when she told me she was “way too busy” to price anything unmarked.

Sad to say I’m really not sure if I will go back again after the manner which I was treated. Perhaps STS Thrift should take a moment with their staffers to go over how to interact with customers without treating them like criminals.

Great prices you can find anything in there staff is so nice to you.

I love this thrift store and the vast majority of volunteers are really kind, genuine people.

Recently, unfortunately, I was there with my mother dropping off donations after clearing out our storage room and a rather unpleasant, unkind older man began picking through the boxes of donations and making rude comments. Initially we both gave him the benefit of the doubt but he has since made similar comments to both my mother and myself individually.

We’re still donating and have no intention of stopping our business on account of one rude person but it is definitely something that should probably be looked into. Especially if other people have received the same type of treatment.

So this is technically two thrift stores, in separate buildings. First I went to the one that sells clothing. It was clean and well organized and the volunteers were wonderful, super friendly and helpful. I got a ton of great deals and had nice conversations with the women who were ringing me up and they folded and bagged all of my purchases for me without me even asking. I would give this location 5 stars and look forward to going back.
Now we go to the other location, where they have knickknacks, glassware, linens, etc. The volunteers working the counter here were curt and unfriendly, bordering on rude. Half of the items I picked up had no prices, even in the front room where everything is neatly organized. After I checked out I was told I needed my own bag for the pile of things I had just bought, which could have at least been mentioned or posted on a sign when people are buying lots of small fragile things. This location I would give 3 stars and would probably not go back to.

Great deals! Definitely some gems in here. Staff is super friendly and helpful. There’s an apparel thrift store and a home goods thrift store all on the property. Best prices around. You have to check it out!