Precious Life Thrift & Gift

2 years later. Customer service has not changed… for a particular woman. Two cashiers were making a big deal of an outfit taken off a mannequin. It was dollar day. The lady trying to buy it found it on a rack, not on a mannequin. She kindly said she didn’t want it. The two cashiers loudly kept telling her it was off a mannequin. One said, «you can buy it but for $ 10.» The other cashier jumped in, «no, $ 15!» The customer was calm, had already said she would pass. The two cashiers were making so much more of it loudly. They were also complaining about another customer, carried on for at least 5 minutes. The customer bailed out on her purchase. She was probably getting overcharged or nit picked to death. I am as nice as can be. I like what they are doing for the shelter and great prices on most items, but not the place to go if you need Xanax! There are a few women who are a joy.

Picked up a couple baby items today. Some of workers are very nice and others don’t realize they have gotten rude in their old age. I went on a very busy day apparently. I will return if in the area though.

Really sparse selection. Kind of similar to someone’s garage sale. Mostly things that got picked over. Glassware is all relatively recent «antique» — 80s/​90s. Very little bric a brac and clothing is all very worn. It’s inexpensive here if you can actually find something worth buying.

I love this store!!! The prices are better than any of the other thrift stores. They have a pretty good selection and I have found some great pieces for work on their «expensive rack», which is still relatively inexpensive. The volunteers who work their are always friendly and it’s nonprofit – for a good cause which is why I choose to donate to them over anyone else.

Precious Life Thrift & Gift is a charity shop attached to Precious Life Shelter, organization who takes pregnant homeless women off the streets, gives them a place to have their baby, provides training for life skills and child care and transitions them into normal life. Many are on drugs or come from horrific circumstances. Thrift shop was built later, when the donations from nearby residents exceeded the need and they figured out that they can use the funds generated by sales to finance the facility.
Most of the employees are volunteers. Majority of goods are donated by nearby residents.
How does this make this little store different from other thrift shops, you may ask?
1. The inventory will be different every time you visit. One week them may have quaint lace curtains. Next week you may find a complete junior sized drum set for under ten bucks. The point is they only have stuff that was donated and processed that week, so walking in there and demanding they have kitchen towels and then calling volunteers rude is idiotic.
2. Volunteers are not trained to put up with your guff. They donate their time, work there for FREE on weekends and at times they could be doing something else. Most are older. I had to ask a question a couple of times to get an answer but never witnessed any rudeness. Telling you No, you can not set the price for this picture frame, we are the ones who price our merchandise is not rude.
3. Being affiliated with pregnant women’s shelter makes their kids clothing and accessories section larger that any other, which is great if you need kids stuff. They’ve had designer strollers, high quality kids jackets and shoes with price $$$ tags still attached for less than 3 bucks.
Their adult clothing section is smaller and there is a designated rack for better brands (in Los Alamitos it’s mostly Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Coldwater Creek)
We discovered this place years ago when my kid’s pediatrician was located next door. We have been donating my children outgrown clothing and housewares. I pop in every time we donate and have found some wonderful things over the years (like above mentioned complete junior sized drum set).
Every time we donate or shop there we become a part of something bigger, a place where your money goes directly to those in need. So many charities have shady finances and you don’t know where your bucks end up, with this place you can see it with your own eyes, you can come and volunteer at the shelter or the store and log in into their website and read the stories of the mothers who live there.
When you shop here, try to leave your ego and sense of entitlement at the door and see this for what it is, one family’s donation, turned into nominal fee that in turn goes to someone in need.

Over priced on clothing. Housewares and trinkets are decently priced except for items under lock, those items are antique store prices. Won’t be coming back

They weren’t nice when I walked in. Not one person working there said one word to me. The whole time I was there, I was literally ignored (watched as though I was going to steal their $ 2 item) Won’t be spending my money there. I just don’t understand how people can be so rude at their place of employment.

Although this place is organized pretty well and has an alright selection, I received especially terrible customer service. I tried to pay with a card that didn’t have enough money on it, which shouldn’t be made into a big deal, but the woman ringing me up kept reiterating that i ~DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY~ over and over again (and very loudly). I’ve worked retail, and when someone is short money you don’t make a big deal about it!
She was confused about what the machine was doing– so I didn’t even trust her on whether or not she charged me. I should have canceled my purchase at that point, because the cashier handled the situation completely gracelessly and I will not be returning.

Asked for help in the store, a fellow acted like I was wasting his time, so rude I told him I am not going to shop there anymore. If you can’t treat customers decently, you won’t have them for long.
Done with this overpriced, snooty place!

I used to love this place, but Jim said they aren’t going to have the Saturday yard sales anymore. Most of the ladies working in the store are very nice, but there is one who thinks the place is Nordstrom and will insist an item is some rare designer piece. Still, it is much better than Goodwill and an occasional treasure can be found.

Great location. Lots of parking.
I stopped by one day and caught the end of their Saturday yard sale. Didn’t find much, but I will definitely try it again.
I appreciate that everything was well in order. I can NOT stand walking inside of a store and seeing trash or clutter from the get go.
Customer service, I do not believe I was aknowledged, but it happens.
I really dig little secondhand stores, but I’m pretty picky. This one is for sure a keeper.

I just had an Epiphany. I realized I’ve put it out there that I shop thrift stores. Now anyone who knows me will be giving my outfits the old snake eye wondering if my new blouse is ‘previously owned.’ Probably no one is paying attention anyway, so I’m probably safe. Oh well, too late now anyway.
The reason I’m updating this review is things have changed a bit. Still a good store, but they no longer have the $ 1 parking lot sale every Saturday. They do have a good sale on the third Thursday of the month where every thing in the store is $ 1, but I am never able to partake due to working. UNFAIR! What do you have against those who work during the day? Show us some love too.
They do good work and help a lot of pregnant women and children, so I applaud them for that, but I rarely go there anymore. I’ve found it’s become a bit stale over the last few visits. Maybe it’s the old saying its not them but me. I guess the thrift store romance (or thromance) is over.

I am a thrift store junkie, serious… like at least 3 to 5 thrift store visits a week. This store is by far one of my favorites. Adorable location, good selection of vintage and antique items and friendly staff. The prices are perfect and they sort items by sizes. I will admit the hours suck a bit, and it may not be all upscale or feel like a normal store like savers or goodwill… but you walk into this store and it feels like thrift store shopping. I love it.

After reading all the great reviews, I figured I would check it out. I brought my 6 year old daughter with me, as she enjoys checking out the toy section. The place has a small selection. In addition, the staff was not friendly, or helpful. I asked the person at the counter if there was a bathroom my daughter could use. The store person said that the bathroom was not open to customers. I didn’t enjoy the experience at all, and so I left.

This was a cute little store. I found a Crate and Barrel cake stand for $ 5!!! The C&B sticker was still on the bottom with the price torn off. The lip had a tiiiiiny chip and for $ 5, I didn’t care!

I feel bad giving a low rating to a charity store. But I’d feel worse lying…
I came here the other day after getting my blood drawn. (The laboratory is right across the street.)
I had something in mind — I was planning on sending a photo to my aunt for Christmas, and I needed a pretty frame. Most of the frames were simple, cheap wood or metal. Most were in bad shape — tarnished silver or just in otherwise sorry condition. They were all marked $ 3 up.
Now I don’t mind paying a little extra when it’s for a good cause, so when I found a small (maybe 3.5×3.5) beaded square frame, akin to what you might find at Home Goods for $ 5… And I was prepared to pay a good five dollars for it, even though it was not new.
It was ten.
I even double checked with the lady at the cash register. Ten dollars! For a tiny, used picture frame! Albeit it was pretty, and looked in better condition than the others, but still… Ridiculous!
I ended up giving the lady five bucks donation for Precious Life anyway… because I wanted to support the charity. But I doubt I’ll be returning to the shop anytime soon.

This is the best of the local thrift stores for quality, and it has become my favorite local charity. They are very selective in what they put out in the store since it used to be an old house and they have very limited space. You can find great deals on designer things most days. They do specials one Saturday a month and then as inventory gets really full.
It is a volunteer run shop and all the proceeds go to support the shelter for unwed teenage mothers, that have no where else to go, next door. They support the moms while they finish school, they provide daycare, they give the girls the opportunity to learn parenting skills, and more. They have even have photos and updates of all the moms and babies (some are now grown) that the store has helped over the years. I never question any of the quotes for prices as a result.

This is my favorite thrift store but I don’t want to tell you about it because it’s my hidden gem, and it’s mine, and I don’t want you to buy all my treasures! So don’t go okay? Just Kidding!
I have found some really nice stuff here. I have found many a dresses from here that I have gotten shortened to fit my short stature, that might have belonged to some old lady, who died, whose family then donated the clothes to this thrift store, therefore making me the beneficiary reaper of benefits to old dresses. Well, at least that’s how I like to think about it. *wink
The ladies who run this place are so sweet, and friendly. Not sure if they are volunteers, but they are definitely happy working here because it shows.
The shop is cozy, because it is an actual house. They have all sorts of knick knacks, jewerly, kitchen stuff, shoes, baby clothes, belts, old VHS movies, plenty of parking, etc, oh man, I just love this place!
So I better not find you there next time I go, because I saw it first, and it’s MINE!
Good Day.

This is an awesome thrift store. It’s clean, organized, and has a feel more of an antique store than a thrift store. Prices are reasonable, staff is friendly, and there is a large selection of merchandise to browse through. The proceeds from the store provide support & services for homeless adult pregnant women. Every 2^nd Saturday of the month, the shop has a huge sale so it may be worth a visit then.