Global Thrift Store

I’m a regular thrift/​consignment shopper and I found this store to be one of the worst I’ve been to. First, the smell– I’m accustomed to a certain odor of used goods however this was so overpowering and the more I was in the store, the more uncomfortable it was. Second, it’s mostly junk. Low quality, bad condition — ripped, stained, chipped, broken beyond what I would expect (I’m mean it is previously owned so who expects a pristine item?). Lastly, prices — way too high for the junk it is. Won’t put it on my rotation.

Urgh, this place. I used to go to this place every so often, but I will never return. I am a vintage collector, and often I am searching for specific things when I go thrifting. The last time I was here, I found THE best vintage radio — in the specific style I had been looking for for a long time. It was in the front window, and upon closer inspection had a price tag for $ 7 — totally reasonable. So, I go inside and ask an employee to please help me get it, as I’d like to purchase it. He told me he had to go ask the manager. He goes over to the manager behind the front cashier — I see him ask her about it, and I see her laugh and shake her head. Okay? He comes back and informs me that it is not for sale. What? It has a price tag, and I’d really like to buy it now with cash, I politely tell him — as I’m from out of town. He doesn’t respond, shrugs, and walks away.
So, I walk around find some other things to purchase. I go up to the register and try one more time. I cannot get the radio out of my head — I have GOT to purchase it, it’s perfect!!! I ask once more, «are you sure you won’t sell me the radio in the window? It has a price tag on it…» The manager doesn’t even look up at me. She is a younger woman, she looks like she doesn’t want to be there, and has her half-​naked toddler running around behind the register. «No, it’s part of our display,» she barks at me. I ask her when it will be available for actual purchase, as I really want it. «I dunno, a couple weeks when we swap the display out.» And that is that.
I leave, completely disappointed. I take one more look at the beautiful, perfect radio of my dreams as I sulk back to my car.
This was months ago and I still can’t get the bad taste out of my mouth. Global Thrift, you are a THRIFT STORE. Not a boutique, not a museum. If you put a PRICE TAG on something, be prepared for customers to want to buy it. If you do not want to sell something, DON’T PUT A PRICE ON IT. They put all the amazing stuff in the window, where you can’t buy it — and fill the rest of the store with junk.

Global Thrift has a really impressive selection of clothing and is very well-​organized. This is the kind of thrift store where you want to dedicate an hour or two to combing through the racks in search of a hidden gem. I always find something that I like, although figuring out the prices for things can be a little confusing despite the many wall signs. They do have dressing rooms, although they don’t fee particularly private, and they are now requiring that you show ID if you are using a card to make your purchase. Definitely a store to check out if you enjoy thrifting!

For a thrift shop it’s the biggest one I have ever been too. That’s such a huge plus for me because it makes shopping more comfortable. When it comes thrifting for clothes anywhere I am not picky — at all. The men’s clothes here gets overwhelming because most of the things on the racks are a size large and beyond. So when I find a great shirt or sweater there’s barely any smalls or even a medium. In fact, there’s none. So I gave up hope shopping for clothes here. Other than that, I have bought many household items/​décor from here in great working condition. From a brand new set of IKEA dishes and silverware to a DVD player it has helped me to become budget friendly when I stop by here. I also have purchased many books, two modern style desk lamps, two nightstands, and other little things!

I visited this store yesterday hoping to get some good finds after visiting family for the Christmas weekend. Unfortunately, everything was subpar and if it was a good find, it was overpriced. The purses are all priced separate now, unlike when I visited the store last year. I also witnessed a crazy woman screaming at her child over money issues. The child was not old enough to understand all of this babble the mother was spitting out at her. Meanwhile, the cashier, an older woman, was very patient and nonjudgmental with the hellish situation, keeping her cool through and after the transaction, handling it in a mature way. I applaud her for this. This woman was holding up the line and my parking meter was going to run out, one reason why I didn’t purchase my things.
I felt sorry for the little kid with the mom who was clearly being verbally abused and bullied by the mom. It was so upsetting, I got a headache and left empty handed after picking out a few things, because of the volatile distraction. I am a teacher and it really was off-​putting and heartbreaking as I teach children around the child’s age.

In my review of July 20 I wrote that I thought Global Thrift had overcharged me. I have to apologize. I actually went back into the store a few days later when I was in the neighborhood and complained, but the girl at the counter gently pointed out I had mistaken the total for the several items I bought for the price of the one item (way up at the top away from the other entries) I thought I had been overcharged on. The item was indeed correctly charged, so the store’s reputation is cleared. Sorry. I;ve given the store an additional star. It is a bargain.

Though a little smelly and fairly disorganized, this thrift shop is definitely one of my favorites. Don’t go in expecting to find sparkling clean, brand new merchandise, but bring a few friends and make an afternoon out of it.
It has a huge selection of fantastically vintage 80’s/90’s clothing. You can find everything from 1994 letterman jackets to shake weights to leather pants to board games and so so so much more!
The prices are unbeatable and the staff, friendly, I highly recommend this place!

Very impressed for a random thrift shop in Waltham!!!
I found the following on my first visit!
Tory Burch
JCrew
Thomas Pink
Eileen Fisher
LLBean
Free People
Vineyard Vines
Joes
Sevens
INSANE! Prices are slightly higher than Goodwill but still cheap!
Tip: Don’t think only the high end stuff is in the cases at the front. You have to dig :)
Girls who work there are v. nice too. Only weird thing is you get a massive black trash bag to carry home your goods :)

I’m REALLY into thrifting, but I can’t step foot in this place because of the smell. Contrary to popular opinion, most thrift stores are not smelly. I wish they would air the place out because it seems like people really like it, but I just can’t stand being in there :(
EDIT 8÷1÷2014
I wanted to add something and change my rating. They’ve since gotten rid of the smell, so it’s not that bad. BUT there clothing still isn’t that great, a little bit overpriced.

This place is dirty, smells weird (which I can say about a lot of other thrift stores), and when I entered this place, the doors had broken glass! I almost touched it too (which could have ended badly). But anyway, this place is just full of crappy clothes and nothing much more at all. I like to look for cool old electronics (old TV’s, old Video Games, cool Vintage Electronics, GOOD Vinyl records, etc) but this place has none of that. In the many times I had been here years ago I never found anything cool like that at all, and I recently went back here to give this place another chance but it hadn’t changed one bit. So if you’re looking for cool electronics stuff, then stay away from this place!

If you’re serious about your thrifting then this is the spot for you. I’ve been going here for 5 years and have found some serious gems during that time. The owner, Mark aka The Thrift OG, is a stand up guy who always treated me with the highest level of respect. I can’t recommend this place anymore highly. Go Global!

This is a mecca of pre-​owned merchandise. The possibilities are endless from SpiceWorld (1997) on VHS to an 80s neon ski jacket. This place smells like a thrift store, if you know what I mean. it can often feel a little sketchy. But it’s also a little existential… you think about the lives that had possessed that object, and also what kind of karma you may be inheriting. But give anything a quick wash in the machine and it will smell and feel like you’ve got worn in blue jeans, all yours for only $ 5.
but the strange sour smell of a Waltham Little League jersey: priceless.

This is probably another one of my overly generous review but I cannot help but gush! 50 cent books!!! And lots of them — tons of them! I have found a ton of stuff here like America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks, bestsellers like State of Wonder and A Thousand Splendid Suns. It really is great for that if you can zone out the dust, dirt, and piles and piles of clothes. If you really don’t want to be turned off — don’t ever, ever use the back entrance even though there is free parking in the back. I warned you!!!

I have been coming to Global for some time now – having passed it first while picking up a new vaccuum down the street at Mr. Sweeper (another great place, btw).
My first visit was going to be for just a few minutes – however, I ended up there for over an hour, and started a conversation with another woman who in turn found some Eileen Fisher in my size, in perfect condition – for next to nothing. I then found a few things for her as well in her size. She gave me tips and clues about visiting GT and all in all it was a good experience.
Since then, I have been back many times, always finding amazing deals and perfect condition clothing (tags on, folds still present from being in a box, etc). The one thing I do when I go is to block out things around me and focus on «the hunt», per se. It is unorganized, messy and it doesn’t smell great some days either. The past several times I have gone thee have been wild children left to run up and down the isles, screaming at the top of there lungs in various languages – no parent in sight to stop them (literally they have ran into me-​full boar. no apologies necessary…). It is the worst part about going. It def needs to straightened up constantly and a vaccuum would be great – but it has a skeleton staff – so the brux of the man power is spent unpacking donations and such.
The key is just to block out everything around you and concentrate on what you are looking for… I can spot Eileen Fisher wool or fabric a mile away, as well as JJill brand, Kors and other high end fabrics/​patterns. Recent finds include:
Eileen Fisher silk tunic, new
Eileen Fisher wool sweater, new
Brooks Brothers, short sleeve gun-​metal gray sweater-​new condition
Eileen Fisher cropped pants, new condition
Christian Dior black short dress jacket with cuff details and small beadery (holiday, one season old) perfect condition
Georgio Armani silk shift in seafoam green (summer), new condition
Kikit black demi boots, no wear what so ever – from Nordstrom
NYDJ jeans, new
Several pairs of pants for a friend – 0P, AT, Brooks Brothers, new condition.
Brand new, knee length Cashmere/​Wool winter coat in winter white-​Banana Republic!
So taking a look might be OK, though you just have to remember. it’s def a thrift store, not a regular store or shopping experience! (pricing is wacky, but I have gone home with amazing stuff, never spending more than about $ 40)

Not the cleanest, most organized, or most affordable thrift shop I’ve encountered, but the prices aren’t bad (that $ 20 in your pocket will go pretty far) and the staff is generally friendly (if not very helpful).

This place is goddamn dump. It is filthy dirty. There is little or no treasure to be found. It is filled with garbage, dirty clothes and it doesn’t look like it has been vaccumed or cleaned since Eisenhower was president. Plus it is chock full of creeps, drunks and lowlifes… This thrift store seems like a good place to meet elderly people who smell like mothballs and urine, or pederasts from another country. You are much MUCH better off cabbing it to the salvation army. they at least mop the floors once in awhile.

I live nearby, so I’m probably a bit partial.
But I think it’s actually an excellent thrift shop: everytime I go, I find something cool. Yes, it’s mostly clothes, but I’m not really complaining about that. Cheap prices plus the fact that often there are some *great* finds there. Some of my favorite items have come from this place. And there’s always a rotating selection of housewares, and the records are just 99 cents – I’ve found some great ones (Mary Poppins? Bossa Nova Frank Sinatra? yes.)
It doesn’t have a whole lot of ambiance, and I don’t always enjoy the music they play, and the layout is somewhat chaotic. But I think it all flows with the chaos of being a thrift shop in a working class neighborhood. I like it. And they have a cause that… well, whenever I read it and remember, I’m like: «ah, yes, what a good person I am to support that…» and pat myself on the back before forgetting. :P
Worth a look-​see!

I’d only bother going if you’re looking for second hand clothing as that’s what the majority of the square footage of this deceptively large thrift store is filled with. The electronics were what you might see on garbage night on the side of the road, and I’m saying that with no malice or insult meant, just the truth. There was a section of records a few hipsters were rifling through, some pre-​owned housewares, and a few bookshelves of random CDs and books… but besides that the name of the game in this place is: second hand clothes, second hand clothes, second hand clothes.
The smell, as already mentioned by others, wasn’t something I’d list as a positive of the place either.

Come here if you need cheap stuff. I got a pair of Adidas running shoes for $ 4.99. Excellent condition… but of course I washed them before wearing them. I didn’t want no fungi on my feet. My friend also got a pair of Nike shoes. Everything here is cheap. You just have to get lucky and score on the used treasures. They also have clothes, some random electronics and kitchenware.

Still not too impressive, but I keep going back since it’s in my hood.
Found a cute sweater dress and dressy tank top, and I wear the dress more often than most of my other ones. So I buy things here and like them. Just be prepared to look for it. For hours. Between all the ugly. And debate whether or not it’s worth buying, since most of the time, what you find doesn’t have that wow factor and may not be worth what they charge.
The dress section seems to be your best bet. I found a Betsy Johnson dress in perfect condition, but it was too small for me. :-(
It’s easier to find great things (or cheaper equal things) elsewhere.
Still have no idea what their cause actually is.