Glassware, dishware, collectibles and antiques are separated off the trucks and run down conveyor belts to a bricabrac department, where they are sorted, priced, wrapped, inventoried, sealed and shipped off to the various stores. The collectibles department is replete with testing equipment and price guides to make sure that Salvation Army gets a fair price for valuable donations. What doesn't get shipped to the various stores is sold at the distribution center, which goes through an unbelievable amount of merchandise on a weekly basis. Three large buildings house clothing, furniture, housewares, collectibles and artwork. The main building, which houses generic clothing for the family plus an upstairs boutique, sells a whopping 10,000 pieces each week.
All merchandise has a short life-cycle and plenty of incentive to sell.
Varying half-off sales and specials occur on Fridays and Saturdays. Items still unsold hit the major all-day yard sales on Saturdays. Those items that still slip through are baled and sold to a rag dealer while metals, such as unrepairable bikes and appliances, ultimately get sold to the recyclers - virtually nothing is scrapped. So, thrift shop junkies. Head past all those wineries and retail shoppers and make a point of spending the afternoon at the Lytton Springs Distribution Center - where you can do some real shopping.