Ditmars Thrift Shop Donation Center

Thrifting can be fun. You can find some really cool stuff at thrift shops. Recently a friend and I tried on some dresses where the sized labeled were ridiculous (such as a size 12 that was easily a size 4). That’s not the store’s fault though, they didn’t make the clothes…
My issue with this store is that their customer service sucks. 2 of the employees here should absolutely not be working in a retail environment. My friend and I tried on some shoes. I’m a size 5, it’s tough to find shoes anywhere. As my friend and I tried on shoes we put them away every time on the shelf where we got them from — as we tried on shoes, a woman who clearly worked there sat in a chair staring at us rather than attempting to help out. Being stared at while trying things on is beyond annoying. It’s rude and doesn’t make a customer want to buy anything.
Shoes here are not in any particular order so some assistance would have been welcomed. On our way out a man who worked here accused us of being messy. We WERE NOT. If I left 2 pairs of shoes unattended it was a lot. We left things as they were so if he felt it was messy then that’s on them.
Nothing here is organized so you want us to organize stuff and you want to make us feel like crap on the way out because we didn’t buy anything?! Yeah, I’ll never spend money here again and you shouldn’t either. Awful customer service seems to be a theme in several other reviews for this store too.

I stop into this thrift shop periodically and have been very happy with my finds. I have been lucky enough to have purchased 2 brand new (QVC tags on them) Joan Rivers decorative blazers for $ 13.00 each! They fit perfectly. Recently I found a great stylish button down blouse (leopard print) for just $ 6.00. I look forward to returning regularly.

I have come here a few times this year to donate items and it seems there is a new guy managing the place. And, let me tell you, this guy is RUDE. I came in today to donate a Lego set, beauty products and melamine holiday plates. All these items were brand new. I have usually donated brand new items to this place over the years since I tend to over-​shop and buy too many gifts or go overboard when there is a good sale. I’m talking bags and bags of new shoes, toys, clothes, etc. I figured that I can help out a local place and get a tax write-​off at the same time. While I was filling out the receipt, this guy went over to check what I was donating.
Here is what transpired:
«This is the last time I am taking plastic plates.»
«Oh, you only take glass?»
«People don’t buy them.»
«But they’re brand new.»
«PEOPLE. DON’T. BUY. THEM!»
OMG, he really thought he was doing me a favor. I just went ahead and finished filling out the receipt. After he signed it, he just handed it to me without a word. No thank you, nothing. I just took the paper without a word to him as well and walked out. Today was the last time I am donating my good stuff to this place. You can’t pick and choose what I can donate and only take the good stuff. And then be rude about it at the same time. Forget it. From now on, I am only donating stuff that I’d rather not haul into Manhattan for donation. And my new stuff is getting returned to the stores. I don’t need this. I thought I was doing a good thing. I hate attitude. Good thing I don’t shop here. If he treats customers like this too, this place won’t be open for much longer.

I hate to say this but… I wish the people that worked here didn’t suck so badly because I love coming here and looking for books. The employees are often rude and unpleasant. Some are nice but for the most part I don’t look forward to going in there. I go straight to the books section (which is always a mess) and keep to myself. The store is also overpriced in my opinion. I don’t like giving bad reviews but hey, I still give them my business!

I searched around quite a few of thrift shops one day in SoHo and East Village but it was only at this thrift shop that I found what I was looking for. They have a pretty good and even selection of clothing for males and females, unlike others I had been to where woman’s clothes take up 70% of the store. I got 2 flannel shirts, 1 by LL bean, and a shirt for around 17 dollars. They were in great condition, though I’ll launder for assurance. Only reason I gave 3 stars is the staff member while I was there was pretty rude especially after I changed my mind on an item, and even questioned if the hat I wore into the store was actually mine, probably thinking I was stealing it.

Horrible customer service. I went and got yelled at for grabbing too many things i was interested in buying. Not sharing the same common sense as the worker gets you yelled at. Plus everything is over priced.

I feel like I’m confused every time I see the reviews for this place. I’ve tried over and over again to find something here to change my mind but it’s just overpriced junk.
It smells like a thrift shop, and the clothes they have are definitely dated. Everything is $ 10 and up generally. Not impressed and the man who usually works there is really cold and rude, even if you come to donate!

They have everything: cookware, picture frames, books, vintage pieces, amazing jewelry. Much better than buffalo exchange for clothing too!

This place is pretty amazing if you love digging and picking for great cheap thrift items. Also fantastic place to donate gently used wares for a tax receipt. Great place.

Great men’s name brand suits for around 30 bucks. They have enough where you can find one with minimal tailoring

I rarely walk into this place that I don’t walk out with a great find! Some items I’ve found: a $ 7 silk Burberry scarf, a nearly new $ 20 pair of Nike shoes, a nearly new small black Hermes bag that appears to be a real Hermes for $ 13, and the list goes on. I’ve also donated a lot of stuff and they give you a receipt for tax purposes (for both the poor such as myself who need every single tax deduction they can get, and for all the Republicans out there ;)

I donate frequently to this place and they provide a receipt for your contribution. I like that I can contribute to a neighborhood store and this helps them do good business and remain in the area. The manager keeps this store clean and tidy. The window displays are rotated and changed frequently and they pick out good merchandise for sale to the public. There is often brand new merchandise with the tags still attached. The prices are reasonable and the store is spacious. There is a wide variety of merchandise that is constantly refreshed with new donations. If you are in the area, this is a great place to donate your unwanted, sale-​able items.

Look for the good deals! I have donated my things here. It’s better now than before. I think they change management. Prices are ok. It’s not always a «bargain». Conveninet location

I like this thrift store. The cashier (guy) is pretty friendly and engaging. There is a big winter accessory section with almost new Thinsulate and cute glittens. Of course, I snagged myself a pair. If you can get over the fact that someone has worn your clothes at one point, then this is the place for you. It has some modestly known brand names like 7 for all mankind jeans, banana republic, gap, etc. There are VHS players, random household items/​decorations, tote bags, a small book collection, and a big coat/​jacket selection. When I visit, I just see a plenty of affordable options. Good news: Your proceeds go to support a church in Jamaica.

I have to say I am really disappointed with this store. I always use to come here to shop but lately I’ve stayed away. My reason for this is because of the prices on all the items being raised. All the dresses there are 15 – 20 or more. Hoodies can range for that price also and so can jackets. Are they kidding me? This is a place that’s suppose to be there for people who cannot afford in regular stores but yet they have the same prices as regular stores. Seriously whoever is pricing those items needs to change that up. Why would i pay 15.99 for a pair of sneakers that are used when in Payless you can buy brand new ones for the same price or more… I mean what’s the point… that store needs to change or they will lose there customers!

Decent selection if you’re willing to spend the time sifting through their lot of used goods. I focused mostly on the used books when browsing, but also looked through a few clothing racks and the home goods shelves.
I walked away with some serious steals — $ 20 for eight awesome books (half hardcover, half paperback) and a gorgeous Ted Baker tie for hubs.

This is my favorite thrift store. I’ve donated clothes to them and have spent over $ 300 at this place. The clothes are well organized. They have good amounts of men’s, women’s, children’s clothes. Good collection of shoes. There is a section solely for books and DVDs. Also tea cups and other delicate china. In the back, you can find coats and jackets. I think they sell clothes quickly coz every time I go back, the clothes are all different. One time I found a brand new dress (price tag is still on) for only $ 15! However, on my recent visit, I feel that they’ve raised the prices.

I will play it simple…
GREAT VARIETY, everything is very welll organized, but yeap for a Thrift shop is little bit expensive… I paid for a dress 13 dollars, and I even saw a dress for 15.00… when in another thrift shoo you would be paying for a dress 8 dollars the most…
Anyhow, they have good quality stuff, wich makes it worth it to go and check it out.

My favorite thrift store. You’ve gotta dig through the plus-​sized beach cover-​ups and 80’s prom dresses for the real finds, but I’ve picked up some awesome tees, a brand new GAP blazer, and assorted costume jewelry. They have an extensive jean selection and the staff is always friendly.
Prices have gone up over the years, but it’s a nice balance between a dusty and picked-​over goodwill and an expensive, carefully curated trade-​and-​sell joint.

The prices are higher than what I’m used to at thrift stores. I bought an above the knee casual summer dress for $ 10. I wasn’t thrilled about the price but it fit so well. That is one nice thing about the place– it has fitting rooms. They devote most of their space to clothes and I noticed a lot of pretty nice, stylish things for an outer-​borough thrift store. I did notice that a few of their items were too worn to really be displayed and sold, but I just moved on from those. It’s very clean and organized, to be quite honest I prefer thrift stores that are more cluttered and chaotic. I don’t live nearby and I wouldn’t make a trip out there just for this store, but if I was in the neighborhood I’d stop in for a quick look.

I don’t always find what I’m looking for because I don’t have the patience to dig through the racks and racks of clothing, but I’ve found some really nice dresses here, and almost everything is $ 10. Books and DVDs are less and they have a decent selection as well. The guys running it are friendly and are eager to help you find something if they’ve got it. I usually try to stop by here before I head out to regular stores because I’ve found some awesome pieces!
Sad news: It’s all donation, so while they’re happy to take your old clothing and junk, they won’t pay you for it.

The two stars are for the Ditmars Thrift Shop as it was BEFORE the owners got wind that their clientele had changed from Greek immigrant famlies and working class people to hipsters and moneyed yuppies who think $ 10 for a beat-​up, used purse is a bargain. In the 90s, this place was a fun place to visit. The clothes cost no more than $ 5 and it had a huge book section that was messy but fun to dig into. Everything was decently priced, like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Videos were $ 2 or so. I used to donate tons of stuff there because the people were so friendly and laid back.
Sad to say, in the 2000s it got hip and pretentious like so many other places in Astoria. It got painted, a Persian-​like carpet (!), boutique-​like coat racks, precious window decorations, and the prices shot up like my rent. When I visited recently, I thought the clerks would turn up their nose at my donations. What a shame. I’m moved on to REAL thrift stores (i.e. Unique), not some wanna-​be Housing Works, hipster-​friendly, overpriced thrift store.

I have been thrift shopping since I was a teenager (before it was popular). I was brought up poor but people thought I was rich. I might have reminded you of the character Molly Ringwald played in the movie Pretty in Pink. It is only latley since the bed big scare that I have not shopped at thrift stores. In addition years ago it was easy to find one of a kind designer clothes. Not so much any more since it has become popular. I went by here Sunday to make donations. All of our used clothes we give to the Bowery Mission.
But we needed to get rid of some classic books and movies and the Bowery does not take those. So we went here and they took the donation! I did not buy anything but I did see a nice dress, so nice that women were taking pictures of it on their phones.