Memorial Sloan-Kettering Thrift Shop

I agree. Very rude. After trying on items I asked where to place those that didn’t work and I was told to put them back. This was shocking to me and I expressed this and the saleswoman said «wow, I’ll just put them bank» with a very hostile tone. I know retail isn’t the most enjoyable job but I was very surprised by how unpleasant this salesclerk was.

Based on so many negative reviews, I think my expectations were set pretty low. However, I was very pleasantly surprised. I was very impressed with how clean, cheerful, and generally pleasant this store was upon entering. Effort is clearly made to merchandise the window and products in the store. It was not jam packed with overflowing musty racks. There was not only plenty of breathing room, the clothes were very neatly organized by color, nicely hung on their hangers and professionally price-​tagged (albeit high). Yes I did think prices seemed high for the condition of some items.
However, I do try to remind myself of their purpose, which is to donate their proceeds to cancer research… a far better purpose than many thrift shops out there. With cancer in my family, I don’t really mind paying a little extra to support that.

Rude. If I could rate this store minus stars, it’d be in the minus hundreds.
[That said, though, this thrift shop’s offering of designer labels was decent, though very expensive (the high-​end clothes, anyway). My one star will go to the general selection that they carry, which is okay; otherwise, I stand by my minus rating above. Go to the separate room at the back for the higher-​end (and very pricy) labels, but beware volunteer staff, because they may watch you intently while you browse, which can get very uncomfortable… more about my experience with that below.]
So, I was visiting New York from Canada in November of last year, and I usually manage to hit thrift stores wherever I travel. I was staying/​dog-​sitting on the Upper West Side, and managed to find and score some great stuff at thrift stores in that part of Manhattan. (There is a GREAT thrift shop in a church basement on W 86^th (I think). They carry good labels there for which you’ll pay peanuts; the staff there is nice, too.)
I thought I’d venture over to the Upper East Side to see what was what… I had heard about this thrift shop, and left it ’til last out of the half-​dozen stores that I visited that day. I like the idea of raising money for a hospital so that people who are sick can be helped.
I entered and thought, ok, nice… nicely arrange, separate areas for the various categories of clothing/shoes/women’s/men’s/accessories/etc.
There were some decently priced things on the shelves, so I picked out a few things, and continued wandering around the store. I got to the back section where there was a separate room with what I found out were the haute-​couture pieces, and I proceeded to go in.
An older lady – older than I… I’m 49 – practically tackled me and told me that I couldn’t take my things into the room… I asked why, and she just said that I couldn’t. OK…
Then, she proceeded to sit outside the room and WATCH ME the whole time I was in the room, which was about 4 minutes. I left the room feeling annoyed and guilty for no reason, and gathered up the things I’d picked out. She then proceeded to FOLLOW ME around the store, not 2 feet behind me the whole time.
At this point, I was started to get pissed off, because she was making me feel like I was some kind of thief – I hadn’t done anything to indicate to her that I was one… I was just browsing! – so I said, «What great personalized service with you following me around the store!» She didn’t pick up on my obvious sarcasm… maybe she was just so intent on shadowing me, making sure I didn’t stuff a pilly Abercrombie hoodie down my top or something, that she was clueless that she was being rude, unduly suspicious, and condescending, in turn making my shopping experience hell. Maybe she got her jollies behaving badly… I don’t know.
I had had enough, so I put away the things I’d been carrying around, and I left. My whole experience there was negative, the vibe was weird, and my day was ruined.
So, in a nutshell, I was VERY disappointed in the customer service and the experience I had at this particular thrift store. Reading the other reviews here, I’m happy/​saddened to see that I’m not the only one who’d been treated so rudely… not cool.
That particular volunteer doesn’t do the shop, or Sloan-​Kettering, any favours, being front line and one of the faces of the store and hospital. A THRIFT STORE is about charity normally, right? There was NOTHING charitable about her, or the customer service (or the PRICES) of this thrift store.
Management needs to remind its volunteers that they are there to help, and not condemn, customers, and to ensure that the environment is pleasant so that they spend money, which will go to helping the hospital. It’s not a place where the volunteers should take out their frustrations on paying customers just trying to have a nice shopping experience. I will NEVER return to this store… I don’t need that kind of negativity or rudeness in my life.
My experience at this store has been on my mind since I left NYC, and that was 2 MONTHS AGO. Sad, right? My advice to you about going to this store?
AVOID. AVOID. AVOID.

Sales staff today (Saturday) were very unfriendly.
Got a glass splinter from a table there and when we alerted them to be careful not to get hurt themselves, they got all defensive.

If I could give this place negative stars I would. Judgmental, rude elderly women do nothing to help raise money for cancer research. Just a super weird, bad vibe from the moment we walked in. A woman was having a loud crisis on her phone the whole time; a strange fitting room attendant for an empty fitting room in the designer section at the back told us to use the fitting rooms in the front, out of which we were then rushed despite being in a mostly empty store. An employee then chided me for leaving clothes hanging in the dressing room. Another woman chimes in. «You know, I’ve been hanging my clothes back up, and I’m not even planning on buying anything.» There were no signs telling you to where to put them; there was no rack to put them on. At that point I just walked out. Also, one of the dresses I tried on smelled like pee.

If you go every day, you will be rewarded with a bargain find, however, compared to other thrift shops, everything here is overpriced. They have been in this location for a long time, so I guess they know their clients and are getting those prices. The staff for the most part is OK with the one exception of a stylish, slim African-​American sales associate who is just downright hostile, rude and miserable. The last job this woman is qualified for is retail sales. I’ve stopped going; if they are going to take my money, the least they can do is be polite! There are many other thrift shops in the area where you will find real bargains and be welcomed.

Rude rude rude rude rude. The staff is honestly pretty awful, with the head manager lady (who seems to always be on the cash register) being the worst offender. Just snobbish and unfriendly. It’s ridiculous to expect anyone to come back with an attitude like hers.
This is all on top of seriously overpriced merchandise that is often torn or damaged. They need to realize that ‘thrift store’ means used goods and seriously fix their prices. Even with their sales the prices are steep. I love thrift shopping and this place is just a downer which sucks because I live close by.

Came by this place on a Saturday afternoon with my children. Just checking the place out to see what gems they had to offer… Just as we are walking in the sales woman on the right hand side turns to my daughter and tells her she can come in but she has to leave the stroller at the door!!! Mind you… It’s a double stroller with two small toddlers inside. One of them fast asleep and the other about to fall asleep.
I HAVE never been into a store where they have asked me to leave my children in the front of the store or take them out to drag them around as I’ve tried to shop! I’ve never been so insulted in my life!!!
I will NEVER EVER RETURN TO THIS PLACE!

What fun. But sticker shock at $ 125 – 150 designer skirts in the designer section. If you know what you’re looking for there are bargains to be discovered here.
There a numerous thrift shops along this stretch of Third Avenue.
Go digging you just might discover a find.

A part from some of the snobbiest workers (not all, but a good majority), this thrift shop has good designer finds. They even have a room of all designer pieces, but don’t even THINK about trying on that non designer item in THAT fitting room. This place obviously is more expensive than your local Goodwill, but you’ll find clean pieces in great condition. Maybe if the workers tried to smile instead of scowl it’d rate higher than 1 star.

Definitely my preferred thrift shop since Spence-​Chapin closed. The locked rack of fur coats is an amusing sight in a thrift shop — can see why it has the «Barneys» label. I also like that they’re one of the only who accept book donations — most on their shelves are ones I’ve donated! Have regular sales and items are priced well — like supporting a good cause through my purchases here.

Very good selection of designer brands but the prices were way too high.

Hailed as the «Barney’s of Thrift Stores» I found this to be much more pleasant and fruit full than an actual Barney Warehouse sale, which I despise.
I feel like most of the clientele are aged ladies, they work there, they hang there, they rummage the racks there. Nothing wrong with that, Virginia Woolf so astutely states that women should have, A room of one’s own. And here you will find it.
Enter, younger lady, me. I felt like a kid in a candy store since the seasoned ladies and I were clearly not in direct competition for the same sizes and styles, woohoo! I filled my arms with bright colored tops and youth-​full dresses and scampered to the one and only fitting room, located at the back of the Designer Room. Upon entering it I am aware it is fashioned makeshift out of an old fancy curtain circa the 1990s.
Everything I tried on was a hit, and I was told by the pushy Designer Room attendant lady that there was a line of people forming outside waiting to try on things. I emerged and there was no one in the room. Wow, kinda rude, perhaps she was having delusions.
I was then informed by another employee that all items in the store were 50% off the tag price, amazing. I walked away with an unworn brand new beach cover up with original boutique tags saying $ 270, which I fetched for $ 40, a silk dress that clocked in at $ 17 and a last season French Connection dress for $ 20!
Fast and efficient shopping, that never happens to me, I was estatic. The super sweet cashier older lady and I gushed about how much we both loved the French Connection dress and how great it would be for wearing all the time. she said she had adored it since it came in recently. I liked her, and I liked the fact that they accepted credit cards, including Amex. No wonder they kept the meaner lady in the back, back!
With the one rude lady and the original pricing of things being too high in my opinion I doubt I will be back, but in this one perfect occasion I was able to find some real gems.

If you’re expecting a run of the mill thrift store, you may experience immediate sticker shock. Not only are most things in this store very expensive, but some of those things don’t at all deserve to be.
That being said, this is one of the cleaner, and more curated resale stores on the upper east side. While they lose points on their skimpy hours of operation, extraordinary price points, and an extremely judgmental staff, they do provide an interesting selection of high end clothing with the occasional unbelievable find.
Beware, this is a neighborhood favorite, and while the women at the counter are not openly warlike to newcomers, they definitely show a preference for older residents, heavy in the pockets.

A big thrift shop with TONS of designer brands, the most I’ve seen for a thrift shop in Manhattan (or anywhere, for that matter). The first thing I saw when I walked in were two bookshelves of «Designer shoes», namely Manolo, Prada, Salvatore, Jimmy Choos, etc. But these were not really thrift store prices, for these shoes (worn down as they were) were STILL going for $ 175+ … if they were like new, I would consider plopping down ~$ 200 for these coveted brands, but these soles were pretty worn down, which makes me frown.
The back had all the clothing (dresses, coats, sweaters, tops), and I would say they did a good job of organizing. There was one rack dedicated to dress shirts alone (think $ 20-​$ 40/​dress shirt). There was this one rack that was dedicated to mostly Cashmere sweaters, which was amusing. I saw a lot of J. Crew, Henri Beidel, Lord and Taylor exclusives…
Prices here seem rather high for a thrift store (you aren’t going to be getting anything for $ 15 here). Think: $ 35 for a J. Crew cashmere tank top, $ 150 for Prada sweater, $ 40 for most Cashmere sweaters… For better or worse, I would say that this store is pretty edited in terms of brands though, so you won’t find stuff like the Gap/​American Eagle in this store. I guess that’s why the prices are a little high?
I walked away with a $ 35 BCBG Maxazira Collection silk/​cashmere blend turtleneck. I think the price was *a little* high, but the fit was so nice that I didn’t mind plunking down the extra cash.
The workers didn’t seem too friendly though. Not even an acknowledgment when I walked in the door!

it takes a lot of balls to hawk a dated abercrombie and fitch peacoat for $ 50, but that’s just one of many price point crimes committed by the jackholes running this piss-​poor excuse for a thrift store.
i’m usually a pretty easy mark when it comes to charity-​related thrift stores — knowing my money goes to a good cause does wonders for buyer’s remorse. alas, even a charity as virtuous as cancer research can’t excuse taking advantage of bargain shoppers by slapping retail-​esque mark-​ups on previously worn stuff. half of the merch is underwhelming shizz a la GAP and Banana Republic; anything even remotely high-​end is so astronomically overpriced, it gives thrift a bad name.
whoever’s tagging the merch needs to take a walk to the UES goodwill for a crash course in secondhand pricing 101. GET IT TOGETHER. oy vey.

The cashier, complete with pearl necklace, was talking about her housekeeper, they were charging $ 30 for used gap flats, and designer dresses are generally priced $ 250+.
But it’s the UES, so I guess I should have expected this.
It’s fairly organized. They had a ½ off women’s clothes when I was there, which turned the $ 24 banana republic silk cashmere sweater, with tags attached, into a reasonable $ 12. Decent deal, but I bet I could have gotten the same thing on the sale rack at the actual store.
But once again, it’s the UES, so I guess I should have expected that too.
If the regular prices were –50%, and then they had ½ off sales, this would approach a 5 star thrift.