Out of the Closet

Shane-​David is so sweet and pointed out so many cute clothes for me that I might be interested in. Ended up with a cute xmas sweater that fits me perfect for $ 5

I called several organizations to see if they could pickup my donations in Renton, WA. This organization was the most responsive. They told me they’d call the scheduled day of pickup around 10 a.m. and give me a 2-​hr window. Everyone else said they’d be there anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 6. At 10:30 I got a call saying they’d be there between 12:30 and 1. They were calling me at 12:15 saying they were in route. Once they got there, they took everything and carefully loaded the truck. It was a win-​win. They took everything I needed taken and they received some pretty nice things that I was sad to see go! But that’s what had to happen. Thank you Out of the Closet for being there when I needed you most!

I went into your place last week and was told I had to leave my bag at the counter if I wanted to shop there.
So, I left.
I am not placing my personal and valuable possessions in the hands of a complete stranger.
Perhaps you suggest I remove my valuables before giving over my bag.
That means taking out
Wallet
checkbook
eyeglasses
keys
iPad
Cellphone
Medications
Shall I walk around with these things in my hands… or perhaps carry them in another bag ??
Do you require that women give over their handbags?
What size is OK and what size is NOT?
Who determines this?
I saw a woman with a purse about the same size as my shoulder bag.
Was I stopped because I am a minority?
Imagine this:
I hand over my bag, shop a bit and decide to leave.
I retrieve my bag and discover later that a $ 50.00 bill that was in my wallet is not there.
Or perhaps my iPod is missing. Or iPad.
Or my credit card!
Or my driver’s license and keys.
Or medications that must have available quickly.
What recourse do I have?
I could return and say, «I had money/​iPod/​credit card in my bag when I handed it to you and now it is gone «?
How could I prove it?
I couldn’t.
Should I have checked everything BEFORE leaving the store?
even so, there is no way I could prove those items were there when I handed the bag to the clerk!
And the area behind the counter is not secure.
I have seen it abandoned when the clerk left to do something… help a shopper etc.
And if I need to leave the store quickly and the clerk is away. Do I have to wait or go look for him?
NO!
You have your reasons for holding peoples’ possessions, I’m sure.
But you do not offer assurances that those possessions are SAFE.
I will not be returning until you change your policy.
Nor will I continue to donate as I have been doing regularly.

I got two fabulous sweaters (cashmere) with the original tags still on them for $ 16.00!
Picked up a miniature chair that I use in my jewelry making for $.99; usually they sell for about $ 35.00. The red thigh high boots weren’t my size-​I wear a 10-​oh, no, now the world knows that I have huge feet and am only 5 feet 3! The staff was wonderful we talked about pretentious people drinking cheap wine with a fancy label, they gave me a free water bottle. Not to say anything bad about the other thrift store around the corner; but, Out of the Closet doesn’t smell like a railroad tie factory!

* Directed to thrift shop only… I was excited to hear that a Out of the Closet was opening in Seattle. I have visited one that was in California which had great prices and proceeds that go to a good cause. Unfortunately my first experience at the Seattle store was no good. I live in Kent and made the drive out to Seattle just to visit this store. I arrived at the store a 6 pm a hour before the closing time listed online as well as the door. Within minutes of walking in the door a grey haired man announces that the store will be closing early tonight in 30 minutes and the fitting rooms in 20 minutes.(no reason given why it was closing early) Disappointed I hurried and started shopping. I decided I should get in line at the fitting rooms noticing there were only two of them. They were both occupied, one lady was in line before me. 5 mins later the man then announces the fitting rooms are closed and Me and her couldn’t try on are clothes. She asked if she could put them on hold till morning. The man rudely told her «we don’t do holds and you need to bring your purchases to the register NOW we are closing.» I walked out of the store empty handed at 6:15 pm. 45 minutes before posted hours and 15 minutes before the rudely announced time when I arrived. Prices are ok for named brand clothes about average for a thrift shop (nothing to brag about) but over priced on regular clothing brands. There are many consignment/​thrift shops in the area. This one won’t stay in business long with such horrible customer service. I took my business elsewhere that night. Not sure if I will give them another try anytime soon. If I do it WON’T be for there friendly staff. It will only be because profits go to a good cause.

Out of the Closet is a new thrift store to the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Appartently this is kind of a chain and I believe that they have a location in San Francisco as well. Out of the Closet and the AHF Pharmacy is run by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
This business establishment sells as indicated, thrift and vintage clothing as well as and has a pharmacy included.
My main complaint here is the customer service and towards the thrift store only. The sales floor staff were unhelpful, rude, pretencious, gossipy and acted like that they really did not want to be there. There was a havier set gray haired gentleman that seemed to be the generating source of all this that worked there and the other staff were feeding off of him.
The merchandise itself is expensive and does not offer anything memorable or unique unlike many of the other thrift stores in Capitol Hill.
I do believe that there is a good cause behind this place and maybe the staff are just kinks that need to get worked out to get it to run more smoothly. It is normal with any new business.
The pharmacy offers free HIV testing as well which is great! I just hope not everyone has such an awful attitude here because if they anger enough people there are plenty of other establishments in Seattle that offer the same services. In fact so many services already do overlap and in some cases then those services are discontinued then. So having such a bad attitude is something that they cannot afford to do!
There are better thrift stores out there with more helpful staff and pretty much all the businesses in Capitol hill are LGBT friendly so what they have to offer is not that unique it’s just nice all these services are under one roof. But be careful. If you don’t play your cards right it will detract you from being a sucessful business!