The Salvation Army Family Store

Do NOT go to this Salvation Army. I bought a dresser there, brought it up to the front. paid $ 50 cash and then noticed it had a huge crack on the side and was basically firewood. They would not let me get my money back and pointed to the «all sales are final» but I had not even left the register area! And i wrongly assumed they inspected their items.

This used to be a great little run down store and then they renovated awhile back and everything went downhill.
First off prices are out of control! I see stuff from Target that you can buy cheaper new. Most shoes are priced around 12 to 50 dollars, clothing ranges from affordable to laughable 80 dollar fake fur jackets. Their «fancy» section that you’re not allowed to look through is full of overpriced junk like $ 40 Bostonians (apparently they check prices online which would explain the chinatown fake purses for $ 60).
A few of the staff can be nice sometimes but they usually just complain about customers, typically there are about 4 people working but the register line can be 10 minutes long with only one person at the front. A lot of items are un-​priced but if you ask for one they’ll tend to mark the item with highly inflated price. Also, once in a awhile something will be «too cheap» and they’ll up the price for the item you’re buying. Also even though the line is long, check your receipt as I have been over charged a few times.
This store does get some nice stuff, and often at OK prices because whoever is pricing seems to think brands like Johnston & Murphy and Express are top of the food chain. But this store is really only worth going to on Wednesday and even then, half off their high prices can still be a bad deal.

Ive been to many Salvation Armies and Goodwills in my life and this location is mediocre and forgettable. Unlike other locations Ive been to in college towns, its superclose proximity to Tufts (about a 5min drive away) does not reflect its stock. It has fairly typical ‘middle of nowhere’ Salvation Army type of items. Same with the smell, it smells like most Salvation Army locations: like your attic with a dash of clinical depression. The renovation was a welcome change to this location as it was previously dark, musty-​smelling, and was cluttered — now it is a much brighter, open and organized space. However post-​renovation the already fairly high prices (for the stock, imo but ymmv) seem to have shot up. Best sections: houseware items, books, and electronics from the 90s and early aughts. Those are the only areas I regularly peruse. Beyond that I can only speak on women’s adult clothes but theyre typical Salvation Army fare — clunky 90s flipflops, worn steve madden shoes, racks of faded black shapeless shirts, prom dresses, winter coats from the 80s, straw & canvas handbags, used swimsuits, long-​crotch-​shoulderpad Hilary Clinton suits, Designing Women summer dresses, etc. Asides from lamps most of the furniture look like items I could find on curb alerts. For clothes I can only speak on women’s adult clothes and theyre largely best for costuming or you may find great items if you have awhile to blow to look through everything… but I have been here for long stretches of time more than a few times over the years and dont have any slamdunk buys to report. Not now, not ever and Ive gone at various hours on various days. However, I have witnessed happy Unilocal from women in the clothing sections — so I may be missing a critical thriftfu sensor? So, ymmv but I dodge the clothing area altogether.
Basically this isnt one of those hidden gem type of thrift stores — it isnt popular because … it sincerely has no reason to be popular. Dont break your neck to go to it. But if youre in the area and have time to kill — go for it.
Best purchases (for value) Ive found here have been framed art (print), electronics, bakeware, and arts/​crafts supplies. Best purchases (for novelty) Ive found here have been books and bakeware.
FYI: It is not open on Sundays. If youre a medical worker and need scrubs, I always see many of those here. If you pay by any form of card you need to show ID and a $ 10 minimum — however there is an ATM a block away (towards Medford) at Century Bank which shares its building with a check-​cashing location.

I was really disappointed in this place. Ever since the renovations the price is outrageous!!! The place is anyone with allergies or a nose’s worst nightmare! When I walk by there on the weekends I can see at least 4 – 5 people rummaging through the donations that were left by people trying to help a with a cause. All of the good items people donate on the weekend are stolen. It is sad that the people who can’t afford the store prices are forced to pay high prices still and the generous people who donate are robbed. This place is a big disappointment. The cost is high not helping the community and the cause and lowlifes are robbing people who are passionate about helping others. SMH!

I have donated here several times and the process is very easy, but I sometimes see the disarray of the donation area and feel unsure if the items will be put out properly. Though, I prefer the non-​profit donation centers (e.g. Salvation Army) over for profit donation centers.

I’ve lived nearby for 4 years, and this place was always one of my favorite stops. After the huge, 3 month long renovation, the prices are OUTRAGEOUS. I see that other people have the same complaint here, but I want to give examples. I have furnished my house with stuff from the thrift store. As a single working mother, I can’t afford to buy brand new stuff. As of the fall, I was able to get $ 10 shelves, $ 25 chairs and a complete kitchen/​table set for $ 50.
Today, I went in and saw a $ 400 couch… at Salvation Army. Are you kidding? There are dish sets for $ 50, and bedside tables for $ 75. These are department store prices (or at least IKEA prices) — not prices that should be on donated goods. When I talked to the small woman (with glasses, speaks with an accent) putting prices on things, I said, «Woah, these prices are REALLY high compared to what they used to be.» In a VERY irritated tone, she told me that because there are new walls and updated fixtures, the prices have to go up to pay for the renovations. REALLY? It seems your retail operation forgets that it is designed to help those in NEED and relies 100% on donated goods. How on earth can you justify passing on the cost of a renovation when you don’t even pay for the things that you sell? When I spoke with other women on the floor, they said they hear the complaints all day. From what I understand, there is a new manager, and from my perspective, this is VERY unfortunate.
Not only will I no longer shop there, but I CERTAINLY won’t be donating there, either. I’d rather have a yard sale and give the stuff away for free.
Fortunately, I recently discovered the Good Will store in Roxbury and their prices are SO reasonable. The staff is really helpful, and their furniture selection was amazing.

Went here to donate a bunch of stuff and stopped in for a bit. YIKES, this is one of the dirtiest thrift stores I’ve ever been to. and I’ve seen my fair share. It’s quite a mess and a pretty crappy selection– mostly clothes, which, I don’t ever buy at these places. so if you like that stuff, it’s another story. Anywho– worth checking out, I suppose, but beware it’s kind of a crazy place!

I will never go here ever again, or donate here. Go to goodwill in Davis if you need a consignment store to browse or donate to.
I went here looking for a Halloween costume item and it was HORRIFIC. It smells like a construction worker rubbed their armpits on all the clothing after a long, hot day in the July sun.
I understand the clothing isn’t going to be new, or nice. but all of the clothing reeked of body odor. Not only that, but they were selling clothing that should have been disposed of. For example, stained, painted on tees that reeked of cigars. No one is going to buy that smelly marlboro shirt for 1.69, so why have it make the store smell so terrible?
P.s I also found it over priced. I can get a shirt at Artifaktori for 5 dollars on sale, so why would I have enjoyed buying the 3.99 sweat stained shirt for my Halloween costume, only to throw it out and decided to buy a new one because it STILL smelled like this store after washing it.
Can I also mention I work at a place with a lot of diaper changing to be had and this place made me feel sick to my stomach when no poop filled diaper ever has…

So this place is your normal run of the mill thrift store, it smells funny and the clothes are old. We went looking for pieces for our Halloween costumes. We began by quickly looking at the furniture just past the enterance for a coffee table (we both need one)…nothing that stood out. After this, we began the search for our costumes, first checking out the men’s section to find some overalls and a red long-​sleeved shirt. After having no luck on his costume, we began to look in the women’s section for Valerie’s. Usually you can count on a thrift store to have hideous pink poofy dresses… apparantly no one that donates to the Somerville Salvation Army donated a pink poofy prom dress.
We began thinking about abandoning our Mario and Princess Peach halloween outfit, so set out to find a white and red striped shirt so that we could become Waldo and Wendy. No luck there either…
Although we didn’t buy anything, as expected, everything was cheaply priced. Too bad they didn’t have anything we wanted. Another perk is that it has it’s own parking lot off the main street, although there’s only a few spots and you have to angle your car awkwardly to get in one.
In short… go here to find a plain white t-​shirt (not the band).

Not so hot but I will give it at least one more chance b/​c it’s closeby.
There seemed to be good things coming in but what was already out was not that great.
Adrienne said the place smells like…$#@^, but a lot of those places have some smell to them. I don’t recall this being worse.

This place smells, literally, like shit.

My shirt says, «Uranus is Awesome.»
It cost 89 cents.
Enough said.

I live right up the street from this place, so almost my entire apartment is furnished from here. Seriously, not bad at all. It’s definitely hit or miss but, if you’re lucky you can get some quality stuff for a low, low price. Perfect if you aren’t loaded and are starting from scratch with an empty apartment. The only draw back is the weird old stuff smell they get in there from the clothes, which I’ve never even looked at. I personally think they should 86 the clothing at this one all together and just fill the entire place with furniture. That’s my dream.