While browsing the goods at a Value Village store in Toronto, Evan Boyce spotted something he didn’t expect: A used vase for sale with a Value Village price tag of $8.99. Then he realized the original price tag was still on — and to buy it at a Dollarama store would have cost only $3.

“Three times what it would have cost brand new …It’s pretty ridiculous, right? Just kind of feels like a rip off to be honest,” said Boyce, a 30-year-old who works for a renewable energy company.

For years, many Canadians have relied on Value Village to buy used goods for cheaper than other retailers. It’s one of the biggest and most popular thrift store chains in the country. Now some customers are accusing the company of massive markups on their items.

The examples of questionable pricing at Value Village have been piling up for months. In Courtenay, B.C., one shopper found kids shoes priced at $6.49, while the original tag said $3. A used book at a store in Winnipeg was being sold for double what it would have cost at its previous retailer.

    • girlfreddyOP
      6·
      11 months ago

      I noticed it about 20 yrs ago. I have always been relatively poor so when Value Village first opened it was awesome to be able to buy t-shirts for $1-2 and jeans for $4-5. Then wealthier people, who could afford new prices, started shopping there and prices rose out of my range.

      Goodwill and Sally Ann at least seem to try to keep them lower for people like me.

      • LostWon
        5·
        11 months ago

        Same, except I was at a Goodwill recently and they’re going the same route. I will say the quality of what they had was better than expected, at least. I was expecting not to want anything, but there were a few good items in each section I checked. Just too bad it was like $15+ for some of the skirts. I found dresses for the person I was shopping for in good condition under $10 (I think ranging $7-$10?) though, lol.