Del, Luis and half-price days make thrift procuring enjoyable

The banter within the again half of the St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho thrift retailer does not sound like one between workers and prospects. It’s not the usual well mannered greetings. 

It’s one that you’d discover between pals or household. There is joking and laughing, even just a few small digs, all within the midst of a bit of haggling over costs.  

Which is how Del Simchuk and Luis Tovar prefer it. They’re the 2 guys that just about run the present on this part of the shop the place treasures await every day for many who know easy methods to discover them. They decide what prospects pay for his or her finds within the again space as a result of the vast majority of objects don’t have worth tags. Del and Luis look the products over for just a few seconds and state costs: “That’ll be $15 for the chair, $5 for the bike helmet and $3 for the tools.”  

They are good on the jobs.

Still, reactions fluctuate.

“OK.”

Or, “How about $10 for the chair?”

“I was thinking more like $3 for the helmet.”

They appear to know everybody’s identify and everybody appears to know them. They are good sports activities, and don’t even thoughts it an excessive amount of once I argue for a cheaper price, which I not often do as a result of it may trigger and truthfully, they’re greater than honest and even are usually a bit of on the low facet.

After so a few years of being a St. Vincent’s thrift retailer shopper, I’ve bought my routine down. Cruise by means of the toys and video games space to see what I can discover for the grandsons, take a fast search for books on operating, John Kennedy or Ireland, test for something Michael Jordan, then head again to the territory the place Del and Luis are exhausting at work, or, as they prefer to joke, hardly working. 

It’s been busy recently, significantly since they introduced again half-price Wednesday in the complete retailer and restituted 50% off each Saturday within the furnishings room and yard, which is beneath Del and Louie’s area. 

Signs scream it, in case you didn’t know: “It’s Back!!!” 

These two are good publicity for St. Vincent’s, not solely as a result of they’re nice salesmen, however as a result of they’re personable and make every go to enjoyable. It’s not nearly procuring. It’s about catching up on what’s been taking place, to listen to tales and share shops. For some, it’s a spot to cease in and chat. When household visits, I don’t convey them to the lake. I convey them to St. Vincent’s to see what’s new, and introduce them to Del and Luis, who take pleasure in celeb standing and could also be signing autographs quickly. My father would have liked them.

But, right down to enterprise. 

When you go to, it’s an opportunity to get nice offers. I’ve made all types of finds, like a 1980 Beatles automobile visor, a guitar-shaped financial institution with an image of Elvis, a set of wicker chairs and desk for the patio, wetsuits, angel statues for my yard and many of the train tools in my storage. 

Now, do I really want any of these things? Well, in all probability not. But hey, an additional wetsuit or two is useful round Ironman time and that Beatles visor have to be a collectible.

But, do I need it and have enjoyable looking for it out? Yes. 

When issues are 50% off at St. Vincent’s, there’s a way of pleasure within the air. And actually, it opens the pocketbooks. You had me at half worth. On Wednesday, I used to be carrying round a lot stuff I used to be berated, humorously, by an exasperated Del, as I started dropping objects on the counter which he sits behind. This is a no-no. I do know this and I broke probably the most primary of guidelines of procuring within the again 40. 

“Bill, you know they don’t charge you to use a cart.” 

He smiled and turned away. 

“I’m going to get you a cart.” 

A minute later, he was again. As he positioned my issues within the cart, he stored a operating rely of costs.  

“OK, that’s $58, which means it’s $29 today.” 

Can’t beat the deal. 

Or the folks at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho.

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Bill Buley is assistant managing editor of The Press. He will be reached at bbuley@cdapress.com.