The Salvation Army

Great resale store. Good selection most of the time. The staff is great. Always helpful and cheerful.

This place has definitely improved from the remodel. They always have sales on certain tags during the weekends, but regular tags are ofte overpriced. The store is sometimes clean and sometimes not, but the employees are generally very friendly. The changing rooms are a welcome addition.

I usually don’t bother logging into Unilocal to write a review unless my experience is exceptional, good or bad. I do this because I sometimes use Unilocal myself to get an idea on what to expect before I drive out of my way to try a new place. And I take the reviews good and bad with a grain of salt. That being said, this thrift shop was a disappointment.
Three different items I was interested in had no price. And, I would have to find someone to give me a price (by the looks of it, it was off the top of their head) Once I had to stand and wait while they quoted a price for an item to someone and waited for them to decide if they were going to purchase it. I can’t even fathom this as a way to run a business. I was looking at household items, picture frames, and random knick knacks… and when I was told the price on something, I was also told it was half off at the register. so, was I supposed to trust the register knew the price? Or was I going to go through this price check delay at the end? Everything had random prices so I couldn’t see there was a set value across the board for certain items.
Yes, the staff was friendly enough, and there was upper management on the floor doing reviews of something… but, after I picked up one more item that had no price, I gave up in frustration, put everything back on the shelf and left.
I love thrift shopping and make a point to find them everywhere I go. I don’t hold it against a store if it’s shabby, but I do get annoyed if items are broken or over priced. This store found a brand new niche of things to waste my time, making me stop and ask someone what the price is on half the stuff I was considering buying…

donation pick up. Two nice men came today and picked up a sofa and loveseat and a pool table. I did have a double recliner that they didnt take, but happy that I was able to donate the other items.

Just went in here to try and get a refund for a dresser I bought less than a week ago. We ended up needing the money after all. I went and spoke with the manager and told her my situation, in which she replied «we don’t do refunds here» I told her we really needed the money and we didn’t even have a way to pick it up, so I asked her if we didn’t pick it up then the salvation army just takes my money? And she very coldly replied «yes». I thought this place was here to help people. This woman was very rude and cold.

I can’t understand the «complaints» I’ve read on this store. I LOVE this store, and the people who work in it. I have ALWAYS found great deals. My wardrobe is probably at least 50% Salvation Army and I get compliments ALL the time. My friends are shocked when I tell them I got at The Salvation Army Family Store in Escondido.
Also, my home is decorated with lovely pieces, both art and furniture, that I’ve purchased for pennies on the dollar. Again, my friends are shocked and amazed at the quality of items I find at this store. Yes, you have to be selective, but the deals ARE there! I found a GORGEOUS pair of Tony Lama cowboy boots, with very little wear on the soles, for only $ 20! That’s crazy good!
With the exception of the «toy section», which is continually being set in disarray by kids whose parents allow them to run amuck and play in that section while the parent shops. It’s not the employees fault! They do their best to keep things neat and organized. I also find the clothing well-​organized and categorized by color. First thing in the morning it is in tip top shape. It’s some of the careless, inconsiderate shoppers that mess it up as the day goes on. But again, I see employers constantly working on straightening up the mess that shoppers leave in their trail!
I am amazed at what I bring home for $ 30 or less! Try it – you’ll become hooked, like I’ve become. Ü

The staff is wonderful, friendly, and helpful The store is beautiful and well organized. They are keeping it so clean and they even help people to their cars with their merchandise. Every employee is extremely nice and courteous. They ask if you need help while shopping and they pack your purchases perfectly.
They seriously need to have their black sharpie markers taken away from them and not allowed to EVER use them again.
They ruin and defame expensive designer clothes, stone and terracotta collectibles and all sorts of other high end merchandise. A senior staff member told me that it can be washed off when it’s certainly cannot. It can only be washed off of glass objects. NEVER should it be used on cloth, paper, ceramic, vintage porcelain or any other porous or semi porous item. It is such a major disappointment to pick up an object and see that is has been totally ruined. I guess I will try the Santee store because they clearly have no respect for collectibles, designer name brands or vintage items here. I knew there had to be a reason they were not very busy and I have now figured it out.

Thought I’d check this place out since I’ve been on a thrift store kick lately. Though there was a sale going on with some items at 30% and 75% off, I thought the prices were generally so high that even the sale price was still too much.

Two stars because they had a sale and I save a few bucks on some nice jeans. However please bring gloves if you’re going to go through the clothing. I am not kidding when I say I found a pair of pajamas with a SH*T stain on it!!! Seriously, so disgusting! It was tagged so I know a worker saw it, WHY would you still try to sell it that way? It was a huge stain, very noticeable and the pants were light blue. The stuff is overpriced but, there are always sales going on. A few suggestions: hand sanitizer around the store, a little air freshener won’t hurt anyone and look through your clothing when you tag it.

Really disappointed.
I have a thing for older furniture so I frequently stop into thrift shops to check out what they have. I’ve purchased numerous pieces from this store prior to their renovation in October and for pretty reasonable prices.
I went in today actually needing a piece of furniture on short notice, and thought for sure I’d find something that would work since I didn’t need anything particular, just something at a good price. I was completely wrong.
The sale today was 50% off everything in the store. Even AFTER that 50% came off, they didn’t have anything furniture for much under about $ 75. The couple of things I liked were still over $ 100 — not much less than what I can get a similar item for BRAND NEW. Considering the disrepair of the items in particular — one was barely standing, missing the hardware, had mold on it, cracked wood, broken light fixture– it would need complete structural repair, possibly some wood cut out and patched from termite damage (and was still $ 75 after the 50% off discount) — I will strongly consider not going back.
Its too bad because they have some wonderful staff, and often get some really cool pieces, but for the prices I’m seeing, I expect something better than a practically destroyed piece of furniture from the 90’s.
They still have some great items, but I won’t be buying furniture here again unless they manage to go back to their old prices.

The store is back open again after being closed for a remodel. They moved the clothes around, but other than that there’s not a lot of difference. They do have more of the boutique clothes than they did before, which means you will pay more for those.
The racks are super disorganized, and some of the men’s clothes were tagged as women’s items. It looks like the 50% special is pretty much permament, but doesn’t apply to fancy stuff. A couple of my items were actually 75% off, but it was a surprise because there was no way to tell on the tag.
Basically, it’s the same as any thrift store: be willing to plow through crazy racks, try stuff on in the aisles, and know a great bargain when you see it.
$ 20 bought– a military style sweat jacket, a mens long sleeve tee, 2 ss tees (rvca & band), a hooded l/​s, a Custo Barcelona l/​s, an embroidered wool shawl, and a crazy soccer muffler!

Sooo overpriced. I’m ok with paying a bit more for things when I goes to a good cause but this place is out of my retail price range for NEW items. I could not believe the prices…1^st item i pickrd up was a basic brass plate ($ 35), then I went to the furniture section and noticed a dining chair in am ugly fabric cover ($ 75), Wicker chair ($ 110), and dated veneer coffee table ($ 150)?! I was in shock. I don’t know how anyone could afford to show here, while I didn’t check out the clothes I felt no need to. I won’t be back and would advise others not to either. You can find much better deals at thrift stores closer to the coast or craigslist.

So I had twenty dollars in my pocket and was ready to pop some tags… I stumbled across this location and boy was I happy! Although most of the store was in disarray, they had enough staff trying their best to keep things in line. However their lines were long and only had two people timing customers up. I decided not to buy R. Kelly’s sheets as it did look abused but I did find a Lacoste Polo for only $ 2! Holla cause I saved that dolla dolla! Big ups to this Salvation Army cause I found a few new items with tags still on them…

They were closed for a remodel I think but opened up this weekend. So happy. The prices are fair and have a great selection.
Personally, I wish there were more baby clothes. For that I go to Valley Thrift. But other than that it’s great. Friendly workers and not too crowded.
Can’t wait to go back!

When I walked in, it was like all that is intrinsically me was suddenly validated! I am frugal, determined, style savvy, and an all around style beast! I was able to score awesome pieces for dirt cheap!

Definitely one of my favorite places to thrift in Escondido. They have lots of great selection, ESPECIALLY furniture & are always running good deals on certain days. I’ve seen:
75% off items 10 days or older
50% off certain colored tags
25% off everything
$ 15 for $ 30 deal through Unilocal
The parking is super plentiful too! It’s fairly organized, but you definitely have to search for gems. It’s a HUGE store!

This is probably one of my favorite Salvation Army stores. They are clean and near but also give you that thrifty hunt atmosphere that’s fun. The only downside about this place is that there are no fitting rooms :(I have been to a couple other Salvation Army stores that have a fitting room which is very helpful. If you like records they have a ton! They have just about everything and that’s why I love this store (:

I’ve found some great furniture here in the past. My favorite piece being a 1960’s administrator desk (retails on eBay for $ 1500) I scored it for $ 16.
The store looks really old and the clothing and other stuff is pretty much just thrown on racks and in piles so I almost never bother with it.
It’s not expensive here though like other thrift stores in the area so I stop in every once and a while.

A big plus of this place is that, even though it looks like it was last painted during the Carter administration (which I think it actually was), it’s tidy inside and the A/​C works.
Merchandise quality tends to be on the down side of acceptable. They do have some of the more interesting tech merchandise now and again; I found a vintage ¼″ tape deck in working condition and a lovely Canon film camera body for not much.
They have a HUGE selection of books and vinyl Lps. There are, no joke, 24 linear feet of vinyl records. That’s the good news; the bad news is that they’ve all been used for coasters and frisbees. My heart was broken by a 1959 Modern Jazz Quartet Lp on Atlantic with a beautiful, glossy laminated cover — and a platter that resembled a pizza platter inside. No fair!
Lots of clothes, some major appliances. Furniture is plentiful, but is all uniformly ratty — just this side of acceptable. People are nice, though, and there are frequent ½-​off sales.

Hands down the best thrift store in San Diego. I love this place! Lots of furniture, lots of kitchen items!
We stumbled upon this Salvation Army Thrift Store after coming back from Julian. Lucky us! It happened to be Saturday (which is 50% off days!) and we scored a great couch for $ 30.
A very large and spacious store, this place has something for everyone. If you’re looking for clothing, it’s a little disorganized but there are lots of items to look at.
Stop by on Saturdays and get 50% off your purchases! It’s worth the drive.