Sally Ann Auctions

This is a chair I bought during a Sally Ann Thrift Store auction last summer for $10 (the blue velvet Ikea cushions were scored for a few bucks each at my local thrift store). The chair wasn't part of the auction, though.

I don't know if all the Salvation Army Thrift Stores across the world have auctions, but the ones in Ontario, Canada do. I was curious about how they worked so I attended one in the summer and wrote about the experience for a shopping column.

Believe me, I could have written a novel about it and all the people I met.

The auctions are interesting beasts: they run for a month or so before the big event as a silent auction where you place bids on auction items you want in a binder. Then it all culminates in a live auction event. Generally, the really good stuff is reserved for the auction.

If you're a really competitive person, you'll likely get off on the auctions. If, on the other hand, you're like me and more of a stealthy thrift shopper, you may not enjoy the experience as much. I like finding the deals that people ignore -- hence this $10 Rattan chair I bought while the auction was in full force that was standing in full view of all the auction attendees!

Please read on and click on the link to read my shopping column about the event in the Town Crier group of newspapers, posted on the Ontario Salvation Army Thrift Store's website! Hopefully you'll have a laugh over it....

Click Here to read my experience at a Sally Ann auction!