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The Ideal Experience of Thrifting: Interviews
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Moderator:Kanika
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Notetaker:Kanika
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Interviewee:
Eduardo Dodge, Age: 33
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Date:1/28/2024
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Time:04:30PM-05:30PM
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PID#Topic/QuestionNotesObservation (Optional)Code/Tag
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#006Can you share your overall experience with thrift shopping?When I'm going on a trip, go around some cities market. I went to West Virginia, they had all local artists and things and so I like experiencing those sorts of places. I like to collect little memories from the trip.
I like antiques. Sometimes random things, I think one of my last purchases was a pasta maker and it was like brand new and it was beautiful.		Randomly visit stores while traveling and in local area. #local #trip #memory #city #market
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#006What motivates you to choose thrift stores over other retail options?I look for old little things that you can find antiques. I'm on a trip and I want to just find something interesting. That reminds me of that trip. And things I can't find on Amazon, like local things.

Like antiques and local items. #antiques #local #interesting
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#006How frequently do you engage in thrift shopping, and has this frequency changed over time?I used to visit more in the past, especially as a student because, of cheap items. Now several months, like just a few times per year.

Usually when moving to new a new place. #student #moving #months
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#006Who introduced you to thrifting/How and when did you discover thrifting?Not common in Brazil, but I was aware of it from family and had more significant exposure to it in America because it is part of the culture, and in Savannah, it has a historical context.
Began thrifting in home country. Started exploring more afer moving to America, especially Savannah. #brazil #family #savannah
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#006Which stores do you visit when thrifting?I don't remember their names. Just remember Savannah, there was one called thrifty. If I am travelling, I like to visit the stores in local markets.Likes to visit various stores depending on which country and area he is travelling. #savannah #local #market
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#006What factors influence your decision to thrift shop, such as budget considerations, sustainability, or unique finds?Reusing items is always a plus. Cultural experience, you know, just go into different places, getting things you wouldn't find otherwise than vintage stuff. I buy clothes, furniture, appliances kitchenware.
I buy a lot of furniture like Goodwill and I donate a lot to Goodwill. kitchen appliances are what I bought the most in the past, like pans and cutlery, etc.

Appreciates the experience of thrifting.#local #vintage #furniture #kitchenware #goodwill
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#006What is your budget whil thrifting? What is the maximum you have spent while thrifting?I spend minimum $30 but if they have some interesting antiques and items that I think can be useful I do not mind spending more. Recently spent a max of $150.
Usually do not worry about spending.#antiques #interesting
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#006How would you rank your priorities while thrift shopping?1. Sustainability/Locale 2. Uniqueness 3. Useful Uniqueness is the deal breaker.#local #useful #unique #sustainability
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#006Is there a sense of community you like at stores? Is that a factor?Not really, I mainly like themed events.Prefers individual experience over community.#themed #unique
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#006Do you shop with a particular strategy in mind, or do you enjoy the spontaneity of browsing?I would have the goal in mind, but it's so easy to get distracted, and the thrift shop you know, and up always takes a few items more. Especially if they're really cheap
Tend to buy more than he intended. #distracted #affordable
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#006How much time do you typically spend during a thrift shopping session?Around 40 minutes, I like to explore the shop.
An explorer. #explore
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#006Would that time vary when your looking for something?Not really, when I need to buy something, I spend less time exploring random items.#explore #random #time
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#006Do you tend to thrift alone or with someone?With somebody, usually my girlfriend. I like to chitchat while exploring the store.Prefers to thrift with someone.#talk #group #couple
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#006Is your thrifting experience different when your with a friend?I enjoy thrifting better with friends, due to interesting conversations. and we buy more random stuff. That is super fun.Spend more and buy more random items with friends. #random #friends #conversation
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#006To what extent does the sustainability aspect of thrift shopping influence your choices?I keep in mind you and it makes me feel good that I am reusing something and I'm not buying something brand new. I found a pair of like a set of kitchen knives and they were clearly 100 years old. They're all rusty and everything and that was amazing because I got to rebuild the knives and polish them up and that was like a really cool moment for me because I saw how much they got, and so even added to the value of the set.
Sustainability matters to me, and the other part would be more like a historical perspective. It's always cool to find old things and wonder who had them before.
Sustainability is a deciding factor. Enjoy collecting unique items. Do not prefer driving due to environmental concerns. #unique #sustainability #environment #driving
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#006Have you noticed any changes in your shopping behavior due to environmental concerns?Yeah, I have environmental concerns, and my shopping experience has changed since the pandemic. I have started shopping online for groceries and other things, using Instacart. I personally decided to stop driving my car, and all my cars have been secondhand. it's like most of them do not purchase a brand-new vehicle. So that's that's for me is like the more sustainable side like I'm not driving, I'm using public transportation.

Behavior change due to COVID-19 started to buy online more and continued after the pandemic. #environment #online #experience
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#006Have you encountered any challenges or concerns while thrift shopping? For example, issues with cleanliness, organization, or limited selection.if something is extra dirty, I'm probably not going to buy it. But if it's easy to clean, then it is fine. I'm generally more concerned about the overall wear and tear of the piece. I want it to be usable, you know, and last long. Something I would always buy is if I find a cast iron, and absolutely, I'm gonna buy it because I know that's just gonna last, the next seven generations. I just need to boil it up, and it's going to be okay. So those sorts of things I'm definitely interested in.

Care about how the product looks and feels. Usability and long-lasting factors matter. #quality #cleanliness #usable
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#006How do you navigate and overcome challenges associated with the thrift shopping experience?They're usually pretty packed, and sometimes it even feels disorganized, but it feels like you're discovering things as you go along, which is fantastic.
Sometimes, they always have these weird backrooms. And it feels like I should be going in here or it is blocked off. And so it's just kind of cool, discovering insights.
Like to explore things and get excited when find something interesting.#experience #discover #fantastic
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#006Can you share a memorable thrift shopping experience where you found something unique or unexpected?Oh my gosh, this is a beautiful story. My girlfriend. She had this really fond memory of her grandma.
She would always go to his house. And she had this little dispenser which was a mason jar, little glass jar full of M&Ms. Her grandmother had a single one, and she told me how good those memories are. then we went to Virginia wants to thrift shop and in one of those back rooms we found a very similar one little M&M dispenser, and so we bought it, and we were so happy to find it. We were so happy we both cried. It was great. I think there's definitely that emotion there. Yeah, like buying an old pocket knife. It's kind of cool. It feels like a find a treasure.


Excited to find exactly an unexpected item and got emotional. #grandma #nostalgic #memorable
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#006Do you feel a sense of community when thrift shopping? How important is the community aspect to your shopping experience?I don't I'm not sure if I feel a sense of community because it's I've really only experienced through shopping in a culture that is not mine.
So I feel like I am discovering places' history through it—especially antique shops.
Historical context and antiques excites him. #antique #history
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#006Are there cultural or social aspects related to thrift shopping that resonate with you?It is not a part of my culture, so I do not have anything to share. #culture
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#006Have you tried online thrift shopping, and if so, how does the experience compare to traditional thrift shopping?I don't think I have. I've heard of many good sites that kind of do that. But I haven't really tried it out too much. Facebook marketplace for furniture, craigslist for secondhand cars if it counts.#quality #onlineshopping #online
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#006What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of online thrift shopping?I would like to find local things. Old pieces.
hopefully good quality.
I think the discovery of pieces is fun and essential. So if there's a mystery behind it, it's super fun. Buying local stuff because usually it's on Amazon, and so local markets have gone down quite a bit. So, I want to support local communities and local artists.
Would walk to a bakery, even if it’s expensive, and a bookstore and buy random books so that I can support locals.


Concerns about online stores because it is not suitable for local businesses. He prefers to support locals and buy random stuff whenever he can. #online #local #support
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