Over here the thrift / secondhand stores are usually charities, so it's kinda expected the employees are volunteered or low paid.
I'm confident that since they work there, they get first pickings of anything of value - jewelry, rare albums/books, collectibles - before it ends up for sale. I can't begrudge them that, they offer a valuable service and all, but at the same time I'm jealous of others who find great stuff at thrift stores.
The better used books are sold by the thrift stores on Amazon. It's pretty obvious they pull those out before they reach the shelves. It only makes sense.
Of course, they overlook some good stuff and it winds up on the shelves, too.
I don't begrudge the staff from picking out what they want.
I also know that quite a bit of the donations are simply sent straight to the dump.
I'm confident that since they work there, they get first pickings of anything of value - jewelry, rare albums/books, collectibles - before it ends up for sale. I can't begrudge them that, they offer a valuable service and all, but at the same time I'm jealous of others who find great stuff at thrift stores.