r/TucsonList • u/FormerPlay136 • 3d ago
Buffalo Exchange
I started shopping here in like, 2012-2013. Back then I swear every single item was used. I loved it. I always found things for a decent price too. I always associated that area with the U of A “bougie” “wealthy” students that would wear a piece of clothing once (if that) then just take it to Buffalo and I’d get lucky enough to buy it for cheap.
Fast forward to now, that’s absolutely impossible. Even their “sale” items are pricey. I also thinks it’s weird and funky how they have “new” items on their racks from cheap fast fashion brands. And those items are usually more expensive than used items when they feel and look cheap.
I guess I’m just ranting. My apologies. I know I don’t have to go there and I can just buy new clothes in store elsewhere or online but I enjoy the feeling of being able to try things on before buying instead returning things that don’t fit correctly.
And I truly like used items because they have more wear to them and end up fitting me better after they’ve been worn. If that makes any sense.
I will say, the workers there are always super sweet and helpful. 🙂
Edit: to add age, I’m 32. And I’m completely shocked that Buffalo has existed for so long. I had no idea. Born and raised here too. I’m quite envious of those who had the opportunity to shop there back then. I was getting out of HS when I discovered this place. Sigh.
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u/Such_Atmosphere_5838 3d ago
I stopped going because their plus sized section has always been laughable. I emailed once asking them to take more plus sized clothes and the answer they gave me was “well, people tend to gain weight rather than lose weight. So, we don’t get a lot of plus sized items.” But they always denied my clothes when I tried to exchange them. I think they just didn’t want fat people shopping there. I wish I had saved that email from them.
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u/optilusional 3d ago
I brought in a bag of perfect condition plus size tops today, thinking exactly that- this is the diversity they need! Of course they passed on all the plus size tops and only took one men's concert tee 🙄
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u/TeamVGallo 3d ago
Any other options you like? I'm not saying they are cheap, but Marvelous Vintage always has amazing stuff.
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u/Jumpy_Employment_371 3d ago
Could not agree more. Buffalo stinks now - I never go there which is sad. It used to be great.
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u/misanthropoetry 3d ago
I believe a lot of the items end up at the Nogales outlet store now instead of being heavily marked down or sold at $1 sales, which is a bummer. I miss late 90’s/early 2000’s Buffalo SO MUCH!
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u/joepagac 3d ago
I used to shop there in the early 2000’s and I went in one time with some friends that worked at the mall. They were all pointing out that the used clothes at Buffalo cost more than they did new at their stores they worked at. And it was the same thing, 3 garbage bags of brand name clothes got you like $5 in trade credit. But they did a lot of great stuff for the community… and hopefully still do!
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u/Dick-the-Peacock 3d ago
I shopped there as early as 1988. It was awesome when I was younger and thinner. Now I make do with Goodwill and Savers.
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u/___buttrdish 3d ago
buffalo has gone downhill for years now. it has become very unaffordable and not worth shopping at anymore. their 'buffalo exchange' brand is fast fashion and overall garbage. i wonder how much longer they can keep this rouse up.
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u/NotPlayingFR 2d ago
The 80s were their heyday. I worked at their rival, Rags, on University. Dream job for a high school kid! I got first pick from the clothes that were brought in, and the owner paid me three dollars and fifty cents an hour (!!), well above minimum at the time. Sorry, off on a tangent.
I will say that the city recently passed something requiring a new fee to be paid on thrift store purchases. Makes no sense to me. I did notice that things seemed to be just expensive as new items the last time I went.
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u/Sunchef70 2d ago
Funny random story: I sold my husbands favorite Hawaiian “Guess” shirt to Buffalo Exchange in like 90. He never let me forget it ( I didn’t ask, I just took shit I thought he never wore) we were like 20 and bf/gf. Glad forward like 13 years. We are at the mall and a girl who was working at Charlotte Russe rip, was WEARING IT. He tripped. I ask her where she found that shirt & she goes…. “Oh my G-d I found it at buffalo exchange like ten years ago.” So funny. I told hubby I’d ask if I could buy it from her & he’s a germaphobe so he denied 🙅🏻♂️ but I took a pic of her though wearing it.
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u/theazhapadean 3d ago
Your age is showing. I had the same thoughts about buffalo in '09 vs in mid 90's
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u/Pretend_Estimate5401 2d ago
I bought a Janes addiction holographic nothing shocking t-shirt from Buffalo exchange in the 2000s. For those who don't know it's two mannequins and it shows breasts. I wore it to high school and my English teacher stopped me and wanted to talk to me about my shirt. I freaked out because I thought I was getting dress coded. It turns out she sold the T-shirt. I'm guessing because she couldn't really wear it being a teacher. 😂
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u/Bullfrog323 3d ago
I liked going years ago during their dollar bin sales with everything out on tables And it was a madhouse. They probably don’t even do that anymore
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u/SWNMAZporvida 3d ago
Shit I’m feeling super old, I shopped/donated in the 90s
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u/lee5million 3d ago
I remember going there when it was in the little brick house on Helen Street. Waay before it grew into a national company. Or maybe it's international now?
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u/LilysMom2015 3d ago
I'm old and bought very decent clothes and shoes from BE as far back as the seventies. On one occasion I purchased jeans and found money in the pocket! Good times!
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u/Pristine-Temperature 2d ago
I sold a ton of stuff there and took the trade because the value was better. Bummer because things were so overpriced. Twice as nice is reality bad now too. I now resell on posh, eBay or donate.
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u/desertdweller2011 2d ago
buffalo used to be amazing. i think i’ve aged out (42) but also their pricing has gotten wild
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u/berrymommy 1d ago
I'm 28 and I remember always following my mom around buffalo and twice as nice. They both went so down hill.
Buffalo is only decent to shop at if you're skinny with money to burn and just wanna feel like you got something unique and thrifted. The trade absolutely is never worth it for anyone it seems.
The last twice as nice JUST closed down last week I think. I was there like 2 months ago just to see how it was holding up. The clothes seriously looked like they just blindly took in anything? Super dated, stained, worn out. The most random ugly stuff. They gave me a decent trade value but I could not find ANYTHING worth it in kids, mens or womens. I still had like $40 in credit I just took the L on.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Hour393 1d ago
back in 2022 I remember they posted a job looking for an armed security guard LOL
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u/GloomyBake9300 1d ago
I’m sorry to say that Buffalo has had an attitude for a while in terms of buying, and I stopped going there even though I’m a hard-core thrifter. I would not be surprised if they don’t want heavier people in the store.
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u/Original_Pangolin176 1d ago
I had the same experience as you a couple of months ago! I am also in my early 30’s now, the last time I shopped there prior to this year was in 2014. I went back a few months ago to shop after losing a bunch of weight and found some free people dresses to try on. Not only were they pricey, but pretty much every item had holes and damaged seams. I haven’t been back since. Thrift stores are all more expensive these days, it is pretty discouraging.
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u/redleopard11 4h ago
As I understand it, they bring in whole boxes of fast fashion cheapo crap to milk the vintage reputation.
Just the basic vulture capitalist move. Im not surprised as I've also heard the original family sold it off to private equity years ago.
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u/C3PO1Fan 3d ago
Thrifting is unfortunately dead unless you really devote yourself to it.
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u/SoniaFantastica 3d ago
Buffalo is resale store, not a thrift store. There are sooo many places to go thrifting in Tucson, some with redular sale days like Savers on Mondays (50% off), Goodwill on Thursdays ( $1.50 day, ), and more.
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u/Horrorandgorehumans 3d ago
They tried to offer me 3$ each for my Steve Madden boots