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True Value Vintage Clothing
Categories: Shopping Fashion Used, Vintage & Consignment Shopping Thrift Stores Used, Vintage & Consignment, Thrift Stores [Edit]
4578 Main StVancouver, BC V5V 3R2
Neighbourhood: Riley Park
(604) 876-2218
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
20 reviews for True Value Vintage Clothing
20 reviews in English
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Review from Sahra G.
7/4/2011
Pretty sure this is one of the best vintage stores I have been to in a long time. Great selections of everything, and even new clothing reasonably priced.
I got the best pair of mom high waisted jean shorts here for $15..... that was the deal of the summer for me.
If you want vintage clothes this is the spot. -
Review from Evilyn T.
5/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The famous location of whatever is trendy in Vancouver. I remember when this place was the Underground, selling gothic clothing with a piercing studio in the back corner. Now that times have changed, this location has become True Value Vintage, where hipsters and vintage dolls can come and indulge in new and used clothing for cheap.
I was technically not even looking for anything when I stepped inside, while the BF was out putting up posters and flyers in the stairwell, when I happened to notice a fur shrug. I know some of you may frown upon those of us who wear real fur, and in all honesty, its the first piece of real fur I own. I'm trying to justify it to myself by saying that its vintage, since it was someone else's before it became mine, and as a second-hand shopper I have done no harm. I mean when you buy skulls, and feathers, they had to come from somewhere too right? In any case, the soft white fur wraparound for my shoulders was only $20, and will make me look even more retro 50's Hollywood glam, so I sucked up my morals and bought it.
The staff were very happy to ring me through, which was a delight, since trendy places seem to be filled with elite assholes, who make it such a chore to help you, when its actually their job. I will be happy to return to this secret underground garage sale, but word on the street is that they are moving, so I may not have the chance to visit as often as I'd like.Listed in: Tips from the Halloween Queen
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Review from Nadine C.
Vancouver, BC
6/1/2011
I LOVE THIS PLACE! The trendy decor, low lighting, and racks of 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's clothing make for one amazing ambiance. Also, True Value Vinatage stocks some new clothing, which often goes on sale because of their small basement space. Their used clothing stock is pricier than other used clothing/consignment stores, but well worth it because of they've got awesome selection. (They're having a major sale until June/July when they move to Main Street). I got an awesome vintage t-shirt for a good price of $15, and my friend left with a too-cute romper and waist belt. Be sure to check out the jewelry counter, there's often something glittery that will catch your eye. But make sure to check clothing for rips or tears (like with any used clothing store). I tried on a dress only to find that the zipper had been ripped off, fraying the fabric on the back. :(
Other than that, this place is great. Check it out! -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
4/18/2011
Oh man. SO sad this place is moving to Main St. I mean does Main St need ANOTHER store for the hipsters to amass even more 70s glasses?!? Le sigh.
Anyway, on my way home decided to pop but with only 20min to spare I was barely able to glance at all the great deals...2 tank tops for 15$, converse for $15-35 (bought some purple low tops for 30$!!!) it's a total smorgasborg right now so take advantage!
They leave the neighborhood in June!!! (or July can't remember) -
Review from Sonya R.
Burnaby, BC
7/20/2009
Yes, I AM a fan indeed. The clothes here, especially new ones, are often really nice and the quality is good. Most stuff - yes, I don't like. Not the best quality and grungy looking. This is why I hate the whole vintage shopping thing. But to me, as long as I find one or two things that I love, I love the whole store... because of its "potential," y'know?
I bought a beautiful purple mini-dress for 20$, marked down from 60$, brand new from Piko 1988 and a vintage black and white striped seventies maxi dress, from Nu Mode or some such thing. It really is special, and flattering. A dress would never sell for such the price I got it for anywhere else, it'd be 100$ at least. Honestly, I don't find such quality in stores like Banana Republic.
Items get priced down quickly, every two weeks or so, because they like bringing in new stock regularly, unlike your Zara's and H&M's, which get slimmer and slimmer picking for what seems like an ENTIRE SEASON. Much better strategy than having a store gradually end up with less and less wearable sizes and appealing items.Listed in: Shopping around
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Review from kath r.
2/26/2009
I love True Value Vintage becuase you never know what you're going to find in that Robson Street basement.
A good mix of new items amongst the hand selected Vintage consignment pieces, TVV has a huge selection of stuff from skinny jeans to fun plastic jewelry, vintage beaded dresses and a plethora of cowboy boots.
The store is well laid out with clothing displayed in 'eras', which is also noted on the tag - a true time saver as you can just go to the '70s dresses' or 'early vintage' racks. Of course, NOT having to rummage through for that winning find takes a little of the thrill out of vintage/consignment shopping.
The service is always friendly withe the staff happy to offer an honest opinion and suggestions (if you hike up the hem, it would be more flattering). Sure, it's more expensive that Value Village but good deals can easily be found (like the 100% wool long black skirt for the bargain price of $16!). And as an added bonus? They offer layaway with 20% down for up to a year. -
Review from Mathieu Y.
Vancouver, BC
11/12/2009
This store is one of my favorite on the downtown Granville strip. The staff and pickers have a good sense for fashion and leave all the choices up to the customer. The clothes are all in good condition (no holes, no tears, etc) and could pass off as new if they didnt have that "50s" or "60s" tag. And yes, it is true that people in the 50s-70s didnt all wear this stuff (think khakis, parted hair,and wolf shirts people!) but the well dressed of that era did. Besides, if you truly want to put the vintage angle on it;s prices, at least these picks havent been subject to inflation! ha!
They have a lot of cool guys jackets and pants. Leather coats (sometimes selling for $200+!!), sports coats, they even stock uniforms from boy scout to gas jockey despite it no longer being trendy to wear them. Their jeans are split in to eras as well, with some pairs holding up better than others. Just as with all vintage, buyer beware!
The staff are pretty attentive and the music and atmosphere of the place is not very imposing. I'm not sure if they act like snobs as some people claim since I've always seemed to get along with them.
If youre new to the city and looking to do some shopping, and maybe partying after, check out the local zines/papers and promotions that fill the stairwell. The majority of them are written about Vancouvers live music scene, but include other bits of information about the city as well. True Value always has them stocked.
Overall, a fairly priced and well stocked consignment store on the corner of two streets full of over priced logos. -
Review from Teshia M.
Maple Ridge, BC
1/21/2011
Whenever I venture downtown I stop in to this great shop. Being a plus girl I get the occasional stare or pitty look but I've found MANY great dresses here! It's a little over priced but check out he bargin bins! 10 dollar shoes and dresses!
I've found that like at most places some of the staff is awesome while some can be a little snobby. Be sure to stop by and check out the great jewelry and cute dresses! -
Review from Reena M.
1/18/2010
This place is sooooo cool!! I came here to shop for an outfit for the Mad Men Elite event with a friend and saw some many cool, weird, funky, and, sweet articles of clothing! You can find them for decent prices, but some of them are ridiculously overpriced.
The jewelry is very fun, and reasonably priced! -
Review from May B.
Vancouver, BC
7/27/2010
Their location right in the heart of downtown Granville makes it almost impossible for me to not pop in whenever I'm nearby. They've got a large selection of both new and vintage items so you can find almost anything in here: belts, scarves, leather and varsity jackets, brand new Chuck Taylors and vintage cowboy boots, fedoras and bowlers, jewelry, lingerie, etc, etc, etc.
For new merchandise they carry labels like Zachary's Smile and Piko 1988 that are moderately priced but are often marked down. They also carry new Chuck Taylors, sandals, and boots. Check out the $10 shoe bin too, you never know what you might find. I love the racks of party dresses from the 50s and 60s - they're way too much fun. They always have great items on sale.
The jewelry display is probably my favourite part of the store. The glass cases contain new items like crazy charm necklaces that never cost more than $30 a piece, plus bowls of $10 bangles and rings.
My only beef with the store is that you get a bit of tourist fare wandering about because of its location. -
Review from Noa G.
Vancouver, BC
9/22/2008 1 photo
Though it can be considered a step or two up from Value Village, you can actually only access True Value Vintage by going a level down to the basement space it occupies near the corner of Granville and Robson.
This place is great for good, quality, funky secondhand clothing. The selection is absolutely huge, and because every piece is handpicked, you won't be spending a lot of time rummaging through trash to get to the really good stuff.
Only downfall? It's MUCH pricier than, say, your average Value Village wares. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2008
Vintage received the kiss of death in the nineties. Then newly coined as trendy, vintage clothing lost its uniqueness. Or maybe it's just that I've lost the patience to rummage through trunks of moth-ridden clothing only to pay slightly less here than I would at some of the other stores down the road. Vintage now seems old and whatever treasure-like quality it possessed at one point now just seems contrived.
This rampage against vintage clothing isn't a direct criticism on the part of True Value Vintage. Rather, it's just a comment on how that spontaneously artful combination between the old and new is now lost and in its place is a borrowed and tired eclecticism. True Value Vintage feels over-styled and pretentious, where ironic granny style clothing is worn like a badge of honour by every salesperson and their cat. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2008
I almost want to give this place two stars. Some of what it chooses to do, how it chooses to price its items, really gets under my skin. What should be known about T.V.V. is it is expensive. They play off the trends and price things according to demand. It's all smoke and mirrors and that's a little frustrating with used clothing.
That said, they have one of the better selections of good pieces in Vancouver. Like Mintage and some of the other big stores they clearly pay a premium from vintage liquidators to get only the hip, interesting pieces and then the customer foots the bill. But there is just that, interesting pieces. If you're looking for something very specific you're likely to find it and a few other options here.
If you're looking for really high quality vintage, and vintage that fits the current trends, this is a place to hit up. Just be ready to spend through the nose for it. Sometimes it pays to hunt around at the real old time vintage places so you can get the deals which used to be synonymous with vintage. -
Review from Vannessa S.
Burnaby, BC
3/29/2011
A great place tucked away in the middle of downtown. The atmosphere is awesome, arty and fresh. The people are so sweet and friendly and will offer to set up a dressing room the moment they see you carrying your clothes around. Speaking of the clothes... the selection is fabulous, not just for dresses and jackets but there are some awesome accessories if you look around! Make sure to crawl through their $5 bin, there are some real treasures there! They mark the decade of all the clothing which is nice when it isn't clear.
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Review from Brianne A.
Vancouver, BC
5/15/2010
If I could choose "no stars" out of 5 I would! Horrible, rude sales staff!!! I tried to return a pair of brand new converse shows I hadn't even taken out of the box. When I purchased them I asked the sales person the return policy. She said thirty days with receipt. I bought the shoes, took them home, then had to go out of town. When I returned I saw them sitting in the box and decided I wan't ever gonna wear them. I tried to return them today and the snobbiest girl said that none of them would have ever said I had 30 days to return them, I said yes the lady who sold them to me did, she smirked at me and wouldn't allow it.
I know a lot of people in the music industry in vancouver, being in a band myself. These people love vintage clothing and I would never EVER recommend any of them to go there. Who cares about the crappy overpriced clothes they have in there, where did that good old fashion "vintage customer service" go?
I will never return... it was a horrible, uncomfortable enviroment! -
Review from Ruby D.
Vancouver, BC
10/22/2010
Definitely Vancouver's largest vintage store. Good selection, but the focus seems to be on newer vintage. Of course I've found some great 50's & 60's dresses here, but look closely as they don't do any repairs before stocking the racks. Beware of stains, holes, etc... I found the prices pretty fair, staff helpful, and overall it's a pretty fun place to spend an hour or two. Lots of shoes, hats, accessories, you name it. Oh, and lots of men's stuff.
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Review from Jenni B.
2/2/2009
I occassionally like vintage shopping so I will make my perodic stop into TVV. However, I have never actually bought anythign there. I like that the tag dates the item into an era (easier for shoppers who haven't studied the history of fashion), I found an absolutely gorgeous dress from the fifties which my immediate inclination was to purchase on the spot, however the $150 price tag changed my mind - I don't see the sense in buying something vintage for authenticity when you can buy similar items cheaper, you will just end up returning it to good will anways right? I'm sure there are deals to be had, I'd say its hit or miss though. Check it out for some fun anyways, as they have a lot from the 80s its a bit entertaining at least.
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Review from Darien C.
BC
11/17/2008
Just because it's vintage, doesn't mean it's nice. More importantly, just because vintage is stylish now doesn't mean you can gouge prices on old, used clothing. True Value Vintage is anything but. The store is downstairs of Robson Street and essentially occurs at the beginning of the Robson shopping strip. Like any second hand store, there are gems to be found. However unlike most second hand stores, the prices don't reflect the fact that this stuff is used. New clothing costs this much. If you're looking for a good winter jacket this place isn't a bad choice, they have some nice stuff and it merits a browse.
I do find it remarkably tedious being in a store where the staff is so freaked out of shoplifters. Now I don't know if it was the Armani coat I had on or the three hundred dollar Nikes, but the staff leered over me while I was there. Hardly an inviting way to treat the customers, looks like my money ain't green. -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2008
Okay okay, I understand that 'vintage' is considered another euphemism for 'old' and under this definition it should also be considered 'cheap'...unfortunately, this is no longer the case but I refuse to believe that you cannot find some seriously good gems at True Value Vintage...at truly good values! Case in point: I found an amazing dress for 40 dollars that fit me like a glove and I later discovered was worth over 200 dollars. Just last week I found a pink leather bustier...YES, a PINK LEATHER BUSTIER for 10 bones (originally 30)! I mean, Halloween is right around the corner and no one else saw fit to add this to their collection?! If I had the balls I might even consider wearing this on a regular night out, but for now its worthy of my Madonna-esque costume for this year. Accessories are also abundant, I love rummaging through the scarves bin, 2 for 5 bucks, you can never have enough scarves. Jewellery, hats, shoes, sun-glasses as well as new clothes that are cute and affordable, can be found here. Trust the Queen of bargain shopping!
Listed in: If I HAVE to wear clothes...
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Review from Luisa D.
12/24/2009
I think the staff at this store are so absolutely, adorably lovely! I had a funny (to me anyway) incident recently. My son texted me that he 'found a ballin coat that looked like something Trudeau would wear'. I was pretty impressed with his reference to our stylish former Prime Minister and looked up Ballin and it's a good coat company. Said son didn't have bank card with him and had to rush off to work. I called the store and described the coat letting them know the company name. I went in a bit later and they had the coat set aside. The only problem was that the brand was Brent but they said it was the only one fitting the description. Well I took it to my son at work and his eyes lit up: It was the coat. So why did he tell me it was Ballin? He was like, Ballin, what's Ballin? I told him he'd texted me that the brand was Ballin. Noooooo, ballin' like stylin'! Oh geez! So I went in the other day and the same staff were on. I told them the story and they got a good chuckle. We chatted about that and how one of them is engaged to a girl with the same name as my son's girlfriend, blah, blah, blah. They're all so sweet. Oh - earlier this winter I got a beautiful, Canadian made, lined, tweed trench-style coat for $65! I get so many compliments on it and know that it's unlikely that I'll bump into anyone with the same coat. That's a bargain in my books.
Listed in: Shop 'till you drop!
