I love that Orcas Island has a lot of second-hand options, and The Exchange really brings it home that nothing is worth paying retail prices. Dream up anything you need around the house, the garden, or the tool shed, and you just might find it on any given day at The Exchange. The best part is that you get to name your price for it.
The Exchange is part of Orcas Recycling Services, which most of us call the dump. When your trash and recycling cans get full, you load it all in your car and drive it 5 minutes from town to the dump, where you pay $9 per can to throw away your trash and $4 per can to get rid of your recyclables. Then you back your car toward the huge receptacles and throw your stuff in.
Just beyond that area is The Exchange. You can drop off clothes, furniture, house and kitchen items, electronics, you name it. Or you can buy anything you see there for whatever you think it’s worth. Most of the time, I just have the folks behind the counter name the price they think I should pay. I’ve gotten brand new Ugg-like boots 
for $2, fantastic tables for $10-$20, and the most random odds and ends for almost nothing. Kids love it, too, because they can bring in a toy, game, or book, and trade it for something there that they like more.
My husband and our boys just took all our trash to the dump today and our younger one treated himself and his brother to two massive Nerf guns that he bought for $10 with his birthday money. In the past, he has found several very expensive LEGO sets that he’s brought home thanks to trades.
The other day when I was there I decided to mine through the gargantuan pile of clothing for sale in the back room. I had never taken the time to sift through it all before, but I saw their sign that says one grocery bag of clothing is $10. I had two pairs of boots in a half-empty bag at that point, so I figured I’d better fill it up. All the clothes are clean and, as I learned, you can find some really good stuff if you’re willing to dig. Even try new styles of swimwear and underwear you never previously considered when you had to pay retail prices. Here’s a look at what I got for $15 ($10 for clothes and unpriced boots, and $5 for vases and an umbrella)…
These photos are just some of the things. Here’s a list:
- 1 pair of women’s boots (Aerosoles)
- 1 pair of brand new rain boots
- brand new white capri pants (Mossimo)
- green striped cotton summer dress
- golf polo shirt (Athleta)
- 4 new pairs of high-waist underwear
- new black running shorts (Nike)
- high-waist swimsuit (Cupshe)
- new gray knee-length skirt (Eddie Bauer)
- hand-painted triangular silk scarf (Michelle Owenby)
- new plant-patterned umbrella
- brand new floral shirt (Mossimo)
- black wool leggings (Smartwool)
- plaid shorts (Old Navy)
- brand new 1-piece girls’ swimsuit
- 2-piece girls’ swimsuit
- 2 brand new girls’ swimsuit tops
- 1 bikini top
- 5 flower vases of various sizes
I don’t think each of us needs a closet full of the latest fashions, a house needing to be redesigned every few years, or a garage full of machines. It’s gentler on people and the environment to rotate through second-hand clothes, furniture, tools, and machines when you need them. That’s why I love that there are even more places besides The Exchange on Orcas Island that make it possible: Sequel consigns clothing, Score! Nifty Thrifty sells second-hand items, and The Trading Company consigns furniture and house items.
The newly rebuilt Exchange after a fire ruined the original
Prices are up to you and the staff
The finding is sometimes more fun than the having
A look down from the second floor
Jeff is in charge
One $10 bag full of all of this
