I go to thrift stores all the time , you can get some really good deals there in fact there is a thrift store on Central Ave in the 5 towns right next door to all the fancy clothes stores and fancy restaurants. It isnt a big deal. Of course you have to rummage through the stuff to find the better stuff.
And they dont only have clothes, they have Dishes , furniture and toys , games and other stuff.
People shop at thrift stores all the time and there are plenty of them not even run by the Salvation Army (If you are worried about shopping there)
Ill even tell you another secret, We buy most of our Shoes from payless and many times the shoes last just as long or longer as the shoes from the more expensive shoe stores.
And if emotional needs are taken account, by that statement if a person like Sushi better than chicken (some people even hate chicken) rename Tomche Shabbos (Its english name is chickens for shabbos) , Sushi Shabbos and feel free to donate to it.