Not so at the Warwick Comunity Shop, however, where rock-bottom prices on second-hand men's, women's, children's, infants' clothing and household items, guarantee bargains galore.

Imagine a man's suit for $5, a child's dress for 50 cents, half a dozen champagne classes for $3.

That's how it is at the Middle Road, Warwick facility, which is open on Thursday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

But don't be fooled by the low, low prices: The merchandise is not rubbish.

Every item is carefully examined before it is placed on the racks and shelves to make sure it is sale-worthy. Faded, torn, dirty, stained or broken items never see the retail area.

While Community visited, the shop's treasurer Lady Sharpe selected two beautiful children's dresses -- one was hand-made and lace-trimmed from the Philippines that would cost less than $5. A far cry from city prices.

At the same time, other customers were busy making selections compared to store prices.

And that's the beauty of a thrift store -- you never know what you'll find.

"I have a friend who made the most gorgeous wool rug using the fabric from garments she bought here at rock bottom prices,'' Lady Sharpe said. "Not everything that people buy ends up being worn. A lot of things are recycled in other guises.'' Although the current location (in a building shared with the Warwick Post Office, a Government nursery school and clinic) is fairly new, the roots of the shop stretch back to the 1940s and 1950s, when the Thrift Shop, as it was then known, operated under the auspices of the Bermuda Welfare Society from a house on Camp Hill.

In the 1960s the shop moved to the old hearse house on Middle Road, but when the Welfare Society was taken over by Government, the revenue from the shop was redirected to the Lorraine Home for the elderly -- a tradition which continues to the present day.

"We have taken in over $30,000 in the last six years,'' treasurer Lady Sharpe said proudly. "When we were formed it was to help the elderly and needy of Warwick parish, so basically we now spend our money on the Lorraine Home.'' Such help has taken many forms -- from the purchase of carpeting and appliances to crockery and bedspreads to re-upholstering furniture -- or "all the nice extras'', as Lady Sharpe described them.

Throughout its history, the shop has always been staffed by volunteers. Today, they are led their dynamic chairman Mrs. Mary Johnson.

A dedicated worker, Mrs. Johnson loves the Warwick project, and is enthusiastic about its wares.

"It is amazing what you can find here,'' she said of the stock. "For those who have never been to a thrift shop, at least come once and look us over.

You'll be surprised.'' Even a cursory look at the racks reveals a colourful collection of sweaters, fashionable dresses, men's sports jackets and charming children's clothing.

There are books galore, as well as chinaware and small electrical appliances.

Everything is donated, for which the store operators are most grateful.

However, like other thrift shops in Bermuda, the Warwick Community Store has its problems. Bluntly put, some of the items arrive dirty and badly wrinkled.

"We have problems with things which should not be sent here,'' Mrs. Johnson admitted. "People jam soiled clothing into bags like dirty laundry. We don't have the facilities to wash and iron them and we cannot afford to have them dry cleaned, so what are we to do? We just have to throw them away.'' Not only is that a waste of the donor's and volunteers' time, but also of good merchandise.

"While we very much appreciate the things that are given to us it would be such a help if they were delivered clean and folded,'' Lady Sharpe urged.

As it is, the volunteers who help Mrs. Johnson are kept very busy sorting and pricing merchandise and keeping the shelves stocked.

An additional burden falls on Mrs. Johnson each day the shop is open. Due to space limitations, the actual shop occupies just one tiny room in the multi-purpose building. Because it is too small, on sale days half the merchandise is moved into a central area for the customer convenience, following which it must all be returned to the storage smaller room.

"It's a lot of hard work,'' Mrs. Johnson said. "But I love it.'' And so do the customers, it seems. Many are regulars who come week after week. On the day of our visit, one delighted shopper discovered some new velvet upholstery fabric which co-ordinated exactly with drapes she had bought the previous week.

Another was buying items to help the St. Brendan's Hospital patients. As with all businesses, the Warwick Community Shop needs more customers. "We have a recession, there is unemployment, and this is the place to be!'' Mrs. Johnson said.

In fact, she admitted that the "tons'' of baby clothes were the slowest sellers. Apparently young mothers are reluctant to put their children in second-hand clothing no matter how good its condition.

THE THRIFTY TEAM -- Thanks to the dedication of these volunteers (left to right) Miriam Trott, Lady Sharpe (treasurer), Shirley Richardson, Verna Bascome and Mary Johnson (chairman), the Warwick Community Shop is a favourite outlet for bargain hunters, and has earned more than $30,000 for the Lorraine Rest Home.