You people have to be kidding! I shop at Goodwill and Salvation Army, I buy name brand clothing at both places, a top--$2.00, a brand new (still had store tags attached) pair of women's pants--$2.00, a winter coat(still had store tags attached) with down filling---$10.00.
How did you know the stand was formica. Looks antique to me and a lot of antique furniture had an over-lay of the same wood the piece was made from. The feet on the stand give it away. If it is antique, with a little refurbishing, it could be an expensive piece of period furniture. As far as the elephant planter is concerned: Where is the elephant? The plastic greenery alone at a retail store would be Apx. $10.00 a bush and there are at least 3 in your picture. My opinion is that these pictures and prices didn't come from either thrift stores you said you visited, but an antique store. From my old neighbor hood there was a thrift store run by a church and attached to it was an antique store, those prices were according to period of manufacturer. Of all the Thrift stores, Salvation Army Ceo's get the lowest salary of any other charity organization, including all the other organizations. My husband was in WWII, he smoked. This particular Charitable organization made the service men pay for their cigarettes. My suggestion is that you have those stores investigated. There is a law against Mark-up on clothing.