Thrift stores: we all know and love them. Whether they’re tiny hole-in-the-wall antique stores where you can find unexpected treasures or bigger secondhand chains, these places are gold mines filled with quality items for a fraction of the retail price.
Guess what else is great about thrifting? It’s better for the planet. Many clothing companies use unethical practices to make their clothing, to say nothing of the huge textile waste that ends up in landfills.
However, don’t think that buying secondhand means lower quality. Sure, it might mean that for some items but people everywhere have found amazing goods that have never been taken out of the box. These items range from jewelry to electronics to wedding dresses worth thousands of dollars. Let’s face it: there are few downsides to shopping at thrift stores.
But as it turns out, there’s a knack to it. Thrift store inventory, policies, and deals vary significantly from store to store, even when you’re shopping at a chain. Luckily, the thrifty people of the internet are here to give their best tips, tricks, and hacks to help you not only find the best items at your local thrift store but also score the best deals.
Large towns often have more inventory than they can handle. So, they ship extras to smaller towns. That’s where you can find less competition and possibly lower prices.
The college textbooks that you can find in thrift stores might be worth more than you think. Be sure to price the book’s ISBN number online at Abebooks.com. They have a textbook buyback program that lets you find out just how much a book is worth.
Don’t go to the thrift store on Saturday when everyone else is there. You’ll find more inventory on a Wednesday because the big crowds haven’t come in yet.
Video games have been around a long time, but don’t shy away from the oldies just because they’re getting a little pixelated around the edges. Sports games for older consoles are a clear winner here, and the good news is that you can find them just about anywhere.
Every store location is different, but chain thrift stores can be a gold mine for specific items. For example, Goodwill tends to run great deals on furniture, while Savers is a better option for finding quality clothing.
They might not be in vogue now and you might not even think they’re pretty, but many people love vintage Pyrex. If you happen to find a complete set, whatever color it is, you may be seeing green …in cash, of course.
If you ask the store staff what day they restock, you can visit at that time. That means you’ll be the first one to get your hands on the new inventory. Restocking day is usually at the beginning or in the middle of the week.
LEGO is a brand name that’s been around for decades. But the company changed it’s collections as time went by. Nostalgic folks love the LEGO toy blocks they grew up with and will pay for the privilege of walking down memory lane.
9. Save 5 percent by getting Goodwill gift cards on Raise.com
It might not seem like much, but if you’re a dedicated shopper, those percentages can add up. An extra 5 percent on everything you buy can save a lot of money in the long run.
10. Keep an eye out for classic video game cartridges
Video game cartridges from systems like Atari, SEGA, and Nintendo are in high demand by gaming buffs. That 50-cent find can easily turn into $5 or $10 on eBay.
Even though thrifting saves money, you still need to use good sense when making purchases. Considering that thrift stores are full of antiques, they might tug on your nostalgia heartstrings — but never buy what you won’t use.
A lot of the furniture that ends up at thrift stores has seen better days. But forget how ugly the fabric looks on the outside. If the piece is sturdy and well-made, you may be able to flip it for a tidy sum at online consignments shops like Chairish.
You can find some seriously amazing items at thrift stores, like designer jeans, professional cookware, and antique furniture. Develop your eye so you can easily spot these goods. That way, you’ll know a great item — and a good deal — when you see it.
Although vintage board games can earn some serious dollars on eBay, don’t count your Monopoly money just yet. Check with a site like Board Game Geek first, because the year and condition of the board game could make a huge difference in its value.
Thrift stores usually set a flat price for an item even if it’s cracked, torn, or otherwise damaged. If you see something with an imperfection, feel free to speak up and ask for a lower price. You may be surprised what you can get.
You’d be surprised how much people will pay for mugs that don’t come with a Starbucks logo. Look for 50-cent Glasbake, Fire-King, and Federal glassware. You may be able to sell them on Etsy or eBay for 10 times as much as what you paid.
17. You can return your purchase within seven days for store credit
Not all thrift stores have a dressing room, so you may go home only to discover the shirt you thought was perfect just doesn’t fit. Thankfully, most chain thrift stores have a policy that allows you to return items within a week of purchase, though for credit, not cash.
We all know that vinyl records are a music collector’s favorite, but cassette tapes are also making a comeback for nostalgia fans. However, not any old homemade mix tape will do. People are looking for their favorite artists like Vanilla Ice or INXS.
Finding antiques is a great part of shopping secondhand, but you can also find some items that are brand new. Many retails stores ship their unbought merchandise to thrift stores for a fraction of the original price.
Dinnerware with a shiny, iridescent glow is called Carnival glass. It’s a highly collectible item. Brownie points if you find one with a kangaroo in the middle, like the one pictured. Because that’s just way too cool.
21. Hit the store the day after it marks down items
Many thrift store chains like Goodwill have weekly sales where certain items are marked down. Instead of hitting the stores that same day, go the following day to see what you can find without fighting the crowds.
The next time you see a stack of paintings lined up against the wall at a thrift store, take a closer look at the frame itself. The antique ones can be worth more than the painting. This very ornate frame sold for $75.
Don’t think the deals are one and done. In most thrift stores, you can stack discounts, coupons, and other specials. Ultimately, you might end up paying just a few cents for a great item.
Real silver has a way of never looking as shiny and new as it’s supposed to. Over time, it tends to tarnish. If there aren’t any markings, making it hard to tell if it’s real silver, get a Neodymium magnet from the hardware store and use it to test metals (including gold). You can find out more about how to do that in this post.
25. You can sign up for email alerts with some stores
Thrift stores vary widely from location to location, but some of them have email alerts that customers can sign up for. These include notifications about ongoing sales, coupons, and other specials of interest.
When talking about stamps, no, they’re not the kind you mail letters with. Flip over that plate, vase, or piece of pottery and look for an identification stamp embossed on the bottom. You may see a logo, initials, or a date. Google the info to find out who made it and then search for similar items on eBay to see if it has any resale value.
Thrift stores are fascinating places so it’s easy to spend hours going from aisle to aisle. But if you’re looking for deals and not going just for fun, you’ll burn out pretty quickly if you take too long. Set a time limit for yourself.
Your first inclination might be to ignore these dime-a-dozen holiday trinkets. But believe it or not, there are actually people who adore vintage light-up ceramic Christmas trees. For instance, the ATLANTIC MOLD ones sell on eBay for around $50 on average.
Thrift stores are known for selling odds and ends that seem like trash. But that plain wooden shelf, wire basket, or cracked cup can be repurposed for unique DIY projects that you can make for just a couple of dollars.
Pay attention to labels in the bedding section. If you happen to stumble upon a wool Hudson Bay or Pendleton Mills blanket, then you can sleep easy knowing that you’ll have around $75 worth of sweet dreams.
If you’re dedicated to scoring great deals while thrifting, hit the stores up once or twice a week. That way, you can always browse through the new inventory and find all the items you’re looking for at the lowest prices.
32. Skim the shelves for pretty patterned glassware
It’s not just mason jars and old medicine bottles that grab people’s attention. If glassware is old, beautifully patterned, or made of translucent glass, it’s a winner. Many of these practically sell themselves.
It’s worth saying it twice: don’t forget about the employees. If you get to know them, you can share your thrifting goals. Some may be willing to put items aside that they know you’re looking for whenever they come in stock.
Old point-and-click cameras have gone by the wayside now that we have spiffy high-tech DSLR cameras to do all the work for us. Even so, there are still plenty of camera buffs out there who love older Nikon or Canon cameras. If you see one, grab it! You can sell these used cameras at specialty sites like BuyBackWorld.com.
Vintage clothing can be an amazing find, with many items becoming favorites for thrifters everywhere. But remember that retro sizing runs, on average, between four and six sizes smaller than modern-day sizing.
Any thrift store you visit will offer deals, but you should know the difference between a real deal and one that doesn’t quite cut it. Ideally, thrift store items should save you between 80 and 95 percent of their retail value.
These days, it seems like everything is made in China. But foreign-made clothing didn’t dominate the clothing industry until the 1980s. So, anything with a “Made in the U.S.A.” label might be pre-80’s vintage
Do you ever wish you could shop for cheap, amazing thrift items without leaving your house? It turns out, you can! Sites like ThredUp and Schoola sell good-quality secondhand items for low prices.
We’re always upgrading to the latest and greatest technology. However, collectors of computer memorabilia love those old Apple, IBM, and Commodore computer setups. Bonus points if you can find an actual 5.25″ floppy disk to go along with it.
Coupons for thrift stores vary widely from chain to chain and region to region, but they’re available frequently. After all, thrift stores want to rapidly turn over stock, which means they often feature sales and deals for their customers.
Vintage barware is highly collectible, especially if the items are irresistibly cute. These vintage whale-shaped swizzle sticks go for $20-30 per set on Etsy.
It’s one of the rules for shopping at regular retailers, but it goes for secondhand stores, too. Thrift shops mark down off-season clothing and other items. Simply put, you can score a better deal buying summer items in the winter and vice versa.
44. Keep your eyes peeled for glassware with the Waterford mark
If you find any crystal glasses with a Waterford or Fostoria insignia, it’s probably worth picking up. Check the going rate on eBay to find out its true value. The really old ones can even pay for a bottle of Cristal champagne!
Some thrift stores offer discount coupons in exchange for donations to the store. For instance there are Goodwill locations that offer a 20 percent off coupon in return for a donation. Plus, you get to declutter! Savers also has an excellent discount for your donations.
Furniture and kids’ clothes are some of the best thrift store purchases you’ll find. Secondhand furniture is great because new, it’s expensive. Kids, meanwhile, are always outgrowing clothes, so secondhand is best.
Some vintage globes have maps with countries whose names and borders have changed. But seeing something with USSR, Austria-Hungary, or Siam on them is actually a huge part of its quintessential appeal. Some buyers will gladly pay $200 for an outdated map.
This should go without saying, but don’t ever purchase swimsuits or underwear at a thrift shop. It’s a simple hygiene issue and it’s just too icky to even think about.
50. Those gooseneck desk lamps might be worth something
These things are everywhere, but most of them were made pretty recently. A 60s- or 70s-era gooseneck desk lamp is a prize that some people are willing to shell out $40-60 for.
Thrift stores, even chains, vary widely in their offerings for discounts and coupons. If you download the Goodwill app, you may be able to find local stores, making it easy to track sales, discounts, and more.
Remember paint-by-numbers? This could make even the worst artists look like a pro! Completed sets of vintage scenes, like a cat playing with a ball of yarn or a pretty barn in the fall season can bring upwards of $30 or more on places like Etsy.
You probably aren’t thinking of what you’ll be wearing when you hit up a thrift shop. But, if you’re shopping for dresses, wear a pair of heels so you can get a sense of the full outfit. If you’re lugging a piece of heavy furniture out, jeans and sneakers are best.
Thrift stores are a treasure trove of brand name apparel, and they’re a real bargain if you buy items out of season. You could purchase a cheap North Face jacket during the summer and then flip it for $100 on eBay during the winter months when demand is high.
55. The rule of thumb — it takes three weeks for items to go on sale
This goes for most major retailers, and it’s a rule that’s more for clearance and sale shopping than general thrifting. But it’s still a great tip for anyone looking to score a deal on secondhand items.
We’ve all heard of brand names like Nike, Adidas, FILA, and Under Armour. The bad news is that you’re not likely to find current trends inexpensively priced at a thrift store. But should you happen to stumble upon a pair of vintage Nike canvas trainers from the 80s or 90s, you may be able to sell them for a nice profit on eBay.
Sure, electronics in thrift stores sell for low prices compared to retail stores, but it’s worth testing them before you buy. Use an outlet in the store and keep a few spare batteries in your bag before visiting a store so you don’t waste your money.
These days mason jars are so inexpensive that they’re almost not even worth mentioning. But if you happen to spot some blue-tinted ones at a thrift store, stock up. These antique “Perfect Mason” jars from Ball can be resold for $10-15 a pop. If you’re not sure if it’s the real deal? You’ve probably hit the jackpot if you see these with old-fashioned zinc caps.
It’s always a good idea to hit up a thrift store with a goal in mind, rather than simply walking around. To put together some ideas, create a Pinterest thrifting board so you can figure out exactly what you’re looking for.
Blue hues were the “it color” back in the day, and they’re still popular among collectors. People love the antique cobalt blue milk of magnesia bottles. The older they are, the better. Although they may only go for $10 on Etsy, that’s nothing to feel blue about.
Professional thrifter shares the best thrift store shopping tricks
Cedric Jackson
08.19.19
Thrift stores: we all know and love them. Whether they’re tiny hole-in-the-wall antique stores where you can find unexpected treasures or bigger secondhand chains, these places are gold mines filled with quality items for a fraction of the retail price.
Guess what else is great about thrifting? It’s better for the planet. Many clothing companies use unethical practices to make their clothing, to say nothing of the huge textile waste that ends up in landfills.
However, don’t think that buying secondhand means lower quality. Sure, it might mean that for some items but people everywhere have found amazing goods that have never been taken out of the box. These items range from jewelry to electronics to wedding dresses worth thousands of dollars. Let’s face it: there are few downsides to shopping at thrift stores.
But as it turns out, there’s a knack to it. Thrift store inventory, policies, and deals vary significantly from store to store, even when you’re shopping at a chain. Luckily, the thrifty people of the internet are here to give their best tips, tricks, and hacks to help you not only find the best items at your local thrift store but also score the best deals.
