The five golden rules to thrift store shopping
Filed under: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
There are two kinds of people: Those who shudder at the thought of buying used goods and those who feel that it is the morally superior choice. I've fallen firmly into the latter camp, ever since realizing that I could bag a $150 cashmere sweater for $5 (and with tags still intact) at a thrift store, if I looked hard enough and the thrift store gods were smiling.I've been trolling the thrift stores for more than 20 years now. In the spirit of the new year, I'm offering up the wisdom of my experience to all you thrift store newbies out there. Sit at my knee, now. And listen up. Here are my five golden rules to thrift store shopping:
1.) Location, location, location: In general, thrift stores located on the better side of town generally have better stuff. However, this isn't always the case. One of my favorite local thrifts, a funky little storefront run by a church, gets a lot of their stuff from the vastly more upscale Orange County area and imports it up. It always pays to ask where the thrift gets their merchandise. Chain thrifts such as Goodwill Services, often get their stuff from a central clearing house, although the local donations will still show up on the shelves. And the richer the neighborhood, the more likely the locals do a lot of retail therapy, which then often hang in their closets for a year, unworn, until they eventually make it out to the local thrift store when spring cleaning time comes.
2.) Shop brands. If you're not feeling particularly funky or adventurous, newbies to the world of thrift shopping should always look for name brands. The reasons are two-fold. First, you can reasonably assume you're buying quality. J-Crew sweaters, Jones New York separates, Steve Madden clogs. Secondly, there is nothing like the satisfaction you get when you pull an apparently unworn pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans out of the rack at your local thrift store and see the $6 price tag. These sell for $150 and up retail. You can flip these on eBay, or, if the thrift gods have really smiled upon you, they will be in your size. Also, it pays to know more than the help when it comes to luxury brands. While the workers sorting out the piles of clothes in the back may know about Coach or DKNY, they might not know Kate Spade or a Trina Turk. Know what's valuable so you can snap it up on principal. Remember, this is exactly what the higher-end "resale" shops like Aardvark's or Buffalo Exchange do, so you're competing with pros. But do your homework, and see rule number five, and you'll come out on top.
3.) Announce your intentions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead and laugh at my self-empowering clap-trap. I don't care, because it works. If you're going thrift store shopping with the intention of finding a particular item, (as opposed to going for a little retail therapy vacation and browsing aimlessly), then it helps to articulate what you want to the universe. "I want a woolen sweater. Purple or blue. And I'm going to find it." This very weekend I went into my local favorite to see if they had some sort of interesting chest of drawers. My son needed one for his room. And what do you know? I found a mid-century piece that is the envy of my well-to-do friends who collect Mid-Century art and furniture. And I found it for $50. If the hipper-than-thou furniture place on La Brea Ave. had found it first, my friends would be buying it for $500. Nyaaa. Be sure to thank the thrift store gods when you find what you're looking for.
Stop laughing and try it. And let me know what happens, you philistines. Are you worthy of such secrets?
4.) Wash it! Unless it has the tags still attached, you will feel better if you launder or dry clean any garment you buy at a thrift store.
5.) Be consistent. People who don't approve of thrift store shopping often point to the fact that you can't be sure you'll find what you're looking for. To this I must answer, well duh. That's the point, Sherlock. It's one big mystery, and that makes it all the more fun. You never know what you're going to find. You'll usually find something, sure. But you'll find better treasures if you return to the store regularly. Consistency is the name of the game here. What can you hope for when you dip into a store once? A lucky find. If you come back again and again, your gains will be outsized. Find out when they put out their recently-received merchandise and show up early that day for the best pickings. Some stores put out the new stuff several times a day. Be there when it's wheeled out from the back.
For additional reading, I'd recommend the funny, entertaining blog Thrift Store Whore. This gal knows what she's talking about.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
1-23-2008 @ 11:41AM
Tom said...
Remember these thrift shops support good causes. So let's not forget to donate our goods to them as well. We all have extra stuff taking up space in our houses and it doesnt have to be sold on eBay.
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1-24-2008 @ 7:36PM
edy said...
Tom are you sure they support good causes? a few years ago 60 min did a special on the owner/ceo of goodwill....to say they live lavish is an understatement...I think at the time the home alone was four million....did you ever really look into what percentage by law they have to donate to qualify?
Then the help that works there and do not take a pay....why do you think that is ? I speak from experience that some beautiful things I donated walked out the back door into a trunk of car before I left the lot
1-25-2008 @ 8:12AM
Linda said...
Can anybody tell me where there are good thrift stores in my area? Hollywood, FL
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2-06-2008 @ 8:28AM
DK said...
I began shopping at Goodwill when it wasn't cool (that's MANY years ago). Have found so many great buys but recently found a pair of Uggs for $3.99, a Sony Bravia 5-disc High Def DVD player complete with 5 speakers for $69 (retails for over $600 with the wireless speakers), and dozens of Trina Turk, Tahari and other treasures. It's even better on Wednesdays when you get a 30 percent discount if you're over age 55!
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1-24-2008 @ 3:35PM
HELENE said...
THERE'S A GREAT STORE IN POINT LOMA, SAN DIEGO, CA. CALLED THE DISCOVERY SHOP. IT BENEFITS THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. SO, YOU GET FANTASTIC DEALS ON EXCELLANT GOODS AND THE MONEY GOES TO A GREAT CAUSE. THEY HAVE GREAT DESIGNER CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS, INCLUDING FURNITURE, AND ALL ARE IN EXCELLANT CONDITION.
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1-24-2008 @ 3:53PM
gail said...
my greatest find---a coat from 5th Ave. for 20.00--new
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1-24-2008 @ 5:08PM
Kevin said...
My wife bought more that one items at a thift store re-purchased by musem currators, on e-bay for big money.
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1-24-2008 @ 4:49PM
neng said...
you could'nt convience me with any of these thrift store products. The thought of wearing/using something that's already used up by others, gives me the chill. I made my own clothes and underthings since I was ten. Anything I can't make, I buy new for a peace of my mind. It's pride. Foolish as it seem, but it's my body and my mind. I wake up every morning happy, and not itchy. More power to all of you.
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1-24-2008 @ 4:57PM
MOMOF3 said...
FOR OUR THIRD CHILDS CHRISTENING I WENT TO THE THRIFT STORE AND FOUND AN ARMINI 3 PICE SUITE FOR MY HUSBAND FOR $10.00
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1-24-2008 @ 5:17PM
ROSE ANN said...
my sister was at the American Blind Society resale shop and bought a doll for $10.00. The lady at the counter said why would you pay $10.00 for a doll. My sister just said she liked the doll. The doll was brand new..Samantha..one of the American Girl Dolls...they sell for about $120.00. Lucky find.
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1-24-2008 @ 6:25PM
Anony said...
I am a 42 year old MARRIED, man. I LOVE THRIFT STORES! I work for a VERY-LARGE company and image is everything for the muckety-mucks at the corporate office. I am not a muckety-muck, but I do interface daily with Fortune 500 clents. I own 4 Brooks Brothers suits. I own 3 Yves St. Laurent suits. 3 Joseph A. Banks suits. Ralph Lauren shirts. Frye shoes. I picked up a really cool pair of Italian ALLIGATOR dress shoes.......The alligator shoes were $25 at a thrift store. NONE of my suits cost me more than $30 thrifty dollars. I won't pay more than $7 for a shirt anymore. I cannot justify retail prices anymore. This thrifty-ness translated into other areas of my life. I picked up a Mercedes 300 in near mint condition for $3500 dollars.......Life is good.......
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1-24-2008 @ 6:59PM
Carole said...
They forgot the ultimate advice, first, always wash the clothes, they don't.............. and you have no clues if they were cleaned or not before taken in, second, Never and I repeat Never buy thrift store shoes of any kind, you have no idea what you could be exposing yourself to, foot fungus, toenail fungus (which is next to impossible to get rid of and is very painful), planter's wart's and there's no way to totally clean shoes, ever.
It's just not smart .................
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1-24-2008 @ 7:04PM
edy said...
when my Mom passed I packed up a dozen boxes of her belongings and took them to the Goodwill, she only bought the best...traveled all over the world and had beautiful things...I was totally disgusted when I saw some of the things I just donated going out the back door into a trunk of a car..before I had even pulled out of the lot...
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1-25-2008 @ 6:56PM
Rosie said...
Just found this site...I have been thrifting for 35yrs...and have found numerous "treasures". Old American Girl Doll $1.00, Ladies Working Movado Watch $1.00, Vera Bradley Backpack, Coach, Depression Glass, Crystal, China....so many many wonderful things for a fraction of the retail cost.
I never ever pay retail for anything..except underwear and shoes...and just recently got a brand new with tags pair of Crocs..I try never to pay over $3.00 for anything....and I usually do succeed. To those of you who have never "Thropped" you are missing out on wonderful bargains, you just have to be patient and keep shopping!
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1-24-2008 @ 7:35PM
gwblueberet said...
Big thrift shop fan and been going to them for 30+ years. I sell alot on Ebay and alot of my items are found there. I bought a shirt on clearance fo 50 cents and resold it on Ebay for $102.00. I found a dept 56 christmas building of a starbucks coffee shop at a goodwill for $10 mint in box and resold it on Ebay for $120.00. Plus I collect military items and been very lucky finding vintage military at thrift shops.
I go at least 2- 4 times a week to thrift shops and have several favorites I go to often.Like Hunting for a treasure and hoping you strike it big.
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1-24-2008 @ 8:57PM
Nan said...
you have to be pretty quick when, shopping and know what you are purchasing.
Goodwill for one, in back of their warehouse, where all
the mechandise is already picked over by the workers, you end up with the nothings to choose from.
Sad, but true.
If they were reported, and should be reported, this is
totally unfair.
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1-31-2008 @ 9:32PM
Jen said...
you have to be pretty quick when, shopping and know what you are purchasing.
Goodwill for one, in back of their warehouse, where all
the mechandise is already picked over by the workers, you end up with the nothings to choose from.
Sad, but true.
If they were reported, and should be reported, this is
totally unfair.
...It's not unfair that the workers pick through the donations. It is like a fringe benefit or an employee discount at a regular retail store that sells new stuff.
1-24-2008 @ 8:30PM
Katzenmutter said...
Along with the bed bug concerns, one needs to watch out for hazards in paint or glaze, and not just on toys.
Avoid dinnerware and mugs in oranges and reds unless you want to use the item for non-food purposes. Other glazes can also be harmful, so know your brands. The glazes in those colors often contain lead or cadmium. Lead caused Beethoven's deafness, severe pain and early death and both are potential liver cancer triggers.
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1-24-2008 @ 8:35PM
Bob said...
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!
I live in the Palm Springs area. With all the rich, old people coming to the desert to retire and then die, the thrift shops are filled with high end items and at excellent prices because of the competition. Also, many condos are sold fully furnished (ie: turnkey). New owners gradually replace the furnishings to their own taste providing more bargains. A chain named Revivals is among the best.
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1-25-2008 @ 10:03PM
noreenw said...
hey guys!!i can't believe you are hating about thrift stores !! wow...the people who work at goodwills and other stores like that work hard, too. maybe they haven't had all the oppurtunities you have or had a great education. but come on !! no one is forcing you to shop there !! go ahead and shop at neiman marcus and barneys and pay that 500% markup for something new.
personally, i don't think it's half as much fun as finding something really cool for $5 bucks and then seeing the same thing in fashion magazines for ten times that much. i have shopped in thrift stores for over thirty years and have found designer clothing, vintage clothing,handmade clothing,handmade musical instruments...the list goes on and on. it is just fun, because you never know what you will find. peace and happy thrifting!!!
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