Successful Thrift Store Shopping
Second hand shopping for families on a budget
Follow these tips to ensure a satisfactory thrift store shopping experience.
Are you wanting to add to your wardrobe but can’t afford the prices at the mall? Try shopping at thrift stores. Thrift, or second hand stores, don’t hold the stigma they once did. You can find great bargains and one-of-a-kind items at the thrift store. Thrift store shopping is great for families on a budget. However, there’s an art to lucrative thrift store shopping. Here are some tips to follow for successful second-hand shopping.
Visit stores
If you are a novice thrift store shopper, check out as many thrift stores in your area as possible. If you’re not sure where these stores are located, consult the yellow pages or your local newspapers. Many cities will have the chain stores, such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Savers. You should find local shops as well. You will find shops run by charities, social services, and churches. If you live in a metropolitan area, don’t just stick to thrift shops near where you live. Visit other suburbs. If there’s a more affluent part of town, be sure to check out the stores in or near that area. You might be surprised at what you find.
Become familiar with merchandise
While most thrift stores carry a variety of merchandise, from clothes to collectibles, you’ll find better selection of particular categories at different shops. There are three thrift shops in my area that I visit often. In one, the selection of paperback books is better; and in another, the women’s clothing selection is quite extensive. The third has a good mixture of merchandise. Note which stores in your area have better selections for the type of items you desire.
Once you’ve determined which stores you are going to frequent, it’s time to shop.
Know store policy
Become familiar with store policies and procedures. Sore stores have strict or no return policy, and merchandise is sold as-is. Many stores do not accept checks or credit cards.
Restocking
Find out when the store restocks. Some stores restock shelves or rotate merchandise daily, some do this only a couple of times per week.
Be aware of sales
Know what stores have sales and specials, and when. Even though thrift store pricing is generally a bargain anyway, many thrift stores offer further savings. Some stores have ‘tag’ days where all items with a certain color tag might be 20-50% off that day; other stores might have senior citizen discount day or men’s items discount day; etc.
Check your items
Check your items carefully before purchasing. Again, be familiar with the store’s return policy if they have one. For clothing, check the size. Some stores organize by size, many do not. Even if they do sort by size, shoppers will often mix up the goods. Many stores have fitting rooms available if you are not sure something will fit. Look for stains, tears and holes. You wouldn’t buy new clothes in that condition, there’s no reason to buy second-hand clothing that was either.
Using these tips can help make you a successful thrift store shopper. Then, the next time someone asks you where you got your classy new outfit, just smile knowingly and say, “this old thing?”
