Facts About Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are a great place to find gently-used, value-priced household goods at rock-bottom prices. They’re also intimidating if you’ve never been before. From their reputation as dusty, musty warehouses to their mystical pricing system and opaque inventory turnover cycles, thrifty shopping can seem like the domain of the eccentric old couple or the shady secondhand dealer in every small town. But that’s all nonsense! Thrift stores are a delightful bargain destination for anyone who has enough patience to learn how to shop there effectively. This article is full of useful tips on how to make the most of your thrift store experiences, from finding the best locations to saving money on your purchases and getting top dollar for your donated items at resale. Let’s get started!
What is a thrift store?
Thrift stores are stores that buy and sell secondhand goods. Whether they’re in a warehouse full of dust or a sparkling, organized center, thrift stores are a great place to find gently-used, value-priced, household goods at rock-bottom prices. Thrift stores are also intimidating if you’ve never been before. From the dust, mustiness, and general lack of organization to their mysterious pricing system and opaque inventory turnover cycles, thrifty shopping can seem like the domain of the elderly and the shady secondhand dealer in every small town. But that’s all nonsense! Thrift stores are a delightful bargain destination for anyone who has enough patience to learn how to shop there effectively.
Where to find thrift stores
Thrift stores may have a physical location, but they also have an online presence. If you’ve never been to a thrift store before, your best bet is to start with a search on Google. But beware—thrifty-shaming is a real Internet phenomenon that can make thrift-shopping seem gross and weird. So use your best judgment and tone down the thrifty-shaming in your search results if possible. You can also use an online directory to find thrift stores near you. Just type in your city or town and you should start seeing thrift store listings popping up. Most thrift stores also have an online presence for their online shopping portal. This is your best bet for finding inventory details and contact information for the thrift store.
How to negotiate at thrift stores
While thrift store prices may be low, you can often negotiate for a better price. Just approach the cashier with a smile, say something like “I don’t know how to haggle, but I’ve seen price tags of $X at other stores,” and then point out something you noticed about the item that you like. For example, you might say, “I like how this item is organized. It’s so much easier to find what you need when it’s all in one place.” Or you might point out the item’s flaws and say, “While this item is in good condition, it stinks like dust, and I’d prefer it if it weren’t so strong-smelling.” Thrifty-shaming is a real Internet phenomenon that can make thrift-shopping seem gross and weird. So use your best judgment and tone down the thrifty-shaming in your search results if possible.
Avoiding scams at thrift stores
If you are shopping at a thrift store, there is no need to pay in cash or to bring a printed list of items you want to purchase. You can pay for the items with a store credit or a gift card. Thrift stores have high security, and they will not take your items if you bring a printed list or cash. If you see this happening in person, call the security guard and ask him to remove the shoplifter from the store. Thrift stores will also not accept items with damage or stains unless you can prove that the damage or stain happened before you owned the item. If you cannot, the store will return the item to you at no charge.
Donating your gently-used items for money
Several organizations will take your gently-used items for money, and many thrift stores will do this for you. For example, Goodwill sells used items with a tax receipt for money, and then the money is used to help other people. If you have gently-used items to donate, you might consider donating them to Goodwill. If you give donations to a nonprofit, like Goodwill, you can get a tax deduction and also get new items in return.
Final words
Thrift stores are a great place to find gently-used, value-priced household goods at rock-bottom prices. They’re also intimidating if you’ve never been before. From their reputation as dusty, musty warehouses to their mysterious pricing system and opaque inventory turnover cycles, thrifty shopping can seem like the domain of the eccentric old couple or the shady secondhand dealer in every small town. But that’s all nonsense! Thrift stores are a delightful bargain destination for anyone who has enough patience to learn how to shop there effectively.