Tips for Thrift Store Shopping
In honor of today, August 17, being National Thrift Shop Day, here is a list of tips and tricks for the best thrift shopping experience.
Sell or donate before you buy. The act of thrift shopping is one of sustainability. Therefore, it is important that before you indulge in the act, that you purge yourself of any items that are no longer useful to you. By selling your items, you grant yourself an allowance to do more shopping. You may also check if your local thrift shop grants coupons in exchange for donated items.
Find out the specialty of various thrift shops in your area. You may come across large, chain thrift shops that carry goods ranging from men’s and women’s clothing to furniture to toys and books. These stores are great if you are shopping these various kinds of items, but they may grant you little purpose if, say, you are only shopping for women’s clothing. The primary benefit to chain thrift shops is that they receive items often as they are what usually comes to mind when people are seeking to get rid of their goods. This means that you are generally bound to find something at every visit. Small, local thrift shops with a targeted market grant the benefit of having items specific to what you desire which increases your potential of finding numerous items.
Understand the difference between thrift and consignment. The primary difference between thrift and consignment shops is that generally thrift shops are donation-based, whereas consignment shops are for-profit. This difference allows each store to price their items differently. Thrift shops will generally be cheaper as it doesn’t cost them anything to acquire their items. Because consignment shops are buying their items from sellers, they tend to be more expensive than thrift shops to assure that they make a decent profit.
Don’t shop on Saturdays. Saturdays tend to be the most crowded day in thrift shops. This, not only, creates a chaotic shopping experience, but also reduces your chance of finding good items as the store will most likely be picked over upon your arrival. Instead, ask an employee if there is a specific day that they restock the sales floor then make that day your prioritized shopping day. This trick allows you first access to the “newest” items. But if the store doesn’t have a specific restock day, try shopping exclusively on Mondays or Tuesdays as people tend to donate or sell their items on Sundays.
Set a goal. Avoid wandering around the store and impulse buying by setting a goal before walking in the store. Impulse shopping is more likely at the thrift shop than any other store because the prices of the items are so cheap. It’s important to keep in mind that the prices will tally up and the items may begin taking up too much space in your home—causing clutter. As mentioned earlier in the first tip, you should be selling or donating items before thrift shopping. Make not of what you are getting rid of and let that influence your shopping trip. For example, if you are getting rid of an item that you love but can no longer fit, aim to find this item in your correct size. If you are getting rid of an item that you realize you haven’t worn or no longer need, avoid picking up similar items. Whether you are clothes or furniture shopping, determine your personal style and let that influence your shopping trip.
Dress appropriately. Many thrift and consignment shops don’t have fitting rooms. They also tend to have a no refund policy, so it would be in your best interest to try your chosen items on before you buy. This means that you will need to slip items on or above what you are already wearing. To remedy this, wear a form-fitting outfit such as a sports top and leggings. If you are a purse-wearer, consider choosing a crossbody bag to limit what’s in your hand as you may need to carry your chosen items if your local shop doesn’t provide carts or baskets.
Scan the aisles. Many people believe that they should be looking at every individual item while shopping. Not only does this act take up a lot of time, it encourages mindless buys. Instead scan the aisles and only grab what stands out to you.
Learn how to distinguish quality. Inspect the items that you are interested in and determine whether they are worth purchasing by their level of quality. Often times items in thrift shops are stained or have holes and this can be a disheartening thing to realize after you’ve already purchased. This is why it is important to inspect items while you are still in the store. Consignments shops are great for seeking designer items, but sometimes things may not be as they seem. Learn how to detect fake designer items by bringing your smart phone on your shopping trip and researching key aspects of the authentic version of the item you are eyeing.
Invest in tailoring. Finding the perfect piece that doesn’t fit isn’t a rare occasion when thrift or consignment shopping. As pre-loved items are often one-of-a-kind, you may need to invest in tailoring your items to get them to fit appropriately to your body type. Also consider taking your quality items to the dry cleaners to assure that they uphold over time.
