Thrift Store Shopping Tips

By No. 6
Date January 3, 2010

You know when to go to get the best stuff and the best deals.  While it seems that thrift stores in general are now getting pricier, I believe there are still good buys to be had whether you are shopping for furniture, clothing, household items, or sports equipment.

Your experience will depend a lot on when you go to thrift stores.  In my experience thrift stores are busiest during the holidays. This can be especially true during holidays like Halloween, where prices skyrocket for those “non-thrift store shoppers” who rush in looking for a cheap used costume.  Times like these are great for thrift stores, but not so hot for everyday thrift store shoppers.  Though a busy holiday season does clean out a lot of the old stock that has been sitting there for a year, which makes room for more items. 

Prices tend to go up in the winter for cold weather clothing and other related items.  Sometimes thrift stores will stockpile winter goods during the year (if they have the space) and put it all out in the fall or when the weather starts to get cold.  You will notice that most thrift stores change with the seasons having Christmas stuff in December etc.

New (used) items to thrift stores generally arrive daily and are priced throughout the day in the back room and then finally brought out into the store (where we can hopefully find something great).  In my experience the bulk of the newly arrived thrift store items are put out in the morning as this is usually the slowest time for thrift stores and their employees, with the afternoons being busier for staff members (helping customers, cashiering, etc.).

Another thing to look for at thrift stores are the discount days and discount colored tags.  Most thrift stores have certain days that offer some percentage off all or selected items.  Most thrift stores also have senior, military, and even student discounts.  Many thrift stores also have certain colored tags that are discounted daily, these discounts are usually posted around the store on signs or even announced over the PA system in the store.