How to Shop at a Thrift Store

Thrift stores are one of our main sources for getting products to sell. If you’re going to go out picking for the day, it’s good to be prepared. Here are some tips to help you get started.

• Make a list of what you are searching for. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or distracted inside of a large thrift store full of interesting odds and ends. If you are setting out with a specific sort of item in mind, it’s best to note down what you want, in what sizes, colors, brand names etc.
• Get an early start. Many thrift stores put out new merchandise throughout the day, but others put out the day's stock before opening. If you wait till the evening to start picking, chances are most of the good stuff has been picked through already.
• Inspect everything before you buy. There’s nothing more disappointing than opening up your haul at home, only to discover a big stain on the back of an expensive vintage dress.  Look over clothing for stains, holes, or missing buttons. Test zippers to make sure they are in working condition. Plug in electronics and check for exploded batteries. Smell for cigarette smoke damage. While many things can be easily cleaned, you shouldn't waste your time on things that look too dingy or have many broken pieces.
• Take a stain remover pen, such as Tide-to-Go, with you when shopping for clothes or linens. If there is a stain, test it with the stain remover pen before you decide whether or not to buy.
• Take hand sanitizer with you. The merchandise in thrift stores usually comes straight into a store from someone’s home. Basically, it’s nice to be able to clean up a bit after you've been rifling through a bunch of other people’s stuff for a few hours. If you are shopping at an outlet store with deep bins to dig through, consider wearing a pair of work gloves.
• Take a tape measure with you. This way, you can measure a piece of furniture to make sure you can fit it in your car to get it home, measure a large painting, or anything else on your list.
• Ask about any special sale days or discounts given out at each thrift store. Some stores give student or military discounts. Others have a punch card system or a fill a bag sale.
• Look online for local thrift shops near you. We like to plan out a route to several shops we can visit in one day. You can plug each address into Google Maps to see just how long the trip will take you. This is a great way to explore thrift stores in a new area too.

We have found that using these guidelines saves us the most time and allows us to find the best quality items at the right price for our eBay store.

These are some of the things that we have learned through our own experiences, and we are always seeking to learn something new. Do you have your own thrift shopping tips? Post them in the comments below! We'd love to hear from you!

-Ashley