Thrift store shopping is the best way to find affordable items to give as gifts, resell, or keep for yourself. Since a lot of thrift stores are full of random finds and rare items, it can really take some time to find valuable items at thrift stores. While most thrift stores do not seem to offer much at first glance, you can find rare, genuine jewelry, vintage kitchenware, and other great finds if you know the tricks for how to find rare and valuable items at thrift stores.
When shopping, always keep a lookout for rare and valuable items, look for labels and always inspect the quality of each item you find. Looking for great items can be difficult especially if you don’t know what you are doing. That’s why we have listed all the things you need to do to find valuable items at thrift stores.
1. Go at the Right Time of Day
Going to the thrift store during the time of day when it isn’t too crowded will give you more time to browse the store freely and inspect each item properly. Also, going at a less crowded time means there is a greater selection for you. The best time you can visit your local thrift store is during weekday mornings and afternoons.
2. Specialize in a Few Items
For people who are new to thrift store shopping, their first experience can be overwhelming. There are so many items to choose from, and you may sometimes get sidetracked between what you want and what you actually need. In order to get rare finds in thrift stores, know what you want to buy before entering. If you want to look for designer bags and apparel, go straight to that section and focus on finding valuable items there.
3. Search for the Best Brands of the Specialized Items
In order to know how to spot valuable items at thrift stores, authentication is important. If you want to get your money’s worth, search the internet for the best brands and designs so you will know exactly what you are looking for. Browse magazines to learn the different designs and find out the average cost for all the items you want. You can also visit online stores to see how much you are willing to pay for a particular item.
Learn how to differentiate authentic items from low-quality ones to make the money you spend worthwhile. Specializing in certain items will make thrift store shopping less overwhelming and a more fun experience.
4. Focus on Certain Areas First
If you are not sure what to look for when you visit a thrift store, try to focus on certain areas first. Browse and examine one or two aisles and look for valuable items. If you want to look for vintage kitchen items, spend time in that area first before moving on to other aisles.
5. Examine the Items Thoroughly
Make sure that all the items you are buying are in good quality. A piece of clothing may have rips and holes, a glassware may have a stamped bottom, and so on. Examine all the items thoroughly to ensure their quality. Although some damage can easily be repaired, it will still be better to buy items in perfect condition than to spend more money on repairs.
6. Purchase Items Even if You Are Unsure About the Price
If you find valuable items at thrift stores but you are not sure about the price, always choose to purchase the item and then do your research afterwards. Chances are, the item is worth more than what you paid for, and leaving it to do more research will turn out to be a terrible idea. Remember that you can always resell or re-donate the item if it is not what you are looking for.
7. Know When is the Best Season to Go
Of course, the best time to go to thrift shops is on each store’s “New Arrival Day”, when there are a lot of new items on display. This is the time where you will find the most valuable items at thrift stores. However, going to the thrift store these days is going to be an absolutely crazy experience. Come prepared and have a solid budget and specific items in mind.
You will also want to bring a lot of patience with you, because many people will be lined up outside, ready to discover rare finds at thrift stores such as yourself. To find the best valuable items at thrift stores, you can visit Haven House Thrift Store. As one of the best thrift stores in Destin, FL, we offer many vintage, rare, and quality items ready for reselling, gift-giving, or for your personal enjoyment. Visit our website for more information and contact us now.
