I recently got an email from Theresa in Texas (hi, Theresa!) who asked a great question:
“Please consider opining on how to determine if a price at a thrift store is a good deal. While some items are obviously a great deal, it’s less clear for others. For example, I spotted a hand-held clothing steamer at a thrift store and it was $13. Amazon sells something very similar for $30. Is that a good deal? The thrift store doesn’t allow returns, which made it feel like a high-risk purchase. I’d love to hear you discuss how you decide when a price is too high on a thrifted item.”
I have considered and accepted the challenge! There’s obviously no single “right” answer to this question, but for what it’s worth (perhaps not much!), here are my thoughts on the topic…
Start by Looking Everything Over Carefully
I’m amazed what I can miss when I’m rushing. I recently bought a stainless steel lunch container only to realize that the lid’s silicone seal was missing, rendering it mostly useless. Always check:
- Zippers
- Seals
- Hinges
- Buttons
- Lids (do they fit properly?)
- For stains!
- If it’s something like a purse or backpack, open all the compartments! (Bonus reason: twice now we’ve found cash inside items at thrift stores.)
If everything works, consider value.
For example, I was actively looking for a duffel bag when John spotted one at a thrift store. It was $10 (in like-new condition). When he looked it up, it was only $30 new online…but why not save the $20? After confirming all the zippers worked, it was an easy choice. We’ve used it for months now and it’s awesome!
Look It Up!
As mentioned above, check the current retail price. If I’m on the fence, I’ll Google an item to get a ballpark idea of what it sells for new. While I don’t use eBay, it can be a good idea to look things up on that platform to see what people are paying (used) for a particular item.
Test Electronics (When You Can)
Plug it in, turn it on, push all the buttons. If the thrift store has an outlet or testing station, use it.
John found a Kobo e-reader — with the case — for $15. We were able to test it in the store, and it’s worked flawlessly for years. But we’ve also had a $50 thrift-store laptop last for less than 6 months. Some wins, some losses.
Always Check the Return Policy
Some thrift stores do offer returns or exchanges (especially if the tags are still on), but many don’t — and that’s a big factor when considering the risk of a purchase.
If it’s a higher-priced item or an item that could easily be broken or defective, I weigh the risk more heavily. For lower-priced items, I’m more willing to roll the dice.
If a thrift store has a return policy, it’s most likely going to be limited to clothing and shoes, but some locations have blanket 30-day return policies.
Know your Brands
Brand recognition can be a helpful shortcut when you’re deciding whether something is worth it. A quality brand that you trust can make a thrifted item feel like a safer buy.
I’ve seen Walmart-brand shirts at the thrift store labeled at a higher price than buying it new at the store. NOT A GOOD DEAL.
But then John and Indy found a pair of $300+ sneakers for $11.99. That was a great deal.
Do You Actually Need It?
This seems obvious, but it’s worth asking yourself in the moment: Would I be looking for this if I hadn’t walked into the store today? If it’s not something you truly need, or something that fills a specific gap in your life, it might not be worth any price — thrifted or otherwise.
Is It Something That’s Hard to Find New?
Some thrifted items are a great deal because they’re hard to find new. Think discontinued kitchen items, vintage glassware, or specific versions of books, toys, or tools.
Even if it’s not a huge savings, it can be worth picking something up for the convenience.
Read the Labels
When Birchie was visiting, I picked up a mug that I was ready to take home…until I turned it over and saw that it wasn’t microwave or dishwasher safe. For me, that’s a dealbreaker. Labels matter — whether they’re care instructions, expiration dates, or model numbers! A dress might not be a good deal if it’s dry-clean only.
So, Back to the Steamer…
Would I have bought the $13 thrifted steamer? Probably not.
Not because $13 is outrageous, but because:
- I can’t properly test it.
- It might be mildewy or have safety issues.
- There’s no return policy.
- I could get a brand-new one with a warranty for not that much more.
But something like that might be worth it if the thrift store allowed returns or if it was a known, trusted brand in like-new condition.
Thrifting is part shopping, part treasure hunt, and part gamble. And sometimes we definitely bring home duds. But with a little strategy, I feel like we tend to stack the odds in our favour. And because of the overall low cost of most items, we accept that occasionally it won’t go our way, but it’s still a net positive for our budget.
Thanks again, Theresa, for the great question. If you’ve got a thrift store question you’d like answered, feel free to reach out. I love chatting about this stuff.
Now it’s your turn.
- What’s your best-ever thrift store find?
- Would you have bought the $13 steamer?
- What’s your #1 tip for knowing if something is a good deal at a thrift store?
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Yes, thrifting really is part treasure hunt, part strategy game! Your checklist is pure gold.
Here in Switzerland, we don’t have thrift stores, but there are two excellent websites for buying second-hand items. I always check previous buyers’ comments before committing. Last year, I scored a Kindle there and it’s still going strong!
Clothes, though, are another story. Not seeing them in person (and no trying-on!) has led to a few classic “thrift regret” moments. Do you ever thrift online, or do you prefer the in-person hunt?
We sometimes buy things via a Buy and Sell online, but they always require seeing the item in person. And I’ve never bought any regular clothing that way. I bought some heavy winter gloves, for example, and we’ll buy sporting equipment.
Everything else, I thrift in-store. One of the thrift stores we frequent no longer has change rooms and that is such a nuisance. They do allow returns BUT not refunds. So if you take items back in the 2-week return window, you get a store credit you have to use that very day. My favourite spot to go does have change rooms which I really appreciate!
Yay for second-hand e-readers.
Our thrift stores don’t allow returns, so I’m eary about buying anything expensive or electronic.
My favorite find was leather clogs that fit my huge feet- probably about $10 but worth $100. Or the leather jacket with hood that was about $5 on clearance, retail for over $100. Usually I just buy jeans and shirts
Those clogs and jacket sound like awesome finds!
Oops – hit enter too soon!
Though I did go on a Corelle binge last year- bowls and plates that are microwave safe and resistant to breaking when dropped. I probably have too many now, but college kids will take some eventually.
I’m on the lookout for a big Pyrex bowl, but those seem to be snapped up or put online.
It’s funny – Kae and I were at a thrift store last night and she remarked on a tea pot and I knew immediately it was Corelle! Those things are unbreakable. I have dropped many Corelle plats and I don’t think a single one every broke.
My parents still use the Corelle set they have had my entire life.
Darn. I wish you lived closer. We saw three BIG glass Pyrex bowls at the thrift store last night all with lids.
Great question! I think the best criteria is what you said “would I be looking for this if I hadn’t walked into the store today?”. If I really needed a clothes steamer, and I was feeling lucky, I might buy it even with no returns because it’s not high stakes. The worst that can happen is that I end up spending $43 for a clothes steamer ($13 for the used and $30 for the new if the used doesn’t work out).
I think that clothes are a no brainer as long as you aren’t buying Walmart shirts. I also think that it’s fine to buy something for close to new price if there’s no difference between buying used or new. When we were at the store they had a lot of glass pie plates for $8. I was curious so I googled and found that I can get a new glass pie plate at Walmart.ca for $8 – but a pie plate is a pie plate and the odds are that the thrift store ones are better quality, plus what you said about getting the thrift store one because you’re there and don’t have to make a separate trip to another store.
My best current thrift store find is probably my rain jacket that I take on all of my trips. It’s from Tracksmith, which is a high end brand and would have been $$$. I got it for a much more reasonable price on Thredup, and I’ve had it forever.
I like the reasoning! I’d never thought of it in terms of worst-case scenario you spend $43. It’s like a calculated investment risk.
You often get way you pay for with brands…and it’s wonderful to pay A LOT less and still get the brand-name quality. Three cheers for great rain coats.
I’m looking at your response to MBMOM11 and oh my gosh Kae is there!!! How exciting! Anyway…
I’m planning a trip to the thrift store to look for appropriate clothing for my trip next week- it’s been a while since I’ve traveled up north in chilly weather and I need a couple items. I’m excited to try a new-to-me store that people recommend. I’ll report back!
These are all great tips- I have to remind myself that other than clothes, I don’t NEED anything else right now! I can’t let myself wander through the store buying baskets, blankets, and the like. Just clothes! And, well- maybe I’ll look through books if they have them : )
Please let me know how your thrifting goes. Fingers crossed you find the perfect pieces are great prices <3
Thanks for addressing my question, Elisabeth! As I expected, your insights are fantastic. Considering a variety of dimensions of the purchase is key. Value comes in more than just dollar form. I tend to be a little too quick to purchase kid things at thrift stores. My son’s closet is already full. He doesn’t need any more clothes or toys. Even if the item has a good price, it’s not a good value for me.
While I walked away from that steamer, last week I scored a perfect condition Neiman Marcus cashmere sweater for my husband for $13 that he loves. I felt victorious!
Thanks for taking the time to send me a question! I really appreciated it and it was fun.
Congrats on such a good sweater deal! Cashmere is NOT cheap and I suspect it will last a long time being such a high-quality item.
Birchie, I like your spin on this! The worst that can happen is that I spend $43 on a steamer. That’s a great way to frame it!
Agreed! I would never have considered it from this angle.
I had a friend in town recently who wanted to go thrift shopping. She brought home a pair of pants and my husband asked if we had run them through the washing machine on sterilize. This is when I realized that my husband is super duper grossed out by purchasing things secondhand. He allowed me to scour antique shops and estate sales for wooden furniture for our house, but apparently that is where he draws the line. I had no idea because I don’t regularly go to thrift stores, but now I know that if something comes into the house from a secondhand shop, it will have to STERILIZED. LOL. Seventeen years in and I’m still learning new things about him.
Fair enough. It can be a bit icky and some thrift stores themselves feel a bit icky. I am not particularly bothered by the thought of wearing someone someone else has worn…once it goes through the laundry.
These are all such great tips, Elisabeth! A lot of them are also great things to consider when donating items to thrift stores.
We have a wonderful little thrift store in my community. Volunteers run it, and all the proceeds go back into the community. They support the library, hospital, and school, and they even give scholarships. So I never mind spending money there, even if I do end up with a dud.
The best thing I got there was a beautiful lamp. I got it over 20 years ago, and it still works!
Love stories of thrifted items being long-term “investments”…
My funniest thrift shop story is when a friend brought me a sweater from our tiny local thrift store and said, “This reminded me so much of you that I HAD to buy it for you.” When I finally stopped laughing, I said, “That’s because it WAS mine!”
Things like this have happened to friends. Our school has a shopping bazaar at Christmas where kids can “shop” for their family members. It’s filled with items that parents send in (gently used or new). Well…it is uncanny how many times kids will spot something and recognize it from home and assume that means their parents loved it. So they get it at the bazaar, and parents of course have to hide the fact they had been trying to get rid of said item. Haha.
The only thing we’ve ever bought at a thrift store has been clothing to make Halloween costumes. I’m at the point in life where I have too much stuff, so I rarely buy anything, but I do like watching TikToks when people find cool finds at thrift stores, like antique glassware, etc.
Thrifting for Halloween costumes is such a fun adventure.
I’m not a great thrifter, and we don’t have great thrifting places. I’m too anxious to buy anything electronic second-hand, and I would never buy shoes that way because my feet and back are so bad I need to know that there hasn’t been even invisible wear. The cute baskets? Absolutely. Containerizing is a big step in any kind of ‘get yourself organized’ list, and cute containers are the best containers. Eve has found really good jeans thrifting. We often thrift for Halloween costumes – the best was probably the year she wanted to be Velma from Scooby Doo and found a perfectly-sized orange skirt and red turtleneck on her first pass. We also found a great blue fancy dress that my friend wanted to shred the bottom of to go as a Devil in a Blue Dress.
Engie’s comment reminded me of my old boyfriend’s mom who was also grossed out by thrifting. Once I bought a really nice small throw rug and she was even grossed out by that – like, we were just going to put it on the floor and walk on it.
I love containers.
Also, I now feel like I MUST see a picture of Eve in that Velma costume.
Oh this is a good question. I don’t thrift that often, but I’m trying to work it into my routine when I’m shopping for things.
Best thing I was ever thrifted would probably be the dress I bought for our family portrait. It was pricey but a steal considering how much it would’ve be retail. I love the dress. So much. I still have some of the toys and furniture I bought at garage sales and estate sales a long time ago. Our Thomas the train set! A kitchen table we used for years and then sold for almost as much as what we paid for it.
I don’t have a great formula but usually I decide on something based on the price, how much wear it has left in it, and whether or not I can live without it.
I’ve seen that dress and it’s beautiful. I feel like you got most of the outfits from thrift stores??
And a great reminder that sometimes you can RE-SELL thrifted things and break even or even come out ahead.
I love this question and post! For me, a big question I ask about if this is a good deal is – if I buy this and it doesn’t last will the shorter life span be proportional to the lower cost? Something else to consider is that many times older items are higher quality relative to a new version so if you have an older item in good condition that passes all the due diligence checks (turns on etc) then there’s a good chance it’s sturdy. It’s lasted long enough to make it to a thrift store instead of dying and getting tossed out!