What to Do When You “Can’t Find Anything Good” at the Thrift Store
It’s frustrating walking into a thrift store and not finding anything good. I hate leaving empty-handed. Don’t you?
Could be that the prices are jacked up higher than Macy’s….
….and the selection??
Don’t get me started on that one.
Some places have so little choice and variety that you wonder how they’re still in business.
I’ve got awesome thrift stores here in Maryland (the best thrift stores are Value Village and Unique Thrift). It’s probably because this is the Washington DC metro area and there’s a bunch of rich folks in Montgomery County, plus a lot of turn-over from government folks coming and going.
But if you live in an area that has nothing good at the thrift stores, here are a few suggestions on scoring good deals despite bad thrift stores!
TIP 1 – Considering having a Thrift Swap with your friends or neighborhood!
Why not create your own thrift swap?? Get together a group of friends, or your church, or whoever it is you hang out with the most (your kid’s basketball team??) and have a community thrift swap! Sign up for the free app called Next Door that connects you with your neighbors and see if they’re interested in a neighborhood swap.
More likely than not, they have stuff in their garage, their bedrooms, etc., that they aren’t using. Be willing to swap it out for something that you’ve decided you don’t want anymore. Even better, create a Facebook page for your thrift swap and take pics of all the stuff you’re looking to get rid of. Have everyone else post pics. And then just swap. Maybe sell it if you want, but swapping might be even better. Free is good :).
Related Read: 10 Things You MUST Know Before You Hit the Thrift Store
TIP 2 – Speaking of Facebook…..Join a Yardsale Group!
Did you know that people are finding all kinds of amazing stuff in Facebook Yardsale groups? I admit I haven’t really used Facebook groups because I always find such great stuff at the thrift store. But if you’re having a hard time finding stuff, check out these yardsale groups. I just typed in “Maryland yardsale” and it told me some in different counties and regions.
My advice would be to check these groups often because you never know what you are going to find.
On my Thrift Diving Facebook page, a woman told me she’d scored a gorgeous Oak Roll top desk that if sold brand new would be over $2000 and she got it for $50 on one of the Facebook Yardsale groups. It had been a couple days and no one had responded to the post, so when she did, she got an awesome deal on it!
TIP 3 – Be Willing to Take a Road Trip!
It’s true that thrift stores may stink in your area (excuse the pun)….So you might have to travel outside of your area to find a good deal. Try finding a list of thrift stores near you on the Thrift Store National Directory. Enter in zip codes up to 2 hours from you and take a Saturday to go check out some shops outside of your area. You might be surprised at what you find! Be sure to have a van or at least a set of bungee cords in your trunk if you’re sportin’ a 4-door sedan like me. ;). Bungees, baby….it’s all in the bungees….
Related Reads:
TIP 4 – Think Outside the Crayon Box
Recently I posted how about I turned this old knife block into a DIY crayon holder. I just happened to be walking by and I was inspired to do something with it, although I wasn’t sure what. But you have to think that way about thrift stores, especially when you aren’t finding any “good” stuff. Because the “good stuff” can also be the stuff you don’t realize can be turned into other “good” things!
There are lots of things you can find at the thrift store that you may have other looked. Some of these things are:
- Candlesticks – Glue them on to thrifted plates to make cake stands and serving plates.
- Cheap metal buckets – These make the best for gift baskets. Here’s one I upcycled into a gift basket for my mom!
- Small porcelain or plastic figurines – Just spray paint them, especially if they have awesome shapes but are faded and ugly otherwise. I loved how these bronze bird bookends turned out.
- Old cameras – Buy some old bright spray paint and spray paint old cameras, arranging them on your bookshelf or somewhere visually interesting.
TIP 5 – Try These Other Online Second-Hand Sites
I mean, we’ve all heard of Craigslist (and even eBay), and we know how sketchy some of those buyers and sellers can be on Craigslist. It’s still a great site to score a good deal, but don’t limit yourself to just CL and eBay. Try these other four sites.
EBTH
That stands for “Everything But the House.” They consider themselves to be a premier estate sale online marketplace. I heard about them at a blogging conference some number of years ago, and they seem to have great stuff!
Here are just a sampling of their categories. You could get lost in the amount of stuff they have to sell!
Furnishly.com
Have you heard of Furnishly? Furnishly seems to be more like Craigslist, with more affordable deals and “everyday” furniture, with some sweet pieces mixed in.
EstateSales.net
Have any of you tried this site before? I found my Ethan Allen sofa in my second-hand blogging room from an estate sale! 🙂 I scored it for $100 from an estate sale. WOO HOO! You can get email alerts for sales coming up in your area.
Related Read: How to Shop Estate Sales
ShopGoodwill.com
Shop Goodwill is awesome because it’s a conglomerate of thrifted stuff from Goodwills nationally. You can search for the ones in your area and bid on the things you love.
The Bottom Line
If you’re lucky enough to have great thrift stores in your area, you rock!!! But if you aren’t, that shouldn’t stop you from finding good deals! Think outside the box and how you can repurpose the stuff you are finding at the thrift store. And be sure to swap with friends, and stay connected online in case a good deal pops up!
So do you live in a location that has good thrift stores? What kind of stuff do you find there? And have you ever found anything really juicy online? 🙂 Leave a comment and share what you’ve found!
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Too many bargains to list, but you forgot Craigslist. I got 200 vintage pink ceramic bathroom tiles for $50. On e-bay, they go for $3-4 apiece. I drove 90 miles, but, I know some great thrift stores there too! I love to shop different regions. Ohio had some great Amish thrift stores, Janesville, WI has a Salvation Army where a ton of vintage Christmas turned up. (They just moved, I almost had a heart attack when I saw the empty store.)
When I travel, the first sightseeing I do is thrift stores. Also a great place to find souvenir t-shirts and tschotkes (spell check wants hotcakes).
You are such an inspiration and soothing to my soul. As others have mentioned, I appreciate your mistakes, your anquishes, your successes and am jealous of your Ryobi tools!
Hi Serena!!!
I love your site and the fact that you’re a DC Metro girl like myself! I love thrifting, it is absolutely my favorite pass time and most of my friends and family members think i’m a little obsessed ( which i am.) But it’s okay because my apartment and closet look dope. 😉
I was wondering if you could give me a list of some of your favorite thrift stores. I live in Montgomery County ( Silver Spring, represent.) And frequent goodwill, unique/value village and 2nd Ave ( in Laurel). I love finding new thrift spots in my area! I don’t want to miss any!
Thank you!!!
-Kat
I must confess that my two GW shoppers moved and my daughter’s easy baby grew to be three so I do not go so often. I’ve found it helped if I went for something specific and a quick sashay for other stuff. My daughter and I found lots of Crystal and silver things for showers and wedding decor for my youngest daughter’s vintage wedding. Then I was looking for plates, bowls, things to stack to make those flowers for yard art. Worked on those an entire summer but ended up giving most away! But the hunt was fun. Another year was the hunt for vintage China, silver plate silverware, Crystal goblets all to be mix and match. That was fun. In the midst of that I found Swedish Orefors candle tea light holder which light bounces around because it is such high quality!! But furniture?? Not so much here. But maybe I wasn’t really looking either. I do seem to see better furniture on the east coast postings though. But I do think it helps to have a “think outside the box” thinking process going on too!!! Love your positive following and this article. Great!! Don’t answer back. Just keep working on this blog!!!!!
Gwen, you are hilarious! Well, since you say “Don’t answer back” you know I will! 🙂 It’s 1:52 a.m. Headed to bed at 2 a.m.! Trying to clear my inbox!!!! 🙂
Great article! Thanks for sharing the nationwide thrift store locator link, so handy!
You’re welcome! It will at least give you a jumping off point for finding out where the stores are! 🙂
Excellent information, thank you! I do get frustrated with the prices of most of the “thrift” stores here in Los Angeles – one of my biggest annoyances are what I can only assume are the pricing skills of someone who doesn’t understand that old doesn’t necessarily mean valuable & you can’t charge boutique prices for damaged items. Yes, they may look the ‘same’ to you – they are not! I actually have better luck attending estate sales. I wait until the last day of the sale – they are exhausted & really don’t want to deal with stuff they haven’t sold & you can get some absolutely stupendous deals. As a rule, the bigger your “I want to buy this” pile is the better discount you will get – particularly things that are cumbersome, breakable or even stuff like books – they will be so excited that you are getting it out of there for them they will practically give it to you!
I am a “new” subscriber & sooo loving this blog! Kudos, Serena!
OOooh, yea, those are the best days, at the end! I haven’t shopped that many estate sales, only because my thrift stores rock, but yep, you’re right–estate sales are amazing!! Sorry the pricing is so high at your thrift store!
Serena,
Congratulations! I am very happy for you! That crayon holder is so unique and creative, you deserve to be recognized for all your hard work and your enthusiasm. You are going to do great!!
Thanks, Sally!!!
Congratulations on your expanding interwebs fame, Serena!
I’m happy that others are discovering how much fun you are. And how knowledgeable, and how generous with that knowledge.
Awww……that’s really sweet, Nancy. It’s feels nice, I have to admit! Funny how when I first started blogging, it was password protected. HA! And then I removed the password and asked friends and family to subscribe. I remember my first 25…..ahhhhh….. So funny!
SUCH good thrifting advice Serena!! And congrats on getting so much love on your awesome project, so cool!!
xoxo, Tanya
Thank you, Tanya!!
Once in a while I can find something cool at the thrift stores, but most of the time things are outrageously priced!! Goodwill and Salvation Army are the worst!! Plain old vases you’d get for $.50-$1 at a garage sale are like $5-$10!! Dilapitated old furniture is priced like a value antique in mint condition!! I have seen a table and chairs for over $400!! At Salvation Army!! Most of the people are shopping there because they don’t have money. They are supposed to pay $400 for crappy furniture??
I find good deals at some estate or tag sales. If you go on the last day, it’s usually half off everything or better.
That’s ridiculous!!! $400??? They somehow have forgotten who their audience is! I mean, I know we DIYers are in there scooping things up, but I NEED THESE PRICES. I can’t afford to buy $400 chairs!!