Why Buy Used? A Guide to Thrift Store Shopping

I used to avoid thrift stores before I became a vintage dealer. I understand for some folks there's a certain distaste factor involved in used stuff - I definitely felt uncomfortable at first. You eventually get used to the atmosphere so that’s less of an issue for me now. It can also be intimidating to see piles of stuff and try to figure out whether there’s a quality item somewhere in the clutter.

I visit thrift stores several times a month now. I realize some of them have a controversial reputation as a charity (Goodwill specifically). But if even some of my money is going to help people, I consider that a win over buying at Walmart and Amazon. Plus you are giving something new life instead of sending it to a landfill. It doesn’t matter which thrift store you buy from, all of them are saving usable products from the dump.

That said, here are some tips to help deal with the thrift shopping experience:

1. Take a buddy - it’s more pleasant to go with someone else. You get two sets of eyes scoping the shelves and you have a comfort buddy.


2. Understand that anything you buy needs to be cleaned. Run it through the dishwasher or saturate it with cleaner and rinse. I consider 5-10 minutes of elbow grease to be part of the trade-off for getting a deal on price.


3. Carefully inspect everything and make sure there’s no damage you can’t live with. It’s amazing how often I spot an issue after I get home.


4. Keep hand sanitizer or wet wipes in the car for use after you leave the store. You’ll feel better once you’re clean again!


5. Try to be patient. For whatever reason a lot of (slow) older folks tend to thrift shop. I usually skip past to dodge them and circle back when the row is clear.


6. When in doubt on something, don’t buy. Stick with what you know. Or if you decide to get it, realize you’re taking a chance and only spend what you’re willing to risk/gamble. 

I feel like thrifting is a worthwhile option for anyone, regardless of income level. Sometimes you find older decor items that just aren’t made anymore which bring funky personality to a man cave, etc. If you have kids it can be a godsend for keeping up with growth spurts without spending a ton on new clothes every year. I also think young adults who are getting their own apartment should definitely check out thrift stores for cheap dishes and furniture. If you haven't gone to a thrift store, try it from time to time. You might get converted to the idea just like me!

What's It Worth? Using eBay to Price / Value Your Vintage Finds!

I just recently created an infographic for a process I use a lot. When you sell vintage items, you need to figure out what price to put on them. Sometimes you can search on Google and see what other people are charging. Other times there just aren't similar items out there to find. I had this problem a lot when I first started.

Eventually I figured out how to get some of this information from eBay. Here's the graphic I created that shows how to do this:

Step One: type in your search and hit the "Search" button. Step Two: Click "Sold Listings" on the bottom left menu. The page will reload and eBay will show you sold listings instead of current listings. You can get a pretty good idea of what people are willing to pay based on these sales.

So what can you do if there are no matches in current or sold listings? Well you can try searching for a more generic version of the item you want to sell. That's not always a good option. In this situation, comparing to other Pyrex patterns wouldn't be useful information.

When I strike out on eBay I turn to Worthpoint. This is a paid service so it's probably not worthwhile for the casual eBay seller. The cost is about $20 a month. In return you get access to several years worth of price information from eBay and other online auction sites. You can find most products in their database of 300 million records.

The final option if neither of these work for you, go with your gut. What would you pay for this piece if you wanted one for yourself? Ask a few friends what they would pay if you like and form a consensus. In my family we tend to be pretty frugal. I figure if I'm willing to pay $50 for something, odds are pretty good that other shoppers would too!

Just be forewarned - if you are an avid collector your opinion probably isn't terribly valid. Collectors have a tendency to significantly overvalue their collection based on what they paid, not on what the current market will bear.