AARP Smart Guide to Thrift Shopping

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POWER SHOPPING AT THRIFTS

14. Look for the biggest bang for your buck

Bargain and treasure hunters alike may want to home in on certain items that stretch their dollar the furthest. Thrift experts say goods with the biggest return on investment include name-brand jeans; designer-label clothes; anything made of natural fibers, such as linen; kitchenware; furniture and other home decor; and electronics. “Designer items often cost a fraction of what they sell for new,” Ronconi says.

15. Find art treasures

Did you see the April episode of the hit PBS television series Antiques Roadshow where someone bought an oil painting at a Goodwill store for $15.99 — and it turned out to be a museum-quality work of art that could fetch between $60,000 to $80,000 at auction? Appraiser Betty Krulik said La Cueillette des Pommes Cannelle, a painting by Vietnamese artist Le Pho, was a “significant find.” Other Goodwill shoppers have found valuable fine art pieces, such as an Italian glass vase purchased for $3.99 that sold for $107,000 at auction last year. “You can find gems in artwork,” says Mekeel, because donors don’t always know the value of what they have or aren’t familiar with a particular artist.

16. Go vintage

Many secondhand stores specialize in vintage items — from jewelry and linens to art deco lamps and 1950s salt-and-pepper shakers. However, vintage items often carry a higher price tag.

17. Vinyl fever

Retro consumers, including nostalgic boomers, have driven a resurgence in vinyl records over the past few years. Revenue from U.S. sales of vinyl records grew 10 percent from 2022 to 2023, outselling music CDs, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. You’ll find plenty of vinyl at thrift shops — just be sure to inspect them for scratches before purchasing. If you’re lucky, you may even find a turntable and speakers too.

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KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THESE

18. Take a pass on unfixable goods

Experts typically don’t recommend buying damaged or nonfunctioning items unless you can repair them yourself or get them fixed inexpensively. For exceptions, see tip No. 36.

19. Watch out for overpriced items

Last year, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance reported that some thrift shops no longer offer the best deals, so it pays to know your prices. Why buy a used item, such as Target Merona brand clothing, for more than it costs new? “With dollar stores, Amazon, Walmart, thrift stores might not be the cheaper option anymore,” Miranda says.

20. Skip antique toys

Older toys may contain lead-based paint, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency recommends not letting your grandchildren play with painted vintage or antique toys made before 1978, the year the U.S. banned lead paint. You can test products for lead by submitting a sample to a certified laboratory. DIY kits are available, but the CDC says they may be unreliable.

21. Inspect rusted items

While it’s possible to remove rust, its corrosive qualities can weaken metal. Inspect metal products, such as patio furniture, to see if rust has pitted and damaged the metal. Paint can cover rust, but it won’t fix an unstable piece of furniture. Rust can also stain things it touches, such as carpeting and clothing.

22. Know your silvers

Sterling silver items, such as cutlery, platters and teapots, can be quite a find. However, it can be hard to tell the difference between solid silver and silver plate, which is a thin layer of silver applied to a base metal like brass or copper. “The first way to tell [the difference between] silver and silver plate is you pick it up,” appraiser Sebastian Clarke says in an Antiques Roadshow video. “The lighter example will almost always be sterling silver simply because it was a precious metal you had to be more … selective with how much weight you would use.” Antique silver also may have “sterling” stamped on the bottom or elsewhere, or other marks depending on the country of origin. Typical English silver standard marks include a maker’s mark, a city mark and a British silver standard mark (a lion). To complicate matters, silver plate is often marked, too, perhaps with a manufacturer’s trademark and abbreviations or names of the metal used in the plating process. Look for names or abbreviations such as EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), EPBM (electroplated Britannia metal), Métal Blanc or Alpaka.

23. Avoid hoarding

Successful thrifting can overload your home and garage. To avoid clutter, shop with purpose. Need a little black dress for a party? Look only at dresses. If you only need two coffee mugs, don’t buy six. Miranda calls this approach “conscious spending,” which is based on value and shuns impulse buying. “If you’re spending consciously, then you’re not spending money on things you don’t want or need,” Miranda says. “It’s really about intention.” And when you get home, declutter as you go. Her rule of thumb is to keep the same number of hangers in her closet, so if she adds one thrifted clothing item, one must go.

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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THRIFTING ONLINE

24. Seek specialization

Online thrifting has really taken off, but there are significantly more items to sift through than at bricks-and-mortar stores. Increase your chances of finding what you’re looking for by narrowing your search to platforms tailored to what you seek. Facebook Marketplace, GoodwillFinds.com and OfferUp have just about anything, while ThredUp and Vestiaire Collective specialize in designer and vintage clothing. The RealReal is a luxury site. GoodwillBooks.com offers more than 1.5 million books, games and other media.

25. Use search filters

To help sift through thousands of online items, use the handy search filters most sites provide. Narrowing your search by size, color, brand, price range and more will save time and reduce your frustration level.

26. Look for curated options

Why sift through the entire site if you just want to buy black pants? Many online thrifts offer curated collections that make shopping easier. Some recent examples: GoodwillFinds.com offered curated collections for “sundresses” and “stargazing,” while ThredUp had “denim everything” and “preppy trends.”

27. Welcome new arrivals

Many online thrifts list their newest items in a special section on their site or app so they’re easy to find. On GoodwillFinds.com, filter your search for “New Finds” and you’ll see more than 2,000 new items a day, says spokesperson Jim Davis. Other sites prominently promote their newest goods on their home pages — such as a “Shop New Arrivals” tab on The RealReal and a “shop just in” button on Thrifted.

28. It’s OK to ask

While trying on clothing or physically inspecting items is impossible at an online store, don’t be afraid to contact the site or individual seller (if it’s a resale platform) to ask for more information, Iglesias says. And “you can always ask for measurements, like if you want the armpit-to-armpit measurement,” she adds.

29. Load up on information

Some online thrift and resale shops offer newsletters to keep shoppers informed. Sign up for them to learn about new items, sales and discounts. When you sign up for email notices, you may also get a discount on your first purchase. GoodwillFinds.com sends an email newsletter to subscribers two to four times a week to ensure they learn about promotions such as buy one, get one free dresses or 30 percent off Star Wars merchandise, Davis says.

30. Pay attention to details

Most digital thrift shop platforms vet the condition and quality of their products, but you can’t touch or physically inspect them, so it’s important to pay attention to details. Typically, the condition of each item is listed along with photos of the item. Scour all images of each product, looking closely for stains or damage not listed in the description. Online return policies vary, so check before buying. Luxury secondhand site Vestiaire Collective has two return policies: one if you receive an item that’s different from how it’s described, and one if you doubt an item’s authenticity. GoodwillFinds.com offers refunds within 14 days only if goods are damaged during transit or if an item is incorrectly shipped, but you must email photos to customer service. GoodwillFinds.com shoppers also can buy “Seel Worry-Free Purchase,” which gives you seven days to return an item, but you must pay for return shipping.

31. Reward yourself

Some online thrifts, such as ThredUp and Thrifted, offer rewards programs based on how much money you spend. The free ThredUp Rewards lets customers rack up points they can redeem for perks like credit and free standard shipping. There are three tiers based on how much you spend per year, with each level providing more perks. ThredUp Rewards members also get a birthday gift.

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CARE FOR YOUR THRIFTED GOODS

32. Launder all fabrics at home

Thrift stores vary greatly when it comes to cleaning or washing items before selling them. No matter what, Patric Richardson recommends laundering any fabrics bought at a thrift shop once you get home. “No. 1, you don’t know how long it’s been since they’ve been laundered,” says Richardson, who cowrote the book Laundry Love and sells laundry products at his Mona Williams store at the Mall of America outside Minneapolis and online. “And they may not smell in the store, but they do when you get home — or they smell like perfume or smoke.” He says you can remove most scents — even smoke or mustiness. Richardson recommends using your washing machine’s express cycle for everything (even blankets) with laundry soap, warm water, a cold rinse and a fast spin. If you’re not comfortable putting delicate or heavy items in the washer, hand-wash them. For trickier odors, use chlorine-free bleach on mildew and soak smoke-scented clothing in vinegar for a few minutes. You can also add vinegar to a load in the washing machine, he says.

33. Clean non-apparel goods

To remove dust and dirt, Richardson says you can wipe down nearly any non-clothing item with a damp cloth soaked in a little bit of dish soap. Put glassware and ceramicware through the dishwasher. Wash large items in a bathtub or outside. “I find a lot of things clean up pretty darn easy, or you can paint them,” says Wilson, who often finds items at thrift shops to repurpose and resell at her vintage shop. “That’s one of the beauties of thrifting,” she says. “You can spend $6 on an item and make it look like a $100 item.”

34. Condition wood

Wood items from thrift shops such as furniture may need a little TLC to cover nicks and scratches or add luster to their surfaces. Wipe down the item with a damp, soapy cloth and then wipe it again with just a damp cloth, Richardson suggests. You may need to repeat that process a few times. Once dry, use a natural oil to condition the wood, cover scratches, add shine and protect it. One inexpensive treatment is olive oil. A little goes a long way, so put a couple of drops on a paper towel or rag and “really buff it in,” Richardson says. Other oil options include Murphy Oil Soap, Old English Lemon Oil and The Real Milk Paint Co.’s Natural Hemp Oil. Another alternative is furniture wax, such as Briwax, which comes in various tints.

35. Remove stains

You can remove most stains from fabric — even wine and perspiration — with a little elbow grease, Richardson says. In general, he recommends using an oil-based soap or stain remover, sprinkling non-chlorine bleach on it, letting it sit for a couple of hours and then running very hot water over it. (It’s not true that hot water sets stains, he adds.)

36. Go DIY

Exceptions to the rule of not buying damaged items include items that are valuable and goods that you can repair easily and inexpensively. Fixing threadbare clothing and rugs may be difficult, but you can replace buttons and mend small moth holes. “If it’s just a concert T-shirt, it’s probably not worth buying and having it rewoven,” Richardson says. “But if it’s a Chanel jacket, it’s totally worth it. I once found a wonderful shirt from the ’80s, but the cuffs were really worn. I took it to an alterations place and had it cut into a short-sleeve shirt” for less than $15.

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RESELLING THRIFTED GOODS

37. Know what to resell

It’s become trendy to shop at thrift stores and resell those items for more than you paid for them. It’s called recommerce or flipping. Some people do it as a hobby; others have turned it into a business. Ronconi, who has operated vintage shops for 30 years, recommends starting small and focusing on categories you think are the most profitable or garner the most attention. “There’s a lot of trial and error,” she says. “Now, [vintage] T-shirts are huge.” As you become more experienced, Iglesias suggests specializing in a particular product so you become known in resale circles for that. For example, before opening her shop, Iglesias spent five years as a reseller focused on mid-century modern furniture.

38. Do your research

When you’re starting out or entering a new market, Wilson says it’s crucial to “learn, learn, learn.” “I research items online,” she says. “I also find out what an item is worth on eBay and Etsy to see if it’s worthwhile. I shoot to sell something at double what I paid for it.” For a shortcut, use price-comparison apps such as Flipp, Price.com and ShopSavvy.

39. Know where to sell

New online-resale platforms keep popping up. They range from well-established ones like Facebook Marketplace and eBay to resale stores like Plato’s Closet and consignment shops. Ronconi likes Whatnot, a newer live-auction platform, and District, a new membership-based live marketplace. She says they provide quick feedback about what people are interested in “as opposed to putting something on eBay and waiting a week for it to sell.” These platforms charge different fees or commissions, so make sure you thoroughly research your options.

40. Present well to sell

Resale prices tend to be higher than those at thrift stores, so people expect items to be clean and washed, experts say. “You want the items to look as good as possible,” advises Richardson, who once owned a designer vintage store in Minneapolis. He also suggests ironing clothes and fabrics, making sure zippers work, and checking for stains or missing buttons. Finally, Richardson notes that some resale shops may not accept items that aren’t clean and neat, especially clothing.