Thrift Store Sales: Don't Go There!

As if things at your local thrift store aren't cheap enough, there's something incredibly exciting to look forward to:

Thrift Store Sales!


That's right. Every store has sales and thrift stores are no exception. These aren't your basic price reductions like 10% off for students and seniors. Sure. Those exist too. But I'm talking about the big ones. Value Village has them. The Salvation Army has them. 50% off! 75% off! All clothing, toys, housewares etc..

It's advertised in advance. The cashier tells everyone who checks out: "Don't forget about our big sale next week!" 


Sales are great for everyone. The customer gets used stuff for cheap. The store moves some inventory. It's win win, right?

Don't get sucked into thrift store sales!


I've mentioned how you need to do your research. And you're competing with hundreds of other people to find things worth reselling. Now multiply the hundred of people by 10. Thousands of people are at these sales. I've been to the 50% off sale at Value Village. It's elbow to elbow! Every man for himself.


You aren't going to find anything! It will be picked over, torn apart and, most importantly, purchased already. 


So after all that research, you're out to find some gold at the thrift store. Now, instead of going on your terms, you're going to try to save 50 cents and go at the same time as everyone else! 


Come on! Use some self control! Thrift store sales are for suckers. You won't find anything. Stay home and watch TV. 


Before you give up all hope, there is a plus side.


 Here's how you can profit from thrift store sales:


Go the day before. 

That's it. It's simple. Check the store the day before and you'll have a better chance of finding your hot item. Common sense works in your favour here. Since everyone else is going to wait for the sale, you will be competing with less.

I've seen this in action so many times. As I stroll through the store the day before a big sale, I look extra hard for great items. Other shoppers are there, it's true, but not too many.

Make sure you look in obscure places, because those people that didn't know about the sale realize their mistake and want to come back the next day. But they already may have found something good that they don't want to part with. So they hide it. To save a few pennies, they're willing to take that risk that their item will be there tomorrow. I've found things inside other things. Women's clothes in the men's section. Stuff shoved behind books, under toys, on the top shelves.

The secret to thrift store sales is to avoid them, but not ignore them. Time your shopping to happen before the sale days and the odds go up significantly in your favour.

Selling Used Stuff - 3 Steps to figuring out if it's worth it.

Selling used stuff is the main reason I shop at thrift stores. Granted, there are many fun things to look at and pick up for myself, but my primary reason for shopping is to find items at a profit. It can be a lot of work. You need to do your research.

When selling used stuff you need to keep the following 3 rules in the top of your mind:



1. Is there demand?

Do people want to buy this? If so, why is it here in the thrift shop? Usually if an item is in high demand, you won't find it in a thrift store. Well, you will find it, if you're persistent. Everything hits the thrift store at some point, but you need to remember that there are thousands of people like you out there trying to make a buck. The odds are against you. If your item is there, someone will beat you to it.

Ebay is your friend. check those completed listings to determine what things are selling for.

Keep an eye out for relatively unknown collectibles. Niche items. Things that might have been discontinued. Some items I look for include Puzz 3D's and pez dispensers. They are highly collectible and sought after.

2. What is the condition?

When selling used stuff, the condition of the item is critical. A mint condition original Transformer is worth plenty of coin, but a few scuffs or a loose hinge might render it worthless. But with collectibles, there's usually some value. You just need to do your research. Barbie clothes from the sixties are lucrative, no matter the condition.

3. What's the price?

Of course, when selling used stuff, the price point is the most important part. It's how you make your money. Every noobie knows the cardinal rule: Buy low and sell high. But how low is low? This depends on your profit margin and the energy you're willing to expend to make a buck.

You may find that after taxes, shipping and the fees incurred selling your stuff, you're barely breaking even. And that doesn't include your time. How much is your time worth to you? 

Make sure you understand the value. Your margins need to be big enough. Sometimes you just don't know. Sometimes you get extremely lucky and make a huge profit, while other times you might end up selling at a loss.

Is it worth it?

That's the joy of selling used stuff. You need to be willing to take a few hits while waiting for the windfalls. On average, you can make some decent extra money if you put the time in to do your research.

And remember the 3 steps to figuring out if it's worth it. When selling used stuff check for demand, condition and price. If it's not worth it, don't buy it!