- Make a Plan – Before visiting a thrift shop, have a plan in place of how much you want to spend and what items you’re in need of. If you’re on a spontaneous trip, keeping a budget in mind is still necessary. A thrift store adventure can turn into a shopping extravaganza quickly with so many attractive items and luring prices – it’s like a giant treasure hunt! Most shops are organized and laid out well so making a plan and sticking to one area, (household items, clothing, furniture) may help you from over indulging in the shopping frenzy and keep you from regretting a purchase.
- Shop Off-Season – Shopping for winter clothes should be done in the summer and vice versa. Better deals on winter apparel can be easily found in the summer months.
- Dress Casual – If you’re shopping for clothes and expecting to try articles of clothing on, you might be in for a wait at the fitting rooms. Dress casual so you can change quickly and keep lines moving.
- Make Friends – Develop a rapport with the cashier or store clerks. Don’t be afraid to hand out your business card with contact info. The clerks are always receiving new inventory and if you’re looking for something specific, it doesn’t hurt to have someone help you out on the inside – a nice thank you gift like a Starbucks card would be a good gesture if they really hook you up.
- Thrift Regularly – Thrift shops are like a revolving door, inventory is always coming in and going out. Plan to visit once a week to see what’s new in stock. It also helps to shop on off-hours, during weekdays, perhaps a lunch break, when the store is least likely to be crowded.
- Location, Location, Location – Yes, location matters when it comes to thrift stores and shopping. Thrift stores that are off the beaten path are less likely to be over-priced and picked over than ones located near a campus university.
Have a great tip? Feel free to share them with us and we’ll share them on our blog and social media! Happy Thrifting!