Buying Thriftly

Just a few thrifting tips that I find useful.

Ask for discounts - I know, you're at a thrift store so prices should be super low, right? Well unfortunately not always. I've gone out plenty of times to find items priced entirely too high (hello, Goodwill and your Target castoffs). I've even found items that are originally from the Dollar Tree priced higher than a dollar. While you won't always get a discount, it never hurts to ask. A few days ago I got 25% off a purse at Salvation Army, all I did was mention to the cashier that I really wanted it but didn't want to pay that much.

Get to know staff - This is really easy to do if you frequent a store. All it requires is a little bit of conversation and general friendliness. My mother is a pro at this. She's even had items held for her because she'd mention that she was looking for something in particular. Knowing the staff also helps play into getting discounts.

Check out the merchandise - I know that this should go without saying but it's really easy to overlook problems with an item during the thrill of the hunt. Thrift store return policies usually are "no returns, no exchanges" so it's best to double check items before you buy them.

Find out about sale days or specials - Lots of stores either have days when items are discounted or have special color tags that are discounted. The Salvation Army around me have 'Customer Appreciation Day' on Wednesdays where all the clothing and linens are half off. The Goodwill has different color priced tags and every week a different color is on sale for half off. It pays off to pay attention.