How to save money while thrifting? Avid shoppers share tips

If you feel like shopping at brick-and-mortar thrift shops has gotten expensive, you’re not alone. People across the Seattle area say stores are pricing secondhand items higher than ever. Meanwhile, thrift store operators are grappling with rising costs of their own. But all that doesn’t mean good deals aren’t out there, waiting to be found.

We talked with avid thrift shoppers to learn more about the strategies that work for them. Critically, everyone stressed the importance of being patient. Buying used items is fundamentally different from shopping retail, especially online, where anything you can dream of buying is a click away.

Sifting through labyrinths of donated stuff at a thrift store, you may never find the exact item you had in mind, especially at a dirt-cheap price. But maybe you’ll find something so different or so unexpected that it makes the search worthwhile.

Browse frequently

Thrift stores regularly restock their shelves with new donations. Popping in frequently to take a look increases your chances of finding something that might strike your fancy, said Tara Pham, who has been thrifting for almost 15 years.

“They put out new stuff all the time,” Pham said. The selection at a thrift store may change substantially from one week, or even day, to another.

Some stores have a fixed schedule of when they roll fresh products onto shelves, said Kendra Bengelink, who’s been thrifting for 20 years. “You can either just observe what that is at your particular thrift store, or they’ll tell you.”

Thrifting often can be a chore, or it can be an adventure.

For those willing to really hunt, there’s also the Goodwill outlet store in Sodo, known colloquially as “the Bins,” where items are sold by the pound. Dive in!

Bengelink’s sons like to go thrifting, specifically at the Bins. “They’ll do that as an activity, literally for a date or with their friends.”

Pay attention to sales

Albert Chang, who began thrifting around five years ago, pays attention to Goodwill’s sale calendar.

One of the largest networks of thrift stores in the Seattle area, Goodwill has a rotating schedule of deals based on a price-tag color system. Depending on the day, certain items might be discounted by up to 50%, or priced as low as $1.99.

Alyssa Grigg, senior director of marketing and communications for Goodwill, also emphasized that on certain days, active or retired military service members and people older than 62 can get a 20% discount on their shopping.

Don’t be afraid to walk away

Susan Stoltzfus calls thrifting her “cost-neutral hobby.” When she finds underpriced treasures, like vintage dishware or baseball cards, she’ll sell them online for a small profit. She then uses those proceeds to shop for herself.

Seasoned thrifters like Stoltzfus put a premium on quality when thrifting. There are so many items to look through, you don’t have to buy the dishware with cracks or clothing with holes.

When buying plates, she’ll run her fingers around the rims to make sure there aren’t invisible chips. Pam Mandel has been thrifting for 30 years. When she shops for clothing, she looks for articles made primarily with natural fibers because they last longer.

If you don’t find what you really want, don’t feel like you have to buy anything. Stoltzfus isn’t afraid to load up her shopping cart, walk around the store, and then put items back onto shelves.

“Set your limit,” she said. “Be willing to walk away.”