Tips for Successful Thrift Shopping -- Do's AND Don'ts

I have a “jones” for shopping. I can also make the buffalo squeal on a nickel – yep, I’m frugal. I’ve been known to buy the most ridiculous things – some I didn’t even know what they were. Are explanations perhaps in order? There’s something about paying new, retail prices that nearly hurts my feelings. I shop at garage sales, Goodwill, estate sales, thrift shops, eBay, auctions and about anywhere else a good deal can be found. Through the years I’ve also conducted garage sales and estate sales for other people.

There’s good money to be made in that field if you have a great deal of time, patience and intestinal fortitude plus a strong back. I also hit the flea market circuit years ago and made money at it -- depending on what one thinks one’s worth per hour! I considered these occupations as my moonlighting gigs – not how I made a living -- but got five years experience in the process. I’d rather – and it’s easier – to be a Buyer!

In my little town, one of the churches has a weekly bargain sale and their prices are ridiculously low. Every Thursday morning finds people lined up at their door. They have stuff divided by type like ladies clothing, household goods, books, etc.

My big bargain today was in the household goods and book department. Their books were on sale six for $1.00. I found five and was glad to pay the dollar as I read a lot but today’s books will be part of my writing collection. I found two books titled “The World Book Dictionary” and they are absolutely superb reference materials.

My household goods bargain was two pans. One is a skillet with lid that although used was clean, grease free, no stains and nearly pristine. The other was what my Granny called a “sauce pan” no matter its size. This was a big sauce pan (4 quart) – again with a lid – which obviously matched the skillet. I paid $4 for each pan and lid for a total of $8. What’s so wonderful about that? Well, they’re both Magnalite made by Wagner Ware which is horribly expensive no matter its age as you absolutely can’t wear it out.

So, I came home today with a bunch of little things I didn’t need (like another fleece lined sweat shirt for $1), books and pots and pans. Quite a good day of shopping if I do say so myself. So, all-in-all I spent $10 today. I’d say each of the books would be around $25 (conservatively) and I’d estimate the pans (also conservatively) at $125 new/retail and the fleece lined sweat shirt would have been $20 minimum. So…$195 worth of merchandise for $10 is a pretty good deal as this old horse trader sees it.

My BIG (both in size and money saved) bargain (a year ago) is my living room couch and chair. The couch is made by Bernhardt, two-piece, curved and clips together so the two parts don’t move or shift. It’s genuine leather, rather a butterscotch color and doesn’t have a mark on it. I bought it at an auction with no intention of buying a couch at all. The auctioneer started it at $2500, came down to $1700 and when he still didn’t have a bid said the couch didn’t have a reserve on it so what would someone give for it. I held up my card and said $200 and he slammed his gavel down and said “sold!” To say I was surprised is an understatement.

I bought a Pier I chair the same evening – stained wicker, very sturdy, wingback style but had no cushions. I bought it for $25, recovered a couple of cushions I already had to go with it and it’s one of my favorite pieces of furniture in the house. Fact is, luck and chance have about as much to do with finding a really big bargain as anything else when one shops the “thrift circuit.”. You’ll find lots of tips for Sellers but rarely tips for Buyers so here’s a bit of buying etiquette I’ve gleaned from having been on both sides of the aisle:

Shopping suggestions for thrift shoppers:

1. If you want to make an offer do it gently and gracefully. First, ask the Seller if they’re amenable to an offer – and get ready because some aren’t. If they don’t want to bargain, thank them and move on. If they are willing to bargain make an offer a bit lower than you’re actually willing to pay. That leaves the door open to meet somewhere in the middle. After all, until money changes hands there’s been no sale.

2. Make your offer reasonable – nothing turns a Seller off faster than a ridiculously lowball offer. Everyone among us knows what a reasonable and unreasonable offer is so just don’t go there. In the alternative, tell the Seller you’re on a budget, admire the item but just can’t afford the price. Say you’d like to make a bid if the item doesn’t sell and offer to leave your telephone number should the Seller decide to accept bids. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll hear from a Seller when using this approach.

3. Don’t criticize the merchandise or poo-poo the price as that’s insulting to Sellers. If you make a Seller mad they’ll often rather throw the item in the garbage than deal with a smart-aleck Buyer. I know; I’ve done it!

4. Don’t try to shoot a low price (lowball) on everything you see or want. If you’ve gathered up a bunch of small stuff offer one reduced price for the whole lot rather than on each item. Remember, every Buyer there is trying to get a better price and it gets discouraging to a Seller to dicker over a $1 item. They’re usually more than willing to let $25 merchandise go for $20 just to get rid of it.

5. Be extremely sensitive when bargaining on what are obviously “family heirloom” items. Often an estate has to be sold in its entirety to satisfy the Will, the administrator of an estate, etc. and the Seller isn’t all that happy about selling in the first place. This type of sale usually includes antiques and a lot of Sellers have an inflated idea of what antiques are worth today. Ten years ago antiques were hot – today their worth (most items) is tremendously diminished unless the piece is exceptionally rare or unique.

6. Put yourself in the Seller’s place. Fact is -- they don’t have to sell to you. The merchandise belongs to them and no one wants to deal with smart-mouth, rude Buyers. Pleasant goes a long way when thrift shopping.

7. Don’t project an attitude – like “I can afford to buy anything I want to at any price – I’m just here to see how the other half lives.” Sellers recognize this attitude and quite frankly don’t care whether you buy or not – and if irritated enough won’t sell to you at all.

8. And this is a biggy. . .wanting something you find at a bargain price, whether a thrift shop, auction or estate sale, doesn’t have anything to do with “needing” it – go ahead – have a little fun! Fact is, and if one gets down to the nitty gritty of bargain shopping – it’s not what you find -- what you get -- or what you paid.

Thrift shopping, bargain hunting -- whatever you call it -- It’s really all about the loving of the game!