13 Common Thrift Store Items That Are Always Way Too Expensive

Shopping at the thrift store can be exciting, especially when you're on the hunt for unique pieces. If you're trying to redecorate or even furnish your home, there are many great finds at the thrift store, such as home decor, kitchen supplies, and furniture. It's a great way to save money, while also being eco-friendly. However, even though there are great deals to be found at the thrift store, there are also plenty of items that you should avoid if you're being budget conscious. While the thrift store might be a more affordable option for many shoppers, there are certain items that are simply too expensive for what you are getting. 

With so many items being donated every day, there is always something new to find at a thrift store. However, not everything is worth actually buying. Whether it's because of quality, safety, or actual value for your money, some items are best left at the store, especially when you consider how much you're really spending. So what are some items you should be skipping when it comes to your next thrift store trip?

Perhaps one of the easiest things to find in a thrift store would be clear glass vases. Whether they came from a dollar store or a floral arrangement, clear glass vases are easy to get our hands on outside of a thrift shop, which is a big reason why it's not worth buying them there. There are so many other alternatives to a clear glass vase that are a better investment at the thrift store, including unique colored glass, pottery, or other ceramics that can be used for floral arrangements.

If you're on the hunt for artwork to hang on your walls, a trip to the thrift store can potentially give you some options and inspiration. However, much of the art that has been donated is mass produced and easily found in retail stores, such as HomeGoods and Target. These pieces don't really have a lot of value to them, and their quality might not be worth the price tag. Your best bet is to look for more unique pieces and actual paintings that haven't been produced in bulk.

Typically, non-stick pots and pans have a coating meant to make cooking and cleanup easier, but it does scratch and break down over time. Often, the pots and pans you find in a thrift store are scratched up, peeling, and even dented, making them not worth picking up, even at thrift store prices. It's not always easy to determine the condition of the pans by looking at them, either. If you want non-stick cookware, purchasing it new is recommended for safety reasons. But if you're still looking for cookware, check for cast iron at your thrift stores instead.

Seashells and rocks can be great fillers for vases and other centerpieces. A lot of people use them for art projects, as well. And if you're looking to pick these up in bulk, you might be thinking of checking out the thrift store. Oftentimes, seashells and rocks are actually priced relatively high when you consider that these can be found easily in nature. While seashells might be harder to get inland, there are still affordable options, such as dollar stores, to pick them up in bulk.

There is some valuable vintage wood furniture you should always look for at the thrift store, but some other wood pieces are not worth the price. One piece you may want to skip would be an American pine hutch. Although these pieces can look like they are antiques, their color and lack of real patina prove that they are not as valuable as expected. At the same time, many of these hutches are quite bulky and can actually be too large for many rooms. You may want to skip these pieces if you're opting for a more modern approach to your decor.

Another item we find a lot on thrift store shelves has to be plastic containers. Often, these items are overpriced and not worth picking up. You don't know how these containers were used, if they were heated in the microwave, frozen, or improperly cleaned. Since plastic breaks down over time, it can be unsafe to use these items for your own food storage. It's just not worth picking up these items used from the thrift.

If you haven't been in a thrift store lately, you might've missed the increase in price on many stuffed animals. Sometimes, these plush toys are dirty, ripped, and just not in the best condition. Another thing to consider with these soft toys is the potential for dust mites and bed bugs, as well as allergens. Although you can throw some stuffed animals into the washer, that doesn't mean that they will survive the process or end up getting clean enough.

If there is one thing you should never buy from the thrift store, it would be pillows. Not only are these overpriced at many thrift stores, but there is no guarantee that they are clean. Pillows, like stuffed animals, can harbor bugs and allergens that can cause serious issues if brought home with you. There is no guarantee that throwing these pillows in the wash will actually get them clean enough for you to use. You don't know why those pillows were donated to begin with, so you may want to stick to purchasing your pillows new.

There are a lot of pet beds on the market and some are more affordable than others. Often when you find them at the thrift store, it feels like they are marked up because of their size and popularity. But it's simply not worth buying them for what thrift stores want because there is no guarantee when it comes to their cleanliness. You could be bringing home fleas, mites, and bacteria that aren't worth any potential savings buying secondhand would give you.

Finding small kitchen appliances, such as microwaves, coffee pots, and slow cookers, at the thrift store can seem like a great way to save money. However, even with them being less than what you might pay new, they usually hold larger price tags than you might want to spend on something that may not be returnable if it doesn't work properly, depending on the store's return policy. Plus, you never know how the appliances were used previously. Instead, keep an eye out for major sales around back-to-school time and Black Friday to score inexpensive, brand-new appliances.

Buying items at the dollar store might not be as inexpensive as it used to be, but you can still buy items between $1 and $2 there that are brand new. However, it's not uncommon to find dollar store items priced above their initial price tag at the thrift store. Even items that have the dollar store tag on them still may end up at higher prices. There is no reason to pay more for an item that is cheaper brand new at the dollar store. The same goes for any new-with-tag item that's marked higher than then original price tag.

Furniture made with particle board can be relatively inexpensive when purchased new. While it can be nice to find a deal, if it's already damaged, then it's not worth whatever savings you might find at the thrift store. While small scratches and chips can be repaired, larger damage requires more work and materials, which adds to the overall cost. Buying pieces new can save you time and money, and you may want to look for real wood furniture at the thrift store instead.

Vacuum cleaners can be expensive, and they are often not cleaned well or taken care of by their original owners. Over time, they can lose their suction, and this is a big reason why they end up at the thrift store. While they may not cost as much at the thrift store as if you bought them new, that savings isn't worth it if they don't work well, aren't actually sucking up dirt, or they are loaded with allergens that end up in your own home.