The Fast & Easy Way To Tell If Your Thrift Store Find Is Authentic (& Valuable) Or Not

Let's face it: not everything you find at the thrift store is worth writing home about. As you dig through mounds of discarded junk, many items you encounter won't hold much value. Thrift shopping is an advanced game of I Spy, and the ultimate prize? Rare, authentic collectibles to add to your collection or perhaps sell for a profit. But with so much to sift through, how do you know what actually holds value without near encyclopedic knowledge of all things vintage? Well, the answer might just be in your pocket. The Google reverse image search function is a powerful tool you can use to quickly determine the value of just about any piece of unique vintage decor you can score at the thrift store. Simply snap a photo of the item and click the small camera icon on the Google Images search bar to see what comes up!

"You can learn pretty quickly if you've stumbled upon something special, just be careful as there can be copycats of items," Stephanie Wells, the founder of The Bonny & Blithe Collection, shared with Southern Living. "The details matter!" Google Images will pull up information and listings with similar items to your thrift find. It's an amazingly fast and easy way to gain more insight about thrift store treasures and get an idea of an item's value. Curious how to use this tool to track down valuable items at the thrift store? We're here to serve as your guide to vintage decor, including how to tell if it's worth something.

Tracking down valuable vintage accessories and home goods can feel impossible to the amateur thrifter. But using the Google reverse image search function to look for similar items can help. When you find something you're interested in, open the Google app on your phone. There should be a small camera icon to the left of the search bar. Click this to snap a photo or upload one you already took. Take a clear photo of the item without other objects in the background. A picture of the entire object, a maker's mark, an artist's signature, or other significant features could be helpful. 

This should pull up any webpages with similar images and allow you to match them to what you have in your hand. If your item is worth anything, you'll see ample listings with significant price tags. Just be sure there's actual movement on the listings you discover. "You may find items on auction sites valued in the hundreds, but have these items actually sold at that price? Pricing in a lot of instances is subjective to the seller and current buyer market," Kristyn McCray, the co-founder of Lainey James Collective, expressed to Southern Living.

Listings are just one key indicator of value. Look for information on the history and vintage status of an item. Your search can lead you to information on the brand of the piece and whether or not it's a valuable collectible. The search results might show you that the item is part of a set with other pieces that are missing. You can search social media to see if there's any buzz surrounding your find. If all else fails, you can consult a vintage appraisal professional for more information.