I Sold Thrifted Items For A Profit For 23 Years. Here Are My Best Thrifting Tips

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Thrifting has grown into more than just a hobby for a lot of people, as it allows us to be eco-conscious, sustainable, and in some cases, make money. For the last 23 years, I have been thrifting and selling my finds across a variety of platforms, including eBay and Poshmark. I started by reselling used books, and it grew into something more as I moved to thrifting clothes and hard goods for myself and to resell. It's a profitable side hustle that lets me pick up things I might not have been able to purchase at retail, while also making some extra money and feeding my love of shopping. Over the years, I've been in a lot of different thrift stores beyond just Goodwill and Salvation Army locations, and I have learned some things about what to do when thrifting for yourself, for DIY projects, and even to resell. So, if you're looking for some expert thrifting tips for home decor and more, I have some ideas for you.

To get the most out of your thrifting experience, you need a plan. Having a basic idea of what you're looking for, what to expect from the store itself, and even what you should have with you can make shopping at the thrift store more successful. It starts with knowing more about the store — figuring out when to shop — even doing some research before you check out. Sometimes, the best way to enjoy the thrift is being prepared for it — fanny pack and all.

One of the first things I always do is get to know the thrift store I'm shopping at. Does it have a discount day where select items are on sale? Do they offer things like senior discounts or a savings card? What's the layout of the store? When do they put out new items or do store refreshes? 

At a smaller thrift store I frequent, they do a seasonal flip: they first discount the entire store, then close down for a few days to change over to the new season. Shopping before and after the flip can lead to the best finds and deals of the year. Knowing the best time to hit the thrift store can be a game-changer, as it can save you money and get you the best items, but it's all about actually being familiar with your store.

Knowing the layout of your store helps ensure you've walked every aisle to see what all they have. While sections make shopping for what you're looking for easier, not only do people often leave things in other areas of the store, but some thrifts will have displays featuring items for sale that are not in their typical section. Checking the endcaps of the aisles can lead to some interesting finds. While different stores will have different areas and offerings, I often find some of the best gems tucked away on the bottom shelves and behind other items. You can also find great items for projects, bagged up for sale. I always look for mixed bags that offer multiple items at a single price, as they can include everything from small housewares and hardware to craft and beauty supplies.

When shopping at any thrift store, it's important to know an item's value before paying the store's price. I've seen plenty of stores that will price an item higher than it originally retailed for, even when the original price is still attached to the item. It's important to understand that not every person working at a thrift store knows what they are pricing, and often the pricing is subjective (though some stores have lists of higher-end brands that automatically get priced up). 

Even if you don't know the actual value of what you're looking at, I always recommend doing some quick research before picking up an item, especially with more expensive pieces. If I don't know what words to use to search for an item, I use Google Lens for a quick visual search. This often gives me a better idea of how much it's being sold for across the internet, in addition to other helpful information, such as who produced it or whether it's been discontinued.

Another thing to pay attention to is any flaws or damage to the item you're looking at. If you find a flawed item, it might still be worth picking up, especially for DIY projects. However, you want to make sure that the price is right when buying something with flaws. Check to see if the price is marked "as is" or if there is any wiggle room with the pricing. When I find flawed items that are not marked with the "as is" label, I often ask about the flaw and see if they are willing to do a price reduction. Even Goodwill will sometimes reduce the price of a flawed item if it's not already marked as flawed.

When heading out to the thrift store, I always have a few things on hand, including a tape measure. For thrifting, I either use a belt bag or a crossbody bag so I can carry a small notebook, pencil, my cell phone, a mini blacklight flashlight, and a mini tape measure, like this SmaringRobot Mini Retractable Tape Measure from Amazon. If I need to measure larger pieces of furniture, I will use a standard tape measure, but at the very least, having the mini tape measure can give you a better idea of how much room you need for an item. If you are looking for specific pieces for your home, knowing how much space you have to work with is important, and I keep those measurements in my notebook. And when it comes to the blacklight, I use one like the COSOOS 2 Pack UV Flashlight, which lets you really see if there are stains or waste left behind by bugs, including bed bugs, which you don't want to bring home from thrifting; for repair work on furniture; and even for details in paintings.

While shopping with other people can be fun, when you're on the hunt at the thrift store, being alone can make it easier to focus. Shopping by yourself also means that you don't have to feel rushed by someone else, giving you the time you need to really look things over and check for issues. This also means that you can go whenever you want, including on the days when the store puts out new inventory or when they are running a sale, which you'll know about once you've done your store research.