Tips on Shopping from Thrift Stores

Thrift shopping is becoming more of a trend in recent years than ever before. More and more people are opting for this reasonable alternative to branded high-priced items, especially when it comes to clothing. Let’s not forget that thrifting also adds to the role of playing your part in sustainable buying and reducing the overall waste that comes from clothing production. If you’re new to the thrifting game, here are some tips to help you along the way.

Try Before Buying

Now that trying on clothes has been made simple, here's how trying before buying can help while shopping from thrift stores. Different brands don't always have the same sizes when it comes to fittings and measurements.  Many experts claim they've put back more items because of improper fitting than they've bought. Some clothes have even been altered, so it's better to make sure it does fit you instead of assuming that it would because it says on the tag. Many thrift stores don't have the policy of allowing customers to return the clothes that don't fit, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Haggle

Most, if not all, items in a thrift store are pretty cheap, but even then, many shop owners keep a big margin while selling some items. If you have a knack for it, haggling can save you a few extra bucks, but make sure you don't come off as a desperate buyer. Walking away with an air of fake disinterest can sometimes convince the seller to fairly decrease the price, but if they don't, you'll have to say goodbye to that item at the cost of self-respect. Even if you're not that good at negotiations, some items are damaged or broken, and the sales clerk can be convinced to give you a discount after a few tries. 

Browse Extensively

Thrift shopping needs time and patience; otherwise, you might miss out on the nice stuff. Even if you're with someone, don't divide the racks as you both might select different items. Browsing extensively can yield some major rewards. It might not always happen, but being thorough can make all the difference in helping you get what you want and need. The bundle of clothes next to the fitting room is often ignored, but don't forget to go through that pile. One man's trash might be your treasure.

Recognize the High-quality Items

If you're having trouble finding the high-quality items you're looking for in thrift stores, here are some tips to help you recognize them.

• You can filter out the crappy clothes by choosing the garments made of natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, wool, linen, or pure leather. Those made from cheaper materials, like polyester, will be easy to identify.
• Look for any roughly cut edges at the seamlines. High-quality clothes have a tightly and neatly sewn seam to go with the matching color thread.
• Shoes having a rubber sole are a great pick, as they add to the shoe's comfort and increase its durability.
• While buying a purse or a handbag, leave the ones that feel stiff as they're made of fake leather. Look for scratches or signs of wear and tear all around.

Wash Your Thrifted Clothes

Thrifted clothes come from all sorts of places. They're donated, bought off cheap from yard sales, or taken from thrift store suppliers. Typically, the thrifted clothes you've got your hands on have touched so many hands and places that it's hard to imagine. Consider the germs and ickiness residing on thrifted items, and then throw them in the washing machine as soon as you bring them back home. There are no extra steps to it either; wash them as you would your regular clothing with a few drops of laundry detergent in water. For extra oomph, why not try scented laundry detergent to make your newly bought clothes smell like lavender? 

Final Take

These are just a few hacks that'll get you started with the activity. Once you've gotten acquainted with the do's and don'ts of thrift shopping, you'll gradually become an expert in no time. There are so many online thrift stores now, so get your hands on those valuable clothing articles at reasonable prices!