Thrift stores and garage sales are treasure troves waiting to be discovered. With some knowledge and a bit of luck, you can uncover designer clothing, antique furniture, rare collectibles, and more for a fraction of retail prices. This comprehensive guide will teach you proven tips and tricks to find high-value items at secondhand stores.
Where to Look for Valuable Items
The first step is knowing where to dig for buried treasure. While all thrift stores and garage sales can yield surprises, some locations are better than others for finding expensive things.
- Higher-end suburbs: Wealthy neighborhoods are goldmines for quality secondhand goods. Attend sales and frequent thrift stores in affluent zip codes.
- Estate sales: When an entire household is liquidated, you can find everything from jewelry to artwork. EstateSales.net lists upcoming sales in your area.
- Specialty thrift stores: Some secondhand stores specialize in certain categories like designer fashion, antiques, books, or collectibles. Search for these hidden gems in your city.
- Thrift store warehouses: Larger thrift chains often have warehouse locations where unsold merchandise is liquidated in bulk. Shop off-hours for the best selection.
When to Visit Thrift Stores
Timing is everything when treasure hunting at secondhand stores. To score the best finds, make note of the following tips:
- Shop early: Get there as close to opening hours as possible to capitalize on the freshest selection.
- Ask about restocking days: There is often a set schedule for when new merchandise hits the sales floor.
- Hit after holidays: Shop the day after Christmas, Halloween, etc. for holiday items and decor.
- Visit often: You never know what you’ll find, so frequent your favorite stores as much as possible.
- Be there for sales: Look for special promotions like 50% off weekends or color tag sales.
What to Look For
Once you’re in the thrift store, your eyes need to be peeled for any signs of valuable merchandise. Train yourself to recognize brands, materials, craftsmanship and other markers of high-end goods.
Clothing and Accessories
- Designer labels like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci – inspect stitching and materials
- Vintage high-end brands: Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes
- Quality materials: Cashmere, silk, leather, real fur
- Handmade details: Beading, embroidery, stitching
- Solid construction: Seam stitching, fabric weight, lining
- Classic styles: Little black dress, trench coat, leather jacket
Jewelry
- Precious metals: Gold, platinum, silver
- Gemstones: Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires
- Signed designer pieces: Tiffany, Harry Winston, Cartier
- Vintage jewelry: Art Deco, Victorian, antique
- Quality marks: Karat stamp, hallmarks
Furniture and Home Goods
- Solid wood furniture: Teak, mahogany, walnut
- Collectible designers: Eames, Knoll, Saarinen
- Antique furnishings: Check joints, carving, patina
- Vintage appliances: Check model numbers and design
- Crystal/glassware: Look for etched designs, weight
Artwork
- Canvas artwork: Feel the weight and inspect the frame
- Signed pieces: Look for artist signatures at the bottom or back
- Limited edition prints: Should be numbered e.g. 8/500
- Antique paintings: Check the canvas weight and crazing
Collectibles
- Vintage toys: Hot Wheels, Barbie dolls, action figures
- Coin collections: Look up any rare dates/mint marks
- Stamps: Scan for highly collectible countries or time periods
- Sports memorabilia: Autographs, vintage equipment
- Musical instruments: Fender, Gibson, Steinway & Sons
Negotiation Tips
Once you’ve spotted a promising item, use these tips to negotiate the best possible price:
- Inspect thoroughly for flaws to request a discount
- Compare prices online through completed eBay listings or other sources
- Bundle items together for a lower per-piece price
- Ask if the manager is willing to negotiate on prices
- Politely ask, “Is this the best price you can offer?”
- Offer to pay cash, which many stores prefer
- Time your purchase for markdown days or promotion periods
Authentication of Designer Goods
When dealing with luxury brands, it’s important to authenticate your finds before investing in them. Here are tips for verifying designer items:
- Examine stitching, logos, hardware for quality and accuracy
- Research the item’s unique serial number or date codes
- Consult authentication services like Entrupy, Real Authentication or Authenticate First
- For older goods, look up identifying trademarks, labels, etc. for the time period
- Take item to a specialty appraiser or consignment store for a small authentication fee
Reselling for Profit
After scoring big at the thrift store, you can resell your finds for healthy profits if you take the right approach. Here are tips for maximizing your margins on resale:
- Sell locally through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and garage sales
- Auction one-of-a-kind items through eBay or specialty auction houses
- Use sites like TheRealReal, Poshmark or 1stDibs for designer fashion and jewelry
- Consign with brick-and-mortar shops for furniture, artwork and antiques
- Time sales around holidays, seasons or events when demand is high
- Develop an expertise in a niche area that commands higher prices – mid century furniture, vintage guitars, etc.
Top Categories for Valuable Finds
While almost anything can be uncovered for resale, some categories consistently yield the most profitable thrift store finds. Focus your efforts on these areas for the best chances of striking gold.
Vintage Clothing
Vintage clothing from designer brands and select decades can sell for far above thrift store prices. Iconic pieces from the:
- 1950s: Christian Dior’s New Look pieces, circle skirts, twinsets
- 1960s: Mini shift dresses, Chanel suits, YSL pieces
- 1970s: Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, vintage jeans
- 1980s: Power suits, extravagant gowns, sequins
Designer Handbags
Classic and vintage designer handbags retain value extremely well and can fetch impressive resale prices. Top brands include:
- Chanel: From the quilted 2.55 bag to vintage shoulder bags
- Louis Vuitton: Monogrammed Speedys, duffle bags and trunks
- Hermes: The iconic Birkin and Kelly bags
- Gucci: Look for the double-G logo on supple leather
Jewelry
Shop thrift stores for jewelry hallmarks like precious metals and gems. Top names to look for include:
- Cartier: Panther motifs, Trinity rings, Love bracelets
- Tiffany: Elsa Peretti collections, Atlas jewelry
- David Yurman: Signature cable bracelets
- Van Cleef and Arpels: Alhambra and Perlée lines
Collectible Art and Antiques
Antique paintings, prints, sculptures and objets d’art can be hugely valuable. Look for these markers:
- Signed original works, such as oil paintings or limited edition prints
- Well-known artist names like Picasso, Warhol, Rockwell
- High quality materials: bronze, marble, silver, jade
- Regional folk art by recognized local artists
Vintage Furniture
Quality wood furniture appreciates over time, especially pieces in popular styles like:
- Mid century modern: Plycraft, Adrian Pearsall, Paul McCobb
- Scandinavian designs: Hans Wegner chairs, Finn Juhl
- Art Deco: Lacquered pieces with geometric designs
- Campaign furniture: British colonial teak and mahogany
Rare Books
Books are common thrift store finds, but rare editions can be extremely valuable. Look for:
- First editions of classic literature: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Austen
- Signed copies and author inscriptions
- Limited run collector’s editions
- Antiquarian books: Incunables, vellum/leather bindings, illuminated texts
Vintage Watches
Timepieces hold value when they come from elite brands. Top names include:
- Rolex: Submariner, Daytona, Datejust models
- Patek Philippe: Complicated men’s and women’s watches
- Audemars Piguet: Royal Oak sport watches
- Cartier: Tank, Santos or Pasha models
Designer Shoes
From pumps to loafers, expensive shoe brands can result in huge resale profits. Look for:
- Manolo Blahnik: Ornate heels, signature hangtags
- Christian Louboutin: Trademark red soles, stiletto pumps
- Chanel: Two-toned shoes with leather camellias
- Ferragamo: Elegant loafers and flats with grosgrain bows
Top Tips for Thrift Store Success
Follow these top tips and tricks to master the art of thrifting:
- Go often – frequent your favorite locations to find fresh inventory.
- Ask staff about new deliveries – time your visits accordingly.
- Be thorough – carefully check all sections and storage areas.
- Learn niche categories – specialize your knowledge for better finds.
- Examine carefully – look for flaws, labels, markings.
- Use apps to price check – Worthpoint, eBay, specialty sites.
- Negotiate respectfully – ask if they can do better on the price.
- Know when to walk away – be willing to leave something behind.
- Bring help – an extra set of hands and eyes can be useful.
- Enjoy the thrill – hunting for hidden treasures should be fun!
Conclusion
With some diligence and know-how, secondhand shopping can yield some extremely valuable purchases. Thrift stores and garage sales are ripe for the picking for discount shoppers. Follow this guide to discover designer goods, rare antiques and vintage items worth far more than their thrift store prices. The thrill of the hunt and the rewards of reselling can make thrifting a profitable hobby and passion!