Savers thrift stores are popular spots to search for hidden gems and great deals on lightly used clothes, furniture, books, toys, and household items. When visiting a Savers location, you’ll typically find a wide selection of merchandise priced affordably for the whole family.
Savers acquires its inventory from donations, so the available merchandise can vary day to day. Part of the thrill of thrifting at Savers is never knowing what great finds you might discover on each visit. Savers locations tend to be busiest and most freshly stocked in the mornings on weekdays and Saturdays.
Weekday Mornings
Weekday mornings, especially before 11am, are typically less busy at Savers. According to The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, weekday mornings are when most people are focused on their normal routines before heading to work or school. This means thrift stores like Savers are less crowded during these times.
As one Google Books source notes, “weekday mornings and had been out on the street by four thirty or four forty five to get the good stuff before the crowds descended” (481). This indicates that the earlier you go on a weekday morning, the less competition you’ll face for good finds.
An article from CBS News also suggests that successful “extreme savers” often shop early during off-peak hours to maximize deals and avoid crowds. By arriving soon after opening on weekday mornings, thrifty shoppers can beat the masses and have first dibs on newly stocked merchandise.
Weekday Afternoons
Weekday afternoons at Savers can start to get busier around lunchtime as people run errands or take long lunch breaks. According to one Reddit user, weekday afternoons are “so crowded” at their local Savers as “every mom in town brings her kids in.”
However, another source notes that Tuesday afternoons tend to be less busy than other weekday afternoons at most Savers locations. This is because Tuesdays are when new product first hits the floor from the previous weekend donations. Many dedicated thrifters know to come on Tuesday mornings to get first pick of the new arrivals.
By Tuesday afternoon, much of the new product has already been picked over earlier in the day. So Tuesday afternoons may give you a brief window of less competition from other shoppers (Source).
For other weekday afternoons, it’s generally best to avoid the busiest lunch and school pickup hours if you don’t want to deal with larger crowds.
Weekday Evenings
Weekday evenings after 5pm are often one of the best times to visit Savers, according to multiple sources. The crowds tend to be quieter again in the evenings after most people have left work. As one article says, “A good time is generally late in the evening on a weekday” (https://news.yahoo.com/11-secrets-supermarket-savers-184118168.html). This allows you to browse more freely and have less competition for good finds. Employees also tend to restock shelves and put out new inventory in the evenings after the store closes, meaning the selection can improve later at night. Just be aware of store closing hours for your location.
Saturdays
Saturdays tend to be the busiest day of the week at Savers according to most thrift shoppers. As Reddit user ThriftLover notes, “Saturdays are insane at my local Savers. It’s like a nightclub in there. Impossible to keep 6 feet distance from other shoppers.”
The crowds on Saturdays are likely due to people having the day off from work and school. Families and bargain hunters often spend their Saturdays browsing for deals at thrift stores like Savers. As a result, the aisles get very crowded, especially in the morning and around lunchtime.
While the crowds can make for a hectic shopping experience, some devoted thrifters don’t mind it. As one Savers customer commented on Facebook, “I don’t care how crowded it is, I love going on Saturdays and digging for treasures!” However, for those looking for a calmer shopping environment, it’s best to avoid Savers on Saturdays.
Sundays
Savers thrift stores are closed on Sundays nationwide (https://stores.savers.com/). This is the one day of the week when all Savers locations are shut down. As a result, Sundays are not a recommended day to visit Savers if you’re hoping to shop or donate items. With no store hours on Sundays across the country, it’s best to plan your Savers trips for other days of the week.
Mondays
Mondays can be a decent day to visit Savers according to some shoppers, as the weekend crowds tend to clear out. Mondays are when the color of the week sale tag changes at many Savers locations, meaning new items get discounted that day (Source). The previous weekend’s sale tags also may still be available on Mondays. Some Savers offer additional Monday discounts, like 50% off clothes and linens at some stores (Source). Going on a Monday afternoon or evening may yield fewer crowds than weekend mornings. However, Savers on Mondays can still draw dedicated thrifters looking for newly discounted items.
Late Month
Savers stores tend to be busier around the 1st and 15th of the month, which are common paydays for many people. However, the best deals can often be found later in the month according to customers on Reddit (source). Savers runs private email-based sales and discounts that allow them to stagger promotions throughout the month. Their terms state they offer exclusive coupon offers and additional discounts towards the end of each month (source). Visiting in the last week of the month may mean less competition from other shoppers and better clearance or markdowns on merchandise as stores look to move inventory before the new month begins.
Holiday Weekends
Savers stores tend to get extremely busy around major holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. Many Savers locations run special sales leading up to major holiday weekends. For example, one Reddit user reported scoring a major discount at Savers on Memorial Day weekend. The stores are usually packed during these sales events.
If you want to avoid crowds, it’s best not to shop Savers during major holiday weekends. However, if you’re willing to brave the crowds you can often score some excellent deals. Just be prepared for long checkout lines!
Conclusion
Based on the patterns and trends discussed, the best days and times to visit Savers can be summarized as follows:
- Weekday mornings, especially earlier in the week, are good for freshly stocked inventory and fewer crowds.
- Later in the day on weekdays tends to get busier, so aim for earlier.
- Weekday evenings may have restocked inventory from the day but draw crowds getting off work.
- Saturdays often have special sales but get increasingly busy later in the day.
- Sundays are hit-or-miss based on store hours and traffic.
- Mondays are ideal for markdowns from the busy weekend.
- The last week of the month tends to have extra promotions and markdowns.
- Holiday weekends are generally busier, so try to avoid or go early.
By carefully choosing the day and time to shop, you can maximize your chances of scoring great thrift finds at Savers.
