Ah, the joy of consignment and thrift shopping. You can score unbelievable deals. You can fill your home with unique items that leave all your friends green with envy. But sometimes your purchase is just one, big , giant mistake. With a little knowledge and a little thought, you can avoid these faux pas and make your secondhand shopping always a first-rate win.
Thrift Mistakes to Avoid: Don’t Forget to Plan Before You Go
If you have a specific space you’re trying to fill or a shade you’re trying to match, don’t go to the thrift store unprepared. Bring your measurements. Bring your fabric samples. Thrift and consignment bargains often require split second decisions and you don’t want to make a big investment based on the wrong or non-existing information.
Insider Tip: Keep your measurements in the “notes” on your phone. You can take pictures of your swatches too, but be sure that the phone’s camera captures the shade accurately.
Thrift Mistakes to Avoid: Don’t Forget to Use Your Nose and Your Eyes
People look at me strangely on the daily. And no, it’s not because I’m wearing a lampshade on my head again. But the real reason is that I smell almost everything that comes into Consignments Ltd. Stick my nose right in there. No one wants to buy stinky things and I refuse to have a smelly store so in goes the nose. And out goes anything that has a funk. When you’re secondhand shopping you can do the same. And run away from anything with a foul odor. The same is true for your eyes. Look items over and make sure they are clean or can be cleaned easily. Make sure to check for cracks, chips, tears, stains and other defects that affect both your enjoyment of the item and the intrinsic value of it, as well. Shops should police this for you, but nobody’s perfect.
And Don’t Miss The Deals
There’s a thrift store in my area that offers seniors (anyone 55 and over) 30% off on Tuesdays. Whenever possible, I go there on Tuesdays. Why wouldn’t you? Other shops, like my store, Consignments Ltd. give graduated discounts based on the date. These are usually automatic, but you’ll always want to make sure they are applied. The same is true with color-coded tag discounts. Check your receipt as you pay and get the best deals every time!
It’s easy to avoid mistakes at thrift and consignment stores. Keep your head. Use your senses. And bring your swatches and tape measure. You’ll be glad you did! For more tips on consignment and thrift shopping, check out my previous posts like: Five Things Consignment Store Owners Wish You Knew and Best Time of Year To Buy 10 Common Consignment Items.
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