How To Shop Thrift Stores SMART

Hi all!

Since taking Fancy Free full time, I have spent hourssss in thrift stores. And I have bought a lot of great stuff! But...I have also bought some duds. In order to maximize my profits, I have started a checklist in my head when inspecting each item I want to buy to ensure it is in a great condition that people will want to buy! Even if you are not reselling, these tips can still prevent you from bringing home an item that you will not love. Keep scrolling for tips!

1. Lay out the item and inspect it

Don't just pick the item right off the rack, quickly look it up and down, and throw it in the cart! When I find an item I like, I lay it flat on my cart and look it over on the front and back. I'm looking for any holes or stains. SOOOO many things at thrift stores will have one of these. I usually expect it! Specifically look at the armpits and and seams for a rip.

2. Is it supposed to have a belt?

I have brought home a few cute jackets and dresses to only be super disappointed when I go to photograph and notice that it is supposed to have a belt that is missing! Now I always look around the waist of an item to see if there are any belt loops or strings. If the belt is missing, it's a no go.

3.  Check the tags

Sometimes I get so excited about finding an awesome brand that I fail to notice that the size tag has been cut out! This makes your items 1000x harder to sell because their is not a definitive size, and your buyers have to go off of your measurements. Material tags are also important. Some people are allergic to certain materials and want to know what the item is made of before buying. Also, an item could be made of something that helps it sell better, like silk or cashmere!

4. Look inside pants and bottoms

I REALLY don't want to go into too much detail on this one...but I've learned this the hard way. Let's just say there are some things that just don't come out so don't put yourself through that.

5. Check the hems

There is nothing more disappointing for me than bringing home a great pair of True Religion or 7 jeans and finding that the legs have been shortened -__- Having altered jeans will definitely lower their worth and limit your potential consumer population. Even if they are for your personal closet, you will have to return them or risk having them sit in your closet for months before re-donating.  Do a quick hem check!

These are my big helpful tidbits for now, and I'm sure I'll learn more along the way that I will share in the future! I would love to hear your own thrift store tips for leaving with great items :) Leave them in the comments below!