Deciphering the Second-Hand Shopping Code
Consignment shops, thrift stores, and vintage boutiques. They are all sell used gear, but what’s the big difference between these places?
While at first glance it might all appear to be the same old crap, there are actually huge yet subtle differences. Let’s decipher the junky code, so expectations can be set.
Consignment
Consignment stores sell merchandise that both the store and the previous owner are looking to make a profit on. Items typically start at one price, and are reduced every month for 3 months. After three months, the clothes are either donated or returned to the previous owner.
PRO: These stores take clothes that are in good condition, free of visible defects, and are still considered “in style.” Often, the shop owner will only stock pieces that were new within the last couple of years.
CON: While you will find good stuff on the cheap, it’s won’t be dirt cheap.
Shop consignment for that little black dress, designer purse, expensive winter coat. The people that sell at these store are often women who change over their wardrobe every season, and get rid of awesome gear just because it’s not “this season” or doesn’t fit anymore.
Vintage Shops
The current definition of vintage is anything older than 20 years. So yeah, your favorite acid washed Guess jean skirt from 8th grade? Probably vintage at this point.
PRO: Somebody else (the store employees) is doing all the field work for you. Others are scouring the garage sales, attending the estate sales, and picking through the thrift store bins. They have the time, energy, and expert eye to find the great stuff you want to have.
CON: Vintage stores know what their merchandise is worth. Just because it’s old, does not mean it translates into cheap. You will find amazing treasures from the past at these stores, but be ready to pay for it.
Shop vintage for amazing footwear, coveted 1950s accessories to spruce up your modern wardrobe, and soft-as-silk old tshits. Don’t be alarmed when you try on vintage clothes; a modern size 4-6 will be a vintage size 8-10. Say what you want about this, but at least I told you beforehand.
Thrift Store
Thrift stores are places that are often run by non-profits such as the Salvation Army, American Veterans, and Goodwill. Everything in these places has been donated. Thrift stores take these donated goods, sell the stuff for literal pennies on the dollar, and use the profit to fund projects throughout the community (hopefully).
PRO: Diamonds in the rough can be found at any turn, if you’re willing do dig. No consideration is typically taken when pricing the merchandise whatsoever. Example: All shirts might be $3, and all pants will be $5.
CON: Thrift stores are unorganized, cluttered, and smell like your grandma’s attic. They typically do not have change rooms and rarely have a return policy. You need to sift through a whole lotta crap to find the good stuff.
Shop thrift stores when you have time to pick through the garbage to find the treasure. These places are awesome for finding that pair of designer jeans for a few bucks, or that mint condition vintage blazer for close to nothing.
*************************************************
Other great places to find second hand deals include garage sales, estate auctions, online places like Etsy, Ebay, Craigslist, and Freecycle. Don’t be scared of your crazy hoarding aunts basement, and keep your eyes peeled on garbage day for curb alerts.
Go forth and shop, young ones.
Related Articles:
Emily Elling is a corporate interior designer who lives in central Indiana with her 4 rugrats and drug making husband of 9 years. When she’s not taking care of the monsters, she can be found barefoot in the kitchen or hiding in the isles of her favorite thrift store buying other’s peoples crap. 
Every Goodwill and Salvation Army I’ve ever been to has dressing rooms. Also a perk, in my area (southwest Ohio) the Goodwill stores often get discontinued stuff from Target stores, including brand new clothes, shoes and homegoods.
Sara – I’m from (Northern) SWOH too! :) We could be thrifting buds!
I think it is time for me to go visit a nearby consignment shop and see if I can find any treasures.
Come visit me. I will show you the ropes.
Daisy –
You have too! You’re cheating yourself if you don’t!
My BFF and I shop Goodwill all the time…she scored some great Ann Taylor Loft crop cardigans this fall for $2 a piece…all new with tags!! If you have the patients to dig, you can beat your finds with a stick ladies!! Not to mention you can also score some great antiques at some of these places too!!
A lady at church was wearing this fab blouse the other day. BCBG. She got it for $8 at Goodwill. I told her she better watch her back because I was pretty sure I could take her.
Oh yes, once you (and your friends) know the good places in town to hunt, it’s game on.
Wed. I found a great dress for $8. NWT originally priced at $60. I was so happy! :)
I love hearing that SO MUCH! I hope I get to see you rockin’ it out soon…
I have to say I take offense to the statement that thrift stores are cluttered, unorganized, and smelly. I’ve gone to several Goodwill stores in a few states, and they’ve all been organized and clean, and as mentioned by a previous commenter, they all have had dressing rooms. The same can be said for the smaller community-run stores I’ve been to.
Cheap does not always equal smelly.
The thrift stores Emily and I have around Indy? Cluttered, unorganized and smelly. Goodwills are generally a different story, but not always.
Just depends on where you live on what you’ll have available to you. In our experience? Indy thrift stores are exactly what she described.
ah yes, I mostly agree with you. Goodwill store are classified as thrift, but in the past 5 years have really stepped up their junky game. And yes, they do have changing rooms.
And true, cheap does not always equal smelly, but oftentimes it does. Or at least “musty”.
church thrift stores around here are great. Granted you may have to change in a “room” that is actually a shower curtain stapled to the ceiling, but there are many diamonds in the rough there. Also I have found that the neighborhood the store is in the merchandise varies. Like, there is one Goodwill I go to for my girls’ clothes but another in a different town that has stuff that I like. Not to say that I never find anything at “their” Goodwill, but I find more at other one.
Also, you don’t have to buy stuff just because you are there. I go in often and come out with nothing. But when you hit the motherload, watch out.
My little brother found a suit for prom at Goodwill! Now, to be fair, it was a green plaid seersucker monstrosity for $4, but it looked weirdly great on him (especially paired with the bright orange shirt he bought from the salvation army) and he was totally the hit of the party! He still wears it to every Halloween function he attends along with a giant afro wig he picked up at some point.
My Mom is the Queen of thrift store shopping. She loves the Goodwill and the one we have is really good. I will go with her and find nothing and she’ll go in the next day and she finds treasures! Sometimes stuff is brand new with the tags still on from the original store. She’s taught me all the tricks to checking clothes out before you buy.
Pingback: Food as comfort
I LOVE LOVE LURVE thrift stores! I have found some amazing things there, with just a little digging! The key is to not go in intentionally looking for something SPECIFIC. If you go with an open mind, you can find just about anything. Sure, there are days that I walk out with nothing, but most of the time I get little bits of awesome!! North Face jackets for $14 (brand new WITH tags), Columbia jackets, brand new Skechers, awesome vintage tops, fun decorative items, furniture, projects, brand new Clarks clogs, Ikea fabulosity…
Couldn’t be happier with some of my finds!! People are always telling me that they need to go thrifting with me cause I ALWAYS have good luck!!
I’m a proud ‘Thrifter Sister’ and buy 80+% of my clothes at thrift or consignment shops. I love the hunt and finding the diamonds.
But – I have to say that all of the thrift stores smell the same. My oldest son (22) asked me to go to Goodwill with him last weekend. Why? He was going to a party and needed a new shirt. LOVE IT!
Anyway, he made a comment when we were shopping – he said ‘do you suppose the smell is EVERYONE’s smell combined? Is that why they all smell the same?’
Great observation.
Pingback: Buying Secondhand Kids Clothing | Kid Scoop