I love going to thrift stores and antique stores and I go quite frequently. Like panning for gold, I am always in search of a Holy Grail for either myself or my ladyfriend. Every now and then I find one. Sometimes I find kind-of-one. Often none at all. During a blue moon in a late-autumn gale, I find many.
The latter happened when an antique store was closing, to be demolished and replaced with apartments. One gal had a lot of vintage fans and she wanted me to get her 'out of the fan business'. And I did help her out a lot - I got 8 or so from her after negotiating a deal back in 2012, many were Emersons. I still enjoy them all!
When at thrift stores, something always follows me home. Much of it being stuff either one of us could enjoy or use. The rest would be nice-but-cheap clearance stuff that would be heading to the landfill or overseas for 'recycling' if not sold. Most of the latter is redonated to places I know will benefit from them or given away to friends if they want them. The rest we keep, despite us running out of room for stuff. It is usually all so cheap, we forget about our lack of space...
I only go to yard sales if I am passing right by and I see something from the road that I might like. Usually I do not get anything, but you never know. It has been years since I was at an estate sale, as I rarely pass by one. (Last one I went to was across the street, at the site of a double homicide..) I also feel a little bad about picking that (now deceased) person's past life apart, but I feel better about saving whatever I do get. I am sure that would have made him or her smile, to carry on a piece or more of their lives. Most remaining stuff is either sold online, donated, or trashed. This will happen when I die, as I will have no survivors if I make it to an older age. My estate will go to a non-profit of my choice. I do hope all my good stuff is saved to be enjoyed by someone else. Keeping it all clean and working will hopefully increase their chances at doing so...
My ladyfriend and I are actually in the process of making a 'dummies-type' book for thrift-storing. The below are some of the main points that are discussed in this thread...
Rule 1 - if you see something and have that gut feeling on wanting it, get it then and there if the price is right. Trust your gut, as most times you will dwell on it, end up going back for it, and it will no longer be there. If it is there, you might be inclined to look around some more and get more stuff you do not need. Consider the fuel and time spent also if you were to go back.
I broke this rule early this year when I saw a pair of nice Rat-Shack Nova 7 speakers at the local Goodwill. There was no price and I did not want a set with rotted foam surrounds. I researched them when I got home and they were well-rated and had rubber surrounds. I went back to get them the next day, but they were gone. Live and learn...
I found a Sunbeam Radiant-Control toaster at another Goodwill a couple years back for 3.95. I actually yelled out over this one and grabbed it immediately. Hated to carry it around but it was worth it. I could have bought it then and put it in the truck if I did not want to carry it for long. I do not use carts as they are a pain to maneuver around and they can be taken or stuff taken from them. I am also a rapid shopper, just quick-scanning everything. If it grabs my eye in a flash, then it might be worth getting. If I go slowly, I will get too much of stuff that I will regret getting later.
Early this year I found a 1970's 12" Pioneer loudspeaker at a thrift store for $80 and it was 75% off furniture day. So for $20 it went home with me and it tested good. Being there was only one, I resold it (easily) for $100. If there was a pair or could not get my price, I would have kept them or this one.
It is better to get something you think you want then miss it and regret it. At worst case you can clean it up and fix it and sell it, redonate it (hopefully to a known-good place), give to a friend, or pass it on to a collector.
Rule 2 - Do not avoid certain stores just because you did not find anything good the last time, or things looked 'dirty' or disorganized, or you did not like their prices. It is a true treasure hunt and stock changes daily. After a month or two, there should be an almost all-new selection at thrift stores. Most of them get rid of stuff after a certain time - note the use of tag colors or date codes or week numbers on tags.
Pricing will often be done be different people, and if things do not sell after x amount of weeks, they may get reduced.
Learn the sale protocols for each store and use them to your advantage. Most base them on the date the stuff comes in. Also there may be big sales during holidays or weekends. Some have 'half-price Wednesdays' or similar sales. However, if you really want something particular, it might be better to get it then while it is available. Vintage stuff is really hit or miss, some near un-obtainium.
Rule 3 - look past the surface dirt, grime, and dust. Often a good cleaning will make old stuff look new again. Most people 'gross-out' when they see something dirty and that is what sends most old stuff to the dump. Also understand that some things may not work 100%. If you are handy, have some fun and fix it. Many problems are minor. Some items are so cool-looking that even if I cannot get them to work, they are still worth keeping just to look at.
Most of all, have fun!!
)
back at ya!
