Thrift Store Shopping Tips to Avoid Losing Money
Shop Big on a Small Budget, but Beware of Electronics, Beds & Toys
Oct 3, 2009
Thrift stores fit most any budget and are not just for people with low income. Experienced savvy shoppers pay cheap prices for household goods, gift items, and clothes that others can no longer use. There are advantages to shopping at thrift stores, especially at the beginning of school and around the holidays. But thrift store shopping has disadvantages too, and consumers are advised to know the store's policies before making any expensive purchases. There are thrift store items that shoppers should avoid to keep from losing money.
Thrift Store Items Shoppers Should Avoid
Not every used item is a good buy. Shoppers should think carefully before considering purchasing beds, baby strollers, and a few other things. Remember, there is no way to know where an item has come from or what kind of abuse it might have taken before it was donated.
- Baby toys. Germs can collect in hidden places. There is a danger of lead paint and unsafe materials used in making some toys that are only a few years old.
- Infant and child car seats. There is no way to know if the seat has been in an accident. A faulty part may not be visible.
- Baby furniture, strollers, and other gear. Items may not be safety approved or may be missing pieces.
- Children's toys and stuffed animals. Used toys may have worn or missing pieces, or may have broken parts that can cause injury. There is a danger of lead paint and unsafe materials.
- Electronics. Speakers may not work or the item may be broken. The item might work for a few minutes and then quit working or overheat.
- Appliances. Invisible problems such as worn motor, belts, gears, or parts can cause overheating, electrical fires, or electric shock. This applies to large and small units.
- Battery-operated gadgets. Item may be damaged internally – might work for a few minutes and then suddenly stop.
- VHS tapes, CDs, and DVDs. These may "look" okay on visual inspection, but may skip, freeze, or otherwise not play at home.
- Makeup and personal care items. May be old and useless, or have a chemical reaction with age.
- Mattress or box springs that's used. Hygiene is the primary reason, but used bedding may cause an allergen problem, may have dust mites, and could harbor germs from a sick person.
- Dinnerware and serving dishes with fine or hairline cracks. Bacteria can collect in the cracks and cause illness.
- Power tools. There may be missing pieces or broken parts that can result in fire or electric shock.
- Power mowers or gasoline engine tools. Chain saws, weeders, and other tools may not work, or might have more wrong internally than what one can see.
- Bathing suits and underwear. These items should not be purchased second-hand for hygiene reasons.
- Plastic kitchen storage containers, utensils, cutting boards, and pitchers. Plastic items can be scratched, and scratches harbor bacteria from food. Wood cutting boards should also be avoided if previously owned.
Do's and Don'ts of Thrift Store Shopping
Shoppers on a budget or going green can use thrift store items to suit most any gift-giving occasion; plus, restoring and refurbishing furniture and other items can provide a means of extra income for some people. However, the thrift store shopper should keep a few things in mind:
- Don't count on finding antique items priced low at thrift stores. Unless the employees are totally clueless, donated thrift store items, particularly furniture and jewelry, are carefully scrutinized and priced accordingly.
- Don't expect to bargain for a better price. A lot of thrift stores post signs stating all prices are "firm."
- Do expect to haul away whatever is purchased or pay a delivery fee if the store delivers. Many thrift stores used to deliver locally and set up items for free (or for a small fee), but high gas prices and the bad economy have changed all that.
- Do indulge in buying broken furniture pieces if one is skilled in restoring and/or refinishing furniture and does not procrastinate in completing the work. The same rule applies to jewelry and even electronics; if it can be fixed and the buyer can do the repair work at a reasonable cost, then the thrift store purchase may prove to be worthwhile.
- Do consider that vintage items take more than time and money to restore – some things might need parts that are no longer available.
- Do take into account that some things can be recycled for another use if one is creative and is willing to spend the time and energy.
- Do understand that some pricier items like large appliances and mowers may come with a 30-day warranty or some type of repair deal. It's up to the buyer to get the information before taking a risk on previously owned motorized or electronic items.
Novice buyers are urged to learn individual store policies on returns before setting out to shop. "All sales are final" means nothing can be returned, so inspect items carefully before making a purchase. Experienced thrift store shoppers inspect items, looking for missing parts, stains, faulty workmanship, broken pieces, and so forth. It pays to shop at thrift stores, but only if one is careful and knows a good value from a worthless piece of junk.
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