Thrift store shopping
· Advantages
o Safe
o Regular hours
o Get to know the Manager—make a deal. Not long ago, I bought 5 pieces.
o No Pressure
o They Help Load
· Inspect
o Low quality—be prepared for extra work
o Watch for damage
o Missing hardware—be creative with other items that might match
o I don’t like that they often store the pieces on their ends and use hand carts to move them around
o Be sure to check for smells, odors, stains, water damage
o Always look at the back.
· Tips
o I often see the prices set but the idea in retail is to list it high so there’s profit on sale days so…. Wait for the days when furniture is on sale
o Caution—there’s a mental/internal urge to buy. Discipline yourself—go often and you’ll get better at it over time.
o Follow them on social media
o Keep an eye on the competition in the store—it happens—have a good chat but don’t get in the way
o Look at the tags for names of who is buying —might be able to meet others in your community
o Come prepared to load a piece of furniture
o Walk around 2–3 times.