When do thrift stores restock? If you can answer this question in a precise manner, you might just stand a good chance of getting the best deal out of your next thrift store trip.
You see, thrifting, much like learning how to coupon, can seem overwhelming at first. But with a little research, a little forethought, and some of my best tips and tricks on how to do it, you can start thrifting like a pro in no time at all.
When Is the Best Time to Go Thrift Shopping for Unique Pieces?
“The whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.” – Helen Mirren
I won’t lie to you; thrift shopping is often a hit-or-miss experience for many. It’s not like walking into a higher-end store and finding exactly what you want.
However, the thing about thrift shopping is that you can find some unique pieces or hidden gems that no one else will have when you get back home. And…and you can find these items at impossibly affordable prices.
You just need to know when to go looking.
Monday and Tuesday Mornings
I’ll start by saying that, in general, the best time to visit your local Goodwill store is either on a Monday or Tuesday morning. Early in the morning, as soon as the stores open, works best because you are more likely to avoid most crowds that tend to show up somewhere in the middle or towards the end of the day.
Monday or Tuesday is good because most people tend to donate to their local stores over the weekends. It will take the thrift store staff a day or two to sort it all out. Chances are there will be a new treasure trove of donated items on the shelves and hangers come Monday morning.
These great finds often stretch into Tuesday. By Wednesday, you are probably going to be looking at whatever’s left of the new inventory, which often isn’t much at this point.
Sale Days
Sale days, or discount days, are a wonderful time to get not only incredible discounts but also some of the most unique and even vintage clothing from your local thrift store.
The best way to know when there’s going to be a discount day is to simply ask the staff or log onto your local thrift store’s website. Goodwill stores, in particular, are very good at announcing their sale days.
On these days, the staff is quite particular about stocking the shelves with the best donations they’ve received to make sure that their loyal thrift shoppers have a wide array of items from which to choose when they come to enjoy the discount.
Here’s a trick that I use all the time: Find out when the next sale day is at my local thrift store. Once I know that, I take the time to browse the shelves the evening before (the items going on sale will have been placed on display by then but not yet on sale).
Once I identify the specific items I want to get, I make sure to show up at the store the very next morning (first thing before they open) and wait for the doors to open.
When that happens, I go straight for what I had already identified the night before and get both the item and the discount.
You see, this saves me time that would have been wasted browsing the shelves for these items and risking the chance that I might miss out on a particularly awesome item because I didn’t see it fast enough.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m still going to browse through the sales floor for anything I might have missed; I’ll just do it once I have secured my first-choice items and discounts.
Go Thrift Shopping Around the Holidays
Yes, I know, the holidays are a nightmare time to go shopping in general. However, when it comes to thrift shopping, it’s also one of the best times to find unique merchandise.
People tend to be filled with the spirit of giving during the holidays, which means they are likely to donate much more to their local thrift shop during this time.
Of course, you are going to rub shoulders with more thrift shoppers like yourself, but if you go on Monday or Tuesday morning, you have a better chance of finding better stuff at a less crowded thrift store.
Another cool tip? Tax season is also a ripe thrifting time. People are cashing in on those refunds, replacing their old items with new ones and donating the old ones. There’s always plenty to see and snag around this time.
Go Thrift Store Shopping During Spring Cleaning
Spring is perfect for thrift shoppers. Traditionally, people clean out their closets and give away a lot of their household items during spring cleaning. I
n fact, if you are serious about thrift store shopping, you could choose to make a trip out of their entire experience. This will require some research.
Look for places where temperatures soar; this often means that the locals won’t be too keen on having yard sales. This also means that they are more likely to donate all their stuff to thrift stores or take it to the local flea market.
You can get great deals on household goods, clothing, furniture, you name it.
There’s no doubt about it: thrift stores are a great place to find unique items at incredibly discounted prices. If you know when and how to shop at your local thrift shop, you can find some of the most interesting stuff on the shelves.
It all starts with learning when thrift stores restock and being strategic when browsing for discounts. The tips and tricks I have shared here should help.