Hello friends! Whether it’s thrift stores, garage sales, antique malls, online auctions, estate sales and more, second hand shopping is a wonderful resource, which we should all take advantage of. In this guide to secondhand shopping we’ll talk about different ways to shop and all the benefits it affords.
If you’re a regular reader here, then you are familiar with my preference for a brocante curated feel for our home. I love to find vintage pieces, antiques and relics for my home.?Second hand shopping is one of my favorite things to do in different ways and places.
Today I am sharing many secondhand resources we should all take advantage of.?If you’re already a secondhand shopper, that’s fantastic.?Please drop me a comment, if you have anything to add so I can learn more since I am passionate about it.?If you are new to second hand shopping then I hope this inspires you.?The pieces I find are unique, affordable and eco-friendly.
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Resources for Second Hand Shopping
Thrift Stores
The thrift stores in my area include Goodwill, Hospice, Savers, and the Thrift Station, which is a local establishment.?Other well known thrift stores that come to mind are The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and American Cancer Society Discovery.?There’s plenty more including a plethora of regional locales.
Familiarizing yourself with your store’s schedules will help you maximize your shopping experience.?Knowing when new merchandise is put out or when sales are happening is super helpful.?I join the mailing lists to stay as up-to-date as possible.?This post {vintage thrifting – tips & tricks} will give you more thrift store shopping intel.
Please make sure to sign up if thrift shopping is your jam.?The series “Thrifted Goodies” is published monthly by myself and my friend Rachel from The Antique Journey.?These posts are always full of great thrifting information and intel.
Garage Sales
Garage sales are convenient since they happen all the time in all sorts of neighborhoods.?You don’t have to go very far or really look for them since invariably you’ll see signs during the weekends as you’re driving home.
Garage sales, in my opinion, usually tend to have the most reasonable prices.?You can drive to different neighborhoods with different demographics to search for a certain “type” of look, but of course you never know what you will find anywhere.
Estate Sales
Estate sales are a step up from garage sales, tending to be highly organized.?But along with the organization comes a higher price tag.?That being said you will find incredibly unique items and sometimes it’s not all about the price tag.
I subscribe to EstateSales.net, which keeps me up to date with local estate sales in my area every week.?I started using this resource when I sold wares in a couple of booths, and it lead me to some fantastic places.?Unlike garage sales, during Estate Sales you actually shop throughout the entire house, instead of staying on the front yard or driveway.?
I have seen Estate Sales done two different ways.?Either a single home is opened up and everything is sold from tools in the garage to kitchenwares to bedroom linens and closets full of clothes, crafts, games and so much more.?There are also Estate Sale consolidators who will bring items from a few different homes to a centralized location like a warehouse.?Both scenarios are fabulous shopping experiences. ?
Flea Markets
I love flea markets and we are fortunate to have a few in our area which recur every month.?I love the range of merchandise in these settings.?You have anything from the mom & pops basically selling wares out of a truck to the more “upscale” retailers with a curated look with merchandise shipped in from Europe and everything in between.
Along with this large range of product availability are discrepancies on prices as well.?If I have the time, I like to look at everything, high and low.?You never know what you will find and where.?Booths and vendors that don’t look like your style or “look” might have a hidden gem among the trash treasures.
Antique Malls
Antique malls are one of my favorite places to visit.?Once again you will find a wide variety of product types and styles.?The price points will depend on each vendor’s discretion.?Vendor’s also have different discount policies so make sure you ask about it when you are checking out.?The cashier should have a binder or notepad with the information for each individual dealer.?? ?
Antique malls are open daily as opposed to vintage faires and flea markets that are set-up only around the opening dates, which are usually from 2 to 4 days depending on the type of event.?That being said, inventory in antique mall booths tends to build up since it doesn’t require to be moved out and back in.?Make sure to look thoroughly since there will be many smalls to look at.?
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat ReStores are home improvement stores and donation centers.?This is a fabulous resource and cause.?It’s a great place to look if you’re a furniture refurbisher and | or flipper.?It’s also a great place to shop for your own home if you’re a DIYer.
From The Habitat for Humanity ReStore Website:?“Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public. The first Habitat for Humanity ReStore opened in Austin, Texas, in 1992 as a means to sell donated building material that went unused at Habitat for Humanity construction sites. Since then, Habitat affiliates have opened more than 1,200 ReStores across the U.S. and Canada.”
Salvage Yards
A salvage yard is another playground for me.?I love architectural pieces and salvage yards always have such unique items.?Some older homes really had some incredible details, which we don’t find in everyday homes nowadays.?I always love the sea of windows and doors at these places.
I have to admit I haven’t been to a salvage yard in quite awhile.?My favorite one in the area closed down last year so I’ll have to do some research.?Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley, CA always had amazing?inventory.?Their hardware and lighting sections always made me happy.?
Vintage Faires
Vintage Faires are also so much fun to visit, and I have been lucky to visit most of the ones which happen in our area.?These types of events usually happen either annually or bi-annually and the efforts to organize and make them amazing is evident.?I have been fortunate to score some of my prized possessions at antique fairs.
Just like at flea markets and garage sales you will be dealing with the vendor directly so you can negotiate pricing.?I have to admit probably my favorite of all time finds was our goat cart, and it was priced so incredibly well, I did not even have to go there.?It was such a feel good purchase all around.?Everyone got what they wanted.?
Online Sites
This is really an infinite resource.?To name a few… E-bay, Etsy, Replacements, Facebook Marketplace, ThredUp, Poshmark, and the list goes on.?When I am bored sometimes I just surf these sites for entertainment, but be careful because it can easily become a time suck.
Theses sites are also a great resource when you need to do some recon about a maker or market value pricing.?The drawback with online resources is that most of them involve a shipping charge, unless you are shopping locally from FB marketplace or something like that.?
Second Hand Shopping is Economically Sound
Second hand shopping always yields a great value on items you might not necessarily pay regular retail pricing for.?Granted these items are used but sometimes this doesn’t really matter since the items are in great condition. Or the fact that they are used gives them wonderful patina and distressing that sometimes takes years to develop.?I love the patina and tarnish and distressing some of these items have.
Second Hand Shopping is Environmentally Conscious
Buying reused items is good for our planet since it recycles items others have used, and it keeps more things out of our land fills. I love to upcycle, recycle, and reuse items whenever possible.?The amount of waste our small household generates every week never ceases to amaze me.?We aren’t necessarily wasteful or extravagant, but in general day-to-day hygiene, cooking, cleaning and living just generates so much garbage.?So I always appreciate keeping something out of the trash pile.
Second Hand Shopping Provides Extraordinary Pieces
Since second hand items have already had a life before you find them, they have a story to tell, which tends to make them unique. Many of the used items I find and choose would probably not be items I would select as new. It makes the process of secondhand shopping super interesting and provides unique looks.
Critical Details About the Guide to Secondhand Shopping
The main thing you need to keep in mind, to state the obvious, is that you are buying a used item.?Make sure to inspect whatever you are buying thoroughly for defects.?Depending on the item, it can be stains, rips, cracks etc.?Make sure to check it thoroughly and then double check it and finally triple check it.?As they say, Buyer Beware.
Also, most of these shopping choices and venues are not necessarily returnable.?I am not saying that’s the case for all, but I would say for definite the majority.?No room for buyer’s remorse here.?Make sure you really want the piece and you have inspected it properly.
Second hand shopping provides so many options that are not available for brand new items, including old world feel, price negotiation, uniqueness, eco-consioness and more.?I urge everyone to dip their toe into the second hand shopping pool.?It’s good for our planet. Thanks for being here and see you next time. Au Revoir!
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“Shopping secondhand isn’t a sacrifice.?It’s your ticket to the good life.”
Nicole Lapin