Don’t Shop at Thrift Stores on These Days and Times
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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If you’re looking to score great deals at a thrift shop, it’s important to know when to go and when not to go. On some days, you’re going to be dealing with such big crowds and picked-over inventory that it’s almost not worth making the trip.
Read on to find out which days are the worst for thrift shopping.
Days To Avoid
Even if you have weekends off, you’re better off going shopping during the week after work.
Terran Fielder, media specialist at EarthDay.org, said weekends at thrift stores are crowded, which can cut down on selection. “On weekends, there tends to be a rush of shoppers, likely because most people are off work,” Fielder said. “Stores are more packed, and everyone is vying for the same stuff.”
Fielder added that weekends are when people drop donations off. Though that does increase inventory, those items likely won’t be available to purchase. “People mainly drop off their donations on the weekend, but these stores don’t have the staff to get that new stock out on the shelves that day,” she said.
Times To Avoid
Kelly Handley is the founder at Ultimate Thrifting, and said what time you decide to go thrifting can have a huge impact on the items you encounter. “New inventory typically goes out in the morning, and if you’re there when the store opens, you’ll have the best pick,” she explained. “By late afternoon, stores are generally too picked over to discover great finds.”
Holidays To Avoid
Last minute gift hunting is popular at thrift stores, and that’s why thrifting and shopping expert PJ Gach recommended avoiding Christmas Eve at the thrift store. “If you must go shopping in a thrift store on Christmas Eve, you will be walking into a free-for-all: items flung over racks, a few tug-of-wars between shoppers fighting over a sweater or coat, or even a fistfight or two.”
Additionally, if you’re looking for a Halloween costume day of, Gach said you might find a house of horrors at your local thrift store. “Second only to Christmas Eve, shopping at a thrift store near Halloween can be a literal nightmare,” Gach pointed out. “Inside, you’re surrounded by people who are so intent on finding the ‘perfect Halloween costume’ that common sense and courtesy have jumped out the window and are running for their lives. These people are so desperate to create an ‘award-winning’ costume that they’ll snatch items out of people’s hands, baskets and carts.”
Don’t Lose Out on Deals
Dr. Marcia Layton Turner, an eBay top-rated seller, added that another disadvantage of going on weekends is since there are already lots of customers, there tend to be fewer deals. “As someone who regularly shops at thrift stores, I know that the best and worst days to shop will depend on when the local stores have discount days,” she said. “I avoid shopping on Saturdays because there are no special deals and the stores are always very crowded.”
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