Second-hand Stores – is it really worth it?

Our social media feeds are full of millennials who are thrifting at second-hand stores. As everything from 1970s trends through to the early 2000s has come back in style, second-hand stores are an easy way to pick up items that are suddenly back in vogue. It isn’t as easy to shop at second-hand stores as social media might lead you to believe. We’re going to give you a roundup of what it’s really like to shop at second-hand stores so that you can decide whether it’s worth it.

Yes, there are bargains and amazing finds to be found. However, you’re going to have to hunt for them. If you want to get the most out of second-hand shopping, you will want to do your research. You have probably heard wonderful stories of people finding Chanel bags and Christian Louboutin heels at second-hand stores. These are like finding a needle in a haystack.

If your goal is to find preloved designer items at a margin of the price, you’ll want to research which area of your city is the most affluent and then search for second-hand stores within a small radius. Be prepared to check back regularly and speak to the staff who work there to ask them when they refresh their stock. Avoid going at the weekends when

You might not expect it, but there’s a lot of competition for shopping at more affluent second-hand stores. Thanks to the rise of Depop, there’s an entire generation of Millennials hunting through second-hand stores to resell items at a substantial mark up. If you’re interested in making a side-hustle, then second-hand stores are the perfect place to find inexpensive clothes to sell online.

The reality is that most of what you’ll find at second-hand stores is someone else’s unwanted things. They have usually gotten rid of these items because they’ve been sitting at the back of their closet for years and are no longer on-trend. Be prepared to find clothes that are dated, several seasons out of date, and often obviously worn. Most clothing that ends up at second-hand stores are t-shirts, oversized sweatshirts, and coats.

Sizing availability can be limited, especially if you typically wear petite sizes or you’re exceptionally tall. You might find the perfect item that suits your aesthetic, only for it to be three sizes too small.

While you might think second-hand stores are full of clothing to choose from, you’ll typically find far more furniture and books as opposed to clothing in these stores. Doing your research beforehand will help you figure out which stores stock enough clothing to justify taking a trip there. You’ll find some second-hand stores that specialize in just books or furniture, and don’t stock any clothing.

Are second-hand stores worth it? It depends on what you hope to find. Whether you’re looking for a designer handbag or just browsing around for inspiration, you should expect to have to put a lot of work in to find the diamonds in the rough. Doing your research will help massively, but in most cases, you would likely get a better deal and save yourself time by choosing to opt for second-hand items online.

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