There is an underlying myth that clothing sold in thrift shops and vintage boutiques have been passed on by the dead. In fact many shy away from these shops for this reason. But it is silly to think that all of the nice clothing and accessories have been castoffs from dead people.
To those who are willing to think outside of the box with used clothing, there are many opportunities in store. Who knows, you might be one of the lucky few to score a vintage designer castoff. For the wealthy, sometimes a thrift shop is their dumping ground. So can you imagine what treasures are hidden behind grandpa’s suspenders or grandma’s fur coat.
But while the treasure hunt is appealing, there are some downsides to buying used clothing that you should be aware of. One, in most cases all purchases are a final sale so that means no returns.
Second, there are some odd smells that can be hard to remove. If you find an item you love but there is a strong odor that not even a quart of tide would get out, move along. Don’t waste your time on unfixable items. There will be more treasures to find, you just have to keep looking.
Third, there will be some damage to these items so be prepared to make some trips to the cleaners.
Finally, beware of designer items. You may be thinking that it is a steal at such a low price but really the item is a knockoff. So have the item appraised to decide if the item was a steal or not.
Where to go:
1. Plato’s Closet– This store is a shopper’s dream come true. It really does look like a big walk in closet filled to the rim with shoes, bags, and clothing.
2. Goodwill– You never know what you may find in this store. Find out when the truck drop offs are scheduled so you can be first in line for some goodies.
3. Salvation Army– This is one thrift shop that has sales on top of already low priced items. Get on the store’s mailing list to be alerted for upcoming sales.
