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I want you to buy used, but I don't want you to be disappointed. Avoid tragic novice thrift store mistakes culled from my own tragic history.

Biggest Thrift Store Mistakes Revealed

1. Don't buy a picture without a frame, thinking you could get one later on, unless it's a generic size. I still have an off size painting in my closet that I need a custom size frame for, and who knows when that's going to happen. Custom framing is quite expensive, and hardly worth it unless you find a real treasure! If you buy an item that's a basic 5 x 7" or even 16 x 20", you're all set. Otherwise, take a pass. Bring your measuring tape if you're on the hunt.

2. Always check all the buttons and fasteners on any clothing item.. Many's the time I've half buttoned a shirt and assumed all's well, only to find at home that one or more buttons are missing or don't stay in their buttonholes. This is especially important when the buttons are unusual and hard to replace.

3. Bring the lamp base when you're trying to get a shade, unless you have a really keen visual sense. What goes together in your head doesn't necessarily work in real life.

4. That grease stain is never going to come out. Really. Face it and move on.

5. Don't assume that it's a bargain just because it's in a thrift store. One category of items that I find consistently overpriced in thrift stores is vintage jewelry, which I collect. A crummy unsigned rhinestone necklace from the 60s I can get for six bucks on ebay can be up to $30 in my local Salvation Army boutique store. Similarly, really beat up vintage furniture in more upscale thrift stores can be far more expensive than equivalent pieces in much better condition at my local used furniture store.

6. Don't buy stuff because you think it might be worth something even though you don't personally want it -- unless you're a real expert. I came quite close to buying a mint condition beanie baby toy a few years back for a few bucks, not realizing the bottom had fallen out of the once-hot market. Luckily, I stopped myself in time.

7. Be wary of used upholstered furniture, especially mattresses.  Bedbugs are back, in a big way! Apparently they'd been all but eradicated in the U.S. until the past few years. I hate to see those old mattresses go to waste, but steer clear unless they're from a trusted source!  

 

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