Looking for some fantastic, cheap clothing? Thrift stores (or op shops as we call them here in Australia) offer some great deals.

I volunteer at my local op shop occasionally, so I’ve seen the best (and worst) shopping techniques in action.

Here’s how to get some great deals.

(And for more tips, check out my post on how to get insider shopping info from a couple of days ago.)

Thrift shopping basics

For the few readers who don’t already shop in thrift stores, they’re a great place to find cheap clothes, accessories, furniture, homewares, books, craft supplies and all sorts of other things.

If you don’t know where your local thrift stores are, look in the phone book to see if one of the big chains operates in your area: The Salvation Army and Goodwill have stores in a lot of places all over the world.

If you’ve never been thrift shopping before, be prepared to look through a lot of strange things to find the great stuff. If you view it as a treasure hunt, it’s a lot of fun, but it’s still a lot more work than going to the mall. So what’s the incentive? Fanastic bargains!

Now here’s how to get the best deals:

Go thrift shopping on a weekday

Thrift stores are usually packed on weekends, so the great bargains sell out early. Plus the staff are so busy they don’t put anything new on the shelves, meaning stock can be seriously depleted by the end of the day. If you can, go on a weekday — the stock will be more interesting and the store will be less crowded.

Find out how the store is re-stocked

Different thrift stores receive their stock in different way, and knowing how stock arrives will help you find the best deals.
Some stores get their stock entirely from over-the-counter donations (i.e. things that are brought into the store). Other stores, usually in big chains like Salvation Army and Goodwill, get their stock from a central warehouse. Some stores use a combination of both methods.

The best way to find out how your favourite op shops are re-stocked is to volunteer occasionally. If you really don’t have time, try chatting with the staff next time you’re there shopping and see if you can find out.

Shop on the day the store is re-stocked

Depending on how the store receives stock, you’ll find better bargains on different days.

Stores that sell over-the-counter donations usually have the best stock early on Monday morning, because Saturday is the busiest donation day. Customers who work during the week bring in bags of stuff, but the store is so busy that it’s not put out until Monday.

If stock comes from a central warehouse, there’s usually one drop a week and the best selection of stock is available on that day and the day afterwards (because it takes a little while to shelve it all). Wednesday is a common day for drops but it varies between chains and stores, so it’s best to check with the individual store. Again, volunteers find this out very easily, or you can ask the staff.

Don’t leave those clothes in the change rooms!

If you try something on in a thrift store change room and decide you don’t want it, don’t leave it there!

Unlike retail stores, where people are paid to put clothes back on the shelves, op shop volunteers don’t get paid and often have a lot of competing demands — sorting stock, cleaning and fixing things for sale, making the store look nice and dealing with occasional crazy customers. To put your unwanted clothes away, they might have to interrupt their work re-organising 1,000 books with broken spines so they look attractive or something equally challenging.

If you want to be waited on, go to the mall and pay retail. You can’t expect that level of service from volunteers. You won’t be kicked out of the store for making more work for the staff, but you won’t get information or discounts either.

Be polite to thrift store staff

Thrift store volunteers deserve your politeness — they’re giving their time to a charity, doing a job that’s tougher than it looks.

Apart from being the right thing to do, being polite to the staff means they’re more likely to give you tip-offs, discounts and even freebies.

Don’t ask for discounts

If you can afford the sticker price, don’t ask for discounts. The money thrift stores raise goes to charities to fund their other work.

If you are struggling financially and genuinely can’t afford a $4 top, let the staff know. Many charity-run thrift stores will give you clothes, furniture and/or food for free if you’re ever seriously down and out, but please don’t abuse this if you’re not.

Do let them know if the pricing is wrong

I just said not to haggle, but there are some exceptions to the rule. Here are three circumstances when it’s OK:

1. If you spot something great but the price looks really high for what it is, wait a while. If it’s still there in a month, you’re probably right. You can politely ask the manager: “I notice this has been in stock for a while and I think the price is a bit high. Would you accept $X for it?”.
2. An item you want to buy has no price on it, and when you ask the price, they state an amount you think is excessive. If you’re well-dressed, you might’ve been mistaken for a dealer and given an inflated price. Gently let the staff member know you’re not, and sometimes they’ll lower the price. For example: “Oh, I’m just student, I can’t afford that!”. But be honest — if you are a dealer, or as well-off as you look, give the charity the money already.
3. You find a damaged item that’s been priced the same as similar undamaged items. If you point this out to a staff member, sometimes you’ll get a small discount.

But if you do haggle, remember to go easy on the staff. Using tough negotiating techniques to cut into a charity’s funds doesn’t make you a Bargain Queen.
Update: Rebecca reminded me of one more tip.

Thrift stores have sales too

Thrift stores have clearance sales to clear slow-moving merchandise, just like retail stores do.

In Rebecca’s area, The Salvation Army stores mark things down on Thursdays. Where I live, they’re not held at regular times, so it’s best to ring the store and find out. Usually stock that’s been in the store for more than a month will be half price, but there’ll also sometimes be ‘fill a bag for $10′ days, which are brilliant!

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