Thrift stores are stores that sell secondhand clothes and acquire everything they sell through donations. These stores give every person an opportunity to get nice clothes without having to break the bank.
Many people rely on thrift stores to keep them and their family clothed, and others just go because that’s all they can afford. Thrift stores can be very beneficial, but many factors have caused prices to increase and quality of clothing decrease in some thrift stores.
Your average thrift store keeps most articles of clothing under $10. Some thrift stores give each item a different price, and some price in bulk (e.g. t-shirts: $4.99, leggings: $6.99). If not priced in bulk, prices really depend on the quality, condition, and brand of the item.
Thrift stores sell their items at a very low price because they are run by charities or nonprofits. Thrift stores get their items from free donations, giving people an opportunity to get rid of things they don’t need while giving someone else an opportunity to get something for a lower price.
Thrifting was once looked down upon and seen as something only for the needy. However, there has been a steep increase in the amount of people thrifting since the pandemic’s end. According to The Week, wealthier people have begun to frequent thrift stores, shopping for the same items as low-income people who were the original customers of the secondhand shops.
Along with the wealthy, Gen Z has also found an interest in thrifting. In the rise of fast fashion and a general interest in sustainability, people are unsubscribing from the stigma around thrift stores. College student Magdalena Teiser describes her experience with thrifting and how it has brought her many benefits. “I personally love going to the stores in New York City, but I’ve also gone thrifting in small towns and found interesting items there, too. I mainly search for unique jackets or a nice, solid pair of jeans. But I’m up for anything that piques my interest. I’ve found that all of my secondhand clothes are better quality and last for a long time.”
As the demand of these thrift stores increase, prices have been increasing as well. Many people have seen the price of a t-shirt and jeans meet or rise above Ross or TJ-Maxx’s prices, which comes off as surprising knowing thrift stores get the items for free. Personally, I’ve definitely seen the biggest increase in Goodwill’s prices over the past few years.
Thrift stores rely on donations, and most donations are things that the general public wears, like clothes from the mall, or a trendy brand. Clothes that aren’t wanted or needed get donated, causing many clothes considered “out of style” to be found in thrift stores. Sometimes, this is good for people who are into vintage fashion
When something designer is donated, it will most likely be held behind a counter and locked to prevent theft. Things normally held behind the counter are shoes in new condition, designer clothes/bags, or other valuable items like instruments, expensive furniture, etc. Things that don’t necessarily make that mark but are close to it get sold in the normal racks with everything else with an uptick in price. What is considered good enough to be with the locked items really depends on the thrift store and the employee’s ideas on what is ‘worthy’.
