As thrifters, sometimes when we fall in love with something, it is hard to take it away from us. But before you head home to welcome your new purchase into your life, there are some things you might want to consider. Without consideration and thought, you might find yourself sad and wasting money on something that disappoints you.
Ceramics and furniture: Check for cracks, pieces missing, and paint chips
Taking home a broken ceramic can be painful, both physically and emotionally. Make sure it’s not cracking. Unless you are the master of super gluing broken objects back together or wanting to have a fun DIY furniture project, might as well not purchase anything. And don’t convince yourself that you’ll become a master of supergluing broken things overnight. It’s an art that takes time to perfect.
Electronics: Check to make sure they turn on and work properly.
The other day, I found some super cheap Christmas lights. I was so excited. They were $3 for an entire strand of lights. It looked like a great deal. Guess what? It wasn’t because they didn’t break. No, the thrift store isn’t out to get you. Sometimes, they make mistakes or don’t have the time to make sure their items work. Ask a store employee to find an outlet and let you plug in your electronics to test and make sure they work.
Clothes: Check for wear and tear
Unless you are a master sewer, know a good seamstress, have heavy heavy duty washing detergent, or want to gamble with the dry cleaners, don’t buy clothing that’s been stained or torn. You’ll be sad. I’m a perfectionist and don’t like stains or holes in my clothes. In fact, I don’t even buy jeans with holes because I feel I can just make holes in my jeans myself for free instead of paying someone else to do so. If you have time, try on your clothes. It’s sometimes easier to notice these details when your wearing clothes.
CDs and VHS Tapes: Check for scratches
Ask a thrift store employee to let you rewind or watch a short scene just to make sure the film your buying is working properly.
Do you have any other recommendations on what you should do before making thrift store purchases? Comment and let us know. We hope these help you in the future with thrift store purchases.