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Bored Panda

Entertainment

Greta Jaruševičiūtė

96 Times People Hit The Jackpot At The Thrift Store And It Was Too Good Not To Share (New Pics)

Goodwill Bored Panda LV Smeg Gold Olympics Dyson Greenpeace Louis Vuitton

There’s something about pre-loved items that gets people excited more than buying something new. Maybe it’s because they come with a story; maybe it’s because they’re of higher quality. Whatever it is, buying second-hand is becoming the norm, so much so that in 2024, 58% of American consumers bought second-hand apparel.

Yet the thrift store has so much more than just clothes. There are trinkets, furniture, decor pieces, toys, and even stunning jewelry at the thrift store. Don’t believe us? Check out this immaculate selection of finds from the “Thrifst Store Hauls” community that is all about the goodies from garage sales, flea markets, pawn shops, and other second-hand shops!

More info: Reddit

#1 $2 Well Spent! Cricket Loves His New Chair

#2 Three-Panel Stained Glass Fireplace Screen

#3 I Got This For Free Last Night!

Once upon a time, thrifting might have been about trying to save a pretty penny. If you needed some bed sheets, Goodwill or an off-brand thrift store was your best bet for finding something that wouldn't break the bank. Same with clothes, furniture, and even gifts — it wasn't so much for hunting for one-of-a-kind items but for saving money.

Today, it's more about the former. People are growing increasingly frustrated with consumerism, planned obsolescence, and poor-quality goods in general. Milennials and Gen Z are the first generations of consumers to take the impact the stuff they buy has on the planet. Knowing that in the UK alone, people throw away 22 million damaged furniture items each year, many consumers are looking for alternative ways to shop for their homes. Sometimes, that road leads them straight to the thrift store.

#4 I Thrifted A Pair Of Black Boots For $8 And To My Surprise They Had A Bag Of Rings Hidden In The Toe

#5 I Found The Most Whimsical Cabinet/Dresser At Goodwill Today

#6 Thought I Was Buying A Purse, Found A Time Capsule Inside :')

The thrift store can be a goldmine for those seeking good-quality, reliable furniture. As Estelle Bilson, a vintage dealer, TV presenter, and author of 70s House: A Bold Homage to the Most Daring Decade in Design, told The Guardian, "These items have been around for decades, and with a bit of love and polish, they can go on for another 100 years."

Back then, Bilson singled out vintage IKEA furniture, which has become quite sought-after and pricier than one would expect. Their Kromvik bed from 1981 originally cost 59 euros, but today, collectors don't mind spending 6,600 for the same thing. The experts at Mid Century Friends investigated the Kromvik phenomenon and concluded that, while the piece's quality is undeniable, there is a degree of market inflation driven by perceived nostalgia.

#7 Curb Find Of The Year

#8 My Local Thrift Had A Collection I Thought Y’all Might Appreciate

#9 My Daughters Thrift Haul From Today. No Idea On Value Or History Of This Set. She Just Fell In Love With It

Today, we might associate IKEA with cheap and functional furniture. But back in the second half of the 20th century, many respected designers worked for IKEA, including Niels Gammelgaard, Gillis Lundgren, and Knut Hagberg (the designer of the Kromvik bed, by the way).

"These designers brought Bauhaus principles, pop art aesthetics, and Scandinavian minimalism into affordable furniture," the experts at Mid Century Friends write.

#10 I Drove 10 Hours To Get This Antique Chinese Wedding Bed Panel

#11 Just Found This Clock For 2 Dollars That Reads Time Using Quotes From Books!

#12 I Finally Found One Of These Statues For A Fair Price! My Cat Is Not Impressed…

It's one thing to ask for 6,600 euros for a 59-euro vintage IKEA bed that has been restored, 2,400 euros for a sofa that has been reupholstered, and other pieces that have been otherwise renewed. The problem lies in selling these kinds of pieces for a fortune when they're in their original, beaten-up shape.

This is the advice from Mid Century Friends: "Check the condition, question the prices, invest rather in professionally restored pieces than in supposed 'bargains' in original condition."

#13 I’ve Had A Really Good Run The Past Week At The Thrift Shops. Found This Large Gold Bee Lamp Tonight. Wonderfully Weird, It Could Not Be Left Behind

#14 I Think I’m Going To Use It As A Coffee Bar In My Dining Room ! All The Vegetables Do Remind Me Of A Gardening Table

#15 The Record Player Of My Dreams. Can’t Contain My Happiness For This Thrift Score For $15!

Finding an IKEA vintage in the thrift store is quite unlikely; if you're not into collecting rare design Pokemons, you're much more likely to come across less hyped but still decent-quality items. But how can you tell if they're worth your money and will stand the test of time? Well, some types of furniture might be more worth it than others.

#16 I Bought This 20 Years Ago At A Thrift Store For $25 (It Retailed For Around $900 At The Time.) Still Going Strong And Making Me Espresso All These Years Later

#17 Found In My Buildings Free Stuff Area

#18 Went In For New Snow Pants For My Son And Came Out With This North Face Snow Suit For 19.99

Experts often cite sideboards, curiously shaped chairs and armchairs, and sofas as the furniture pieces most worthy of thrifters' attention. The former tend to be really sturdy if they're vintage, and the latter tend to be smaller than modern armchairs and sofas and extra comfortable because of their angle of the back.

#19 Found This Super Cool, Lush Rug From A Garage Sale

#20 My Grail

#21 What Are We Thinking Of These Sunglasses I Found?

Have you been thrifting lately, Pandas? Did you come across any good finds on your trip to your local thrift store? Share your recent fascinating finds with us in the comments! And while you're here, check out some ridiculous things people listed for sale online and get inspired to hit the thrift store after seeing these horrible clothing items from fast-fashion brands!

#22 I Spent Way Too Much On This

#23 Absolutely Speechless On My Mom’s Find This Morning At The Flea Market… She Didn’t Even Realize That These Were Marked 18k

#24 I Just Won Thrifting. And She Works

#25 Chain Chomp Lamp From Goodwill!

#26 I Cannot Describe My Feelings About This Find Today. 4’ Tall Original Howard Smith 1978 Fabric Print For $16. His Work Is Currently Being Celebrated In A Retrospective At The Palm Springs Art Museum For Black History Month As We Speak. No Words

#27 Guys Guys I Couldnt Even Sleep In Anticipation - I Got The Lamp!

#28 My Coolest Find Of All Time, Lack Of Space In The Car Couldn’t Stop Me

#29 Thrifted This "Warm And Wonderful" Diana Edition Sheep Sweater For Less Than 2 Dollars (100 Egp)

#30 Ran Straight To The Register With This One — Vintage Christian Dior Monsieur 100% Silk Pajama Set!

#31 Ceramic Chip & Dip Paint Palette Tray That I Thrifted Years Ago … She Shattered Last Year And I Miss Her Terribly 😭

#32 Picked This Little Pin Up For $0.25 At An Antique Shop This Afternoon... German 1936 Olympic Games Badge

#33 Ok Ok Ok. Deleted My Other Post, Jumped In My Car, Went Back And Got The Other 2

#34 I Have A New Favorite Cup

#35 Found One Of My White Whales! Vintage IKEA Platter For $2!

#36 Went An Estate Sale Today- One Of Those Rare Places Completely Untouched Since The 30’s Or 40’s. It Was An Old Summer Place For A Minneapolis Family, And I Found This 1920’s Table In The Basement By The Coal Bin. Not Perfect, And Never Will Be, But Now It Has A Little Life Left In It

#37 Scored These Gothic Shelves For $5 Each On Marketplace!

#38 Free Bin Score! Snail Tape Dispenser

#39 A Find Of A Lifetime

#40 My New $5 Clock!

#41 I Cried, When I Saw This

#42 I Have Officially Peaked

#43 $7.50? Say Less 🤩

#44 Found The Disney’s Hercules Pegasus Life Sized Plush By Douglas Co. At My Local Thrift. Brought Him Home Immediately

#45 I Will Be Riding This High All Day

#46 Found This $4 Continental Currency From 1776 In A Bin Of Old Photographs

#47 Went To Goodwill To Look For A Dress, Left With A $30 Fish Guitar 🐟

#48 C&r But Stoked To See A Teen Boy Convince His Mom To Get Him These!

#49 Estate Sale Score $4

#50 Found A Black&white Toucan Lamp!

#51 Avon Snail Bottles

#52 I Am Not Sure If It’s A “Haul” In The Traditional Sense, But If You’ve Got Vampires Then It Is

#53 Today The Thirst Gods Shined Down Upon Me. 5 Bags Of Random Slides!

#54 Found This Broyhill Emphasis Room Divider For $14.99 At My Local Goodwill! In Great Shape. Fits Near Perfectly In This Little Spot In My Living Room

#55 Found This Vintage Wicker Frog Purse At Goodwill Today. The Perfect Summer Accessory At The Lake?

#56 Finally Found One Of My Most Coveted Items Of All Time Today! Cast Iron Beetle Boot Jack For $7

#57 2 Dollars At The Goodwill Bins. Truly The Most Insane Thrift Find Of My Life

#58 Catch And Release, Hobbit Cloak Edition

#59 It Happened To Me At The Bins!

#60 Picked Up This 100% Cashmere Dior Coat That Ended Up Being An Extra 20% Off Too. Paid $64

#61 I Just Want To See The Family Photo

#62 $5 For My Living Room To Suddenly Become Very Randy Baby, Yeah

#63 Conversation Pit Feeling Couch

#64 I Work At A Thrift Store, This Was Among A Random Assortment Of Donations Given To Us

#65 My Number One Find Possibly Ever, 15$

#66 Perhaps The Greatest Find Of My Life - An Incredibly Organized Toy Section

#67 What A Find

#68 Found At Goodwill For 13!

#69 Craziest Local Thrift Score Of All Time!!!

#70 Found The Coolest Lava Lamp While Thrifting. No Idea How Old It Is But I Love It So Much

#71 100% Thrifted Housewarming Present

#72 Love Raccoons So My BF And I Bought This From A Thrift Store Over The Weekend. The Lady Told Me Her Aunt Had Made Some Touch UPS To The Original Print, We Didn’t See That She Had Painted On Joints Until We Got It Home. Makes It Even Better In My Opinion 🤣

#73 Possibly The Coolest Dress I Have Thrifted

#74 I Went To Goodwill For A Candle And Came Home With A Louis Vuitton For $29.99

#75 Greatest Custom Tee I've Ever Seen, Had To Buy It

#76 New With Tags Lazee Boy Sofa For $100 I’m Shaking And Two People Tried To Fight Me For It

#77 Spotted This For $6 On The Floor At Goodwill. Syroco Sunburst Clock, Late 60s Mcm Worth Hundreds Online. 🫠

#78 I Found Christian Louboutin Red Bottoms At Goodwill Today

#79 Dream Find: Tiffany Lamp

#80 I Bought This Dress From An Online Thrift Store For $80. The Tag Was Cut Off, But Based On The Fabric And Everything Else, It Feels Too High Quality To Be A Counterfeit.

#81 I Was Chosen By God And It Is A True Honor

#82 I Am 9 Months Pregnant And Yes I Tried Them On

#83 Does Anyone Need Any Gay Mermen Ornaments?

#84 It Finally Happened!

#85 The Cutest Bag I Found!!! Took It Him With Me Right Away. He Does Have A Little Staining, So If Anyone Has Any Tips On Getting It Out, Please Lmk :)

#86 Antique Faire For $20

#87 Didn’t Think There’d Be A Switch In The Box. I Will Never Come Down From This

#88 This Is Literally A Rock From Their Own Parking Lot

#89 Older IKEA Power Strip, I Always Loved The Transparent Plastic Aesthetic From The Late 90's/Early 2000's

#90 I Think I May Have Hit The Jackpot This Morning

#91 Original Nintendo Switch For 6.99

#92 Catch And Release. The Most Sequined Piece Of Furniture That Has Ever Been Sequined

#93 Why Does It Feel Like I Won Lotto Over A Mac N Cheese Clock?

#94 Found In The Bins And Couldn't Leave It Behind

#95 Got This Authentic Labubu For $1.99 Today

#96 Catch And Release. So Glad To Have Finally Seen One Of These Abominations In The Wild

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