Do you shop at Second Hand stores?

Canada
October 30, 2007 11:12am CST
Do you shop at Second Hand stores and what do you look for? Do you go just to see what they have or do you go looking for something in particular? What was your best buy? I love shopping for kitchen tools and small appliances, books, and some clothes. I once bought a food mixer with store tags still on for $5 and a crockpot for $3. Some furniture is also ok. Although many people will argue about the hygienic aspect, I have purchased my pillow top mattress with boxspring at a second hand shop for $40!
7 people like this
24 responses
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
30 Oct 07
Yes...we have been shopping at second hand stores for years and have got some great bargains...I think one of the best was our living room gold chandelier...and it was like new...I don't know about some items but if you can wash it then it;s okay....
• Canada
30 Oct 07
That's my philosophy as well, but that mattress was too good to pass up! We've put an additional foam on top. Some of the best things I own came from a thrift store.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
30 Oct 07
The best buy I ever had was when the local thrift shop has their bi-monthly bag sale. They provide a brown grocery bag and you can fill it up with anything in the store for only like 2.80. One day I went got three bags and for the price I paid like 8.00 including tax and in those bags I got a very nice afghan blanket and a sleeping bag. (and that was just the big things, I got clothes for myself and the kids and probably some craft/kitchen things too)
• Canada
30 Oct 07
I've benefited on the bag sale deal for $3 as well however they were filled with my choice of books! Many many of our books came from thrift stores! Just talking about it makes me want to go shopping LOL
2 people like this
• United States
30 Oct 07
I never could find any good books, though I do look, I love to read too..:)
1 person likes this
• Canada
30 Oct 07
Seriously? There is a thrift store here in town, the whole basement is wall to wall shelving with books... and if that's not enough, they usually have boxes that still need to be unpacked! It's a complete library and I LOVE THAT PLACE. Hubby cringes when he knows I'm going there =] I mostly buy books for the kids but I always buy one or two for me too!
1 person likes this
@wavelander (1526)
• Portugal
30 Oct 07
I usually shop at second hand cd stores! On the internet i buy cds on Ebay some are new but others are like new but second hand!
2 people like this
• Canada
31 Oct 07
I never really considered Ebay as 2nd hand only because most things I buy there would be new however I do find amazing bargains!
@angemac23 (2003)
• Canada
31 Oct 07
I always shop second hand and love it! You never know what you are going to find and whatever you do find, its almost guaranteed that no one else will have the same thing!
2 people like this
• Canada
31 Oct 07
Well there's a ton of truth in that LOL Thanks for sharing!
• United States
30 Oct 07
Practically everything I have is from a second hand store or a garage store. Everything else has been donated by friends. I know, I shouldn't rely upon the kindness of others but, FREE IS FREE! I also always give everything I have that I don't want anymore of doesn't fit to the people who give things to me all the time so, I guess it all kinda evens out. I think the best purchase I ever made was a microwave for 5 bucks that lasted me 5 years. A buck a year is a pretty good deal. I just got a dishwasher that was just like new for 50 bucks, I hope it lasts just as long.
2 people like this
• Canada
30 Oct 07
If you dishwasher survives 50 years, it will be a cause for celebration LOL I agree that free is free and it is wonderful! I've participated in my local freecycle quite a few times too. Thanks for your input!
@hyzz1982 (1040)
• China
31 Oct 07
yes. i'd like shopping at second hand store. as a poor student of college, i have little money to feed myself. so i have to find something cheap, so a second hand stores will be a good choice.
2 people like this
@paidreader (5143)
• United States
31 Oct 07
My first office job sent me scurrying to the closest thrift store since I needed clothes appropriate for the office. Because I had a limited budget, this was the only way I was able to afford to get several outfits. By the time I was finished, I had two very large bags of clothes and only spent $50. I've also gone just to browse. One of my best bargains was a whole box of empty photo albums. Many of them were brand new, with all the pages intact but I only paid $10 for the whole lot of them. Since I take a lot of pictures, this was something I really needed to get them all in order. If I had bought them new, I'm sure it would have cost me over $150 easily. :)
• United States
30 Oct 07
I shop quite a bit a second hand.I don't always have the money to get stuff at the regular stores.
1 person likes this
• Canada
31 Oct 07
Honestly, who does? And why? Even if I had a ton of money, why would I waste it on full price when I can get just as good at a bargain!
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
31 Oct 07
Most of my wardrobe is 2nd hand. As a single mom, I could not afford to shop for new clothes. I find that I can dress fine and avoid the guilt i'd surely have if i were to take from our budget for such things. I have also bought some furnishings etc....actually almost all I own is 2nd hand whether purchased at a shop or thru a friend or just hand-me-downs.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Oct 07
Oh, ABSOLUTELY!!! I furnished most of my son's clothing as a baby from them. I was a single mom and it helped me alot. I still shop at Good Will for dress clothes sometimes. I have bought Matt some books, some PC Games and stuff. It's great. And Garage Sales? Don't get me started. I love them.!!! So does he! :)
2 people like this
• Philippines
31 Oct 07
I also love to shop at second hand stores. =) I always look for clothes and books and I really have nice bargains with them. It's also nice to have some of your items which cost you less than the original price. And take note, the items I bought are all in good condition at very cheap prices! =)
1 person likes this
• China
31 Oct 07
I like searching small decoration,lively toys and books at second hand stores, i enjoy the process in searching no matter what i can buy from here.Everytime i can find things in particular with lower price. You can have a try ,purhaps you will get a surprise.Good luck!
1 person likes this
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
31 Oct 07
I sometimes do especially if my husband is around. He loves buying in second hand stores. But if he is working abroad, I normally buy at malls especially if it is for our children. I want the best and the newest things for them.
@abby026 (42)
• United States
31 Oct 07
I have not shopped at a second hand store for a long time. I found it to be really time consuming when go with the intent of looking for a particular item. I was also suprised at some of the prices. Not as cheap as I remember second hand stores being in the past. Sounds like you have found some great bargins! Maybe I should give it another try.
1 person likes this
@bwakjira (445)
• Ethiopia
31 Oct 07
I usualy do!!. U know what some times i find things which can worth hundreds but thanks to such stores i will pay small. That is the beauty.
1 person likes this
@rimsha (806)
• Pakistan
31 Oct 07
I every went to second hand shop. There I get so many things in very good conditions.
1 person likes this
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
31 Oct 07
yes, I do buy from 2nd hand stores, we bought our Tv from there and it's reallya teal, bought it for only 3thousand pesos ($67, it's falt screen and 21 inches..:) I also bought one good b edsheet which is almost new for only $2..
@salam1 (1474)
• Malaysia
14 Feb 10
when i was in new zealand i love to go second hand shop too. even more to go to garage sales. several times i bought something cheap in garage sales and sell it back in online auction in NZ (something like eBay). and i made some profit. you said something about food mixer, you can check this one: http://www.squidoo.com/sunbeam-mixer
@hyzz1982 (1040)
• China
31 Oct 07
yes. i'd like shopping at second hand store. as a poor student of college, i have little money to feed myself. so i have to find something cheap, so a second hand stores will be a good choice.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
27 Feb 10
I love shopping at second hand stores.I love shopping for clothes and bags.I actually got a Marc Jacobs coat and black skirt and a D&G dress from a secondhand store.I love getting nice clothes for dirt cheap prices.I also love shopping for secondhand books and gadgets.I love shopping for clothes at secondhand stores because I am probably the only person with that piece.I want to stand out from the crowd.