Shopping at Goodwill can absolutely save you money, but a low price tag doesn’t automatically make something a good deal. Some finds come with stains, damage, odors, repairs, or other problems that can quickly wipe out whatever you saved buying secondhand.
The trick is knowing when to grab the bargain and when to put it right back on the shelf. These Goodwill purchases can easily leave you spending more money or wishing you had never brought them home.
Furniture That Needs Major Repairs
That $20 dresser stops being a steal when it needs new hardware, wood filler, paint, sanding supplies, and several hours of work. Minor cosmetic flaws are one thing, but wobbly frames, broken drawers, damaged joints, or serious structural problems can turn inexpensive furniture into an expensive project.
Project Pieces You’ll Probably Never Finish
It’s easy to look at a $5 chair or dated nightstand and imagine how amazing it could look after a makeover. If you don’t already have a plan, the supplies, and the time to tackle it, though, your bargain will likely become another unfinished project taking up space.
Clothing With Old Stains
Always check thrifted clothing carefully in good lighting because stains can be surprisingly easy to miss among crowded racks. If a stain has survived previous washes and years of wear, you may spend money on treatments only to discover that it isn’t coming out.
Related: How to Clean Thrift Store Clothes
Clothes That Are Already Falling Apart
A missing button or loose hem can be an easy fix, but thinning fabric, multiple holes, stretched-out elastic, and badly worn seams are different. When the material itself is deteriorating, you may only get a few wears out of your inexpensive Goodwill find before it needs to be replaced.
Cheap Fast-Fashion Pieces
One of the best parts of thrifting is finding better-quality clothing for a fraction of what it originally cost, so there’s little reason to settle for poorly made pieces just because they’re cheap. I’d rather dig a little longer for secondhand linen, wool, silk, cashmere, denim, or another quality fabric than spend money on something that was inexpensive and disposable when it was brand new.
Anything With a Strong Mystery Smell
Smoke, mildew, pet odors, and other strong smells can settle deep into fabric, upholstery, and even wood. You might spend more on specialty cleaners and odor treatments than you paid for the item, and there’s still no guarantee you’ll completely get rid of the smell.
Stained or Smelly Upholstered Furniture
A cheap couch or armchair can be tempting, but upholstery can hide years of dirt, pet hair, allergens, odors, stains, and even pests beneath the surface. Professional upholstery cleaning can quickly add to your costs, making that inexpensive piece of furniture much less of a bargain.
Electronics You Can’t Properly Test
A $10 coffee maker, lamp, speaker, or other electronic item is only a deal if it actually works. If Goodwill doesn’t allow you to thoroughly test it, you could end up bringing home something with missing pieces, electrical problems, or a short remaining lifespan.
Baby Gear With an Unknown History
Certain baby items aren’t worth gambling on simply to save a few dollars, particularly when you can’t verify their age, recall status, missing pieces, or previous damage. Items where safety depends heavily on the product’s history and condition are better purchased from a source where you know exactly what you’re getting.
Related: 14 Things Your Adult Kids Probably Don’t Want to Inherit
Chipped, Cracked, or Already-Broken Items
It’s surprisingly easy to convince yourself that a tiny crack or chip doesn’t matter when something costs only a couple of dollars. But unless you’re specifically buying it for a craft or upcycling project, damaged dishes, glassware, containers, furniture, and home goods usually aren’t worth paying for when Goodwill has plenty of intact items waiting on another shelf.
