I thrift often enough to know that finding the good stuff at Goodwill isn’t always about luck. Sometimes the difference between leaving empty-handed and finding an incredible deal is simply knowing when to shop, where to look, and which sections deserve a second pass.
Goodwill inventory changes constantly, and the best pieces aren’t necessarily sitting front and center. They may be on a rack that just rolled onto the floor, mixed into the wrong department, buried on a bottom shelf, or marked with the week’s discounted color.
Here are 15 Goodwill shopping tricks worth trying before your next thrift run.
Learn Your Store’s Color of the Week
Many Goodwill regions discount merchandise based on rotating colored tags, so checking the week’s color before you start shopping can lead to some seriously cheap finds. I always look for the posted discount when I walk in because I’ve found everything from jeans to home decor for a fraction of the original thrift-store price.
Figure Out When Your Store Restocks
There isn’t one universal “best day” to shop Goodwill because restocking schedules can vary considerably between locations. Ask an employee when new merchandise typically hits the floor, then try visiting around those times to get ahead of shoppers who come later.
Check the Newly Stocked Racks and Carts
Keep an eye on rolling racks and carts employees bring onto the sales floor, because these items may not have been picked through yet. If you’re unsure whether a cart is ready to shop, simply ask an employee before reaching for anything.
Related: Why I Always Look at the Top of Clothing Racks When I Go Thrifting
Learn How the Goodwill Bins Rotate
Goodwill Outlet locations regularly replace bins with fresh merchandise, so learning your location’s rotation process can give you a better chance at newly brought-out items. Follow employee instructions about when you can start digging, and consider wearing gloves since you’ll be sorting through loose merchandise.
Look Where Things Don’t Belong
Don’t assume a great find will be hanging in the correct department because shoppers and employees can accidentally place things in the wrong section. Check neighboring racks, men’s and women’s departments, kids’ clothing, and even random shelves because that misplaced item might be exactly what everyone else overlooked.
Don’t Trust the Size on the Hanger
Vintage sizing, shrinkage and switched hangers make thrift-store sizing notoriously unreliable. If something looks like it could fit, check the actual garment tag or try it on rather than leaving it behind because it’s hanging in the “wrong” size section.
Give Clothing the Smell Test
Smoke, mildew, mustiness and strong perfume can be incredibly difficult to remove from certain secondhand fabrics. Give coats, sweaters, hats, and other harder-to-wash pieces a discreet smell before buying because a $7 bargain isn’t worth much if you never want to wear it.
Look Below Eye Level
Some of the easiest merchandise to miss sits on the very bottom shelf or gets pushed underneath larger displays. Take an extra second to crouch down in the housewares section because cookware, platters, baskets, frames and other good finds can disappear beneath everything else.
Inspect Every Piece Before Buying a Set
A stack of beautiful vintage dishes might look perfect until you discover the bottom plate is cracked or a cup has a chip along the rim. Check every piece, including bottoms and maker’s marks, before buying so you know exactly what you’re taking home.
Ask About a Discount If Something Is Damaged
If you find something you love with a small scratch, missing button or other fixable flaw, politely ask whether the price can be adjusted since policies vary by location. Make sure the damage is something you’re willing to repair, because a cheap project can quickly become clutter.
Bring a Tape Measure
Furniture and oversized decor can look deceptively small inside a huge thrift store, only to become enormous once you get them home. Keep a small tape measure with you and save important measurements in your phone so you don’t end up buying something that won’t fit.
Don’t Give Up on a Messy Section Too Quickly
A picked-over rack can still have one fantastic piece buried between dozens of things you wouldn’t buy. Move the hangers, look behind larger items and dig a little deeper because thrifting often rewards the person willing to spend an extra minute looking.
Related: Do Goodwill Employees Get First Dibs on the Best Donations? Here’s What Goodwill Says
Follow Your Local Goodwill Online
Local and regional Goodwill organizations may post sales, special events, store updates and promotions on their social media pages. Following the locations you shop most often can help you catch opportunities you might otherwise hear about after the fact.
