After years of visiting thrift stores, I’ve noticed shoppers tend to head to the same places as soon as they walk in. The clothing racks get plenty of attention, popular shelves are picked over quickly, and some of the most interesting items can disappear before many shoppers even see them.
I used to follow that same routine, starting with clothes before checking the shoes, books, and housewares. I found some good bargains, but I started wondering whether I was missing out by sticking to the same order every time.
Then I made one small change to my shopping routine.
Where I Look First Now
These days, I check the rolling carts and restocking bins that store employees use to bring new merchandise onto the sales floor. You’ll often see them near the aisles as staff put out fresh stock, though store rules vary, so it’s worth asking before browsing anything in a cart.
Related: 7 Things Many Goodwill Shoppers Get Completely Wrong
Why Fresh Put-Out Carts Can Be Worth a Look
Newly stocked items may not have been picked through by other shoppers yet, giving you a chance to spot something before it reaches the regular displays. You might find clothing, home goods, books, or other items that are harder to locate once everything is sorted onto the shelves and racks.
Related: I Thought I Knew Goodwill Until I Discovered the Bins
Expect a Bit of a Mess
Restocking carts aren’t arranged like the rest of the store, so you may find mixed clothing, stacked household goods, and items sitting in no particular order. It takes a little patience to look through them, but that extra effort can help you spot something you might otherwise walk past.
Related: Goodwill has a warning for anyone donating an old phone or computer
I Still Browse the Whole Store
Checking the restocking carts is just the start of my thrift store trip, and I still make time for the clothing racks, shoes, books, and housewares. I check the newest arrivals first, giving myself another chance to find something good before I spend time on the rest of the store.
Next time you visit Goodwill or another thrift shop, look for newly stocked merchandise and ask an employee if you can browse it. A quick stop could turn up something worth bringing home.
Related: 9 Goodwill Finds I Won’t Buy Unless They Pass These Tests
