DIYs & Tutorials

Thrift Shopping Tips

December 26, 2011

I noticed how much prices have increased on my last secondhand shopping trip, so I made use of new tricks up my sleeve and here they are:

1. Stay away from the shops with A/C and real dressing rooms unless they have discount boxes. These usually sell Gap and Old Navy, praise them for being “Ropa Americana” (clothes from the United States) and have fixed prices. Big NO NO.

Thrifted Christmas embroidery flats shoesChristmas-y flats found on my last trip to the Honduran capital. Cay-ute!

2. If you fancy more than one item, ask for the price of one first. Then say, “How much if I take both?”

3.  After knowing the asking price, when bartering say “I’ll take it RIGHT NOW if you give it to me for so-and-so-price. Emphasis on “right now” can work magic.

Holiday Christmas velvet flats

 By the way, vintage sizes usually run small. These flats are a size 6 but fit my little sister who’s a 5.5.
 

4. Bring lots of change. You deserve to be punched if you barter and then pay with the largest bill in existence. I mean, seriously.

5. Befriend the salespeople. They’re most likely underpaid and will appreciate a friendly customer. Once they get to know you they can point you to the “weird grandma dresses you like” when they get new stock.

Warning: tips might only apply in third world countries. 

♥ Next post later today: Easy mullet skirt DIY. Happy holidays everyone!

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  • estilo y cafe December 27, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    I was thinking a couple of days ago that you should do a post about thrift shopping, and 2day voila! love you blog!

  • Belinda December 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    tomando nota!

  • Belinda December 28, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    hace unos días fui a una tienda de segunda, en busca de algún tesoro, y aunque abrumador, fue un exito, con estos tips la proxima vez seguro me va mejor.

  • Patti Graveley January 11, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    si!!! concuerdo con los tips, mientras más desorden y “sucia” se vea la ropa, menos gente con que competir y mejores precios… los zapatos del post están de morirse!!!!

  • SugarPuss January 26, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    lol…i live in Kenya, Africa and it’s amazing how thrift shopping uses the same skills here too. Another thing i do is go really early in the morning just when the open up their new stuff because they haven’t repriced them according to demand and they’re grateful for a first customer, or really late in the evening when they’re too tired to bargain and just want that extra buck before they close up 🙂

  • April Durham February 10, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    what a fun blog. just found you looking for “circus” and I really like your style, writing and fashion. hope you post more soon.

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