Bored Panda reached out to the Facebook page's team and a representative told us that many local thrift stores have now actually moved to online ordering during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Some even have curbside pickup, so we recommend checking with your favorite stores to see if they've done this," they suggested what we can do in order to stay safe but keep our secondhand shopping habits intact.

Meanwhile, they pointed out that secondhand fans should use social media to keep track of their fave shops and what's new with them while also avoiding going to shops physically without knowing if you'll find what you want. "Following your favorite shops Facebook pages is also recommended so you can stay up to date on what they're doing as well as get quicker notice when they have sales, new items listed, etc. That way you can safely thrift from the comfort of your own home while still supporting your local shops."

Previously, Bored Panda spoke with the Weird Secondhand Finds team all about how the thrift store and secondhand shopping industry has shifted because of Covid. According to the Facebook page team rep, the number of people buying things this way stayed more or less the same in Autumn, but how things are done have changed quite a lot. There’s been a rise in digital shopping while physical stores are taking more and more safety precautions.

“We've noticed that more people seem to be using online venues for their thrifting rather than going to physical locations, which given the current circumstances, we think is great. Thrift stores also seem to be embracing the option of going online just a bit more than they did previously,” they told Bored Panda. “We encourage people to stay safe and use precautions if they do decide to go out, and we do not allow posts that show people not honoring precautions, such as not wearing a mask or with their mask pulled down while out in public.”

Meanwhile, physical stores require customers to have masks on, have erected plexiglass protectors at registers, keep the fitting rooms closed, and have a hard limit on the number of people that can be inside the store at one time.

“Perhaps the biggest change is in the 'bin' type stores where they have had to significantly decrease the number of bins in order to allow for social distancing, as well as create a path for customers to follow rather than being able to choose their own path like they could previously. It's a lot less chaotic than it used to be at the bins,” the Weird Secondhand Finds team member explained.

The Facebook group started out as a page for family members and friends to share the goofy things they found online. Eventually, the page grew immensely and the wholesome community began to take form.

It’s not just about fun, though. The Facebook group has brought the discussion about shopping secondhand to the forefront of social media. It’s something that’s positive for your wallet, for your community, and for Planet Earth. Without the stigma attached to it, secondhand shopping is a great way to spend your time. Just remember to put your hazmat suit on. Or shop online!