People Call Out Thrift Store Scams By Sharing The Most Ridiculously Priced Items
No one is immune to inflation, and thrift stores are no exception. Yet nowadays it seems that they’re either being hit harder than the rest of us, or something is just off with their prices. Asking for four bucks for an empty maple syrup bottle, or half a thousand dollars for a counterfeit pair of sneakers, seems excessive at best. And these examples are just the tip of the iceberg.
Lots of people have noticed the sudden rise in thrift store prices, and they made sure to let the world know by sharing pictures of such costly items. We have combed through the online world to bring you some of the most mind-boggling examples of pricing gone wrong. Try to keep calm as you browse the list, but if you can’t, bear in mind that you’re not alone—this woman was flabbergasted at thrift stores’ prices as well.
To get a better understanding of how thrift shopping is related to fast fashion, sustainability, and consumerism, Bored Panda has reached out to Anika Kozlowski, an assistant professor of fashion design, ethics and sustainability at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. She was kind enough to answer some of our questions. You will find her thoughts below.
This post may include affiliate links.
Value Village Has Officially Lost Their Minds
Can you bring stuff to them to sell? Because I could bring a lot of Corona Extra bottles after one weekend.
Thrift stores are the holy grail to lots of people, from those who seek a more affordable option, to folk who shop secondhand for sustainability reasons. There are also individuals who simply enjoy browsing piles of knick knacks and clothes in search of their gold.
No matter the reason, thrift shops are typically known for being affordable. People can arguably save over $1,700 by choosing to purchase their goods secondhand. According to PR Newswire, as much as 82% of Americans buy and sell previously owned items. The vast majority of them admit that their decision to do so has been influenced by inflation.
Guess My Local Goodwill Jumped On The Price-Gouging Bandwagon. For $250 It Can Stay There And Collect Dust
All of the "thrifters" on Instagram caused this. So, now, the very people thrift stores were marketed towards can no longer afford to shop there.
At A Value Village In Canada, And Clearly Fakes Too
The pre-used item world seems to be booming. According to IBIS, the number of thrift store businesses in the US has been steadily increasing for the last decade, and has reached nearly 27,000 now, in 2023. Statista estimates that the global market for secondhand apparel alone can reach nearly 220 million dollars by 2026.
Some people might even call such growth a trend. A lot of them nowadays go treasure hunting in these stores to find unique pieces of clothing, maybe even something valuable for a much more affordable price. They also choose thrift stores to boycott the fast fashion industry and re-use instead of buying new things.
“Thrift stores have always had an important role in the community by making quality clothing items accessible to those with lower incomes. As of late, thrifting is often highlighted as one of the most sustainable options for shoppers and there is logic behind why that is. Thrifting helps to recirculate used clothing locally, extending the wearable life of these items, helps to keep them out of landfills and replaces the purchase of new goods with used ones,” Anika Kozlowski told Bored Panda.
And I Thought City Prices Were Bad. Hometown Thrift Store Must Be Smoking Something
Oh, The Possibilities
Hold on there, that’s a valuable piece. Telescope, rocket body, castle tower, trumpet, baseball bat and many, many more applications all rolled into one, that’s a bargain!
Chelsea Liu, an 11th-grader passionate about the environment, spoke about how people can use thrifting to disrupt the mass production of clothes in her TEDx talk. She emphasized the negative impact fast fashion has on the environment and encouraged people not to spend their money supporting it.
She also indicated that by choosing secondhand pieces, thrifters save them from going to the landfill, which is already full of clothing—according to Chelsea, people in North America “throw away about 10 million tons of clothing every single year, which averages about 40 kilograms per person.”
This Store Charges 50.00€ For This Pair Of Shoes, Even Though It Still Has A $5.00 Goodwill Sticker On It
Literally A Rock
Maybe if I'm late for a Stoning and forgot my two flats and a packet of gravel...
*bats the stones under the* Wait! No one in that movie had a sofa! *bats the stones into the hermit's hidey-hole and invents golf*
Load More Replies...HARRY THE HAGGLER: Stones, sir? MANDY: Naah. They've got a lot there, lying around on the ground. HARRY THE HAGGLER: Oh, not like these, sir. Look at this. Feel the quality of that. That's craftsmanship, sir. MANDY: Hmmm. Aah, all right. We'll have, uh, two with points and... a big flat one.
Would have been more if the original owner still had the Pet Rock box
And yet, i would probably still buy this because..... rock
This is worthless. Now if it were a PET rock, that would certainly be worth 99c
I’ve ask at a local thrift if everything they get is put out for sale because sometimes there is some really pointless things there. Supposedly it is sorted.
The CEO of Goodwill pockets all profits. None of it goes to help people any longer, unfortunately
You never know - it might be a piece of red Jasper in its raw state. I mistakenly threw a small bag full of it away when clearing out my dad’s workshop. Alternatively it might be one of those pet rocks that were all the rage ages ago.
What do you mean, ages ago! I was a kid when... well, nevermind.
Load More Replies...Charity Shops Have Changed
Oxfam have always been like this. It makes me angry for a few reasons, including promoting fast fashion - when Primark is cheaper and the quality is usually the same (because most of the clothes in charity shops are fast fashion cast-offs these days), who would buy second-hand? Also, charity shops used to be places where poorer people could reasonably reliably find cheap clothes in good condition; most of my clothes were secondhand when I was a kid, but it wasn't obvious. It's important that these places continue to exist. Plus, you know, the proceeds go to charity and the clothes don't go to landfill! The incentive to shop there is gone if the clothes are shoddy and the price is high...
Buying secondhand clothing is only one of the ways to lead a more sustainable life when it comes to fashion. People can try to build a capsule wardrobe to minimize the number of items they own (and ease the headache of figuring out what to wear each morning). They can also take part in a clothing swap or arrange one themselves. According to Forbes, an overwhelming majority of people (96%) believe their actions can make a difference, which is all the more reason to be more aware of our fashion decisions.
A Bag Of Trash For Only $3.49
What... why... what purpose... they know trash cans exist right?
A Single Pair Of Second-Hand Underwear
$125 Goodwill Find: Lousy Plaster Skull In Solid Glass
Anika also shared some fashion-related tips for those who want to be more environmentally friendly: “1) Shop your closet - you never know what you might find! 2) Organize your closet - when you know what you have and items are visible, you will be less likely to buy something new.”
“3) Learn how to take better care of your clothes. Proper care and maintenance will extend the life of your clothes by increasing their durability. Use a sweater shaver to remove pills, which often makes clothes look more worn than they actually are. Wash clothes less often - we think we need to wash clothes more often than they need to be. Wash in cold water and use an eco-friendly detergent. Don't use the dryer if possible, dryers reduce the lifespan of clothes. Drying clothes naturally in the air will help them retain their shape, they smell better, and save energy,” she said.
“4) Repair before you replace. 5) See if items can be tailored - this can refresh an older style or improve fit. 6) Swap clothes locally for a closet refresh. 7) Buy less, and if you do need anything, try to purchase high-quality items that will last.”
Rock Bottom Prices
These Used Flip Flops At Goodwill vs. The Same Pair Of Brand-New
To be fair, the used ones don’t really look used. When worn for anywhere close to a significant amount of time (that time being very little in reference to cheap flip flops), the texture would change and the lettering would start to disappear
1998 Technology At 1998 Prices
Clothing is not the only thing that can live through a renaissance, though. A lot of people look for used furniture that can be revived and stored in their homes, instead of taking another trip to the nearest department store. In addition to being an affordable way to furnish your place, it can become a source of income as well. Lots of people seek used furniture, flip it, and sell it for a profit. It also helps to stop yet another piece from going into the landfill.
You Can Buy These Empty Yogurt Jars For $1.99 At Goodwill, Or You Can Go To The Grocery Store And Get Them New And Filled With Yogurt For The Same Price
Tough decision. Catch and release at Goodwill.
Thrift Store Doesn’t Even Try To Hide Their Price Gouging
Value Village Is Drunk. These Are Cheaper At Antique Stores
Remember when thrift stores made things affordable? And can anyone suggest thrift stores in Edmonton that aren’t delusional?
Flipping furniture gained lots of popularity during the covid times. People were spending plenty of time at home, which allowed them to pick up a new hobby or start a DIY project. Some of them were likely influenced by a number of social media personas covering their journey of upscaling old furniture.
This Donated Bike At A Thrift For Almost $900
Well This Has 2020 Written All Over It
$44 For A Horrible Quality, Fake, Peeling “Hermes Birkin”
Are the even allowed to sell fakes? In the Uk charity shops aren't allowed to legally sell fakes
Old furniture is often found at yard sales—basically a cousin to the good old thrift store. People set up the things they no longer use for sale, and hope that as many of them as possible will be taken off of their hands. It’s a win-win situation, as both the customer and the seller are happy about giving the item a second life.
Empty Maple Syrup Bottle At Value Village
Maybe This Is A Good Price, But Nobody Is Going To A Thrift Store To Spend $350 On A China Set. Waterfronts Pricing Has Changed So Dramatically, Makes Me So Sad
I Think That All Pricing People At Thrift Stores Are Legit Idiots. Value Village "Boutique", Vancouver
Nowadays, going to a yard sale might be a more financially sensible option than visiting a thrift shop. The pictures on this list show that some stores are going crazy with their prices. To add insult to injury, some of the items they sell are more expensive than their new counterparts, which defeats the purpose of encouraging secondhand shopping.
I’m Speechless
Value Village Has Lost Their Damn Minds
I Was At A Thrift Store Buying A Jacket Marked At $25. The Cashier Wrote A 3 Over The 2 While I Was Checking Out Thinking I Wouldn't Notice
Even though the items in these pictures are way too costly, there are explanations for an increase in thrift store prices to some extent. The sustainable fashion expert described the reasoning behind it: “With greater consumption of new clothes comes greater disposal and donation. As thrift stores receive more and more donations, they require more labor and time to sort through the clothes. There is a greater proportion of donated items that can't be sold by the thrift store and thrift stores now have to manage this excess (e.g. recycling into rags/wipers, sold to exporters and landfill).”
“Then we also have the gentrification of thrift stores, which refers to the phenomenon of affluent shoppers now frequenting thrift stores. This inadvertently leads to thrift stores raising their prices, which makes once-affordable clothing inaccessible to those who need it most,” Anika added. “Rising prices ultimately harm those who thrift stores are there to serve - the lower income brackets. For those who can afford to shop thrift despite rising prices (which are still largely cheaper than most new garments), it doesn't appear to curb shopping habits.”
I Don’t Even Want To Thrift Anymore To Be Honest. As Soon As I Saw This I Left The Store And Felt Awful. The Hobby Is Gone
I agree, I used to enjoy thrifting so much, now I just feel angry! Especially Value Village!!😡
These Goodwill Prices Are Just Getting Comical
Arc Thrift Up Charging From The Regular Sale Price
Now that’s just lazy. If you’re going to rip people off, at least put some effort into it!
Anika Kozlowski pointed out that even thrift shopping might not be beneficial sustainability-wise if we don’t change our consumption habits. “Thrifting is essentially a byproduct of fast fashion and mass consumerism, as fast fashion requires fast turnover, which fuels the secondhand clothing trade. Thrifting now draws parallels to fast fashion as both models sell garments at low prices, consequently leading to overconsumption. If you are thrifting at the same volume as shopping for new clothes, our behaviors and values haven't fundamentally changed as we are still engaging in overconsumption.”
She expanded, “Thrifting is a sustainable option in the short term but there are still consequences and at the current rates of clothing overproduction and increasing donations, it is unclear how sustainable this option will be in the long term. While prolonging the life of clothing for a while, it does not stop overproduction of new clothing. In fact, the option of 'donating' may fuel greater consumption as we feel we have a responsible disposal option, the same way recycling does nothing to curb our consumption of new items or 'reduce'. We often forget about the first 'R' of the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle).”
Thought Long And Hard About This One
Talize (A Canadian Brand Thrift Store) Has Lost Their Mind. These Are Surely Fake And They're Charging This Type Of Price
Originally Tagged At $3.99 Selling For $19.99 At Value Village
Aren't those literally the cheap necklaces you find in every dollar store ever?
Gooseberry Cinderella Bowls. I Know They're Worth A Lot, But You Could Find Them For Less I Think
Okay, so... Yes these are technically collectibles. But they were DONATED. Perhaps donated so someone else could enjoy having this set because ebay and other sites sell them at collectible pricing and many folks cannot afford that. The workers at these stores don't make more for selling things at markup prices. Someone does, but it certainly isn't the people busting booty in the store. Ugh this really grinds my gears. "Goodwill" ..."Value" Village. Nothing is sacred anymore.
Is It Special Because The Lid Is Green? I Don’t Get It
Goodwill Needs To Fire The Person That's Pricing Some Of This Stuff. $35 Each For Tarnished Silver-Plated Trays, $20 For A Scale That Doesn't Even Work, $17 For A Teapot
I Couldn’t Find A Single Shirt Under 3.99 Today
When You Work At Goodwill, But Comedy Is Your Passion
I would buy it,and then just start leaving them in random places around the store
I Don't Know What Surprised Me More - Covid Pants Or The Price 19.99
Donated To The Thrift Shop, $300. Am I Missing Something Here? I Know Inflation Is Through The Roof But Come On
I Hate My Local Savers Sometimes. Who's Going To Pay $13 For A Used Shein Hoodie That's Practically Falling Apart By The Time They Get It?
This may be the most depressing thread on here so far. We have officially gentrified thrift stores and made it even more impossible for people struggling with income to buy the things they need. The ones in my area aren't that bad, but I have watched the prices go up and up and up over the last 5 years. Just because they can. Kids shirts used to be 50 cents - literally 5 years ago. All shirts are now $6.99. That's beyond any conceivable level of inflation.
Most of these are from at profit businesses, not real thrift stores. Value Village/Savers is owned by Berkshire so they are paying a stockholder dividend. Real thrift stores are charities designed to A) raise money for a cause and B) provide affordable options to those who need it. My local DAV (disabled American veterans) is 90% low prices (3 T-shirts for $2) but 10% is priced to be bought by someone willing to pay for a label/collectible. They have orange labels and are priced much higher. A pair of Prada shoes is not $5.
I volunteer at a cat thrift store. They have cats that they have people adopt that they rescued and they do all vaccinations too. A shirt can be like one dollar and all proceeds go to help the kitties.
Load More Replies...Same thing is happening in the US. Thrift stores are now charging $15-25 for used shirts. Ridiculous.
GoodWIll puts anything they think is too good for the store on their web page. People that didn't need to shop thrifty and media thrifters kind of ruined it. They made it trendy and bought the stuff that real people needed.Maybe its the thrift shops way of saying jack it and let them know. Prices will go down if no one buys it
I have no doubt that some of these are jokes (both from the shop staff and people who need photo content for their blogging). Businesses behind charity stores are prescriptive on goods and pricing. It's not Mom and Pop any more, they have guides on what can and can't be sold and at what price brackets. You see a brand name = it's now X price minimum regardless of sales or quality. Staff are told to check eBay for Buy It Now prices, we dont know the value of every item in the world of course, but people list c**p at silly prices and you have to price it regardless of condition.
I can never get over seeing something at Goodwill that I've seen at Dollar Tree, but Goodwill priced it four bucks.
Pop them tags. Ridiculous price? Peel/pop it off. Screw these greedy bast*rds. Remove the stupid tags. Show them a lesson.
In my town the seventh day adventists ran goodwill off by "goodwilling" them. Everybody started donating to them instead. They are a real thrift shop. They also donate half of the clothing to places like Haiti and Africa.
OTOH, my daughter recently bagged a Doulton figurine for ten bucks at VV. Good deal.
This is a direct result of the "thrifting" craze. Some people love to brag on social media about their latest "great thrift store find", and, ironically, they're willing to pay a premium for the privilege.
I visited Chicago last year and was dumbstruck by the thrift stores! Shoulda seen me trying to cram all that clothing in my carryon bag! 😄
Load More Replies...I worked for a Goodwill ( past tense ) most of those things would have been sent to the trash.. and so either one of two things is happening.. they are trying to discourage people from buying and then reselling or they are trying to makes sales to make bonuses for the staff.
Agreed. Just because a diamond bracelet or a pair of Louboutins is donated, doesn't mean that the charity should give them away for far less than they're worth. When I volunteered at charity shops, there was a very clear pricing structure that we had to follow, with a minimum price we were allowed to charge for each type of item. Volunteer staff handle thousands of items per week, and there physically isn't time to research every item. Unless you know what you're looking for, some fakes are very hard to spot - the trainers in this list that are "obvious fakes" may be obvious to a collector, but nobody can be a specialist in absolutely everything.
Load More Replies...This may be the most depressing thread on here so far. We have officially gentrified thrift stores and made it even more impossible for people struggling with income to buy the things they need. The ones in my area aren't that bad, but I have watched the prices go up and up and up over the last 5 years. Just because they can. Kids shirts used to be 50 cents - literally 5 years ago. All shirts are now $6.99. That's beyond any conceivable level of inflation.
Most of these are from at profit businesses, not real thrift stores. Value Village/Savers is owned by Berkshire so they are paying a stockholder dividend. Real thrift stores are charities designed to A) raise money for a cause and B) provide affordable options to those who need it. My local DAV (disabled American veterans) is 90% low prices (3 T-shirts for $2) but 10% is priced to be bought by someone willing to pay for a label/collectible. They have orange labels and are priced much higher. A pair of Prada shoes is not $5.
I volunteer at a cat thrift store. They have cats that they have people adopt that they rescued and they do all vaccinations too. A shirt can be like one dollar and all proceeds go to help the kitties.
Load More Replies...Same thing is happening in the US. Thrift stores are now charging $15-25 for used shirts. Ridiculous.
GoodWIll puts anything they think is too good for the store on their web page. People that didn't need to shop thrifty and media thrifters kind of ruined it. They made it trendy and bought the stuff that real people needed.Maybe its the thrift shops way of saying jack it and let them know. Prices will go down if no one buys it
I have no doubt that some of these are jokes (both from the shop staff and people who need photo content for their blogging). Businesses behind charity stores are prescriptive on goods and pricing. It's not Mom and Pop any more, they have guides on what can and can't be sold and at what price brackets. You see a brand name = it's now X price minimum regardless of sales or quality. Staff are told to check eBay for Buy It Now prices, we dont know the value of every item in the world of course, but people list c**p at silly prices and you have to price it regardless of condition.
I can never get over seeing something at Goodwill that I've seen at Dollar Tree, but Goodwill priced it four bucks.
Pop them tags. Ridiculous price? Peel/pop it off. Screw these greedy bast*rds. Remove the stupid tags. Show them a lesson.
In my town the seventh day adventists ran goodwill off by "goodwilling" them. Everybody started donating to them instead. They are a real thrift shop. They also donate half of the clothing to places like Haiti and Africa.
OTOH, my daughter recently bagged a Doulton figurine for ten bucks at VV. Good deal.
This is a direct result of the "thrifting" craze. Some people love to brag on social media about their latest "great thrift store find", and, ironically, they're willing to pay a premium for the privilege.
I visited Chicago last year and was dumbstruck by the thrift stores! Shoulda seen me trying to cram all that clothing in my carryon bag! 😄
Load More Replies...I worked for a Goodwill ( past tense ) most of those things would have been sent to the trash.. and so either one of two things is happening.. they are trying to discourage people from buying and then reselling or they are trying to makes sales to make bonuses for the staff.
Agreed. Just because a diamond bracelet or a pair of Louboutins is donated, doesn't mean that the charity should give them away for far less than they're worth. When I volunteered at charity shops, there was a very clear pricing structure that we had to follow, with a minimum price we were allowed to charge for each type of item. Volunteer staff handle thousands of items per week, and there physically isn't time to research every item. Unless you know what you're looking for, some fakes are very hard to spot - the trainers in this list that are "obvious fakes" may be obvious to a collector, but nobody can be a specialist in absolutely everything.
Load More Replies...