50 People Who Found The Best Things In Thrift Stores, Flea Markets And Garage Sales (New Pics)
Digging through piles upon piles of treasure that someone decided they’re better off without is incredibly addictive. If you've ever been thrift hunting, you probably know that. And if you haven't had a chance to catch the thrifting craze yet, chances are it was not your lucky day.
Whether it’s fashion, interior design, historical artifacts, retro objects, secondhand goods, it seems like there’s something for everyone’s taste. As for any professional thrifter, they’d tell you not where but how to find them.
So today, we are diving into the treasure box of people’s thrift store findings. And it can’t get more random than that. So scroll down below, upvote your favorite miscellaneous thrift objects and be sure to check out our previous posts with the same goodness here, here and here.
Plus, scroll down for our interview with Sean Fowlow, the professional thrift hunter and creator of "Ridiculous Thrifter" who was happy to share some very useful tips and tricks to take your thrift hunting up to a whole new level.
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Mini Tent Used For Display At An Outdoor Gear Store That I Found At A Flea Market. Now A Cat Bed
To find out more about the art of thrift hunting, we reached out to Sean Fowlow, a professional thrifter from Atlantic Canada and the creator of the “Ridiculous Thrifter” Instagram account. We previously wrote about his entertaining page that features “the wonderful, bizarre and insanely overpriced items” found at secondhand points from Facebook marketplace to secondhand stores and charity shops. You can check out the article right here.
Sean told Bored Panda that making money from thrifting isn’t easy. “It requires a good knowledge of what will sell versus what won’t. There’s no consistency or predictability to thrifting… each time you visit a store it’s completely different.”
My Daughter Was Excited About Her Thrift Store Find. I Think The Photo Definitely Is Weird And Wonderful
Suitcase Wall
I’ve collected suitcases all my life. I have found them at thrift stores and garage sales and sitting on the side of the road. I also have had friends donate them to me when they know I collect. My father was in the Air Force and my brother and I were born in Germany and the two burgundy trunks on the bottom row are the steamer trunks that brought us back from Europe to Canada on the steamship. My mother used to share a story how a nun saved me on the ship trying to crawl over the side! I think some may be interested in what I may keep inside. The labels do tell what’s inside of each. I store lots of things in them. I have a knitting suitcase, with yarn and knitting books, etc., I have photograph suitcases, (when we used to have photographs), I have a collection of plastic animals for when my grandchildren come over as well as many other suitcases with toys in them for my grandchildren, material, beads, a sewing/mending suitcase, a suitcase for screws, a suitcase with a drill in it… I could go on and on and on and on. It’s all pretty organized and getting more organized all the time as I sort through and give away lots of things that I don’t need anymore. One of the trunks is a Christmas trunk and one of the trunks stores my patio cushions from my patio furniture and another trunk stores my mother’s dress form and material and patterns for when I’m going to get to those projects.
Saw This At An Estate Sale But Couldn’t Afford It…
Then the next morning when I woke up I saw it sitting on my porch because the woman knew where I lived and there was a note attached to it instructing me to have it for free that she sending it over with love and that she believed it would be in the right home if it was with me… feeling over joyed!
For this reason, Sean argues, having a broad knowledge of every item category will make you more successful. “A beginner thrifter will usually concentrate on just one or two categories of items, say toys and video games… usually only finding a couple items a week. But an experienced thrifter can find items in just about every area of the store to re-sell (clothes, dishes, knick-knacks, books, etc.) A dedicated thrifter will always be researching Ebay, Amazon and Facebook Marketplace in their spare time to see what is valuable and what is selling.”
Finally I Have Something To Share,, My Beautiful Find At Abbie Ann’s In Akron Ohio,,i Am In Love
Bucket-List Buy In Indiana Last Weekend, Found On Ebay
Just in case you're curious, the 8 foot Sinclair Dinosaur will fit in a minivan. Second pic is his new home in my front yard.
I Found A Cat Size Couch, I Repeat, A Cat Size Couch (And It Was Only 4.99) Thanks Goodwill
If you want to be successful, you gotta take your thrifting skills to a whole new level and that means “following the trends, minimizing risks by not wasting money and time, knowing the profit margins,” Sean said and added that thrift stores are catching on and are pricing items high nowadays. “They are researching Ebay too!” the professional thrift hunter warned.
According to the creator of “Ridiculous Thrifter,” besides a broad knowledge of items, consistency is probably a thrifter's most valuable tool. “Visit the same thrift store often… 4-5 times a week if you have time. Learn their trends: when they put out new items, when their sale days are & what coupons or promos are available.”
Well That's Not Fricken Weird At All.... Watching The New Marvel Movie "Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings" And I See This. Found This In A Storage Locker Full Of Antiques Years Ago...
Started Collecting Uranium Glass About 9 Months Ago From Local Thrift Stores And Antique Shops
I went a lil crazy with it, but I love it! I found LED black light strips on Amazon and taped them on the bottom of each shelf. I found some black velvet fabric and used 5 thumb tacks and draped it down the back, then cut pieces to fit over each shelf. So no damage to the cabinet at all.
Goodwill Cashier: “You Know Cinderella Is Missing Her Head, Right?” Me: “Yep! And A Hand!” *happily Pays $1.99 And Goes Home To Complete Macabre Art Project*
Moreover, being kind to the staff and becoming friends with them is also a huge asset, Sean explained. “Knowing the staff working there and always being kind, friendly and courteous to them is a huge asset to the thrifter. You always want them glad to see you, smiling and talking with you. Believe it or not, if a staff member really likes you, they sometimes give you inside tips on what items are out in the back being processed and when they will be for sale on the floor.”
Sean added that he sees many regular thrifters who the staff do not like because they are troublesome, sometimes rude, argumentative and impatient. “So… always be kind and warm, even if you don’t feel like it!”
Because Frames Are Therapeutic. Thrifting Them, Arranging Them And Then Arranging Them Again. Perfect, But Not
I Found This Gorgeous Artwork At A Thrift Store In Knoxville. I Don't Know Who The Artist Was, But I Think Freddie In The Style Of Gustav Klimt Was A Fantastic Idea
A Lady In My Neighborhood Wanted This Out Of Her Garage And Gave It To Me So I Dusted It Off And "Fixed" It. My Buzzkill Friend Said I Ruined It By "Weirding It Up". I Beg To Differ
Not weird, very creative. Courage the Cowardly Dog had a similar episode
When preparing yourself for going on a thrift shopping spree, Sean’s advice is “to be prepared to spend a long time at the thrift stores… it is a grind!” And that’s besides having a good overall knowledge of what will make you money. “Set aside the entire day if you can, bringing a backpack with water and snacks. Go early… be there when they first open. Sometimes there’s a lineup outside full of people doing the exact same thing as you. There is a lot of competition nowadays as the popularity of thrifting has increased immensely,” he explained.
Found This Beautiful Stained-Glass Peacock Years Ago At A Yard Sale
My Dad Drove By This Up On The Side Of The Road For Trash Pick Up
He went and knocked on the door to make sure they were really throwing it out. It’s an OLD sea captains chest. It was the guys great grandmothers that she had inherited. It’s awesome.
My Wife Saw This Lamp Creation On Facebook Marketplace And Sent It To Me Jokingly
We laughed. Three days later it was in our house. Apparently it was a show piece in a store previously. Updates as this really blew up: We paid $175. All lamps are wired to one plug and we turn it on through a smart socket app on our phones. We do not want to sell it. We love it as much as you do.
Moreover, “if you are looking for specific items, such as electronics or video games… bring along an assortment of chargers, batteries and cables so you can test the items in the store. Many thrift stores are final sale, so doing everything you possibly can to not waste money & time is so important,” Sean suggested.
Having said that, Sean’s final tip is “to be prepared to not find anything and don’t let that surprise you or upset you! After all… it’s a 'hunt.' So make it fun and enjoyable no matter what the outcome!”
I’ve Been Collecting Fiesta Ware For Years Now And I’ve Got The Perfect Rainbow Tea Cup Display. All Of Them Came From Thrift Stores, Antique Shops And Garage Sales Around Minnesota
My Dog, Jake, In His Halloween Costume
I bought a pair of toddler-sized khaki pants and. Toddler-sized red polo at a local thrift store, then did a lot of dismantling/resewing to make them into a Jake from State Farm outfit.
What're you wearing, "Jake from State Farm"?
Load More Replies...Oh yeah its Jake from State farm - you never hear him - I take it with that goofy tongue action he may have a lisp!
I tell 'ya. Pets are plotting payback. I can't wait to see humans dressed as tacos or wearing one of those cones a dog get after surgery. Let's see how many things you bump into.
He Is From Facebook Marketplace
Had to have him!! My mom has one and I always wanted my own. Hope y’all can appreciate my garden gater Steve. 🤩 he is placed where the water comes off the porch to look the most terrifying. 😁😁 I live in Alabama so kind of unusual to see a alligator running around unless your in southern Alabama where the swamps are.
I'd s**t my pants if I saw this anywhere, half submerged, looking like a real gator
I Bought A Dollhouse At A Garage Sale For My Daughter And I To Redecorate But Andy And Rosey (Our Foster Kittens) Are Little Freeloaders And Decided To Move In!
Freeloaders? You're lucky to have them living there, they is royalty.
Hey You Guys! Look What I Found At My Favourite Local Thrift Shop...its The Itty Bitty Park Bench That I Didn't Know I Needed!
Let me tell you, it has quickly turned into the #1 gathering spot in my garden too! "Ben Nanner" and the chipmunks love it!
I Will Always Love This Door Not Only Because Of Its Beauty
I will always LOVE this door not only because of its beauty, but because of it’s “Why”...My boyfriend called me one afternoon and said he “got me something“ and I was going to love it and that he found it down one of the backroads thrown out to the trash near our 110 year old farmhouse we had just bought and were restoring. IT WAS THIS DOOR and I loved it “as-is”. He spent hours removing the old paint to restrain it and hung it in the entry way to my walk-in closet I will always LOVE this door not only because of its beauty, because of its “Why”
A Neighbor Put This Fabulous Green Velvet Sofa Out On The Curb. It’s Mine Now
Am I Too Late For The Stained Glass Train?
Found this beautiful piece at a local estate sale. Probably cost me less than a dollar? Purchase with a stack of things for $10. Has a chain to hang it, but I have a valance that would cover it, which I'm not willing to take down (so much sun!) So it leans against the window above my sink. *scale banana, for scale of course!*
That is absolutely stunning wow! If I found this I would take it too! Wow I love it! 😍😍😍
Possibly My Favorite Vintage Purchase Ever
I turned this vintage pink camper into a playhouse for my daughters. The camper was purchased at an auction near Newton, Kansas and the vintage contents have all been collected at thrift stores, garage sales, auctions and Goodwill.
I Might Just Have Won This Whole Weird And Wonderful Finds Game... Oscar The Grouch, Via A Buy Nothing Group On Facebook. I Love Him So Much. This Is Him In My Home
Finally Found A Paper Bag Vase At Our Local Goodwill! I Was So Excited I Snatched It Up As Quickly As I Could. It Looks Different Than Most Others Ive Seen. Its Not Glossy At All And The Details In It Are Amazing. I Am In Looove With It!
I Found This Horror / Gothic Couch In A Thrift Store In NYC And Had To Have It!
Blue Teapot
I found this teapot at a secondhand shop a couple of years ago. I thought it was so beautiful that even though I knew deep down I would probably never use it, and even though I don’t typically like having knickknacks sitting around on shelves, I paid $50 for it and brought it home. The other day, on an impulse I decided to add it to a post I created in my neighborhood Facebook group to advertise some things I’m getting rid of in preparation for moving. I listed it for $20, hoping that price would deter anyone from buying it for use in a craft project, because as much as I support repurposing projects, I was really hoping to find someone who loved this teapot for what it was, same as I did. A few days later, someone offered me $10 for it. I said I would think about it. Then she explained that she would be willing to pay the full $20 that was asking if I could wait until her next paycheck, and that she wanted to gift it to someone in her life who collects teapots and had recently remarked that her collection was missing blue. I told her nevermind about the money, that she could just have it. Now instead of collecting dust on my shelf, this beautiful teapot will be used as an expression of love and go to a home where it will be treasured. And that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been willing to let it go.
Found A Crab Purse While Thrifting. He Went Home With Me!
I Found This Vanity On Fb Marketplace
Owner was a woman whose mother had just passed, it was passed down from grandma. It was listed at $150 obo, I offered $175 because I really wanted it! I’m head over heels in love with it.
I Kept Only A Few Things From My Late Parent's Estate, One Being The Amber Glass Cat Decanter
My cat tried to climb the corner shelf upon which it was displayed, and I watched in horror as the entire shelf and contents slowly tipped and crashed to the floor, destroying everything on it, including my beloved cat decanter. The only thing that survived was the cat head stopper. I've spent the last 6 months slowly replacing the broken items thanks to eBay, but I couldn't find the exact cat replacement. Most of the ones I found were like the green one, with a bigger head, wider neck, and the ears sticking out to the side and not straight up. I bought several off eBay, thinking they were the same as my broken one, but my heart always sank when I'd open the box. I ended up re-selling most of them, but I kept the green one because I thought it was pretty. Finally, I found a matching amber decanter with a "Buy It Now" price, and so I did. I'm so happy I found an identical decanter at a reasonable price! I've seen them advertised as both "Empoli" and "Empoli inspired", but I don't know which one is correct.
My Fiancé And I Went To An Antique Store In Lake Mills, Wi And I Came Across This Beautiful Needle Point
At first there were two other ladies in front of it discussing what items they were going to purchase, as there were some other fall decor next to this picture. I creepily stuck around and looked at the other great items near this picture and as they decided to purchase other things, I grabbed this so fast. My fiancé asked if we were really going to get this and I’m sure I gave him a wild expression. Of course we’re purchasing this! Come to find out, the owners of the store know the lady who made this. She’s 90 years old and her memory isn’t there anymore, but she’s made needlepoint art her whole life. Her name is Pat and I’m so happy I have this piece. (Also, I’m obsessed with Halloween and everything spooky, so this is just everything.)
A Big, Brass Hourglass I Found By A Dumpster. Not Sure Why I Need It, But Couldn't Just Leave It There
Found These Last Minute On Friday At Bellingham, Wa Value Village. They Definitely Came Home With Me
My Dad Acquired These For Me From The Museum He Works At. I Need To Get Them Hung Up, But This Is Totally Normal Bedroom Decor, Right?
Sorry For The Long Post, It’s Not Really A Strange Find, But A Great Story I Feel This Group Will Appreciate
So I stopped at my local Goodwill on the way home from running errands the other day, it had been a while and I just wanted to see if there was anything that I absolutely had to have. The first thing I spot were these boots. They are so pretty and so very “me”, but I though “ugh, they’re probably pricier than is ideal”…nope! $6.99, then I thought “no way these are my size”…nope! Size 7! At this point I couldn’t resist, but had to look around the rest of the store, I couldn’t just get the first thing I saw! After looking around the rest of the store I found nothing else that made my soul as happy as these boots, so I made my way to pay for these bad boys. The cashier commented on how cool they were and ring them up, I put in my Goodwill “rewards” and the cashier told me that I could use my birthday month discount if I wanted to get 25% off, so I used it! It came out to $5.25, THEN they told me I also had a $5 off if I wanted to use *that* so, of course, I say sure! I ended up walking out with these lovely boots for a whopping $0.25!! Best Impromptu Goodwill trip!
That's a good price for the shoe, but what about the person that used to live in it?
I Moved To Canada Last Year From The States And Got To Go To My First Yard Sales Here. I Got This Beautiful Art Nouveau Picture For One Dollar And I Am Over The Moon!
Found At Goodwill And It Fits My Husband Perfectly. Cats And Tacos. His Favorites
So I Was Thrift Shopping Yesterday And Came Upon This Beautiful Faberge Martini Glass Set! In A Beautiful Blue Velvet Box
Each glass is signed by Faberge and the authentication cards are with it… At first I am thinking. “Nice, but where do I display these…” So I walked away and sat in my car for a min. Grabbed my phone and looked these up online. My jaw dropped when I saw the value! And like what are the chances of this happening to me again…None! So I ran in and bought em. I love them. So colourful and damn fancy! It was my lucky day y’all *Paid $50.00!
Found This (Plant Hanger?) On The Side Of The Road. Turned It Into A Real Monster!
Just Wanted To Share This Amazing Vintage Set I Thrifted For 50¢ For A Retro Photoshoot I Shot
I Found This Today At Gw. Brand New In The Box
The Perfect Yardsale Find $13.00 In Kerrville Tx .. Beetlejuice/Mary Poppins
So Excited! Found This Guy On Facebook Marketplace Last Night! My Victorian Gothic Couch Now Has A Friend
“By purchasing this Victorian Gothic Couch, you confirm that you are not Stuart Semple, you are in no way affiliated to Stuart Semple, you are not purchasing this Victorian Gothic Couch on behalf of Stuart Semple or an associate of Stuart Semple. To the best of your knowledge, information and belief this Victorian Gothic Couch will not make its way into the hands of Stuart Semple.”
My Incredible Find Today At Our Local Antique Marketplace Here In Nc !! This Beautiful Stained Glass Pumpkin Lamp!! Paid $18, Sells On Ebay For $195. Score!!
The Lady At The Thrift Shop Told Me That My Child Would Love This Toy And It’s Such A Good Deal At Only $3
For a child wasn’t what I had in mind…. I now await the chicken concert. There are two very short videos in the comments now.
A friend was in a band and he wrote a song that featured a solo played on one of these. I went along to the studio with them, to help carry stuff, and he let me play the solo. I think I have a copy of the recording somewhere.
My Collection Of Coffee Tables Grapes Several Years In The Making
They were found at Goodwill, estate sales and yard sales. This is what happens when you are denied a set of table grapes as a youth... it turns into an obsession. Bejeweled banana for scale
Found A Life Size (5ft Tall) Resin Velociraptor On Marketplace In Richmond Va. Couldn’t Pass It Up For $300. He’s In Our Halloween Display Right Now Which Is Not Completely Done
Found This Gorgeous,boho /Hippie/Vintage Daisy Crochet Blanket At Goodwill In Oviedo, Fl. For Under 5.09. It Matches My Daughters Bedding Perfectly!
My latest massive find at the thrift store, was 5 metres of handwoven folk costume wool fabric for around 7 dollars. It's worth around 800-1200 dollars.
I've told this story so many times but it truly is one of the coolest things that have ever happened to me. My husband cleaned out his late mothers storage unit and found a really interesting pen and ink drawing in a crumbling frame. Its really big, 28 in × 36 and is really eerie and moody. There was a label on the back so I did some digging and ended up finding the artists daughter on Facebook. Turns out its an original pen and ink by a very well known Canadian artist. His daughter had never even seen it before but she did some digging and found out it was part of an art show her father did in 1968 and the whole show was purchased by THE Vincent Price for his collection of fine art sold through Sears. We're going to have it restored professionally and reframed. His daughter says its worth well over $5,000.00. No clue how it ended up in my MIL's storage unit. We even got interviewed for a Canadian radio show about it! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gerald-squires-
It was wise of you to check out the provenance. There are some people who don't bother, and have no idea they own something of genuine value. You see them on Antiques Road Show sometimes, flabbergasted at what their object is worth and at what it is. Could have done a little Googling, if they had had their wits about them.
Load More Replies...What are the numbers ending with "k" at the end of each description?
I think they're the amount of points the post got in reddit or wherever, though im not 100% sure
Load More Replies...I love these posts... but I always wonder why I never get so lucky. I am so excited to see the incredible scores! I don't thrift anymore, because I am trying to downsize, but I am thinking about selling some things at seriously reduced prices, to people who would love them. I just can't figure out how to tell if they're buying it because they love it, or if they're buying it to sell on eBay. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
I love reading these stories and looking at all of your awesome treasures!! Not a thrift store find but I was given a vintage dress form from a church. Been trying to do research. I buy things that others have made. Like mugs msde in someone's art class, I have a picture of Amish children made from wax and I bought some old wallpaper sample books that I've made coasters with. Keep these coming!
I visited one of favorite thrift stores and came across 2 arrow heads for $2.99. I also purchased a beautiful, small detailed box for $2.99 to keep them in. Super cool 😎
I found Ferragamo shoes and an Olev Cassini purse, both under ten bucks.
I'm always so baffled with those thrift items making people so happy. It's like some were waiting for the right new owner to stand out. Others are really good samaritans by rescuing items from the dump. I always enjoy looking at what the cat dragged in, this time as I call it.
This article appears to be a full on FACEBOOK advertisment. Shame on BoredPanda for not having truth in advertising on the site. Written & Sponsored by Facebook should be your new URL.
What is your price between a bargain... and screwing someone over? At what profit margin do your personal morals kick in? Is it as simple as ''well they were the idiots for only asking x much....... ' or is there a limit when you'd feel morally obliged to s ay like 'hey...... you sold me this for f**k all last week, but i've since found out it's worth thousands.......so here''s your half of the thousands'''........... or when confronted with a great deal......... do you keep it all for yourself if it's a flea market discovery and f**k to anyone else that didn't realise it's worth?
If I think they've under priced something, I give them what I think it's worth. And if I'm not buying it, I suggest that they look into it and re-price it. I'm all for a bargain, but if there's a huge discrepancy, it's not fair
Load More Replies...My latest massive find at the thrift store, was 5 metres of handwoven folk costume wool fabric for around 7 dollars. It's worth around 800-1200 dollars.
I've told this story so many times but it truly is one of the coolest things that have ever happened to me. My husband cleaned out his late mothers storage unit and found a really interesting pen and ink drawing in a crumbling frame. Its really big, 28 in × 36 and is really eerie and moody. There was a label on the back so I did some digging and ended up finding the artists daughter on Facebook. Turns out its an original pen and ink by a very well known Canadian artist. His daughter had never even seen it before but she did some digging and found out it was part of an art show her father did in 1968 and the whole show was purchased by THE Vincent Price for his collection of fine art sold through Sears. We're going to have it restored professionally and reframed. His daughter says its worth well over $5,000.00. No clue how it ended up in my MIL's storage unit. We even got interviewed for a Canadian radio show about it! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gerald-squires-
It was wise of you to check out the provenance. There are some people who don't bother, and have no idea they own something of genuine value. You see them on Antiques Road Show sometimes, flabbergasted at what their object is worth and at what it is. Could have done a little Googling, if they had had their wits about them.
Load More Replies...What are the numbers ending with "k" at the end of each description?
I think they're the amount of points the post got in reddit or wherever, though im not 100% sure
Load More Replies...I love these posts... but I always wonder why I never get so lucky. I am so excited to see the incredible scores! I don't thrift anymore, because I am trying to downsize, but I am thinking about selling some things at seriously reduced prices, to people who would love them. I just can't figure out how to tell if they're buying it because they love it, or if they're buying it to sell on eBay. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
I love reading these stories and looking at all of your awesome treasures!! Not a thrift store find but I was given a vintage dress form from a church. Been trying to do research. I buy things that others have made. Like mugs msde in someone's art class, I have a picture of Amish children made from wax and I bought some old wallpaper sample books that I've made coasters with. Keep these coming!
I visited one of favorite thrift stores and came across 2 arrow heads for $2.99. I also purchased a beautiful, small detailed box for $2.99 to keep them in. Super cool 😎
I found Ferragamo shoes and an Olev Cassini purse, both under ten bucks.
I'm always so baffled with those thrift items making people so happy. It's like some were waiting for the right new owner to stand out. Others are really good samaritans by rescuing items from the dump. I always enjoy looking at what the cat dragged in, this time as I call it.
This article appears to be a full on FACEBOOK advertisment. Shame on BoredPanda for not having truth in advertising on the site. Written & Sponsored by Facebook should be your new URL.
What is your price between a bargain... and screwing someone over? At what profit margin do your personal morals kick in? Is it as simple as ''well they were the idiots for only asking x much....... ' or is there a limit when you'd feel morally obliged to s ay like 'hey...... you sold me this for f**k all last week, but i've since found out it's worth thousands.......so here''s your half of the thousands'''........... or when confronted with a great deal......... do you keep it all for yourself if it's a flea market discovery and f**k to anyone else that didn't realise it's worth?
If I think they've under priced something, I give them what I think it's worth. And if I'm not buying it, I suggest that they look into it and re-price it. I'm all for a bargain, but if there's a huge discrepancy, it's not fair
Load More Replies...