Photo by Ken Soleta
A great guest post from Rei Fernandez, serious thrifter and owner of The Common Grounds, Thrift Store Shopping Secrets for Guys!
For guys, thrift stores aren’t the ideal places we would like to shop. The majority of men don’t have the patience to dig through aisles of random clothes. We especially don’t like digging through racks that aren’t organized by size. I completely understand this problem, but you can find all sorts of goods other than clothes. You can honestly find anything on a given day, but you just need to have the right techniques and be in the right state of mind when you’re out “thrifting.”
Photo by Ken Soleta
It is an absolute thrill to find gems in places you’d never guess would have them. I am not ashamed to admit that half of my wardrobe were either bought from a thrift store or purchased with a discount. Some of my favorite pieces in my closet were bought from thrift stores all across the state of California.
I’ve always loved shopping at thrift stores and it is something that I am accustomed to. When my parents first moved our family to the states, we didn’t have silver spoons to use. We relied on hand-me-downs or goods bought from second-hand stores such as Goodwill. As a kid growing up, I’ve always walked into a thrift store thinking that it is a big playground. Now that I am a young man, I still think that way.
The golden rule you must follow is to never expect anything when you’re out shopping at thrift stores. This isn’t like shopping at department stores where you’re almost guaranteed styles or sizes. Just keep an open mind and you wont be disappointed. You can go on for days or even months, but finding that one gem will clearly make up for the drought.
Secondly, having an open mind will allow you to have a more pleasant experience. When I walk into a store, I don’t go straight to a particular section. I take my time with the section closest to me then I work my way throughout the entire store. I’ve found this to be very helpful because it allows me to find things that I would never look for. These are things that turned out to be quite valuable such as brand new art books, collectible toys, and jewelry.
Lastly, If it doesn’t fit, don’t buy it! I’ve broken this rule many times in the past and it caught up to me in the end. I ended up with less money and less space in my closet because I bought so many things that just lay around. Unless you know for a fact that you’ll be able to get it tailored or have it restored, don’t waste your money on things that don’t work. You’ll end up spending more money and wasting more time in the long run.
The pictures above are just SOME of my favorite finds from my local thrift stores. I’ve found all sorts of goods from ties to shoes and even vintage posters. Again, you’ll never know what you’ll come across when “thrifting”. Locate the nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army in your area and give it a go. I can’t guarantee any gems on your first try, but you’ll increase your chances if you follow the short guideline above. Soon enough, you’ll be a thrifting veteran and I’ll be the one taking tips from you.
Happy thrifting everyone!
Like Thrift Store Shopping Secrets for Guys? Check out Introduction to Thrift Store Shopping and The Top Ten Items to Buy Second-Hand
About Rei Fernandez
I currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. I’m a part-time retail sales associate, a part-time college student, and a full-time blogger. I run The Common Grounds, which is a style blog that was launched in February of 2011. The message behind The Common Grounds is simply being true to yourself with an emphasis on fashion. I truly believe that personal style is an extension of one’s personality. I founded my blog to be used as a source to share my own personal interests with the rest of the world. I love the idea of sharing my thoughts, receiving opinions, and improving myself within the process. Send me the links to your blogs or websites and let us connect.
You can visit my blog at www.thecommongrounds.blogspot.com and you can follow me via twitter at @Thecmngrnds
Hi there. I'm Nicole. I live in New York City, in a small apartment full of strange little things. In addition to running Thrift Store Confidential 
great job!!!
And what, praytell were the secrets?? My short thrifting career can provide boatloads of tips and “secrets”, but every hardcore thrifter guards their techniques and tips like a gold miner to their claim.
My nuggets is to shop at estate sales and in wealthy neighborhood thrifts. If you after quality, there you will find it. For Goodwills, they distribute evenly to all stores, so go to the off beaten track stores which aren’t constantly picked.
Bring a bottle of hand sanitzer and buy some Febreze. Thrfted goods have questionable sanitary condition. Dates don’t like guys who smell like dirty grandpas. That funk is hard to get rid of. Mind the label, dry clean means Dry Clean!
Know your waist size measured flat and bring a tape measure to quickly size up the garment. Time is money there is a lot of crap to scan through.
Happy Hunting!
Well alright, Almond God! Looks like we coaxed a beast from its cave! These are great tips. Wanna put them into a full article?
Those are some great tips, but I gave away techniques, not my actual spots
Great guest blog post, Rei. Finding a gem at your local thrift store is like a kid opening presents on Christmas day. For several months now, I’ve been on the hunt for old high school and collegiate wool varsity jackets and vintage Starter jackets (specifically a Raiders one). I visit my local thrift stores every weekend, but still no luck.
Regarding your tip on size, I’m guilty of buying items (typically jackets) that are way too big. If I really like it and it doesn’t fit, I take the risk anyway since I’ve found a really good local tailor.
Thanks for sharing your insight!
-John