The Art of Buying Secondhand

Last updated on September 28th, 2021 at 02:38 pm

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The Art of Buying Secondhand

With social media and online shopping, buying high quality secondhand goods has never been easier! You can purchase almost anything secondhand from children’s clothes and toys to fine furniture and art. Whether you are a frugal mom, or someone who simply loves the thrill of scoring a bargain, follow these tips and you’ll be certain to find treasure.

Know Prices

Before you buy anything used, it’s always wise to be familiar with retail pricing. If you aren’t certain, do a quick internet search and compare prices to similar or exact items. You can expect to pay less than half of retail price for most items and for some items even less. The best part of finding deals is knowing how much cash you saved.

Think ahead, but not too far

Since kids quickly outgrow clothing and other gear, you can save money by snagging deals for the next stage. It’s best to go up only for the next stage or size. If you buy things too far in advance, your item may not work for one reason or another. Clothing could be the wrong season, interests may change, and in some cases the item could expire.

Diversify

The best way to find great used goods is to keep an eye on a variety of sources. Traditional thrift stores and resale shops offer the opportunity to search and see items in person. Prices tend to be lowest in thrift stores, but it can also be time consuming. If you enjoy thrifting, it can be helpful to know what days your favorite store stocks new items, and visit those days. Thrift stores may also run sales, which knock an additional percentage off already low prices. Garage sales are another way to shop in person. Many neighborhoods, churches, and clubs host annual or semi-annual sales that are worth a look. People selling at garage sales usually want to declutter and mark items at rock bottom prices. Remember, if you don’t see a price at a garage sale, or don’t like the price you see, you can always make an offer.

Online buy-sell-trade sites and classifieds are an easy way to shop locally without consuming too much time. Local buy-sell-trade (BST) sites can be found through social media groups (most commonly via Facebook) as well as on apps. Many neighborhoods and mommy groups have related BST pages for members. Online resale stores offer a wide selection of meticulously chosen used clothing at fantastic prices.

Know the Lingo

If you shop online for secondhand items, it’s important to know what the acronyms on posts mean.

NWT – New with Tags: this item is unused and still has original tags or packaging
NWOT – New Without Tags: Item is new but doesn’t have original tags or packaging
EUC – Excellent Used Condition: this item is in almost new condition, but has some evidence of wear or use
GUC – Good Used Condition: this item has some normal wear but is still in good condition
Play Condition – this item is still usable, but has minor damage or may need repair (e.g. small stains, tears, missing parts)
XPosted – this item is listed on multiples sites
PPU – Porch Pick Up: if you choose to buy this item, the seller will leave it on the porch for you pick up, inquire where to leave payment (e.g. under the door mat); if posted in a comment can also mean “pending pickup”
ISO – In Search Of: the individual is looking for a particular item; if you are selling the desired item send them pictures and prices
Int/Interested: the person is interested in the item
Next: Signifies that the person is interested in the item, but they are not the first person to express interest. Next lets the seller know they’d like the item if the original deal falls through.
OBO – Or Best Offer
FCFS: First come, First Served: the item will be sold/given to whoever can get to it first
Bump: moves posts up to the top of the group so that they are more visible

Move Quickly

If you see a great deal on an item you really want or need, then don’t hesitate! Secondhand items aren’t restocked like in retail stores; you may or may not find a similar one at the same price. If you don’t snatch the deal, someone else will.

Regardless of how you choose to shop for secondhand items, have fun! Scoring some swag and saving money is always delightful.

Amber Shawver and her husband, George, are the proud parents of girl-boy-girl-boy quadruplets who debuted in 2012. In an effort to maintain professional skills and a stitch of sanity, Amber continues to practice school psychology part-time. She finds that her professional training and experience are often handy managing the quads at home. In her spare time, Amber chronicles life raising quadruplets on her blog, Four to Adore. You’ll also find Four to Adore on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. For articles by Amber on Twiniversity, click here.