Where Do You Head First Once Inside the Thrift?

[yourauntiespanties]

Hey all, not sure if this question has been asked before, I couldn't find it!

I was wondering where y'all head first once you get to your favorite thrift store? Do you just wander? Do you have a game plan?

Personally, I try not to skip or run with excitement through the parking lot, and through the door.

I usually head to the housewares department first, do a quick scan 'n' grab, then start a serious dig for linens,  decor, clothing, etc after.

I tend to also spend a lot of time poking and prodding the bagged items.

I hardly ever look through toys, kids, or men's clothing, or purses and shoes. (There's never anything good, or it's waaaay over-priced.)

I also tend to re-trace my steps more than once, I always find more stuff the second time around.....I end up re-covering the same area more than a few times!

I also like to keep my head up and observe fellow shoppers! (Is that teenage girl going to grab -my- dresses?)

I like to think I have a strategy.....How about you guys?

Any tips or tricks to share?


G

[Searching4stars2009]

i usually go to books first then either electronics or housewares.  I found 3 nice shirts 1 bag and a bunch of tapes for $11 today.

[Auriga]

I don't have a game plan, except I find myself gravitating towards whatever I sold last.. 

[FleaQueen]

That depends on the store.

For the Sal, my first stops are at neckties for my Etsy necktie shop:  www.etsy.com/shop/Crazy4Cravats. 
Most thrifts don't have much in the way of old ties anymore, but the Sals still do.  From there I go to housewares, clothes, linens and books.

For other thrifts, it's housewares first, followed by linens, followed by clothes and accessories, followed by jewelry. 

For rummage sales in churches, etc. my first stop is the jewelry table, if there is one.

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[Jay2TheRescue]

Housewares & electronics, then furniture.

[elvisgurly]

I usually try to see if they have any records to sort through.  Then I'll see if I find any cassettes that are worthwhile.

Then I'll go check the children's clothing & see if they have anything that will fit my niece & two nephews.

After that I usually just wander around looking for anything that might catch my eye.

[Big Daddy Audio]

If there is something that I am specifically going to get (meaning, I saw it there yesterday and decided I want it). 

Aside from that, all stores are different, so each store has its own "route."

Generally, I hit electronics, tools, (you know - the crap for guys) bikes, then furniture, household, and then books, records, videos, and cassettes.  I quickly scan toys.  I sometimes go through men's shirts.

There is a Savers in CA (Imperial Blvd and Santa Gertrudes in La Mirada) that has a great men's shirt section - separated by size all the way up to XXXL.  Many times, the tag colors are grouped.  I mean, you can PROBABLY go through the whole rack and find "hidden" and "mis-stocked" things, but it really is well done - Found an LLBean wrinkle resistant XXL-Tall window-pane long sleeved business shirt for $12.99 - half off because it was a blue tag (Final with tax - $7.07).  Found this in the time it took for the Chinese food place (Golden Wall - really good - shameless plug - no other connection) to cook dinner and for us to go pick it up after ordering it in the restaurant.

If I don't know the store - electronics, or if the records are right there near the entrance - then I'll hit them.

[brianrhc]

First I see if there's any store sign by entrance promoting a sale that day. Always looking for good graphic art, so next, as TSs have most of that on their walls, I scan it upon entering (but less than 1% of TS art is worth more than its price). Then, I go to floor sections of interest, e.g. bric-a-brac, not clothes.

[sinkingship3]

Straight to housewares and then to the "behind the counter" or display case items. Then a second trip through housewares especially if it's a store I haven't been to before.

[Skip]

I make a B-line for the paperbacks.  Praying that some vintage lurid  adult paperbacks fell through the cracks.

[subversivegrrl]

Oh, yeah, I have definite plans - a quick trip through the showcase area, then around the side to the linens, then a long detailed search through housewares, followed by a browse through the aisles of metal, wood, baskets, etc. ('cause you never know what might have gotten moved/dropped off there), then usually books, then a more careful look through showcase before I head for the cash register.  I only do clothing & purses if I'm specifically there to look for something - not much patience with that process.

[Sir Thrift-A-Lot]

I have no shame skipping through the parking lot!

It depends on the store.

Value Village, Talize - Pyrex & bakeware, tea towels, linens, stationary & the rest of the store.
Goodwill - scan for Pyrex & go from there. It's so unorganized you just gotta go with the err, flow..

[tammarella]

I barely get the key out of the ignition before I'm diving out the door to head into a thrift shop!

Normally I will head to the bric-a-brac first, linens next, toys after that.  I check toys because I am looking for a Marx metal dollhouse to go with the 2 gallon sized ziplock bags of dollhouse furniture that I bought for $15.00 (for both) in Missouri.

Rarely do I ever look at clothing unless my son or I need something.  If that is the case, I have two specific stores that I go to stictly for clothing.

I browse Goodwill quite a bit, but their prices are getting higher and higher.  Because of this, I'm hitting Salvation Army more and more.

[Frchgrl]

Funny this question came up. In all my years thrifting I walked in and just started row by row and just trusted if something was meant to be mine I'd find it (or else I was scatter brain.) But as of a few months ago, I now do a large scan, meaning I walk around the entire store focusing on any large pieces or anything that might be in the back of the store (lamps, suitcases, side tables) and once I clear that I start doing rows by rows.

I found a pair of killer vintage orange lamps that I would have probably missed had I not walked towards the back first. They were just putting them out when I saw them and I grabbed them on the spot!

[GatorDude]

Basically, I do the thrift store dude circuit.  First, I hit the jewelry/valuables counter looking for old cameras, old video games, and watches.  Then, I head back to electronics, sporting goods, and bicycles.