Shopping at thrift stores is great: you can find something authentic, it doesn't hurt your wallet, and you're helping the planet by not contributing to overconsumption. In 2024, roughly 90% of Americans and Canadians engaged with a thrift store through either shopping or donating. And Gen Z is leading the trend, with 60% thrifting monthly.
Nevertheless, lately, thrifting lovers have been noticing a worrying trend where second-hand goods are often pricier than their new counterparts. So much so that they've been posting the prices online and shaming thrift retailers. We've collected the funniest and most absurd examples of ridiculous thrift item prices and present them to you here, Pandas!
#1 Cocktail Umbrellas $12 Each
Seen in an antique store, so possibly vintage? Still this is one of the most ridiculous things I've seen in a second hand shop. And the pink one was ripped! Saw a listing on eBay where you could buy 25 vintage ones for $20. And new you can get about 145 for $9 from Oriental Trading Company.
Image credits: APenguinInATuxedo
#2 My Local Thrift Shop Got A New Store Manager
Image credits: MajorBirthdayParty
#3 The Goodwill Price Is Almost Double Of The Marshall’s It’s Came From
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#4 Spotted At An Estate Sale
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#5 $5 For A Blown Out Hole And A Spider
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#6 A Clearly Fake "Issey Miyake" Backpack For $350
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#7 I Think The Employees Just Do This To See If Someone Actually Buys It
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#8 There Has To Be Something I'm Missing Here. Is There Something To This Rock?
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#9 Dude
Image credits: Troshock
#10 I Just Get Mad When I Go Now
Some little Mexican lady that spoke little English came up to me while in goodwill and said, “I no afford anything, this donation yes?” Made me so sick, these prices are ridiculous.
Image credits: kylestillthatdude
#11 I Wish This Was A Joke
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#12 No Authenticity, No Certification, No Return, No Exchange, No Explanation
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#13 Would You Like A Pair Of 2 Different Shoes For $20?
Image credits: Rowsdower_was_taken
#14 Dirty Bag With Used Pencil, Anyone?
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#15 How Did These Make It Out To The Shelf?
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#16 At "Value" Village In Canada
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#17 Is This A Joke?
Image credits: _tOomanYfandOms_
#18 I Thought These Were Free On The USPS Website. This Local Goodwill Is Breaking The Law I Think. Do I Report Them To Their Corporate Or USPS?
Image credits: lawn-mumps
#19 $400 Fake Louis Vuitton. Who Can I Report This To?
Need advice on who I can contact before someone gets scammed by Goodwill for $400. The employees know it’s fake after I brought up the flaws but put it back in the case. This color combination doesn’t even exist.
Image credits: p--py
#20 It’s Almost Cheaper To Buy Books New Now
Image credits: cooperwest1985
#21 Some Absurdly Priced Items I Found Today At A Thrift Store
Image credits: dayrem
#22 5 Glass Yogurt Jars For $5. I Think You Can Get Them Filled With Yogurt For $1 Each. Why Does Goodwill Do This?
Image credits: acebucked
#23 I'll Style This With My Versachi And Goochie
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#24 Hm. Charity Diapers Meant To Be Free For Needy Families. “Not For Sale” On Sale At Griftwill
Image credits: Mars-Cowboy
#25 I Love Reducing Waste, But Not Everything Needs To Be Donated To The Thrift Store. There's No Way Those Markers Aren't Dry, Right?
Image credits: customarymagic
#26 $15 For A Pyrex 1 Cup Measuring Cup
Image credits: alaskagirl1992
#27 One Of Those Cardboard Boxes That The Grocery Store Gives You To Carry Multiple Bottles Of Wine. What You Smoking, Goodwill?
Image credits: President_Zucchini
#28 Oh The Possibilities
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#29 I Gave Up Today When I Found This KFC Container For 0.89 Today
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#30 The Ole Wasp Nest Under Glass 20 Bones
Image credits: georgecostanza11
#31 It Was So Hard To Not Get This Shein Beauty
Image credits: reddit.com
#32 I’m Getting Really Tired Of This. I’m Sure You Can Get These Brand New For A Similar Price. Money Is Tight And Seeing This At Thrift Stores Is Really Discouraging
Image credits: reddit.com
#33 $800 For “Some Gold Earring Singles And Cool Beads” Says The Employee
Image credits: spongeboi-me-bob
#34 Stitch Marker "Earrings"
Found these "earrings" at the local Savers. Tried to tell a cashier that they weren't earrings and are available like 50pc for $3 she said, "well some kid will probably wear them as earrings because they look like safety pins."
They are... Not traditional ear piercing size.
Image credits: lamentableBonk
#35 I Laughed And Laughed Some More. Shein Dress For $39.99 At A Local Thrift. What A Deal
Image credits: Drinkingmytea2
#36 For A Used Candle And Matted Plush?
Image credits: No-Giraffe-8096
#37 My So Just Paid $15 For This At A Thrift Store
Image credits: Alliekat1282
#38 Pair Of Matching Urns In Thrift Shop. Very Heavy And High Quality, With Names And Dates, So Not Just Cheap Decorations. Empty, But Clearly Contained Cremains At One Time
Image credits: drifter3026
#39 I’m Just Gonna Start Stealing Stuff
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#40 Goodwill Selling “Mystery” Amazon Returns For $60
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#41 My Favorite Thrift Store Has A New Manager… And So It Begins
Image credits: p--py
#42 LOL I Walked Out After
Image credits: Relevant-Zucchini4
#43 Nothing Should Cost $300 At A Shop That Runs On Donations
Image credits: justalittlestupid
#44 Thanks Savers
Image credits: PatientEnthusiasm779
#45 Canadian "Thrift" Store Selling Stolen Walmart Baskets For A Profit
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#46 For Those Who Cook By Feel
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#47 At First I Thought It Said $41.99 And I Still Thought That Was Outrageous
Image credits: Celestial-Salamander
#48 Oh Boy, A Deal On Used Vaseline
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#49 Oh, A Mohicsno?
Image credits: Embarrassed_Dinner_6
#50 Starbucks Shopping Bag For $2 That You Can Get For Free From Starbucks
Image credits: WheresDorinda
#51 Previously Owned K-Cup, $4.99
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#52 In What World? My Mouth Dropped
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#53 Leaking Coyote Mist Found At The Thrift Store. Thank You Random Citizen
Image credits: MrSomeone107
#54 Just Don’t Donate It If It’s Missing Pieces. That’s All. Be Kind
Image credits: Desperate-News-1317
#55 They Raised The Price With A New Tag But Didn't Remove Old Tag
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#56 Goodwill Selling Sunflower Oil Expired In 1998
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#57 About Half Of The Jeans At My Goodwill Were Priced Similarly
Image credits: SensitiveStructure59
#58 Local Goodwill Is Pre-Damaging The Clothes
This particular goodwill has an interesting new idea. They pre-damage the clothing. I was browsing the racks today, and noticed a lot of the clothing had what I thought were initials written on the logo. Then I found some new with tags that had the initials written in it. Then I started to wonder what was going on and asked the cashier. She says its part of an anti-theft policy? They write with marker in the logo to help them reduce theft?
So cool. I would never have thought to write all over the product so I could detour thieves!
Oh, an check out them prices.
Image credits: IddaBadDaddy
#59 Estate Sale I Just Spent 30 Seconds At
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#60 The Local Thrift Store Has Decided To Write The Price Of The Lens Using Permanent Marker On The Actual Lens
Image credits: PaJoHo02
#61 I Prefer My Mouthwash To Be At Least Half Full, Even If It Is Just $1
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#62 Ah Yes, I'd Love To Pay 3 Dollars For Literal Garbage
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#63 Some Thrift Stores Scare Me. Obvious Fake For $600
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#64 Aahahahaha
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#65 Surprise
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#66 Spotted My First Blatant Ripoff
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#67 Come On These Can Be Easily Recycled
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#68 $75 For A Jean Jacket. Aren’t These Cheaper New At The Mall?
Image credits: FootUpstairs2782
#69 These Are $5 Brand-New At A Bass Pro Shop
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#70 Box Of Dollar General Tissues For Double The Price
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#71 Goodwill More Like Good Grief. Literally Haven’t Even Left The Store Yet And I’m Posting This Because I Can’t Believe
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#72 Applesnax Tops
Image credits: MuramasasYari
#73 Antique Mall In Ohio. $80 For A Shein Coat Is Wild
Image credits: Runwild_honey
#74 Local Thrift Store Caught On, Now They’re Using Ebay Listings
Although $69 doesn’t sound too bad (even though people are seeking it for $80 off eBay not close to $300) it’s still petty just to slap the piece of paper on.
Image credits: Avectasi
#75 Only 99¢ For An Open Can Of Green Beans
Image credits: _five_by_five_
#76 Goodwill San Jose Ca Selling Trash
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#77 Half Used Lotion Anyone?
Image credits: Psychological-Exit18
#78 I Truly Have No Words. Selling Literal Trash For More Than $1
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#79 Random Woman’s 30 Years Of Service $12
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#80 Thrift Store Selling Free Sticker For 50 Cents
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#81 $15 For Obviously Knock Off My Little Pony Toys
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#82 Is The Supposed To Be A Louis Vuitton?
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#83 Ummmmmmm
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#84 Goodwill Charging 60% Over Retail
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#85 This Is Getting Out Of Hand
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#86 I Laughed Out Loud. Three Used McDonald's Cups, Plastic, To-Go Cups... $1.50 Each
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#87 $3 For A Stranger’s Baby Hair
Image credits: reddit.com
#88 Why Would You Pay For These?
Image credits: PlatypsPlatyps
#89 Are We Thinking Wasps? Bees?
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#90 Ruined Shoes (99% Of Them Are Tagged Like This)
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#91 $40 Target, $119 The Antique Mall
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#92 Worst Thrift Store Pull In A Long Time
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#93 $399.99 Salvatore Ferragamo
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#94 Not The Buzzball, How Did This Get Accepted?
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#95 $5 IKEA Shelf? That’ll Be $15
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#96 Goodwill Selling This Shirt For More Than The Original Price
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#97 Charging $250 For “Balecinaga” Boots
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#98 Local Thrift Store Wanted $13 For An Empty Bottle Of Crown Royal
Image credits: Grateful_J561
#99 My Local Thrift Store Is Trying To Sell Old Tomato Sauce Jars For $2
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#100 35 Bucks For Used Shoes?
Image credits: hold-up-a-sec
#101 Literally A Piece Of A Cardboard Box For 10$
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#102 Tempting
Image credits: MandrewTheMan
