What can you expect when thrifting?

People always want to know exactly what they're getting into when it comes to secondhand shopping. The easiest answer is, of course, you can't really say. There's always an element of surprise to thrifting. (It's part of why people love it so much.) However, I will say that there's a lot you can predict about your experience based off a few key factors...

Whether it's a thrift, consignment, or discount store
Thrift stores sell donated clothes and are often the cheapest way to get clothes (even more so if they don't make charity donations). Consignment stores "borrow" good-quality clothes from individuals and offer to sell them as the middleman. Discount stores buy overstock or unsold merchandise from name brands and sell them for significantly less than retail.
The location of the secondhand store
Often, different areas have different kinds of people to contribute to the store's inventory. Shopping in the DFW suburbs often yields high school and church event shirts (as well as a huge assortment of jeans), whereas shopping in Dallas can get incredibly strange due to the diversity of donations.
The individual store's specialty
Some thrift stores have a surprising selection of menswear, while others are a plethora of technological equipment. Still others are great places to get furniture. And there are always consignment stores that specialize in like-new womenswear.
Whether you're actually in a secondhand store or not
Plenty of "vintage" stores aren't really thrift stores; their inventories are curated, stylish, and almost always, expensive. A real secondhand store will always be affordable and require patience to sift through.
Your attitude and mindsent going in
As much as it depends on the store you go to and where you decide to go thrifting, your willingness to hunt down the ultimate finds will determine what you get out of your trip!

As for the experience once you're inside, it turns out there's more than a few things worth anticipating on that front, too. Spending a lot of time surrounded by clothing racks leads you to get a sense of what to do once you're inside. Here's some key things you learn over time...

The best things to look for
It's easier to find quality sweaters and t-shirts than anything else in a secondhand clothing store.
Some clothes just need a little love
Knowing how to sew rips, tears, and buttons will make the difference between unwearable garments and absolute steals.
CD's are a hit or miss
The CD section is great for jazz CDs, pop artists from the previous decade, and the occasional strange, unexpected finds. Also for gospel. Nothing else.
The real purpose of thrift store furniture
For crafty people, thrifted furniture is a great base for paint and further work. For broke college students, it's cheaper than IKEA, and that's what counts.
There are plenty of hidden gems if you just look
Thrifting is a surprisingly good way to find vintage or name-brand clothing. For every thrifter, there's always at least one find that seems like it deserved to be sold for more than $3 at the local Plaza Thrift.

We've included a video up above to highlight the thought process that goes on inside a seasoned thrifter's mind. If you want more examples and thrifting suggestions, Youtube is a great resource for picking up individual tips and tricks! Aside from all this information, however, it's up to you to figure out what's most important about the thrifting experience for yourself.