The thrift store price tag trick that blew my mind last weekend

I was at a Savers in Des Moines last Saturday looking at old board games when I noticed something weird. A Monopoly set from the 80s was marked $12, but right next to it a newer version with half the pieces missing was $8. I asked the cashier about it and she said they dont check contents, they just look up the game name online and price it based on average selling prices. That got me curious so I started checking prices on my phone against their tags. Turns out stuff like vintage Pyrex bowls and old cast iron pans are way undervalued because the person pricing them just searches for basic keywords. I grabbed a 1950s cornflower blue Pyrex dish for $4 and sold it online for $35 the same night. Now I always check the item category too because they lump things together weird, like putting fancy kitchen knives with the flatware. Has anyone else noticed pricing gaps like this at certain chains, or is it just my local store being sloppy?

2 comments

2 Comments

uma_martinez3d ago

Ha, so basically you unlocked the secret cheat code for thrifting while I'm still proudly overpaying for stained Tupperware because I thought it was "vintage". I tried this at my local Goodwill and got so excited about a "rare" CorningWare piece that I dropped it in the parking lot before even checking the price tag. At least my clumsy failure saves you some competition, so you're welcome!

scott.miles3d ago

Fumbling a CorningWare dish in the parking lot is the most relatable thrift story I've heard all week. At least you know your reflexes are keeping the prices low for the rest of us!