When's The Best Day To Visit The Thrift Store?

Any day is a good day for a secondhand find, but you might have better luck finding the most valuable items to seek out at a thrift store on certain days. The problem with this idea, however, is that there isn't one clear-cut winner for the best day of the week to shop. You'll often hear that Mondays and Tuesdays are the best because you can snag the treasures that people have donated over the weekend. Other people say any time during the week helps you avoid the crowds, while still others prefer to shop mid-week on Wednesdays for a balance of deals and quiet aisles. The ideal day to shop may also vary based on the specific secondhand shops you frequent.

Deciding which day of the week you want to visit thrift stores depends partially on your goal. If you're looking for fresh, new items, you'll want to shop just after the store has an influx of new items. However, most thrift stores put out new items every day of the week, and they often continue restocking the shelves throughout the day, so you could score a great find any time you visit. When you want less competition for the items that are on the floor, going on a weekday is ideal. For the biggest savings, you'll want to find out when the thrift stores you love have special discounts.

Shopping at thrift stores on Mondays and Tuesdays often gives you first shot at items that people dropped off over the weekend while they were cleaning out their garages. Weekends are also popular times for garage sales during warmer weather, and people often bring their garage sale leftovers to Goodwill on Sunday. Weekends tend to be a busy time for thrift stores, so the shelves might be wiped out with all of the traffic. Weekdays tend to be calmer, so it gives the staff time to refill the shelves.

However, since Mondays and Tuesdays are said to be the best thrifting days, the stores could be busy those days, which creates more competition for the best finds. Many thrift stores, including Goodwill and ReStore locations, add new items daily as the donations are processed. Waiting until Wednesday or Thursday could offer a more peaceful shopping experience without as many shoppers fighting for the best items that are put out on those days. Some stores also offer mid-week discounts to encourage more shoppers since those days tend to be slower, so you could score a deal.

There could also be certain times of the year when donations are more common. People tend to go through their belongings around holidays when they have time off of work. Some stores might also have special holiday sales that save you money. Spring months may also result in better finds since many people start spring cleaning to prepare for the warmer weather.

Every thrift store handles donations, restocking, and specials differently. Even national stores like DAV and Goodwill might vary from location to location. The amount of donations a specific store receives impacts how often they put out new items and how quickly the inventory is refreshed. Visiting your local thrift stores frequently lets you gauge the processes and timing at those locations. You might notice that one thrift store refreshes inventory on Monday while another doesn't fully refill its shelves until Tuesday. You'll also learn the systems for discounts, such as special discounts on items with certain tag colors based on the day.

Don't be afraid to chat with the employees about the shelf-stocking patterns at that location. Some thrift stores don't have a set routine, but others might follow somewhat of a schedule when it comes to putting out certain items. Striking up a friendly conversation with the employees could give you insight into these practices to help you know when to shop, whether your goal is getting the best furniture at Goodwill or finding discounted renovation materials at the ReStore.

Stay in touch with your favorite thrift stores to hear about upcoming specials and deals. Many local branches of major second-hand stores, like Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity ReStore, offer email lists that you can join to receive news from the location. The emails often announce upcoming sales or special deals that are available to keep you updated. Following the social media pages of your favorite thrifting spots is also an effective way to hear about upcoming sales and events.