Thrift Shopping Do's and Dont's

Value Village/Savers Thrift Stores present their top tips for finding bargains among the racks.

(PRWEB) April 10, 2004 --Whether youve never been inside a thrift store before, or are a seasoned hunter of bargains, Savers/Value Village stores have provided the following tips to make your thrift shopping experiences fun and successful!

DO'S
Do stay open-minded! Thrift stores provide that ultimate treasure hunt – you just never know what you might find. If you go in looking for a new sweater, keep your mind open to other possibilities too – that perfect vintage leather jacket or pair of designer jeans may be just around the corner at an unbeatable price.

Do come prepared. Bring a tape measure so you can measure waistbands on clothing if youre in a hurry and dont have time to try items on. Write down measurements of family members in advance so youll know the items youre picking out will fit.

Do dress for the occasion. Youll want to dress so that youre able to get in and out of those sometimes crowded fitting rooms quickly. Wear slip-on shoes, and keep the clothing layers to a minimum. Or wear a tank top so you can try on tops right in the aisles without having to hit the dressing rooms.

Do think restoration." With ‘design on a budget shows all the rage these days, refurnishing tips are plentiful and can help you transform an inexpensive piece of furniture into something truly remarkable. Look for clean, solid furnishings that may just be in need of a new cover or a quick paint job. Youll pay a lot less than new, and in the end, youll have a piece you can take pride in.

DONT'S
Dont wait until days end to shop on sale days. The best bargains can be found early in the day. Savers/Value Village stores offer a free e-newsletter which automatically notifies you of upcoming sale dates so you can mark them on your calendar and prepare to shop early. Visit www.valuevillage.com to sign up.

Dont miss the daily specials. Many thrift stores offer discounts on certain colored tagged items week by week. Make sure to take note of any promotional signage in the stores that alerts you to special discounts you might otherwise have missed.

Dont dismiss departments. Looking for a vintage screen t-shirt? Check out the childrens racks as well as the womens department. Need a new belt? Try the mens section, and dont dismiss the tie racks for an interesting alternative to the usual leather belt! There are treasures to be found in places you may not otherwise think to look.

Dont go at it alone! Sales associates are available to help you find just the items youre looking for. With thousands of items arriving daily, it can be a bit overwhelming at times to navigate thrift stores by yourself. Ask for help and find what you need, or bring friends and make a day of your thrift shopping adventure.

###

About Savers, Inc.
Founded in 1954, Savers, Inc. is a for-profit international thrift store chain with 200 locations in the United States, Canada and Australia. Also known as Value Village in the Pacific Northwest and Canada and Village des Valeurs in Montreal, the company benefits over 120 local non-profit organizations by purchasing and reselling donated items. The result has been $1 billion directly paid to nonprofit partners. The company employs more than 7,000 people in 25 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Australia. Visit www.savers.com for more information or contact Gina Cohen at 425-462-1515 or storefinds@savers.com.