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No one is immune to inflation, and thrift stores are no exception. Yet nowadays it seems that they’re either being hit harder than the rest of us, or something is just off with their prices. Asking for four bucks for an empty maple syrup bottle, or half a thousand dollars for a counterfeit pair of sneakers, seems excessive at best. And these examples are just the tip of the iceberg.

Lots of people have noticed the sudden rise in thrift store prices, and they made sure to let the world know by sharing pictures of such costly items. We have combed through the online world to bring you some of the most mind-boggling examples of pricing gone wrong. Try to keep calm as you browse the list, but if you can’t, bear in mind that you’re not alone—this woman was flabbergasted at thrift stores’ prices as well.

To get a better understanding of how thrift shopping is related to fast fashion, sustainability, and consumerism, Bored Panda has reached out to Anika Kozlowski, an assistant professor of fashion design, ethics and sustainability at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. She was kind enough to answer some of our questions. You will find her thoughts below.

#1

Value Village Has Officially Lost Their Minds

Value Village Has Officially Lost Their Minds

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ShaZam Beaubien
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can you bring stuff to them to sell? Because I could bring a lot of Corona Extra bottles after one weekend.

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Thrift stores are the holy grail to lots of people, from those who seek a more affordable option, to folk who shop secondhand for sustainability reasons. There are also individuals who simply enjoy browsing piles of knick knacks and clothes in search of their gold.

No matter the reason, thrift shops are typically known for being affordable. People can arguably save over $1,700 by choosing to purchase their goods secondhand. According to PR Newswire, as much as 82% of Americans buy and sell previously owned items. The vast majority of them admit that their decision to do so has been influenced by inflation.

#2

Guess My Local Goodwill Jumped On The Price-Gouging Bandwagon. For $250 It Can Stay There And Collect Dust

Guess My Local Goodwill Jumped On The Price-Gouging Bandwagon. For $250 It Can Stay There And Collect Dust

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Rob Chapman
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All of the "thrifters" on Instagram caused this. So, now, the very people thrift stores were marketed towards can no longer afford to shop there.

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#3

At A Value Village In Canada, And Clearly Fakes Too

At A Value Village In Canada, And Clearly Fakes Too

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Ivo H
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$500? Seriously? I would buy 10 pairs of good quality, brand new shoes for that price.

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The pre-used item world seems to be booming. According to IBIS, the number of thrift store businesses in the US has been steadily increasing for the last decade, and has reached nearly 27,000 now, in 2023. Statista estimates that the global market for secondhand apparel alone can reach nearly 220 million dollars by 2026.

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Some people might even call such growth a trend. A lot of them nowadays go treasure hunting in these stores to find unique pieces of clothing, maybe even something valuable for a much more affordable price. They also choose thrift stores to boycott the fast fashion industry and re-use instead of buying new things.

“Thrift stores have always had an important role in the community by making quality clothing items accessible to those with lower incomes. As of late, thrifting is often highlighted as one of the most sustainable options for shoppers and there is logic behind why that is. Thrifting helps to recirculate used clothing locally, extending the wearable life of these items, helps to keep them out of landfills and replaces the purchase of new goods with used ones,” Anika Kozlowski told Bored Panda.

#4

And I Thought City Prices Were Bad. Hometown Thrift Store Must Be Smoking Something

And I Thought City Prices Were Bad. Hometown Thrift Store Must Be Smoking Something

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#5

Oh, The Possibilities

Oh, The Possibilities

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Gavin Johnson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hold on there, that’s a valuable piece. Telescope, rocket body, castle tower, trumpet, baseball bat and many, many more applications all rolled into one, that’s a bargain!

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Chelsea Liu, an 11th-grader passionate about the environment, spoke about how people can use thrifting to disrupt the mass production of clothes in her TEDx talk. She emphasized the negative impact fast fashion has on the environment and encouraged people not to spend their money supporting it.

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She also indicated that by choosing secondhand pieces, thrifters save them from going to the landfill, which is already full of clothing—according to Chelsea, people in North America “throw away about 10 million tons of clothing every single year, which averages about 40 kilograms per person.”

#6

This Store Charges 50.00€ For This Pair Of Shoes, Even Though It Still Has A $5.00 Goodwill Sticker On It

This Store Charges 50.00€ For This Pair Of Shoes, Even Though It Still Has A $5.00 Goodwill Sticker On It

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#7

Literally A Rock

Literally A Rock

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#8

Charity Shops Have Changed

Charity Shops Have Changed

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Genericist
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oxfam have always been like this. It makes me angry for a few reasons, including promoting fast fashion - when Primark is cheaper and the quality is usually the same (because most of the clothes in charity shops are fast fashion cast-offs these days), who would buy second-hand? Also, charity shops used to be places where poorer people could reasonably reliably find cheap clothes in good condition; most of my clothes were secondhand when I was a kid, but it wasn't obvious. It's important that these places continue to exist. Plus, you know, the proceeds go to charity and the clothes don't go to landfill! The incentive to shop there is gone if the clothes are shoddy and the price is high...

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Buying secondhand clothing is only one of the ways to lead a more sustainable life when it comes to fashion. People can try to build a capsule wardrobe to minimize the number of items they own (and ease the headache of figuring out what to wear each morning). They can also take part in a clothing swap or arrange one themselves. According to Forbes, an overwhelming majority of people (96%) believe their actions can make a difference, which is all the more reason to be more aware of our fashion decisions.

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#9

A Bag Of Trash For Only $3.49

A Bag Of Trash For Only $3.49

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#10

A Single Pair Of Second-Hand Underwear

A Single Pair Of Second-Hand Underwear

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Marno C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, there are people who will pay $10 for used underwear. But, Value Village isn't their venue.

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#11

$125 Goodwill Find: Lousy Plaster Skull In Solid Glass

$125 Goodwill Find: Lousy Plaster Skull In Solid Glass

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Anika also shared some fashion-related tips for those who want to be more environmentally friendly: “1) Shop your closet - you never know what you might find! 2) Organize your closet - when you know what you have and items are visible, you will be less likely to buy something new.”

“3) Learn how to take better care of your clothes. Proper care and maintenance will extend the life of your clothes by increasing their durability. Use a sweater shaver to remove pills, which often makes clothes look more worn than they actually are. Wash clothes less often - we think we need to wash clothes more often than they need to be. Wash in cold water and use an eco-friendly detergent. Don't use the dryer if possible, dryers reduce the lifespan of clothes. Drying clothes naturally in the air will help them retain their shape, they smell better, and save energy,” she said.

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“4) Repair before you replace. 5) See if items can be tailored - this can refresh an older style or improve fit. 6) Swap clothes locally for a closet refresh. 7) Buy less, and if you do need anything, try to purchase high-quality items that will last.”

#12

Rock Bottom Prices

Rock Bottom Prices

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#13

These Used Flip Flops At Goodwill vs. The Same Pair Of Brand-New

These Used Flip Flops At Goodwill vs. The Same Pair Of Brand-New

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Rebelliousslug
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, the used ones don’t really look used. When worn for anywhere close to a significant amount of time (that time being very little in reference to cheap flip flops), the texture would change and the lettering would start to disappear

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#14

1998 Technology At 1998 Prices

1998 Technology At 1998 Prices

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Clothing is not the only thing that can live through a renaissance, though. A lot of people look for used furniture that can be revived and stored in their homes, instead of taking another trip to the nearest department store. In addition to being an affordable way to furnish your place, it can become a source of income as well. Lots of people seek used furniture, flip it, and sell it for a profit. It also helps to stop yet another piece from going into the landfill.

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#15

You Can Buy These Empty Yogurt Jars For $1.99 At Goodwill, Or You Can Go To The Grocery Store And Get Them New And Filled With Yogurt For The Same Price

You Can Buy These Empty Yogurt Jars For $1.99 At Goodwill, Or You Can Go To The Grocery Store And Get Them New And Filled With Yogurt For The Same Price

Tough decision. Catch and release at Goodwill.

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waddles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

those yogurt jars are very nice but a horrible deal if you can just get them filled with yogurt for the same price

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#16

Thrift Store Doesn’t Even Try To Hide Their Price Gouging

Thrift Store Doesn’t Even Try To Hide Their Price Gouging

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#17

Value Village Is Drunk. These Are Cheaper At Antique Stores

Value Village Is Drunk. These Are Cheaper At Antique Stores

Remember when thrift stores made things affordable? And can anyone suggest thrift stores in Edmonton that aren’t delusional?

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Flipping furniture gained lots of popularity during the covid times. People were spending plenty of time at home, which allowed them to pick up a new hobby or start a DIY project. Some of them were likely influenced by a number of social media personas covering their journey of upscaling old furniture.

#18

This Donated Bike At A Thrift For Almost $900

This Donated Bike At A Thrift For Almost $900

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#19

Well This Has 2020 Written All Over It

Well This Has 2020 Written All Over It

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Marno C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, wait. Never mind my earlier comment. Now I can buy the tube AND the paper towels! My lucky day!

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#20

$44 For A Horrible Quality, Fake, Peeling “Hermes Birkin”

$44 For A Horrible Quality, Fake, Peeling “Hermes Birkin”

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Alexandra Davis
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are the even allowed to sell fakes? In the Uk charity shops aren't allowed to legally sell fakes

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Old furniture is often found at yard sales—basically a cousin to the good old thrift store. People set up the things they no longer use for sale, and hope that as many of them as possible will be taken off of their hands. It’s a win-win situation, as both the customer and the seller are happy about giving the item a second life.

#21

Empty Maple Syrup Bottle At Value Village

Empty Maple Syrup Bottle At Value Village

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#22

Maybe This Is A Good Price, But Nobody Is Going To A Thrift Store To Spend $350 On A China Set. Waterfronts Pricing Has Changed So Dramatically, Makes Me So Sad

Maybe This Is A Good Price, But Nobody Is Going To A Thrift Store To Spend $350 On A China Set. Waterfronts Pricing Has Changed So Dramatically, Makes Me So Sad

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#23

I Think That All Pricing People At Thrift Stores Are Legit Idiots. Value Village "Boutique", Vancouver

I Think That All Pricing People At Thrift Stores Are Legit Idiots. Value Village "Boutique", Vancouver

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Nowadays, going to a yard sale might be a more financially sensible option than visiting a thrift shop. The pictures on this list show that some stores are going crazy with their prices. To add insult to injury, some of the items they sell are more expensive than their new counterparts, which defeats the purpose of encouraging secondhand shopping.

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#25

Value Village Has Lost Their Damn Minds

Value Village Has Lost Their Damn Minds

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#26

I Was At A Thrift Store Buying A Jacket Marked At $25. The Cashier Wrote A 3 Over The 2 While I Was Checking Out Thinking I Wouldn't Notice

I Was At A Thrift Store Buying A Jacket Marked At $25. The Cashier Wrote A 3 Over The 2 While I Was Checking Out Thinking I Wouldn't Notice

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Even though the items in these pictures are way too costly, there are explanations for an increase in thrift store prices to some extent. The sustainable fashion expert described the reasoning behind it: “With greater consumption of new clothes comes greater disposal and donation. As thrift stores receive more and more donations, they require more labor and time to sort through the clothes. There is a greater proportion of donated items that can't be sold by the thrift store and thrift stores now have to manage this excess (e.g. recycling into rags/wipers, sold to exporters and landfill).”

“Then we also have the gentrification of thrift stores, which refers to the phenomenon of affluent shoppers now frequenting thrift stores. This inadvertently leads to thrift stores raising their prices, which makes once-affordable clothing inaccessible to those who need it most,” Anika added. “Rising prices ultimately harm those who thrift stores are there to serve - the lower income brackets. For those who can afford to shop thrift despite rising prices (which are still largely cheaper than most new garments), it doesn't appear to curb shopping habits.”

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#27

I Don’t Even Want To Thrift Anymore To Be Honest. As Soon As I Saw This I Left The Store And Felt Awful. The Hobby Is Gone

I Don’t Even Want To Thrift Anymore To Be Honest. As Soon As I Saw This I Left The Store And Felt Awful. The Hobby Is Gone

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Heather Lambie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree, I used to enjoy thrifting so much, now I just feel angry! Especially Value Village!!😡

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#28

These Goodwill Prices Are Just Getting Comical

These Goodwill Prices Are Just Getting Comical

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#29

Arc Thrift Up Charging From The Regular Sale Price

Arc Thrift Up Charging From The Regular Sale Price

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Hippopotamuses
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that’s just lazy. If you’re going to rip people off, at least put some effort into it!

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Anika Kozlowski pointed out that even thrift shopping might not be beneficial sustainability-wise if we don’t change our consumption habits. “Thrifting is essentially a byproduct of fast fashion and mass consumerism, as fast fashion requires fast turnover, which fuels the secondhand clothing trade. Thrifting now draws parallels to fast fashion as both models sell garments at low prices, consequently leading to overconsumption. If you are thrifting at the same volume as shopping for new clothes, our behaviors and values haven't fundamentally changed as we are still engaging in overconsumption.”

She expanded, “Thrifting is a sustainable option in the short term but there are still consequences and at the current rates of clothing overproduction and increasing donations, it is unclear how sustainable this option will be in the long term. While prolonging the life of clothing for a while, it does not stop overproduction of new clothing. In fact, the option of 'donating' may fuel greater consumption as we feel we have a responsible disposal option, the same way recycling does nothing to curb our consumption of new items or 'reduce'. We often forget about the first 'R' of the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle).”

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#30

Thought Long And Hard About This One

Thought Long And Hard About This One

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waddles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i’m going to be very rich if you can sell just rocks for such a price.. then again i’m not quite sure who would buy them

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#31

Talize (A Canadian Brand Thrift Store) Has Lost Their Mind. These Are Surely Fake And They're Charging This Type Of Price

Talize (A Canadian Brand Thrift Store) Has Lost Their Mind. These Are Surely Fake And They're Charging This Type Of Price

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Rob Chapman
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$500 for a used pair of shoes at a thrift store. What the actual heck.

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#32

Originally Tagged At $3.99 Selling For $19.99 At Value Village

Originally Tagged At $3.99 Selling For $19.99 At Value Village

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#33

Gooseberry Cinderella Bowls. I Know They're Worth A Lot, But You Could Find Them For Less I Think

Gooseberry Cinderella Bowls. I Know They're Worth A Lot, But You Could Find Them For Less I Think

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BeKindAnyway
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, so... Yes these are technically collectibles. But they were DONATED. Perhaps donated so someone else could enjoy having this set because ebay and other sites sell them at collectible pricing and many folks cannot afford that. The workers at these stores don't make more for selling things at markup prices. Someone does, but it certainly isn't the people busting booty in the store. Ugh this really grinds my gears. "Goodwill" ..."Value" Village. Nothing is sacred anymore.

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#34

Is It Special Because The Lid Is Green? I Don’t Get It

Is It Special Because The Lid Is Green? I Don’t Get It

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#35

Goodwill Needs To Fire The Person That's Pricing Some Of This Stuff. $35 Each For Tarnished Silver-Plated Trays, $20 For A Scale That Doesn't Even Work, $17 For A Teapot

Goodwill Needs To Fire The Person That's Pricing Some Of This Stuff. $35 Each For Tarnished Silver-Plated Trays, $20 For A Scale That Doesn't Even Work, $17 For A Teapot

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C L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An original Corningware teapot in mint condition can go for much more than that to a collector - it's all in what the person values.

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#36

I Couldn’t Find A Single Shirt Under 3.99 Today

I Couldn’t Find A Single Shirt Under 3.99 Today

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#37

When You Work At Goodwill, But Comedy Is Your Passion

When You Work At Goodwill, But Comedy Is Your Passion

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#38

I Don't Know What Surprised Me More - Covid Pants Or The Price 19.99

I Don't Know What Surprised Me More - Covid Pants Or The Price 19.99

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#39

Donated To The Thrift Shop, $300. Am I Missing Something Here? I Know Inflation Is Through The Roof But Come On

Donated To The Thrift Shop, $300. Am I Missing Something Here? I Know Inflation Is Through The Roof But Come On

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#40

I Hate My Local Savers Sometimes. Who's Going To Pay $13 For A Used Shein Hoodie That's Practically Falling Apart By The Time They Get It?

I Hate My Local Savers Sometimes. Who's Going To Pay $13 For A Used Shein Hoodie That's Practically Falling Apart By The Time They Get It?

I'm pretty sure that's the full price for most of the company.

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