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The best part about shopping at thrift stores is that you never know what you are going to find. Most stores these days have a generic theme - you have a basic expectation of what they sell. But thrift stores offer objects from all walks of life. You could find things that have been stashed in someone's attic for 50 years; old books, LPs, trophies, clothes, electronics... All have belonged to others and have their own unique story to tell. Exciting, isn't it?

Sure, 95% of it is junk. But, as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure, so there is always some value there if you look hard enough! This list finds value mainly in the weird and wonderful; there are some truly bizarre objects here. The Facebook group  'Weird Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared'  is a goldmine of oddities and curios, and as a follow on to previous posts here here and here, we just had to share the latest finds.

Scroll down below to check out the best of them for yourself, and head down to your local thrift store this weekend!

#1

My Best Thrifted Find. I Especially Loved The Previous Owners Little Message, As It’s Now Used As An Art Studio In A Box

My Best Thrifted Find. I Especially Loved The Previous Owners Little Message, As It’s Now Used As An Art Studio In A Box

Melissa Charpentier Report

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Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is amazing. I want to have something like that for our little house so we'd have a proper work area.

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We know that thrifting is great fun and can be really interesting too, but what are the wider benefits of shopping second hand? With thanks to Unwrinkling, let's explore some more positive aspects of heading to your local thrift store!

Environmental impact: Re-wearing clothes reduces waste and pollution. Every garment purchased second-hand means one less new one produced, which is important because regardless of material, the production of clothing is costly to the environment. Producing synthetic fibers like polyester requires lots of energy, as well as crude oil like petroleum; byproducts include toxic gases and chemicals. Sadly, pesticides used on most plants mean that even cotton and linen garments have a negative impact. Transportation-related pollution also decreases when clothing is re-used, as new clothes are much more likely to travel long distances before being sold than are their second-hand counterparts.

#2

Was In A Thrift Store With My Partner When I Saw This Painting

Was In A Thrift Store With My Partner When I Saw This Painting

Thought it was just abstract, until closer inspection, when we saw the "About the artist" paper taped to the painting - it was painted by a snapping turtle named marshmallow! I knew at that moment I needed to take it home with me.

Erin Anne Report

#3

Found This At A Goodwill Today. Too Good

Found This At A Goodwill Today. Too Good

Jonny N Emerick Report

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Social impact: Thrift stores make it easier to know where your money is going. To track the money you handed over for that brand-new Old Navy polo, you would need to trace the brand back to the corporation behind it, the assembly factories used by the corporation, their textile providers, and those textile providers’ raw materials suppliers—at a bare minimum.

In evaluating all these steps (and the many others involved in the production chain), there are numerous considerations to keep in mind: Was your farmer using environmentally responsible methods? Was your seamstress of legal working age, paid a fair wage to work in a safe factory? Is the corporation behind it the kind you want to support, or one whose views you wouldn’t like to see perpetuated?

In short, it can be a bit of a nightmare to track the impact of your seemingly trivial purchase. However, with most thrift stores, this burden is greatly reduced. For better or worse, the original purchaser’s money has already supported the whole chain of production that led to your second-hand Old Navy polo. Since most thrift stores in Europe, North America, and Australia rely heavily (if not exclusively) on donated clothing, this means you only have to question one link in the whole chain—the store right in front of you.

Many thrift stores also directly support charity. It’s no coincidence that in the UK and Ireland, the term “thrift store” doesn’t even exist—they call them “charity shops” instead. In America, the best-known thrift stores are Goodwill and The Salvation Army, organizations which provide services to the unemployed, homeless, and disabled. In Europe, NGOs like Oxfam commonly use thrift stores to raise funds for humanitarian aid. By shopping at these kinds of establishments, your clothing purchase can go from supporting Third World child labor to supporting Third World children's’ education.

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#4

Found This Jar To Put Your Coffee Grounds In. Love It. Bought It. Has A Fake Little Electrical Cord Too

Found This Jar To Put Your Coffee Grounds In. Love It. Bought It. Has A Fake Little Electrical Cord Too

Mary Ruggeri Report

#6

Thought I Saw Massive Vertebrae As I Was Driving Home Today

Thought I Saw Massive Vertebrae As I Was Driving Home Today

Whipped around after about half a mile of “I need to know” repeating in my brain; my husband was mildly annoyed when I told him what I had seen, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to rest.
Guess what.
ETA: They’re massive vertebrae. Husband wouldn’t let me put garbage bones in the car with our babies, because he’s a square.
Edit two: I have texted him to hurry home so I can get them. He is not thrilled, but I am so happy to see that I’m not the only one who thinks this is the coolest stuff ever.
Edit three: kids are loaded into the car, keep your fingers crossed that the remains remain!
Edit four, the final edit (?): It took some driving and some bonus tablet time for my 3yo, but your girl got not only the bones, but a full on spine section!!! My only regret was not having a small enough flat head on hand to remove the plaque, and the box, which was large and on castors, was dry rotted and full of spiders (I like spiders, but this was too many to put in my car).
Edit five: Who is finding us “Trash Bones” members only jackets?
Edit six: Husband has seen the light and majesty in the bones, and is even excited about how much fun the kids are going to have! He’s a keeper.
Edit seven: Couldn’t walk by my Bonehenge without hastily stacking it up after grabbing the mail. Photo attached!
Edit eight: I was told to make a hashtag, so... 
Edit nine: Can’t stop thinking about the plaque. Gonna drive by and see if it’s still there.
Edit ten: I GOT THE PLAQUE!!!!!

Amanda Stewart Report

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Personal impact: Thrifted clothing offers more room for uniqueness. While it’s not the end of the world to see some other guy sporting the same sweater as you, most of us would choose to avoid such incidents, if possible. Since thrifted clothing infrequently comes in multiples, you’re much less likely to bump into someone wearing the exact same thing. In addition, there’s bound to be lots of clothes that were produced decades ago, or on the other side of the country, or in some other circumstance that makes them different than what the average shopper is buying off the sale rack at the mall.

Thrift shopping allows for more creativity. Thrift stores are notorious for the wacky and bizarre items they often contain. (Remember Macklemore’s footed Batman jammies?) While these items can be downright eyesores, many just need a person with vision to re-interpret them in a contemporary way. For some, this may mean simply adding the right accessories; others may completely reconstruct their garment with shears and a trusty Singer. Either way, thrifting can allow one to do more than mindlessly mimic what one sees on the display-window mannequin, by providing more varied and interesting materials as inspiration.

Sources: Unwrinkling, The Ecologist

#7

I Found An Entire Bag Of Babies At A Local Thrift Store

I Found An Entire Bag Of Babies At A Local Thrift Store

Of course I bought them and put them in a bowl. I didn't know what to do with them, but they became my bird's favourite toy (he would toss them out of the bowl with glee).

Jen D Popein Report

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#8

Found And Purchased... Framed And Hung In Our Restaurant

Found And Purchased... Framed And Hung In Our Restaurant

Billy Scrape Report

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#9

Found Him At A Booth At A Local Peddler's Mall For $15! Had To Get It

Found Him At A Booth At A Local Peddler's Mall For $15! Had To Get It

Jarell Gant Report

#10

My Tissue Box On My Wall At Work

My Tissue Box On My Wall At Work

WeirdSecondhandFinds Report

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Jasmine Walker
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had one of those at worked. Reminded me of the old Nickelodeon game show "Legend of the Hidden Temple"

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#11

This Awesome (Albeit Plastic) Medusa Crown (Headband)! Found In Roanoke, Va!

This Awesome (Albeit Plastic) Medusa Crown (Headband)! Found In Roanoke, Va!

Bee Ford Report

#12

Pac Man Suit

Pac Man Suit

Megan Prater-Sanders Report

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Chyppa Homer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For job interviews, right ? If that thing can't get you hired, nothing will

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#13

I Found Thing At Hartville Flea Market For $4. Of Course, He’s Now Mine

I Found Thing At Hartville Flea Market For $4. Of Course, He’s Now Mine

Jennifer Ruof Report

#14

Best Find Ever, A Certified Authentic Autographed Jesus Picture

Best Find Ever, A Certified Authentic Autographed Jesus Picture

Mike Rosko Report

#15

On My Way To Work, I Saw This Outside On Someone’s Lawn With A Free Sign On It

On My Way To Work, I Saw This Outside On Someone’s Lawn With A Free Sign On It

I knew that if I waited until after I got done with work, it would be gone. So I pulled over, folded down the seats, and maneuvered it into my xterra. It was not easy going, and my rear visibility while driving sucked. And I still managed to make it to work on time.

Neringa Marija Perminas Atkinson Report

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#16

Saw This Coffee Cup At A Local Flea Market And Was Prepared To Pay Whatever It Cost Since It Looks Exactly Like My Husband

Saw This Coffee Cup At A Local Flea Market And Was Prepared To Pay Whatever It Cost Since It Looks Exactly Like My Husband

I put a cactus in his head cause he can be a real prick. Septum piercing added due to public outcry

Kristina Hinesly Report

#17

My Daughter (11) Found This Today At Our Local Thrift Store

My Daughter (11) Found This Today At Our Local Thrift Store

She brings it over to me and says "Mom I don't understand what this means what does it do! Oh my

Jesse Stuck Report

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Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha, love this. I know the perfect person who would get a kick out of it.

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#19

Found At Ohio Thrift In Columbus, Ohio! Salt-N-Pepa Salt & Pepper Shakers

Found At Ohio Thrift In Columbus, Ohio! Salt-N-Pepa Salt & Pepper Shakers

Pam Limbacher Report

#20

A Friend Gave This To Me. A Congratulation Letter 1941, From A Dentist To His Patient, On The Birth Of Her Son

A Friend Gave This To Me. A Congratulation Letter 1941, From A Dentist To His Patient, On The Birth Of Her Son

Since the baby was born with no teeth, the dentist sent a set to the new baby. Teeth attached at bottom of letter

Dave Graham Report

#21

My Thrift Store Had $1 Mystery Boxes For Stuff They Can't Get Rid Of. I Decided To Buy One, And It Ended Up Having 35 Lorax Plushes Inside

My Thrift Store Had $1 Mystery Boxes For Stuff They Can't Get Rid Of. I Decided To Buy One, And It Ended Up Having 35 Lorax Plushes Inside

Jared Gomez Report

#22

Don’t Let The Wheelchair Distract You From The Perfect Coffee Table For Parents With Toddlers

Don’t Let The Wheelchair Distract You From The Perfect Coffee Table For Parents With Toddlers

Philip Schnepp Report

#23

Ctrl+alt+del-Icious

Ctrl+alt+del-Icious

Joshua Natzel Report

#24

Found In Good Ole New Orleans

Found In Good Ole New Orleans

Summer Oliver Report

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#26

Y’all!! Call Off The Search!....i Found Him!! The Placement Of The Eyes Is The Best!!

Y’all!! Call Off The Search!....i Found Him!! The Placement Of The Eyes Is The Best!!

Judy Ebert Report

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Mojones
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know that moment when the first thing that comes to your mind is something, that is almost definitely unappropriate and you have to stop yourself from saying/writing it? Me neither. That's why "Finding Menopause" found its way into this comment section. And yes, i feel bad. A little. Almost.

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#28

I'm Not Sure What's Going On Here, But I Had To Take It Home

I'm Not Sure What's Going On Here, But I Had To Take It Home

Sam Davies Report

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Slinkman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know you're doing something wrong when a waving sloth has the only descent haircut in your family picture.

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#29

I’m 240lbs 56 Years Old Dude And I Want These Xs Leggings. My Freak Wants To Shine

I’m 240lbs 56 Years Old Dude And I Want These Xs Leggings. My Freak Wants To Shine

Dean Proctor Report

#30

I Bought An Antique (1910ish) Glass Eye At A Vintage Show

I Bought An Antique (1910ish) Glass Eye At A Vintage Show

Had a local jeweler set it into a necklace! I love it!

Alison Camilleri Report

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Stille20
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is something unsettling about wearing something that made up a person's face. I know it's just an artificial eye, but I assume it was made for and used by someone.

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Alice Laughs
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know what's more disturbing, the person who gave it up to a thrift store or the person that swiped it up.

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Urghhh, that must have been in somebody's eye socket for years! Possibly even when he/she died.

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Pretty Pangolin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That makes me think - what about the prosthetic faces/features that they had around WWI - were they buried with their owners or are they still circulating somewhere?

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R.s. Potter
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should go into a headband so that the wearer can have a third eye in the middle of her forehead. When she has children, she can flip it around to the back of her head and tell the kids "I've got my eye on you. Don't think I can't see what you're doing behind my back."

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Jace
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You people are really squeamish. It’s not creepy or disrespectful. It’s just an object. A prosthetic tool, maybe. But just an object.

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Janis Wise
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right Jace. Like I said to one person who was squeamish, “Don’t worry the dude it was made for doesn’t need it anymore.”

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Lola
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s just weird. Someone was probably wearing that at some point.

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Billy Beecham
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to have a ring with one of those in it when I was in 7th grade.

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Brenda Pereira
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are awesome. I have three that belonged to a couple of friends of mine. They gave them to me when they got new ones. One was from a friend who gave 'willed' it to me.

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Christer Kolterjahn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have 4 old glass eyes in my drawer since I get a new one every 2 years (more often after I had to amputate).

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#31

This Find From Around 3 Years Ago In Franklin, Va. He’s A Pillowcase But I Can’t Deal With That So He’s On My Wall

This Find From Around 3 Years Ago In Franklin, Va. He’s A Pillowcase But I Can’t Deal With That So He’s On My Wall

Samantha Gizara Report

#32

My Mom Found This On One Of Her Thrift Store Adventures. I Gave It To My Husband For An Emergency

My Mom Found This On One Of Her Thrift Store Adventures. I Gave It To My Husband For An Emergency

‎Kat Rodriguez‎ Report

#35

Found This Rubber Chicken Pocketbook At A Garage Sale Last Weekend

Found This Rubber Chicken Pocketbook At A Garage Sale Last Weekend

So far, I've worn it to the doctor's office, a dinner party and the grocery store thinking it would get lots of comments

Sandy Murphy Report

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Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be interesting to carry eggs and a audio player in one of these. Just play clucking sounds and pull out an egg everytime. Attention guaranteed!!

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#36

Now That’s A New One

Now That’s A New One

Cinder Buss‎ Report

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Flash Henry
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

.....I used to hide a flask in one of those smaller boxes of Tampax and glue the top so it looked like the box was still sealed. Worked eeeeeeeeeevery time at concerts.

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#37

I Need Ideas For What I Can Make For My Firefighter Husband With This Lovely Bit Of Fabric I Found At A Small Town Thrift Store

I Need Ideas For What I Can Make For My Firefighter Husband With This Lovely Bit Of Fabric I Found At A Small Town Thrift Store

Kendall Chmielewski Report

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Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Line it with something and use it as a shower curtain. To keep all the glory.

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#38

Now I Have My Very Own Pair Of.... These

Now I Have My Very Own Pair Of.... These

Natalie Baldassano Report

#39

This Is My Fav Goodwill (San Diego) Find. Wool Ottoman On Wheels

This Is My Fav Goodwill (San Diego) Find. Wool Ottoman On Wheels

Cost Me A Pricey $15. Everyone Made Fun Of It. Said It Looked Like Spaghetti-O's, Cheerios Even Maggots. But I Loved It Just The Same. After I Got It, I Did A Little Research And Found Out It Was A Piece That Retails For Around $2k. Lol. I Use It Every Day And Love, Love, Love It. My Hairy Find.

Annie O'Brien Report

#40

Today The Antiquing Gods Smiled Down And Blessed Me With This Absolute Beauty

Today The Antiquing Gods Smiled Down And Blessed Me With This Absolute Beauty

Kelly M. Remo Report

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LadyMarsh
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wtf is that! It looks like it's got teeth, tonsils and gallstones in it...

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Note: this post originally had 141 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.