50 Times People Discovered Such Surprising Secondhand Finds, They Just Had To Share Pics Online
Thrift stores, flea markets, and garage sales are basically new versions of ancient archeological sites.
Upon entering them, you never know what you're gonna find and hours later, it's usually one of the two: either you leave empty-handed, asking yourself why spend so much time for nothing, or come across a hidden gem that makes even those disappointing endeavors worth it.
Interestingly, the Facebook group 'Vintage and weird things you have found' has the best of both. Its 185K members regularly share pictures of their most memorable discoveries, and if they don't inspire you to check out your local second-hand store, honestly, I don't know what will.
More info: Facebook
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A Lovely Bed For A Kid!
When You’re Lucky Enough To Wake Up At 3 Am To Use The Bathroom And Log Onto Facebook Marketplace And Find The Camper Of Your Dreams That You Wanted For Years
And that was only listed for 11 minutes
Chances are, online groups like 'Vintage and weird things you have found' are going to be getting more and more content. As inflation continues driving shoppers to reach deep into their pockets, many are doing what they can to make or save some extra cash. One of those options is second-hand selling and shopping.
"We purchase 200-300 items every single day," Style Encore at Lake Charles, Louisiana, owner Stacey Buller said. An industry that was hurting during the height of the pandemic is now seeing more business with inflation-propelled costs.
I Scored This Stunning Deep Scarlett Victorian Gown Exactly My Size!!
My Husband Was Pretty Much Paid $40 To Remove This From Someone’s Home
Has to be the luckiest find ever!! It would be hard to find anything like it.
Trash Picked This Mcm Accordion Front TV Stand And Made A Dog Bed Out Of It!
Notice Blackie in the same pose as in the painting above
"During Covid, it was pretty slow but then within the past couple of months, we've seen our foot traffic get heavier and heavier," Buller explained.
The market for bargains is growing and Buller said women are coming in looking for anything from work to athletic clothes.
"Ladies come in to look for a dress for church or their casual clothing, their athletic, a lot of people are getting back into the gyms."
Found This Unique Table While Thrifting. Very Intricate
Edit: Yes, I am aware that this is a ouija board. Yes, it came home with me. I’m simply an oddity collector. No one is summoning demons in my house.
I Found This Beautiful Royal Sealy Teacup
It has a bit of what looks like glue on the plate and side of cup. But other than that, beautiful! I can’t wait to drink out of it. (I know it probably has lead. I don’t care)
Look What I Got Today. I Have Wanted A Vanity Like This Since I Was About 12
I Recently Found 4 Sketches By Norman Bridwell Author Of Clifford The Big Red Dog
They are approximately 30 x 19 inches, they were laminated when I found them. They were given to a school after he did a talk there
Inflation price hikes are leaving many customers questioning, why pay full when there are racks and racks of steals and deals at second-hand stores?
"A lot of ladies are coming in to sell for that quick cash, or they're even shopping. All of our prices are 50-90% below retail of the big box stores so they can get a really, really good deal," Buller added.
1930’s Windsor Gas Oven
Here I Am In My Backyard In Last Saturday's Work Ensem, Which Is Basically A Dress (With A Full Petticoat Underneath) Over A Skirt
The vintage parts are the thrifted hat and gloves. All other parts (except for the skirt) were also thrifted, as was Kalmah's hat
Banana Holder
I Acquired This Ladies Art Deco Dresser Set And Think It’s Absolutely Fabulous
But it's not just the physical stores where people can make an extra buck. An average American has 36 unwanted items in their homes, worth $3,675, that they could turn into cash, according to a 2021 report by online marketplace eBay.
The document took a look at what motivated its sellers of secondhand products over the past year, and learned that a majority of sellers who were new to eBay said they began selling pre-owned goods to simply make some cash.
I Now Have A Stone Apple To Go With The Stone Watermelon Slice And Stone Egg. Don’t Ask What I’m Doing With My Life, I Have No Idea
Kenneth Jay Lane 1960s Whimsical Starburst Ruby And Diamond Faux Costume Brooch In Immaculate Condition 3.99...
Omg I’m So Excited About Today’s Purchase
Maybe Not The Most Practical Purchase Ever, But Saw The Giraffe In Goodwill Today And Couldn't Stop Thinking About Him
The report reflects that the pandemic caused more people to buy and sell on its platform. Fourth-quarter revenue in 2020 was up 28% and gross merchandise volume - the value of the goods sold on the platform - was up 21%. For the full year, revenue was up 19% and gross merchandise volume was up 17%, to over $100 billion.
I Got This For $10!
These were ubiquitous among all my aunts and uncles homes.
Found This Beauty Literally On The Side Of The Road In A Pile Of Free Stuff
I Have A Love Hate Relationship With This Lamp
I have a love-love relationship with that lamp. I think it's wicked awesome!!
Cleaned And Organized This Vintage Sewing Kit! I Paid $5 For This And Contents At The Salvation Army!
While sellers said they need to make money, buyers were spending freely on collectible sneakers, luxury watches, and trading cards.
eBay, said trading card sales increased by 142% in 2020, with 4 million more cards sold than in 2019.
This 8 By 10 Photograph Was In A Vintage Dresser I Purchased
I do genealogy and I always feel sad by vintage photos with unidentified people. How could anyone throw out family photos? Or not label them for future generations?
Sometimes family lines die out. When I die, there's no one left after me.
Load More Replies...Yeah, was just about comment on this. They did an amazing job!
Load More Replies...Post it in Reminisce or Reminisce Extra magazines. You may be able to find out who they are
Sisters? How old might they be now? What families have they created? What're their names?
My Find While Cleaning Out My Boyfriend's Parent's House!!
A Vintage Quilt My Grandmother Made In The 60s
A Book With A Bullet Hole
Published 1896. This is one of the coolest things I've ever found. Not only is it a trove of lost music and poems, it's well traveled, I found it in a dump of a thrift store in Hollywood, and I'm not the only one who has found it interesting. It has many inscriptions one states it was a gift from some store owner to her writer friend and she got it from TX which had traveled from South Carolina. (See below.) And stranger still? There is a freaking bullet hole in it! (The bullet is gone btw.) But why?! I wish I knew. Was it in someone's pocket? At a saloon? In someone's library? Why the bullet hole? Why?!
Edit: I'm so glad you all find this as interesting and charming as I do! I've added more photos for you all to enjoy! Also turns out there was a Sadiee Gollithan who lived in Nashville around that time. What an odd yet cool name.
Every object has a story behind it, but I bet that book has the most exciting story of them all!
"When times are tough, people have told us that they go back to the things that make them happy, and oftentimes that’s a passion - collecting things like comic books or trading cards - things that bring people joy,” Bradford Shellhammer, vice president of buyer experience at eBay, said.
So I guess we can, in fact, live on just bread and games.
What A Find Today …early 50’s Bakelite Canister Salt Box And Spice Rack
Remember The Scrubby Frog
My Vintage Thrifted Living Room
I Have Been Looking For A House Hippo Since I First Heard The Term In This Group
Today I found her! She’s 3” long, hand painted and vintage. Artists name is signed on bottom- Basil Matthews. There are several articles on House Hippos - I thought they brought good luck. And I’m sticking with the Good Luck theory
I never knew about a house hippo I’ll be sure to look out for one 🥰
Scored This For $20. The Fan Blows Like A Category 5 Hurricane When I Get It Goin
Weird, For Sure!
Curious Kitty Sweet Honest Cologne By Avon. Found At My Favorite Little Boutique
The Lamp Shade Was My Late Mother's Waited Till I Found The Perfect Lamp For It.
$5 Flea Market Find Near Taylor, Mi, It's So Fabulous I Had To Have It!
I Hope This Is The Right Place To Share: Alice In Wonderland Fans Will Enjoy These
I purchased, or should I say convinced my mom to purchase these whimsical earrings for me in the early nineties. They are polymer clay and marionette.
I really love these! They're oddly sinister but cute at the same time!
Saw This At A Habitat For Humanity The Other Day. I Sat In It. It’s Still Calling Me. My Husband Didn’t Like It But I Think It Can Sit On The Back Porch Until Winter. Found In Anderson, Sc.
Picked This Up At A Flea Market This Morning. Not Sure How Old It Is… But I Love It
Ladies And Gentlemen, Behold My Find Today… (Ignore The Little Shop Of Horrors Inside) $65 In Everett, Wa
Found A House Hippo At The Farmers Market Today!
I think I’ll name him Henry, I guess it could be Henrietta. Anyone care to gender my house hippo???
I love that it’s in a sexy pose!
I feel like it's got a "Henry" vibe. Henry has been married since just after high school and has six kids. He is all out of eff's to give about looking good, but LOVES to embarrass his kids. This is him at the beach. Kids are right there and people are staring.
So Wish I Could Bring This Home And Throw A Groovy Cocktail Party! But For $1,700 It’s Still In The Shop
I Bought This Lamp A Number Of Years Ago. It's Been In Storage For A While Until I Can Find The Appropriate Shade
Now the two are married for life of course it was a thrift shop buy I can't remember the price but you know me I'm thrifty
I Pet Sat For My Daughter/Son In Law While They Had My Grandaughter At Cincinnati Children's Hospital For Scheduled Appointments For A Little Over A Week
When they got back today, my daughter handed me the best gift! A Fiona House Hippo!!! I've been watching and hadn't found a house hippo yet, and this one is perfect
Look What I Got Today!
Banana Hat!!! Less Then A Dollar Find Today At A Thrift Store
I Found 2 Bags Of 'Spreaders' - Those Little Decorative Knives Used To Spread Cheese. There Were S Total Of 113! Here's Just An Example Of Them
Fun Stuff From Mom's Collection
Thought You Guys Would Appreciate This
My Mom Found Me This Vintage Madame Alexander Doll Today At Goodwill! It Is Jo From Little Women, One Of My Favorite Characters Ever. I Love It So Much!
Weird Doll Found In Michigan Goodwill Left It There
The next person took it home. Their posetions were donated to goodwill after their untimely demise and the cycle continues.
One Of My Holy Grails!!! Ive Been Wanting One Forever! The Best Part Is It Was Free!!
My family had the same one. My mother sometimes made my dad take it in so it doesn't get stolen.
Not A Fan Of Blue, But Thought This Was Hella Cool. So It Followed Us Home. Cast Iron & Metal
I Don’t Know If This Is Considered Vintage Or Not, I Found It At A Garage Sale And Thought “Ohhh A Beat Up, Stained, Silly Book. That’s Worth A Quarter.”
I couldn’t find too much on the Googs, curious if anyone knows anything more about it?
Definitely look into that more, there's a copy in the Library Of Congress - listing says it's from 1894 https://www.loc.gov/item/06022676/
I Just Found This Shadow Box At Goodwill!
Anyone Know Anything About These Type Of Chairs?
This Is My Mom's Bakelite Tortoise Shell Purse. I've Loved It Since I Was Little
My Daughter - She Ran Across This Absolute Gem At A Vintage Clothing Store
I Picked Up This Guy At A Vintage Market. Yep, It Included The Doll Parts. He Was Labeled As "Creepy Vintage Bunny"
This Shirt
I'm Not Sure How Old She Is, But She Still Smells Heavenly
A Royal Worcester Egg Coddler
I think (??) 1931-1950s, according to the stamp. My mom received this as a gift from a neighbour years ago. It was was a wedding gift and my mom thinks they may have been married in the 40s or 50s. She was going to sell it in a garage sale but I thought it was cool so I took it home. It even has the instructions.
The Bracelet Is To Die For
One Of My Daughter’s Finds
Not Weird But Unusual! Haven’t Seen A Basket Like This Before
This Doll
My Mom Found This For Only $6.99. The Tag, My Kid Ripped It Off, Says It Made In 1979
This Frog
Picked Up This Adorable Print Today!
I’ve Had My Eye On This Enid Collins Skunk Box Purse For Several Months
How Old Would You Say This Is?
Lookie What I Found On The Way To The Register To Pay For My $1.20 Spatula. I Couldn't Get Them To The Checkout Quick Enough
I thought they were cheese lamps for a sec, then was disapointed
Didn't Come Come With Me, But I Was Very Amused
Nodders And Push Up Toys
My aunt had a Pluto and a Mickey mouse push up toys. They're fun little toys to play with. think my sister has them now.
I’m So Excited! I Got All Of These Beauties At An Estate Sale For $10 This Evening
Found At A Nearby Garage Sale Today (And Left - We Dont Eat Enough Hotdogs To Do It Justice)
Today's Fabulous Find!!!!
My daughter has claimed it and absorbed it into her bedroom already
$42 It Did Not Come Home With Me
My mom had these kitchen cannisters in the late 70's. They were very cute. They also came with a few matching accessories like a spoon rest, salt and pepper shakers, napkin holder, etc. RIP mom, I love you and miss you! ❤️
I Don't Drive And Do Most Thrifting Keeping Watch Over Marketplace Religiously
I found this entire collection posted for 30$ and he dropped off
They belonged to his recently deceased wife.
5 rainbow colored skull shape bottles are un photod
Not Creepy At All
The Ultimate Creepy Doll. With Love From The Ptl. Thank You Jim And Tammy Fay. Found In A Lot We Bought Some Years Ago. Both The Box And Her Soul Are Slightly Crushed
Goodwill Gold
Found These At A Yard Sale Today. Was Told They Were Made For Disney. Any Info Would Be Helpful. Any Idea Of Value?
This is just thoughts based on what I've picked up from Antiques Roadshow... but you're going to have to do some research and examine them more closely, even assuming your information was good. I would try to find any kind of maker's mark or label on them as a first step. Questions I would try to answer: What were they actually for? Were they intended as decoration of some sort at one of the parks? Are they some kind of design model for animated films? (Off the top of my head, Kung Fu Panda and Frozen spring to mind, but that's total speculation.) How many of them would have been made? If there were hundreds, your value is likely to be less than if there were, like, three. Can you find any kind of documentation? There's boatloads of Disney collectors out there, but it would likely be tough to sell them without some sort of evidence that they were made for Disney, and that would hurt the value a lot.
Saw These At An Antique Shop Today. My Nana Had This Pixie Cookie Jar
We Found This Cool Wrought Iron Piece Today And I’m Trying To Figure Out What It May Have Been From.
Either way I love it.
I’m thinking of painting it yellow, orange and red to represent the sun and hanging it somewhere on our porch. What other ideas do you all have for it? It’s pretty heavy..weighs about 15 pounds.
I Found This Collegiate Owl Cookie Jar At The Key Center Thrift In Lecanto, Fl. Did I Need Him, No. Did I Get Him, Yes. As You Can See I Have A Cookie Jar Already. Half Off Day So $40. Yes
I'm more interested in the one to the left; can't see much of it, but what I *can* see looks like the jar we had when I was a kid.
Creepy Doll Hanging From A Noose That My Mom Hung In Her Roommates Closet When She Was Mad At Him
All Saint Axle… Yes He Came Home With Me!
Did Not Come Home With Me....but Thinking I Might Go Back And Get It!! My 6 Year Old Grandson Loved It!!! What Do You All Think?
Smarties Bowl. Did Not Come Home With Me
Picked These Bunnies Up At A Yardsale Saturday
Yard Sale Cutie
She’s about 4-5” and has a pocket under her chin that has a marble built into it to slide a tea towel into it and hold it there. Easily able to change out towels. It screws onto the wall near my kitchen sink!
‘Great Set Of Legs You Got There!’
I found these legs at a swap meet a few years ago in Conway Arkansas. They are light weight, sort of a papier-mâché over styrofoam. (see side view photo)
Other than a great conversation piece, I have no idea what they were originally created for, do you?
This Fabulous Gal Was At An Estate Sale I Went To Today!
She didn't come home with me because it was cash only and I'd spent all my money!
$5 Flea Market Find Near Taylor, Mi, It's So Fabulous I Had To Have It!
Any goth kids on here may appreciate the fact that I found (and purchased) a pair of Demonia 5" heals for $10 at Goodwill some years back. They're such a dark shade of purple that they're almost black. I seldom wear them since I don't wear heals much anyway, but they are mine forever! For those that don't know, Demonia is EXPENSIVE. The heals I found probably originally cost somewhere around $150-$200.
Wow, talk about a score! I was goth way back in the late 80’s early 90’s and I would have died to have those! Would have gone great with a lot of my weird Victorian fashions. Lol
Load More Replies...Some real treasures. I dont go thrifting, agoraphobic and immuno-compromised, but I love beautiful old things. This was a very enjoyable browse. Thumbs up. 👍
I love thrifting more than life itself. I like quirky vintage antique things but I also like really nice clothes without having to pay for them. Best value finds recently were a currently retailing at $600 Arcteryx coat for $50, a genuine Tory Burch tote for $6 and an Acubra hat in a pile of junk on the side of the road that fits me perfectly.
Right? Like when I found two brand new Ralph Lauren polos for $12.50 or a brand new Columbia coat for $10!! I also got a really nice Kitchen Aid crock pot for $6. And that was half off. The clerk was bummed cause he wanted to buy it and was hoping someone wouldn't see it. SUCKAH!!
Load More Replies...If you EVER get the chance -- go to thrift & 2nd hand stores in LAS VEGAS! Between hotels going out of business and people moving there then tossing stuff it's like shopping in a CIRCUS! Clothing from old shows, every place has ICE SKATES (in the desert?) and huge amount of cold weather stuff they didn't know they would NEVER use -- boots, hats, coats. Better than any souvenir stand!
If this list has taught me anything, it's that I must be on the lookout for a house hippo
This weekend, Our Lady of Fatima big flea market, it's a tradition in my area. They had their last donation day on Saturday before the sale and I got to look at what they have so far and I'm telling you that place is packed!!! This article is getting me excited this event.
One man's trash...I was once strolling down the street when someone threw out 2 Eames Era bubble lamps. They were yellowed (as most vintage ones are) but otherwise in perfect condition. They cleaned up nicely with a magic eraser and some vinegar. Best find to date!
I guessed as much. I think I've seen a picture of a toy store once, where they had those things.
Found this at Goodwill in Gig Harbor, WA 8 years ago. It wasn't $35 cute, but it was definitely worth a photo to send to my brother to tell this this is what he was getting for xmas that year. IMG_4769-6...b17fb7.jpg
I don’t go to thrift stores usually other than to donate but my husband has found stereo equipment he can resell for good money. We’ve also found such neat stuff at auctions.
I love find discarded furniture and giving it a unique new life. Check out rae_reamingined for fun flips :)
Any goth kids on here may appreciate the fact that I found (and purchased) a pair of Demonia 5" heals for $10 at Goodwill some years back. They're such a dark shade of purple that they're almost black. I seldom wear them since I don't wear heals much anyway, but they are mine forever! For those that don't know, Demonia is EXPENSIVE. The heals I found probably originally cost somewhere around $150-$200.
Wow, talk about a score! I was goth way back in the late 80’s early 90’s and I would have died to have those! Would have gone great with a lot of my weird Victorian fashions. Lol
Load More Replies...Some real treasures. I dont go thrifting, agoraphobic and immuno-compromised, but I love beautiful old things. This was a very enjoyable browse. Thumbs up. 👍
I love thrifting more than life itself. I like quirky vintage antique things but I also like really nice clothes without having to pay for them. Best value finds recently were a currently retailing at $600 Arcteryx coat for $50, a genuine Tory Burch tote for $6 and an Acubra hat in a pile of junk on the side of the road that fits me perfectly.
Right? Like when I found two brand new Ralph Lauren polos for $12.50 or a brand new Columbia coat for $10!! I also got a really nice Kitchen Aid crock pot for $6. And that was half off. The clerk was bummed cause he wanted to buy it and was hoping someone wouldn't see it. SUCKAH!!
Load More Replies...If you EVER get the chance -- go to thrift & 2nd hand stores in LAS VEGAS! Between hotels going out of business and people moving there then tossing stuff it's like shopping in a CIRCUS! Clothing from old shows, every place has ICE SKATES (in the desert?) and huge amount of cold weather stuff they didn't know they would NEVER use -- boots, hats, coats. Better than any souvenir stand!
If this list has taught me anything, it's that I must be on the lookout for a house hippo
This weekend, Our Lady of Fatima big flea market, it's a tradition in my area. They had their last donation day on Saturday before the sale and I got to look at what they have so far and I'm telling you that place is packed!!! This article is getting me excited this event.
One man's trash...I was once strolling down the street when someone threw out 2 Eames Era bubble lamps. They were yellowed (as most vintage ones are) but otherwise in perfect condition. They cleaned up nicely with a magic eraser and some vinegar. Best find to date!
I guessed as much. I think I've seen a picture of a toy store once, where they had those things.
Found this at Goodwill in Gig Harbor, WA 8 years ago. It wasn't $35 cute, but it was definitely worth a photo to send to my brother to tell this this is what he was getting for xmas that year. IMG_4769-6...b17fb7.jpg
I don’t go to thrift stores usually other than to donate but my husband has found stereo equipment he can resell for good money. We’ve also found such neat stuff at auctions.
I love find discarded furniture and giving it a unique new life. Check out rae_reamingined for fun flips :)