The Best Things to Buy at Thrift Stores to Resell (and What to Skip)

Every reseller has walked out of a thrift store with a cart full of "maybe" items that turned out to be worth a few dollars each. The difference between a profitable trip and a pile of clutter comes down to knowing which categories consistently sell — and checking prices before you buy.

Here are the categories experienced flippers focus on, what to look for in each, and what to skip.

1. Branded and outdoor clothing

Clothing is the backbone of many reselling businesses because there's so much of it and it's cheap to ship.

What to look for:

• Outdoor and performance brands (think technical jackets, fleece, hiking and ski gear)
• Quality denim and workwear
• Premium athleisure
• Designer and contemporary labels
• Vintage pieces: older band tees, sports apparel, and anything with a single-stitch hem or made-in-USA tag

Check before buying: stains, pilling, holes, broken zippers, and missing buttons. Condition is everything in clothing.

2. Shoes

Name-brand shoes in good condition can sell surprisingly well, especially boots, running shoes, and limited sneaker releases.

What to look for: leather boots, popular running models, collaborations and limited releases, and anything that looks barely worn. Check the soles — heavy wear kills value.

3. Vintage electronics

Some "outdated" technology has a strong following.

What to look for:

• Film cameras and lenses
• Vintage audio: receivers, turntables, cassette decks, and quality speakers
• Older handheld game consoles and accessories
• Graphing calculators

Check before buying: test it if the store has an outlet. Untested electronics usually sell for much less, often as "for parts."

4. Video games and media

Retro games and consoles are one of the most reliable thrift flips — when you find them.

What to look for: cartridge games, complete-in-box games with manuals, controllers from older consoles, and out-of-print DVD box sets or niche Blu-rays. Most common DVDs and CDs aren't worth much, but niche titles can be.

5. Toys and collectibles

Nostalgia sells.

What to look for: complete LEGO sets (or bulk LEGO), vintage action figures, die-cast cars, older plush with tags, and board games that are complete and out of print.

Check before buying: completeness. A board game missing pieces or a LEGO set missing minifigures sells for far less.

6. Home goods and kitchenware

What to look for:

• Vintage Pyrex and other collectible glassware
• Enameled cast iron and quality cookware
• Mid-century modern decor
• Name-brand small appliances that are clean and working
• Studio pottery with a maker's mark

Check before buying: chips, cracks, and fading. Collectors are picky about condition.

7. Books (selectively)

Most thrift books aren't worth flipping. The exceptions are textbooks (current editions), signed copies, first editions, niche nonfiction, and out-of-print titles with a devoted audience. Scanning the ISBN or snapping a photo saves you from guessing.

What to skip

These items often look like a good deal but rarely make money:

• Fast-fashion clothing — too cheap new to resell used.
• Common DVDs, CDs, and mass-market paperbacks — supply massively outweighs demand.
• Large, heavy furniture — unless you have local pickup set up, shipping kills the margin.
• Untested electronics with no brand value — high risk, low payoff.
• Damaged or incomplete items — unless the brand is valuable enough to sell for parts.

The rule that matters most: check the sold price first

Brand lists are a starting point, not a guarantee. A great brand in poor condition, an unpopular style, or an oversaturated model can still be a loser.

That's why experienced flippers check sold prices before they buy. You can do this manually by searching eBay sold listings, or snap a photo with ReVal to see the item's resale value range and sold comps in seconds — right there in the aisle.

A simple rule many resellers use: only buy if the typical sold price is at least three times what you're paying, after you account for fees and shipping. That buffer covers items that sell slower or lower than expected.

Tips for a better thrift trip

• Go often. Inventory turns over constantly. Consistency beats luck.
• Learn your store's sale days. Many thrift chains rotate color-tag discounts.
• Scan the whole rack. Look for quality fabrics and construction first, then check the label.
• Keep a list of your wins. Over time you'll build a mental database of brands and items worth grabbing.

New to all of this? Start with our beginner's guide to reselling, then learn how to price what you find.