The route planner link has been updated due to changes in MapQuest's website.

Several weeks ago several hundred sales were added to the Guide. Also, some links and information have been added on various pages in Links and Resources as well as within The Thrifter's Guide.

I've also added a page for shopping online that will be updated occasionally. Sometimes the subject and post will give clues about things to be looking for as a seller. Sometimes it will just be cool stuff I've discovered while shopping in thrift stores or researching on eBay. I also will accept special requests for items people are looking for - just send an e-mail

More updates coming soon. As always, questions are welcome!

A couple weeks ago I posted about what I expected to be about $1000 worth of stuff purchased for $81:  

Here's the status so far:

J Crew shoes - paid $8 - expect $50-70 - currently posted
Free People sandals - paid $4 - expect $35-50 - not posted yet
Lycra dive suit - paid $4 - expected $20-30 - this probably will not sell for more than $10 after further investigation - just recently posted. 
Starbucks Barista - paid $20 - expected $70-100 - sold for $150 on Amazon
Elie Tahari dress - paid $5 - expect $25 - not posted yet
Paintball pants - paid $6 - expected $40-50 - upon further inspection, the cuff ends of the pants were damaged, so I sold for $18
Electronic game - paid $3 - expect $30 - not getting alot of interest 
Sewing machine - paid $20 - expected $150-200 - sold for $100
Printer/scanner - paid $25 - expected $500-1000 - sold for $634

So far, just off that particular day, I have sales totaling $902 with more expected sales. Total profit from that one day so far: $821

Today's sales are going to be great too... 

The final rush to Halloween is beginning. The thrift stores have racks of costumes and shelves of decor. As always, look things up before buying so you don't end up with a lot of crap to unload later, but following are some hot items to look for in the thrift stores:

• Halloween props - including large hanging items, animated/talking props. Some of the Telco motionettes. Also look for Gemmy spirit balls, zombie heads, large fortune teller heads. In the past we have had good luck with fog machines. Scary creepy dolls
• Blow mold decorations
• Department 56 Halloween miniature haunted house collectibles; Lemax Halloween scenes, Jim Shore Heartwood Creek Halloween. Hawthorne Village collectibles, Fitz & Floyd Halloween candy dishes
• Costume: Silicone and latex masks. Particularly movie monster masks. Vintage vacuform masks. Disney costumes for all ages, Chasing Fireflies girls' costumes, Darth Vader Michael Myers, Donnie Darko; Pottery Barn kids' costumes
• Vintage paper mache candy buckets, vintage 50s plastic Halloween goodies

​Happy hunting!

Today I visited a few stores off by themselves that don't often produce a lot of inventory and I only had a few hours to shop. Today was an exception! Following is a breakdown of my three-hour workday with the items I purchased and how much I expect to make:

Store #1

Had to return a scale that would have sold for about $60-70 - didn't work. Goodwill takes returns on electronics, and even gives store credit for returned clothing in some places. Found a pair of shoes.

• J Crew shoes $8. Expected sale price $50-70

Store #2

Stopped here first expecting to be in and out. I don't think I've ever bought anything from this store before. Maybe once. They overprice anything that looks good to them. Since I didn't have high expectations for today's treasure hunt, I went ahead and purchased these items:

• Free People Birkenstock style sandals $4. Expected sale price $35-50
• Full body lycra dive suit $4. Expected sale price $20-30, maybe

As I was leaving I saw a pair of Ray Bans in the case. They had been marked down from $200 to $150, and agreed to discount an additional $20. I wasn't feeling confident about spending that much, so I said I'd be back if the husband gave the okay. While I was waiting for him to look up (he was shopping elsewhere today) I went to the store in the next building.

Store #3

This place is hit or miss. I've found a few really good things in here. Worth checking out once a month or so. 

• Starbucks Barista SIN 006 (the stainless steel ones have been a good seller for years, if they can be found at the right price. This one has a few accessories including the portafilter and looked really well cared for. $20. Expected sale price $70-100
• Elie Tahari lace dress $5. Expected sale price $25. I usually aim higher with clothing, but Elie Tahari is a favorite brand of mine to sell, and again, I didn't have high expectations. 
• Paintball pants $6. Expected sale price $40-50.

Then, 'round to the overpriced counter items... many marked-up items but they missed...

• Electronic game $5. Expected sale price $30
• Sewing machine $20. Expected sale price $150-200. Right next to a projector that they priced at $50 and was worth $50 resale value (I did not buy the projector)​

Back to Store #2

By this time, the husband had said get the Ray Bans (expected sale price $300-500). 

As I was walking into the store again, I saw a printer in the furniture section I had not visited (as I don't sell furniture... except once). !!! It is one of the holy grails of printers, apparently. so...

• Printer/scanner $25. Expected sale price $500-1000

I didn't end up getting the Ray Bans. They were prescription lenses and I have no idea how that would affect the value. But I was happier with the printer. 

Store #4

A Goodwill Boutique. Donated clothing is pre-screened for this store and tends to be better quality and not out-of-date styles. A couple times I did very well in this store, such as one time they had a rack full of brand new gauze palazzo pants and other gauze items from the same brand. I bought 8 or so of those for $10 apiece and sold for $50-70 apiece, plus a cool jacket off the same rack that I paid $15 for and sold for $150 within a couple hours of posting it. And the time I found a rare and desirable DVF dress, another designer dress, and a designer suit - paid about $25 at the most for all three and sold for over $200. 

Today I didn't find anything to buy

In summary... spent $81 today and expect to make $920-1555. Not bad for a few hours'  work.