I genuinely don't understand the logic behind some thrift store markups

Laura Knight · 2026-02-22T09:20:40.091089+00:00

Picked up a like-new cast iron pan for a steal, but saw a basic plastic bowl priced higher than retail (how does that even happen?). It's frustrating when the pricing seems completely arbitrary, and I'm left scratching my head every visit.

kaibaker7mo ago

@daniel724's suggestion to ask staff politely actually lines up with my own approach, for what it's worth. I once found a clearly used coffee maker tagged at more than a fancy new model, which baffled me. When I mentioned it to a volunteer, they admitted they had no idea what it was and just guessed based on the box size. That kind of inconsistency is what makes thrift shopping such a gamble, in my opinion. Your mileage may vary, but I've found that speaking up can sometimes lead to those random adjustments, just like daniel724 said. It doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot when the pricing feels truly unhinged.

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lily9657mo ago

Our local Salvation Army staffs volunteers who sometimes guess at prices, don't they?

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daniel7247mo ago

Ever wonder if different volunteers just price things on totally different days? I've had luck just politely asking a staff member if they can check the price on something that seems off. Sometimes they'll actually adjust it if you point it out nicely.

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