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This works great for vintage or antique items when you are not sure an item is worth the price listed. Go to Google or eBay and see what it would retail for elsewhere. Many stores have weekly "tag sales," where items with a certain color tag go on sale.  Other stores have clearance racks or do periodic sales to clear out inventory.  Some larger volume stores even do bag sales and sales by the pound for items like clothes and linens.  Don't be afraid to haggle. Did you just miss a sale on a large item purchase? Are you making multiple purchases and want to round off the total? Don't be afraid to ask for reasonable accommodation, especially if you are a regular customer. Don't believe the "SOLD" sign. Sometimes the item is already paid for; however, often people say they will come back for something then find something else they like better at a different store.  If you see something you love with a sold sign, talk to an employee and/or manager.  It's possible the item has been sitting like that for days and no one remembered to remove the sign. Ask for a discount. Does the item in question have a few flaws that are worth a discount? Is the store running a sale that day?  If you are buying sale items, often employees can extend the sale to the rest of the items in your purchase. Some stores also have senior discounts. Some types show up in thrift shops looking kind worn out or dated.  Other items are donated regularly and you'd never know they were used or second-hand.  Look particularly for the items below:  Belts: Accessories like belts are one of the first items to get decommissioned from a wardrobe when styles change. An advantage to belts is that, with a little creativity, the buckles can be replaced and a strip of plain leather doesn't really go out of style. Shoes: Decent leather shoes command steep prices in most retail stores, so when you can pick up gently used ones at a thrift store for 90% less, it's a significant savings for your budget.  Plus with a little oil and polish, they can look brand new.   Furniture: Sometimes retail stores will donate last season's merchandise to area thrift stores for tax purposes.  In addition, vintage furniture can be recovered, repainted, or reupholstered with new fabric to look like a chic DIY dream.  Jeans: New branded jeans can run from $50 to upwards of $200 dollars while shopping for next-to-new, second-hand jeans usually means paying $10-25 a pair.  Especially after Christmas, it's easy to find them with tags still intact. The people who work in thrift stores are a wealth of information.  Things to ask about are:  What days do shipments arrive? Employees can tell you what days they get new items in and when things go on sale. Who are they partnered with? They can tell you whether their store has a donation program with a larger retail store where they take possession of clearance items from a prior season. Have you seen a particular item?  If you are a regular customer and make donations, thrift stores will often let you know via phone or email when a specific item you are looking for comes in. Two pairs of eyes is always better than one. Not only is it more fun to thrift with a friend, they can also help provide important feedback and recommendations—and you can do the same for them! It's a win-win situation.
Use your smartphone. Shop for sales. Look for "best value" items. Talk to thrift store employees. Bring a friend.