News

Aug 11, 2023

I found a $3 pair of designer earrings while thrifting, similar styles sell for up to $375 online

A THRIFTING expert has revealed a $3 pair of earrings at the local thrift store

A THRIFTING expert has revealed a $3 pair of earrings at the local thrift store that turned out to be a designer brand worth nearly $400 online.

Thrift shopping is a common pastime for those who enjoy finding valuable vintage items for cheap, but it can also be a profitable side hustle.

By discovering hidden designer items priced for just dollars at your local Goodwill, you’ll be in a prime position to reap the benefits and resell your valuable find online.

That's exactly what happened to a TikToker who goes by @RetroToyEnvy, who was surprised to find a pair of designer earrings for just $3 at his local thrift store.

He regularly posts content on his top thrifting finds to nearly 400,000 followers.

But on a recent shopping trip, he got luckier than usual, identifying the designer jewelry with a careful eye.

At first glance, he wasn't exactly drawn to the earrings.

"These look like ordinary costume jewelry earrings, but you always have to check the brand and who makes them," he said.

A closer inspection revealed these particular earrings were made by Yves Saint Laurent.

The YSL stamp on the backs of the earrings was a dead giveaway, but only the most savvy jewelry connoisseurs might make the connection.

Past Yves Saint Laurent earrings have sold for $200 regularly online, but top finds go for $375 or more on eBay.

Before finding the hidden earring treasure, he found some other great finds as well.

The first that caught his attention was the Sphero robotic game system, priced for the low cost of $13.

"The reason this caught my eye is because I’ve seen the Star Wars Sphero sell for a lot," he explained.

Throwing it into his cart, the expert thrifter then saw the product easily sells for $70 online.

Then, he ventured into the kitchen appliance part of his thrift store.

"This one really shocked me," he said. "I am no stranger to the cooking world, but I would never guess that this wok would sell for this much."

The specific wok in question was the never before used China Connection brand. All the parts and pieces were included, making its resell value high.

"When you find something with this many parts and pieces, double check to make sure you have everything," he said.

The whole set was priced at just $8.99, but he was able to immediately sell it for $50 plus $30 shipping.

Plenty of other thrifting experts have revealed how they too made hundreds of dollars or more from reselling some of their top thrift store finds.

Even something as simple as a bathroom essential can end up giving you some hefty change, as one shopper grabbed a cheap toothbrush only to flip it for a whopping $100 online.

The account Pirate Flip regularly posts content from bargain hunters who discover affordable items from Goodwill, garage sales, and other discount stores.

The account recently posted a TikTok showing a $3 electric flosser from Goodwill sells between $100 and $150 on eBay.

The item was discontinued, but some shoppers are still searching for it because it has special fibrations to clear up food particles, debris, and plaque that get stuck in your teeth.

Another lucky thrifter hit the jackpot upon finding a Prada bag on sale for just $8.

Similar purses have sold on Poshmark for $593, so the savvy shopper could even up with quite a bit of spending money from the purchase.

Another TikToker named Nancy Cavaliere had an even more impressive find when she decided to go to a thrift store while walking home from work one day.

She said: "I see nothing, I almost leave. I go back when they put out new stuff and I see these sitting on the aisle."

The items in question were four black plates painted with a Picasso flair.

Each one was sold by the Salvation Army for $1.99 each, but the name at the bottom revealed they were actually Picasso originals.

Nancy was lucky indeed, as each one ended up selling for between $12,000 and $16,000.

There are certain strategies you should take to get the best deals on your next thrifting haul.

For one, consider each store's specialties before deciding which department to focus on.

Some stores are known for their vintage toys, while others have high-value artwork, clothing, shoes, vintage magazines, and DVDs.

To get a better sense of what to look out for, you should consider calling your local store to see what they’re best known for.

Once you have that knowledge, you can create a list of the types of items you’re looking for and what sort of profit you want to be able to rake in.

Take note of each store's restocking schedule, too.

If you’re the first shopper there when new items are brought in, you’ll have a better chance of grabbing the deals before they disappear.

Learning to recognize designer brands can also be especially helpful if you’re looking to thrift clothes specifically.

Many of these items end up at thrift stores, and the everyday shopper would never be able to tell if a sweater originally worth hundreds is on sale for just a few dollars.

One savvy shopper was amazed when she found a Kindle for just $6 as the reading tablet sells for $140 online.

And another thrifter made quite a profit after finding a $5 vintage toy selling for more than $100 online.