Don’t Neglect Second Hand Clothing

Some of our best gear has often come from thrift stores or from popular second-hand venues such as eBay or other auction sites. There are a few reasons why you should consider these alternatives as well, particularly if you’re tight on cash and need some creative ways to spice up your wardrobe. The following is a list of things to consider when purchasing second hand clothing.

• Thrift stores are a great way to find classic, timeless items like wool trousers, white dress shirts, dungarees and grey khakis. What we don’t recommend is buying trendy clothes from second hand stores. Trendy clothes can always be found in closeout stores for a reasonable price, and much of what you do find in second hand stores should probably stay there if the looks are not timeless.

• eBay shoppers can find classic designer brands for a fifth of what they would normally pay in the stores. You don’t want to pay any more than that price for merchandise without tags on it, however.

• Goodwill and the Salvation Army are typically more expensive than local thrift stores. These days the aforementioned stores offer merchandise from store brands right along with the donations. Another plus is that your money is going to provide jobs and training to individuals that normally would not receive these services.

As long as the clothing is free of stains and is not ripped, torn or damaged in any other way there is no real reason not to purchase clothing second hand when at all possible.  Plus you can find authentic stuff without paying a small fortune for them, which is about as good as it gets.

- Chris Kendalls