50 People Show Off Their Best Finds While Thrift Shopping At Goodwill Bins And The Items Are Absolutely Worth More Than Its Price

Who said you can't have nice things at a very affordable price?

Mary

• Published in Interesting
• September 25, 2022

Thrift stores and online marketplaces for used goods have flourished in recent years. It would appear that everyone finds what they're looking for, from commercial resellers to antique aficionados, frugal consumers to adventure enthusiasts who adore the hunt for something unusual and precious.

The regulars at charity stores, including those at Goodwill, know all the good spots to score unique used items. Items are often stored in huge containers rather than being hung on pegs or shelved.

Actually, there's a subreddit called "Goodwill Bins" on Reddit where thrift store junkies and bargain seekers can get together to talk about the amazing things they've discovered in those big blue bins. No matter if you're a regular shopper at secondhand stores or a seller on eBay, you've definitely heard of Goodwill.

Did you realize, though, that Goodwill operates a different kind of store? Goodwill outlet stores are also called Goodwill buy, Goodwill weigh and pay, or Goodwill bin stores.

One-of-a-kind treasure-hunting opportunities can be found at Goodwill outlet outlets. However, there are a few items, such as clothes, that can be treated as an exception and placed in their own designated containers.

Merchandise is brought out in big blue containers, and customers have to rummage through them to discover the good stuff. You can scroll down to see some of the best finds people have.

1. "Scored this light up canopy for my reading nook!"

2. "Found all of these shoes at the bins!"

3. "Cute miniature tea set, all the pieces were there and in perfect condition."

4. "First time to the bins. I spent $48."

Redditor continued, "I am a former preschool teacher and have my own daycare now. Most of what I bought is for my daycare."

5. Lucky!

Reddit user shared, "I was checking out a backpack at the Goodwill Bins and someone left their AirPods in it! Couldn't have paid more than $1 for them."

6. Nice job!

An online user stated, "Found this oak cabinet (suspected old microwave cart) at the bins for $3 a little while back. Just added some new hardware, cleaned it up and installed LED light strips and now it is my bar."

7. "Yay! Perfectly functioning Roomba at the bins WITH the charger still attached?!"

Redditor added, "$4! (My cat can't tell if she likes it or not)."

8. So pretty!

"First time at the bins and I’m addicted! Patagonia, YETI, J Crew sweater blazer, and 100% cashmere sweater," u/beigeyellow said.

9. Hopefully there are no missing pieces.

"What did I get myself into!? Also mini desk vacuum, does it get any better," confused OP stated.

10. For only $1.50!

"Bins treasure. Lock was broken and needed some extra care but could not pass up this leather beauty," anonymous user shared.

11. "Cookie jar and a music box."

12. "Found an Hermes scarf in the bins this weekend, couldn’t believe it!"

13. Great find!

"$315 Tika Leather Duffle. Scored For $10," Redditor posted.

14. "Just found a 1945 WW2 Ike jacket at the bins moments ago!"

15. Cute!

"Two Kitchenaid mixers for $22 total. GW airport bins and GW Milwaukee (OR) bins," OP stated.

16. That blanket and cat is meant to be!

"$2 for the faux fur blanket...stray cat was free, " OP posted.

17. "Found a bin full of vintage Pendleton, all made in the USA virgin wool pieces!"

18. "My wife's find a couple days ago."

Redditor added, "In a small cloth pouch at the bottom of a mostly clothing bin. Stamped 925 sterling and a real turquoise stone!"

19. "Vintage quilt, courtesy of the bins!"

20. "Exquisite" is the perfect word.

21. Wow!

User u/BrianDuggan said, "Spiewak Golden Fleece N3-B Flight Parka from the bins! These retail at over $800!"

22. "Kate Spade in the Bins???"

"Both in really good shape. I'm not even sure how stuff ends up in the bins and not the store," OP continued.

23. "Look at this find! A vintage 70s 4/6 boho prairie lace dress."

OP added, "It won't fit anyone in my household but I had to buy it the price was crazy good, so I bought it to resell! (Yes it's still available!)"

24. Fantastic!

"Rescued from the bins! Pair of Robert Sonneman for George Kovacs Feather Lamps," OP shared.

25. "Goodwill bins come through for me again."

Redditor added, "It still had tags from REI on it. I'm super excited because I needed a new daypack."

26. "Found within my first hour at the bins , my best $3 pickup ever."

27. Disney!

Redditor excitedly posted, "Could not believe my eyes when they set this out in the toy section!!! It’s a 1977 Disneyland Weebles playset!"

28. "Wait what's that?"

29. "Found an awesome never used vintage carbon steel Chinese cleaver and used it to prepare the most delicious BLT."

30. For reaaaal?

"Someone boxed up their Playstation collection and donated it. I was lucky enough to be standing at the right place at the right time."

"Ps2, psp, psp vita," OP stated. Also, a commenter said that it's probably a mom helping their college kid 'clean'.

31. "Found today in Oklahoma."

32. "Vintage 1940’s picnic basket!"

33. "Found a Pendleton wool coat that someone put back. $4"

34. So much win!

Redditor shared, "Randomly scrolling through caligraphy at 1am and thinking, hmm that looks cool maybe worth trying. Soon after the bins provide a random assortment of fountain and caligraphy pens."

35. Awesome!

"Found this lil house / jewelry box this weekend! My fave part is the garage door that opens into a drawer," Redditor captioned.

36. This is alarmingly good!

"Picked Up This Cute Flip Clock Today At A Local Thrift Store For 50 Cents. Works Perfectly!"

37. "Outerwear finds from the bins."

38. "Autographed Jane Goodall print for $3 at the bins!"

39. Minimalist items

As mentioned by OP, "Something something the simple things in life. Couple of my favorite finds that see daily use."

40. Scarves to your beautiful.

"My silk scarf collection from the bins. Can’t believe how little I paid for such pretty things," u/justicebeaver34 posted.

41. "Dewalt 18 v SCORE"

42. Lovely!

Disney fan posted, "Found this Disney Parks exclusive dress in the bins! They no longer sell this one I saved it from the landfill and found it a new home with a Disney lover."

43. The blender version of Nokia.

Redditor u/lionsrawrr posted, "Two months ago I found my white whale, a vitamix. Two days ago I found a second one! Guess I'm a collector now?"

44. Nice dress.

"I've been going to (and loving) the Denver bins for a long time but just discovered this sub after posting my latest treasure. Yesterday, I found a beautiful vintage dress that fits like a glove."

45. "Throwback to elementary school computer lab days in the 90s."

46. "Found a Pokémon binder at the hardline full of first edition Pokémon cards Haul."

47. Pendleton

OP happily stated, "A couple weeks ago I saw someone post in here that they’d found a Pendleton wool blanket at the bins, and I’d been sulking ever since. Until I found my own!"

48. "Big find today!"

OP continued, "Found some tropical teal dunks in really good condition just gotta clean em up and boom! New dunks for only $2."

49. "Found These At The Bins!"

50. "46lbs of electronics & games for $32.02!"

It's not wrong to buy cheap things especially if you have more important things to pay for your money. Nowadays, it is necessary to be practical and there is definitely no harm in buying things that others no longer need.

Aside from the fact that it saves you more money, it's also helpful for the environment by lessening waste. Just make sure all the items are cleaned before using them.

Mary