I work at Goodwill and there are ‘always name brands’ but you need to know the exact section to look carefully

A GOODWILL employee has revealed some useful tips on how to find the most suitable branded items in store.

Thrift stores are treasure troves of valuable items for people who are willing to spend time perusing the inventory.

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Jane claimed to have worked at Goodwill for over five years and shared some shopping secrets with GoBanking Fees.

She advised that the store is not a “quick stop on the way home” type of place.

“This is a ‘bring a snack and a bottle of water’ experience,” she said.

“Make sure you know the opening hours and plan to be there for at least two hours so you can take advantage of the time.

“You’ll see people ravaging like they’re on ‘Supermarket Sweep,’ but if that’s not your speed, don’t feel like you need to keep up.

Make sure you have enough time to methodically sift through everything to find the best items.

“To make the most of your purchases, looking for name brands is not only a better value, but it’s also better for the longevity of the item in your closet,” said Jane.

She often finds brands like J. Crew, Anthropologie and Patagonia buried behind more common labels.

Taking enough time to look through everything could be the difference between finding a pair of jeans that’s worth $100 and a pair that’s worth $20.

TRYING

One disadvantage of shopping at Goodwill is that the stores often don’t have fitting rooms.

Since stores don’t accept returns, taking a chance on whether something will fit can be a waste of money.

“Unless you’re planning on reselling, you need to know the sizes of who you’re buying from and their favorite brands,” Jane said.

“Take trips to the retail store to try things on, to see how Madewell fits in compared to J.Crew, and stay tuned.”

Size often varies between brands, so it’s best to try on jeans from different places.

AN ECONOMIC TREASURE

Cameron Bowser is an avid saver and has proven Jane’s point about famous brands being at Goodwill time and time again.

On your TikTok (@cameron.bowser), he shared a video of a pair of Versace jeans he found in the store.

They were on sale for just $15, despite costing up to $1,000 when new.

How to identify valuable items at the thrift store

Everyone reads these stories of savers making big savings and even profits from their rare finds, but how do they know what to look for?

A shopping expert has revealed what you should look for when you’re at thrift stores to save money.

Jeanel Alvarado Head of Retail says kitchenware is an important thing to look out for, as retailers will use similar materials, colors and patterns, but thrift stores will have unique objects that can add personality to your kitchen.

Thrift stores are a gold mine for purchasing pieces for your home and you can even find new items with a generous discount applied.

“I would rather thrift kitchen and tableware items from a thrift store than a dollar store for value and function,” Alvarado explained to Yahoo.

“However, thrift stores often receive donated items from other businesses, so you may be able to find a better quality item that is still in its original packaging.”

Cameron noticed an important detail on the back pocket of the pants that made them particularly valuable on the resale market – the famous Versace Medusa logo.

“These are very clean,” Cameron said, excitedly placing them in his cart.

He was able to sell them on eBay for $99.

Meanwhile, a Sephora employee revealed a secret way to get free samples.

An American Eagle employee shared where to check in store if you don’t see your size.