THRIFTING 101: A Guide to Understanding Thrift Store Lingo
The thought of brushing up on trendy thrift lingo probably won’t get your heart pumping like fifty shades of gray—But I’m still thrilled to be able to add another chapter to theThrifting for Beginners series!
Welcome to part 3!
If you’ve read my blog, THRIFTING 101: The Ultimate Guide To Creating Your Thrift Wishlist then you probably already have your thrift wishlist ready. If not, what are you waiting for, start wishing and dreaming Bestie.
As for the series, it’s your ultimate roadmap to thrift success. Today we’re kicking it off with the thrift glossary you didn’t know you needed. Because thrifting is more than just shopping—it’s an adventure, a treasure hunt, and a lifestyle all rolled into one.
I would hate for you to wander into the world of thrifting only to find yourself overwhelmed and feeling like everyone around you is speaking a foreign language. Lord knows the lingo changes almost as fast as the inventory.
That’s why it’s my goal to make sure that my Thrifting for Beginners series sets you up for success, including the lingo. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to differentiate between Vintage and Retro, figure out why everyone’s talking about Thrift Flips, or understand what makes something a Holy Grail, this thrift glossary has you covered.
In this guide, we (and by we, I mean me and my bestie ChatGPT) have compiled the most comprehensive list of thrift and resale terms you’ll find anywhere online (trust me, we checked!). Whether you’re a thrifting newbie or a seasoned pro, this ultimate thrift glossary will have you talking the talk and thrifting like a boss in no time.
1. Basic Thrift Terms
Whether you’re new to thrifting or just brushing up, this section is your go-to resource for understanding the core lingo. From “Antique” to “Thrift Treasure,” these terms form the foundation of secondhand shopping.
A curated collection of secondhand frames comes together to create the most stunning gallery wall!
Antique: Items over 100 years old with historical or collectible value.
ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number): A unique identifier assigned to products listed on Amazon.
Blue Tag/Yellow Tag: Color-coded tags used in thrift stores to indicate pricing or sale categories.
Bundle Pricing: A discount offered for purchasing multiple items together.
Buy One, Get One (BOGO): A promotional deal where a second item is offered for free or at a reduced price with the purchase of the first.
Clearance: Items discounted to make room for new inventory.
Curated Collection: A selection of thrifted items chosen to fit a specific theme, style, or aesthetic.
Deadstock: New, unsold vintage items often still in their original packaging.
Designer Finds: Thrifted items from high-end or luxury brands at significantly reduced prices.
Distressed: Items designed to appear worn or aged, such as ripped jeans or shabby-chic furniture.
Estate Sale Find: An item purchased from a sale of a deceased person’s belongings, often high-quality or antique.
Faux Vintage: Modern items designed to mimic the style of vintage pieces.
Finds: Unique or valuable items discovered while thrifting.
Gently Used: Pre-owned items in excellent condition with minimal wear.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number): A standardized code used globally to identify trade items.
Honey Hole: A favorite thrift store or location consistently yielding great finds.
Holy Grail: A highly sought-after item found while thrifting.
High/Low Mixing: Styling designer or high-end pieces with thrifted, affordable items.
Limited Edition: Rare or unique items produced in small quantities.
Liquidation: The process of selling excess stock, often at reduced prices.
Mint Condition: Items in perfect condition, appearing brand new.
MPN (Manufacturer Part Number): A unique identifier assigned to a product by its manufacturer.
NIB (New In Box): Items still in their original packaging and unused.
Nostalgia Finds: Items that evoke sentimental feelings due to their association with a specific era.
NWOT (New Without Tags): New items without their original tags attached.
NWT (New With Tags): New items with their original tags still attached.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): Items made by the original manufacturer for a product.
One of a Kind (OOAK): Unique items that are the only ones of their kind.
PL (Private Label): Products manufactured by one company and sold under another company’s brand.
Pre-loved: Gently used items ready for a new owner.
Recycled Materials: Items made from reprocessed materials like fabric or plastic.
Refurbished: Items restored to a functional or near-original condition.
Repop: Modern reproductions designed to look like vintage items.
Repurposing: Giving items a new purpose or use different from their original intent.
Retro: Items inspired by past styles but not old enough to be considered vintage.
Secondhand: Previously owned items sold for reuse.
Sustainable Fashion: Clothing produced or sourced in environmentally friendly ways, including thrifting.
Sustainability: Practices that reduce environmental impact, such as buying secondhand.
Thrift Affair: A personal connection or loyalty to a specific thrift store.
Thrift Burnout: Fatigue or frustration from excessive thrifting.
Thrift Cheat: Visiting a thrift store outside of your regular favorites.
Thrift Purpose: Entering a thrift store with specific goals or items in mind.
Thrift Tools: Helpful items for thrifting, like measuring tapes or fabric swatches.
Thrift Treasure: A valuable or unique item discovered while thrifting.
Thrift Tunes: Music that enhances the thrifting experience.
Thrift Vent: Sharing frustrations or challenges faced while thrifting.
Thrift Warrior: A highly skilled and passionate thrifter.
Thrift Zone: A focused and successful mindset while thrifting.
Thrifted: Items purchased from thrift stores.
Thrifted Gems: Particularly special or high-quality thrifted items.
Thrift Score: A rare or valuable item found at a great price.
Tonnage: A term for thrift stores with large volumes of items.
Upcycling: Transforming old items into something new and useful.
Vintage: Items typically 20+ years old, often associated with a particular era or style.
Vintage Finds: Unique vintage items discovered while thrifting.
Vintage-Inspired: Modern items designed to mimic vintage styles.
WYSIBI (When You See It, Buy It): Encouraging thrifters to purchase unique items immediately upon discovery.
2. Sale & Discount Terms
Thrift shopping is all about scoring great deals! This section decodes common sale and discount terms, helping you navigate promotions like a pro and make the most of every thrift trip.
I totally scored this pair of vintage plaster wall plaques at a Village Discount Half-Off sale. For the low price of 43.50, Yes, please! Thrifted finds just got even sweeter.
End-of-Season Sale: A sale held at the end of a season to clear out inventory and make room for new stock. Often a great time for deep discounts.
Final Sale: Items that cannot be returned or exchanged after purchase. Common in clearance or discount sections.
Flash Sale: A short-term sale event, typically lasting only a few hours or a day, with significant discounts.
Half-Off Sale: A promotional event where certain items or categories are discounted by 50%.
Markdown: A reduction in the original price of an item, usually to encourage sales.
Tag Sale: A sale where items are tagged with prices, often held at community centers, homes, or thrift shops.
3. Clothing & Item Condition Terms
Thrifters know that condition matters. In this section, we break down the most-used phrases and abbreviations for describing pre-owned items, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
When 'as is' means one lamp’s waving hello, and the other’s taking a break because he lost his hand. Perfectly imperfect and still fabulous!
1P (First-Party Sellers): Products sold directly by the manufacturer or brand rather than through a third-party reseller.
3P (Third-Party Sellers): Independent sellers offering items on platforms like Amazon or eBay, distinct from the original manufacturer.
As-Is: Items sold in their current condition, often with no guarantees or refunds due to imperfections or damage.
Collectible: Items valued for their rarity, uniqueness, or appeal to collectors, such as limited-edition toys or vintage postcards.
EUC (Excellent Used Condition): Pre-owned items that show little to no signs of wear and appear almost new.
Fake Finds: Items falsely marketed as vintage, designer, or collectible but are actually replicas or reproductions.
GUC (Good Used Condition): Items that are pre-owned and show minor signs of wear but remain functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Mismarked Items: Items priced incorrectly, either too high or too low, due to labeling errors.
Overstocked: Refers to stores with an excess inventory of certain items, often leading to discounted prices.
RTB (Ready to Buy): Items in excellent condition requiring no repairs or restoration before purchase.
Salvage: Items that are damaged or in need of repairs but still hold value for restoration or parts.
Size Inconsistency: Variations in sizing due to differences in eras or brands, making accurate fitting more challenging.
Stale Inventory: Unsold items that have been in a store for an extended period, often marked down to clear space.
TTS (True to Size): Clothing that fits according to the standard sizing chart without variation.
VGC (Very Good Condition): Items that are pre-owned but show minimal wear and remain in excellent overall shape.
4. Thrifting Strategies & Practices
For those aiming to level up their skills, this section of our ultimate thrift glossary highlights advanced strategies every thrifting beginner should know. From “BOLO” to “Thrift Flip,” these tips will have you thrifting like a pro in no time.
When the bidding war gets fierce, but you emerge victorious. This ornate frame? Totally worth it!
Auction: A sale where items are sold to the highest bidder, either online or in person.
Be On the Lookout (BOLO): A term used by resellers and thrifters to identify high-value items worth searching for.
Bidding Wars: Competitive situations where multiple buyers aggressively bid on an item, often driving up its price.
Bins: Refers to large containers found in outlets like Goodwill, where items are sold by weight rather than individually priced.
Brick & Mortar (B&M): Physical stores as opposed to online-only platforms.
BST (Buy, Sell, Trade): A system where items are traded or exchanged rather than purchased outright.
DIY (Do-It-Yourself): Projects where thrifted items are transformed or repurposed through personal creativity.
Flipping: Buying thrifted items to resell them at a higher price, often after refurbishment or improvement.
Found Object Art: Artwork created using thrifted or discarded items, giving them a new life as part of an artistic composition.
Get the Goods: Successfully finding and purchasing sought-after thrift items.
Hunting: Actively searching for valuable or desirable items during a thrift trip.
ISO (In Search Of): Commonly used in online thrift groups to indicate a buyer’s specific desired item.
KPI (Key Performance Indicator): Metrics used by resellers to track the success of their thrift flipping or inventory management.
Markdown Arbitrage: The practice of purchasing marked-down items to resell them at higher prices elsewhere.
RA (Retail Arbitrage): Buying discounted items from retail stores to resell them online for a profit.
Repurpose: Using an item for a different purpose than originally intended, like turning mason jars into planters.
Score: Successfully finding a valuable or high-quality item at a thrift store.
Snooze and Lose: A phrase used to describe missing out on a great item because of hesitation.
Sourcing: The process of finding inventory for resale, typically through thrifting, estate sales, or online marketplaces.
STG (Sh*t to Gold): Transforming an overlooked item into something valuable through restoration or creativity.
Thrift Bust: A shopping trip that results in no worthwhile finds, often leading to frustration.
Thrift Flip: Buying thrifted items to refurbish and resell for a profit.
Thrift Haul: A collection of items purchased during a single thrift trip, often shared online or with friends.
Thrift Spree: Visiting multiple thrift stores in one session or buying many items in a single trip.
Thrift Store Challenge: A popular activity where shoppers attempt to find specific items or meet certain goals, like creating an outfit for under $20.
Thrift Trippin': Traveling to explore thrift stores in different areas or regions.
Treasure Hunting: Searching for rare, valuable, or unique items while thrifting.
5. Specialized Thrift Store Categories
From local antique stores to massive thrift malls, secondhand shopping comes in all shapes and sizes. This section covers the different types of thrift shops and sales, so you know exactly where to go to find your next treasure.
Snagged this beauty in an online auction—because I’m not above thrifting in PJs!
Antique Store: A shop specializing in the sale of antiques—items over 100 years old, often with historical or collectible value.
Barn Sale: A sale held in a barn or rural setting, often featuring vintage, antique, or secondhand goods.
Boutiques Selling Pre-Loved Items: High-end shops specializing in secondhand luxury items, often designer clothing, handbags, and accessories.
Charity Shop: A thrift store operated by a nonprofit organization, with proceeds going toward a charitable cause.
Clothing Swap: An event where participants trade gently used clothing with one another, often without any money exchanged.
Consignment Store: A shop where individuals sell their items through the store, with a percentage of the sale going to the store owner.
Estate Sale: A sale held to liquidate a household’s belongings, often featuring high-value furniture, antiques, and collectibles.
Flea Market: A market where vendors sell secondhand, vintage, or handmade goods, typically in an outdoor or semi-permanent location.
Garage Sales / Yard Sales: Informal sales held at private residences where pre-owned items are sold directly by the owner.
In-Person Auctions: Live, physical auction events where buyers bid on items in real-time.
Liquidation Stores: Shops specializing in selling overstocked, returned, or discontinued retail goods at discounted prices.
Online Auctions: Websites or platforms (like eBay) where buyers can bid on secondhand items during a specified time frame.
Online Marketplaces: Platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and Facebook Marketplace that connect buyers and sellers of secondhand goods.
Pawn Shops: Stores where customers can sell or pawn items like jewelry, electronics, and tools, with an option to reclaim them later.
Resale Shop: A store that sells secondhand items, which may include both consigned and donated goods.
Rummage Sale: A community or organization-held sale featuring donated secondhand items, often at discounted prices.
Swap Meets: Events where participants exchange or sell secondhand goods, often more casual than flea markets.
Thrift Mall: A large thrift store or collection of smaller shops under one roof, often with themed sections.
Thrift Stores: Retail outlets selling secondhand items, often donated by individuals. Popular chains include Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Thrift Stores Online: Virtual platforms for secondhand shopping, such as ThredUp or eBay.
Upcycled and Repurposed Stores: Shops selling creatively redesigned or repurposed items, such as furniture refinished from reclaimed wood.
Vintage Stores: Retailers specializing in authentic vintage clothing, accessories, or home goods, typically from specific decades.
6. Online Thrifting Lingo
Secondhand shopping has gone digital! This section explores the terms and platforms you’ll encounter when thrifting online, so you can navigate virtual thrift stores and marketplaces with ease.
When I conveniently “forget” to factor the $3 handling fee into the price so it feels like an even better deal—but hey, this ornate frame makes it worth every penny!
Depop: A popular app for buying and selling vintage or secondhand items, often with a younger audience.
FBM (Fulfillment by Merchant): In online resale, the seller ships items directly to the buyer, rather than using a platform’s logistics.
FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon): Amazon handles storage, shipping, and customer service for sellers’ products.
Handling Fees are charges added to cover the costs of processing, packaging, and shipping items purchased through an online auction platform.
MCF (Multi-Channel Fulfillment): Amazon’s logistics service for sellers fulfilling orders from multiple platforms.
PayPal Friends and Family (PPFF): A payment method often used in peer-to-peer thrift sales, with no buyer protection.
Poshmark: A social commerce platform for buying and selling secondhand fashion, accessories, and home decor.
Shipping Fees: Additional costs for delivering purchased items, common in online thrifting.
ThredUp: An online thrift store offering secondhand clothing, accessories, and home goods.
Virtual Thrift Store: An online platform or website acting as a digital thrift shop.
7. Thrift Store Etiquette & Behavior
Thrifting is a community, and like any community, it comes with its own set of rules. This section offers key etiquette tips to ensure you shop respectfully and get along with fellow thrifters.
The early bird gets the amazing finds like this ornate mirror—and maybe a smug sense of victory too. Totally worth all those early mornings!
Cash Only: Some thrift stores or garage sales only accept cash payments, so shoppers should plan accordingly.
Early Bird: A shopper who arrives as soon as a store opens or before a sale begins to get first dibs on items.
Last Call: The final moments of a sale, often when prices are reduced further to clear out inventory.
No Holds: A policy preventing shoppers from reserving items for later purchase, common in competitive thrifting environments.
Thrift Store Therapy: The act of thrifting as a form of stress relief, often tied to the joy of treasure hunting.
8. Advanced Reseller Terms
For those diving into the world of reselling, this section provides the lingo you’ll need to succeed. Learn how to talk like a pro and maximize your profits with these advanced terms.
Familiarize yourself with the terms of service at your local auctions to ensure you can snag amazing pieces for an incredible price.
ASP (Average Sale Price): The average price of items sold by a reseller, used to track profitability.
GTIN (Global Trade Item Number): A standardized code for tracking and identifying retail products worldwide.
MAP (Minimum Advertised Price): The lowest price a retailer can publicly advertise for a product, often enforced by manufacturers.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The smallest number of items a supplier will sell to a buyer.
NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement): A legal agreement to protect confidential information, common in reseller contracts.
OOS (Out of Stock): An item that is currently unavailable for purchase.
PPC (Pay Per Click): An advertising model where sellers pay for each click on their online ads, often used in e-commerce.
ROI (Return on Investment): The profitability ratio of how much a reseller earns compared to their investment in inventory.
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): A unique identifier used to track products in inventory.
TOS (Terms of Service): The rules and guidelines for using a platform, such as eBay or Poshmark.
UPC (Universal Product Code): A barcode used to identify retail products.
VA (Virtual Assistant): A remote worker who assists with administrative tasks, like managing online thrift sales.
WL (White Label): Products manufactured by one company but sold under another company’s branding.
WS (Wholesale): Bulk purchases of inventory, often at reduced prices, for resale.
WTB (Want to Buy): Common in online groups, indicating someone is looking to purchase a specific item.
YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary): A disclaimer used to indicate that results or availability may differ for each shopper.
9. Bonus Terms
Just for fun! These bonus terms capture the unique quirks and joys of thrifting, from thrift store soundtracks to those unexpected finds that make your day.
Find Fortune: The act of discovering unexpected thrift treasures, often high-value or sentimental items.
Thrift Muzak: Background music in thrift stores that sets the mood for shopping
Ready to Master the Art of Thrifting?
Thrifting: where quirky porcelain figurines and pure magic hide on every shelf. You never know what you'll find!
Congratulations, bestie—you’ve just unlocked the ultimate thrifting glossary! With this guide in hand, you’re now equipped to decode thrift lingo like a seasoned pro. Whether you're hunting for a Honey Hole, planning your next Thrift Spree, or dreaming of that elusive Holy Grail, you’ve got the knowledge to navigate the world of thrifting with confidence.
But the thrifting knowledge doesn’t end here! Don’t miss the next step in your thrifting journey: THRIFTING 101: Essential Etiquette Tips Every Shopper Needs! In this guide, I’ll teach you everything you need to know to thrift respectfully and steer clear of any common thrifting faux pas.
Ready to join our little thrifting community? Let me know if I’ve missed any terms you expected to see in the comments below—I would love to hear from you! And don’t forget to bookmark this glossary for your next adventure. Happy thrifting!