9 Items I'd Never Buy From Value Village, Even As A Die-Hard Thrifter

Bedding

As much as I love to save money, bedding is something I would personally not buy from Value Village, or any other thrift store for that matter.

The intimate nature of bedding means it is susceptible to accumulating allergens, bed bugs and unseen bacteria over time, and although it can be washed on a hot cycle, something about buying bedding secondhand just makes me feel a bit uneasy.

I love nothing more than snuggling down in fresh, cozy sheets, and I think I'd always sleep a lot easier knowing somebody else hasn't snuggled up in my bedding before me.

Towels

Like bedding, there's just something about buying towels from a thrift store that makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable.

Of course, it is possible to wash towels on a hot wash to remove bacteria, but that could leave them feeling a bit crispy and scratchy. To be honest, I've never seen new-looking, fluffy, plush towels in a secondhand store before, so I always prefer to opt for new ones to avoid the feeling of having shared my towels with a stranger.

One exception to this general rule though is for my dog. For her post-muddy walks, I would happily buy secondhand towels (which would be washed on hot before using), as she doesn't need super soft, fluffy towels and these often have a short lifespan anyway, so it would be wasteful to buy them brand new in this instance.

Electronics

There are some secondhand items you just can't test the quality and condition of until you get them home — and electronics are among them.

For me, it's usually not worth the risk (or the money) to buy an electronic item from a thrift store like Value Village if I'm unable to test the product before buying it to make sure it works properly and safely.

Former employees have told Narcity in the past that Value Village electronics are often "knocked down or dropped onto the floor," which honestly aligns with my experience of those products being pretty inconsistent in quality.

In most secondhand stores, including Value Village, you usually can't get a cash refund for faulty purchases. While you may be able to get store credit in some circumstances, in my opinion, it's just easier to buy these types of products brand new.

Underwear

This one probably needs no explanation, but did you know that some thrift stores — including some Value Village locations — do sell secondhand undergarments?

I'm not a judgmental person, so if someone is buying these products and keeping them out of landfill, good for them! But it's not something I'd personally be comfortable with.

As I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to buy products like this brand new, I'd prefer to do so!

Earrings

​Although I'd definitely pick up some types of jewellery from Value Village, like a necklace, watch or bracelet, for example, earrings are generally a product I'd steer clear of.

As earrings are directly inserted into a piercing hole in the skin, there are a few hygiene concerns for me. Although they can, of course, be cleaned, the risk of any type of residual bacteria from somebody else's piercings makes me feel a bit grossed out.

CDs, DVDs and vinyls

CDs, DVDs and vinyls are likely among the most popular items bought at thrift stores, so this one is probably a controversial take!

However, similar to electronics, I'm always cautious about spending money on products that I can't guarantee will work as expected once I get them home, especially if I know I can't return them at a later date if they're faulty.

A former Value Village employee told Narcity that in his experience, only around half of the records he bought during his time at the store actually worked, with many discs ending up scratched and dinged either by their previous owners or their bumpy life in the store.

Of course, the upside is that products like CDs, DVDs and records are usually pretty cheap to buy at Value Village so for a few dollars (or less) per item, you might be prepared to take the chance.

Expensive designer items

If you're one of the lucky shoppers, you might be able to snag a genuine designer item at a great price from a thrift store.

However, I'm usually wary of designer products in secondhand stores like Value Village, especially if the item has a hefty price tag. Why? Well, because most Value Village employees are not experts in authenticating items like handbags, clothing, shoes and accessories.

Unless the item I'm buying has a genuine certificate of authenticity, or something else that proves it's not a fake, then I'm careful not to get too excited and splurge — because there's really no guarantee that the product is genuine.

If it's affordable and you like the design regardless of the brand name, then sure! Why not add it to your cart? But if you're buying for the designer name alone and the price is marked up for that reason, be sure the item is what it says it is before spending!

If you want brand-name products on a budget, consider shopping from secondhand shops that specialize in authenticating designer goods, or look for new bargains in stores like Winners or Marshalls.

Cushions and pillows

I've seen countless cozy, inviting cushions and pillows for sale in stores like Value Village, but I've always opted to leave them behind.

Research suggests that pillows and cushions are often full of nasties like dead skin cells, dust mites and even potentially bed bugs, which is off-putting enough by itself.

While washing or cleaning these items may go some way to eliminating these microscopic hitchhikers, it's usually not possible to wash these items hot enough to make me feel reassured that I haven't brought home any unwanted visitors.

For me, cushions and pillows (much like bedding and towels) are just worth buying brand new if you're able to.

Board games

While I'd be happy to purchase plastic kids' toys and certain games from Value Village, I'm always wary about buying puzzles and board games specifically.

In my experience, board games and puzzles almost always end up in thrift stores as incomplete sets or with missing pieces, which can be quite frustrating to discover when you come to use them. After all, you're not really saving money if the secondhand game you buy at a discounted price is actually unplayable!

If there's a board game I really want, I'll buy it brand new. If there's one I like the look of in a thrift store, I'll try to make sure it includes the instructions and essential playing pieces before I buy it. For jigsaw puzzles, well, there's only one way to find out!