Secondhand & Thrift
The Thirty-Second Inspection That Prevents Most Regret
Buying used usually happens under time pressure with the seller watching. A fixed short routine catches most of what matters.
Secondhand & Thrift
Buying used well, what holds value, and where the good stuff goes.
21 articles · updated August 11, 2026 · page 2 of 2
Secondhand & Thrift
Auctions, House Clearances and Estate Sales: Where the Trade Buys
The used goods that reach a shop floor have usually passed through two or three hands first. Knowing those channels explains most…
Secondhand & Thrift
Why Second-Hand Books Are Nearly Worthless and Which Ones Are Not
Almost every used book is worth less than the cost of listing it. The exceptions follow rules that have little to do with age or…
Secondhand & Thrift
Buying Used Tools: The Category Where Old Usually Beats New
Hand tools are one of the few things where a fifty-year-old example outperforms a new budget one. The reason is metallurgy rather…
Secondhand & Thrift
Sizing, Shrinkage and Why Used Clothing Fits Unpredictably
A used garment labelled your size may be two sizes away in reality. Three separate mechanisms are responsible and only one of them…
Secondhand & Thrift
The Charity Shop Pricing Decision, From the Other Side of the Counter
Prices in a charity shop look arbitrary because the shop is solving a different problem from the one shoppers assume. It is…
Secondhand & Thrift
Smells, Stains and Mould: What Cleans Out of Used Goods and What Does Not
Some contamination is a cheap fix and some is permanent. Knowing which is which before you pay is the difference between a bargain…
Secondhand & Thrift
Consignment, Auction and Marketplace: Choosing Where to Sell Your Own Things
The right venue depends on how much your time is worth and how quickly you need the space. Value is only the third consideration.
Secondhand & Thrift
Counterfeits and Misattribution in the Used Market
The used market carries more fakes and more honest mistakes than the new one. The two look identical to a buyer and require…