Thrift stores like Goodwill, Savers, and Deseret Industries are always open, always stocked, and organized enough to browse efficiently. That's the upside. The downside: professional resellers hit them daily, and stores have gotten significantly better at pricing brand names, vintage items, and collectibles at or near their actual value. The era of finding a Patagonia fleece at Goodwill for $4 is mostly over in most markets.
Yard sales are genuinely hit or miss. You'll visit some that aren't worth the gas. But when you hit a good one — someone clearing out a lifetime of quality possessions with little knowledge of current values — the deals are remarkable. Cast iron cookware for $2. A wool coat for $5. Items that would be $30 at Goodwill go for $1 at a yard sale because the seller just wants them gone by noon.
Use yard sales on Saturday mornings for volume, variety, and genuine discovery. Use thrift stores during the week when you're looking for something specific and can't find it at sales. They complement each other far better than they compete.
Thrift stores require less planning and are more predictable. Yard sales, especially with route planning through Loopd, require more upfront effort but typically reward that effort with significantly better prices and the occasional remarkable find.
Loopd shows you every sale nearby, lets you build a route, and navigates you stop to stop. Free to use.
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