What brand names do you look for when thrifting?

**Early Bird** · 02-10-2009, 10:13 AM

We all know that 'high-quality' is desirable. But sometimes I get fooled by something that looks nice on the rack, but turns out to be a disappointment.

What good-quality brand names do you watch for on the 2ndhand market?

**Spirit Deer** · 02-10-2009, 10:35 AM

I don't buy by brand for pretty much anything. I know if something is of good quality, or if it's not and it's cheap enough, if it will serve my purpose in spite of its limitations. And I refuse to pay extra for anything just because of the name on the label.

Case in point: Cast iron cookware. I have some name brand pieces but also a lot that have no name. Some of the no-name ones are good quality, as good or better than the 'name' pieces. I've gotten so I can recognize the good ones from the bad ones and have bought accordingly. One of the no-name ones I recognized as being good quality so I bought it, and found out later it was actually a high end brand that was manufactured without the name. If I shopped only by brand, I would have missed out on it.

**tbs727** · 02-10-2009, 10:41 AM

I don't specifically go looking for brand names, but there are a few that I check for. I look for brand name shoes. Yesterday I bought some Teva's for $3. I look for old navy brand jeans because that is what I wear. I can't really think of anything else.

**thefrug** · 02-10-2009, 10:52 AM

I don't look for brands. Whatever will fit me as I'm not a petite stick figure LOL
Sides, if I remember right, waaay back in the 80's when most of ya's was kids ( joke here), there was a stink about how all the name brands were using sweat shops in third world countries just like the so called no names. So, to me it doesn't matter about the name on the label. Thats all whooey anyways.

**Momto2Boyz** · 02-10-2009, 11:11 AM

I don't check for brands, but I will only shop at thrift stores with fitting rooms. Our salvation Army got rid of their fitting rooms and lost my business. I really prefer to know how it is going to look before i get home and it doesn't fit!

DH always looks for Hollister and Abercrombie. He finds Abercrombie jeans, which he totally loves for $3. He has a visa gift card for $75, and decided that he would use "part" of it to buy some new jeans at Abercrombie. I laughed histerically at him, then took him to Abercrombie's website, where the "cheap" jeans were $79! He changed his mind real fast and decided to keep watching the thrift store for more jeans!

**Neeley** · 02-10-2009, 11:30 AM

A few of the brand names we look for are...

For my kids:
Hollister, Abercrombie, Lucky Brand, Americn Eagle, UnderArmour, NorthFace, Aeropostle, 7 For All Mankind

For DH:
Polo, UnderAmour, (He shops for himself so I don't know all of the brands he prefers)

For Myself:
Karen Kane
Ralph Lauren
Coldwater Creek (their jeans fit me best)

**Early Bird** · 02-10-2009, 11:56 AM

Here are some of the brands I've had good luck with:

Lands' End
Eddie Bauer
Cabella's (gore-tex jacket for DH)
Travelsmith
Talbot's
Hollister (for the kids)

I tend to look for natural fibers -- cotton, wool, linen, and blends with a high proportion of natural fibers. Occasionally I've found cashmere.

**JerryG** · 02-10-2009, 12:06 PM

Anything by Levi's

**homesteadmamma** · 02-10-2009, 12:09 PM

I don't look for brands. I look for value in what I'm purchasing, that the price is right and if the item is in good shape. Brands don't mean a thing to me.

**rudypoo98** · 02-10-2009, 12:13 PM

The thrift shop here everything is 20 cents and there are 2 others in the neighboring towns where everything is free.So at these prices I don't look for brands just what I'll actually wear.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-10-2009, 02:02 PM

Over the past several years as so many companies have moved their production off-shore and their quality has deteriorated, I've gotten so I look more for vintage things of good quality, rather than brand names.