How many of you know how to spot something of value in the clearance section or thrift store?

Question

Would you know a diamond if you held it in your hand?
Do you trust bargain bins, shops, and clearances? OR do you have a hard time telling the difference so you always trust the MSRP in the department stores?

Do you know how to distinguish a garment of good fabric and of fine make? or a shoe or handbag made well and of good materials?

Do you know what the value of it is if you saw it on clearance or on sale?

Answer 1

How many of you know how to spot something of value in the clearance section or thrift store? I think that I do.

Would you know a diamond if you held it in your hand? Possibly, too many lab and artificial stones have the same look as a diamond. But I can tell a diamond from a CZ, crystal, and rhinestone. Hold the stone face down on a piece of paper that has writing on it. Then look through the stone, if the writing is still clear, it's a fake. If the writing is fuzzy, it's real. Unless it's a shallow cut like an emerald, this hold true for diamonds (natural or lab).

Do you trust bargain bins, shops, and clearances? Yes.

OR do you have a hard time telling the difference so you always trust the MSRP in the department stores? No.

Do you know how to distinguish a garment of good fabric and of fine make? Simple. Look at the tag, it will tell you what materials the garment is made out of. Look at the seams, tug on them to see if they hold, or if they pull. Hold the fabric up, can you see through it, or is it opaque. Some fabrics are naturally translucent, but none of them should be transparent (unless it's lingerie).

Or a shoe or handbag made well and of good materials? Similar way, look at the label to find what it's made out of. Look at the seams.

Do you know what the value of it is if you saw it on clearance or on sale? Many times, yes. Sometimes, no. I just use my best judgement based on what I've seen in other stores and on line.

Answer 2

I have a shopping motto.. Not buyer beware but buyer be aware.
Everyone can learn to be a savvy bargain hunter if they use their senses. In thrift stores labels may not be in garments to read a fabric. Here are the things I do by using sight, touch, smell, and hearing.
If you know the feel of a fabric, you can tell the difference from a wool blend or cashmere. Diamonds, can't always tell by the way it feels in your hand, but they do scratch glass. I can tell the difference in rhinestones too . Old rhinestone jewelry has a far better look to it than some of the rhinestone settings that you see today. Better made, deeper, set and a different sparkle all together.
Smell.. you can certainly smell the difference in leather compared to vinyl, and see if a shoe or purse is all leather or just parts of the item are made from it. The total feel is different.
Sound of crystal, compared to leaded or glass. Different ring in fine crystal glasses, and also the feel.
Furniture.. say a chest with drawers. A solid wood piece would not have a cardboard bottom on a drawer nor would the drawers jam when opening. Could also tell you some differences in antique furniture.
Trust MSRP, no .. simply because I recognize quality and know pricing and value.
Am I cheap no.. I just decided a long time ago to buy GOODS not be sold a bill of goods.

Answer 3

first of all dept stores have anywhere from 100-200% mark up on everything. you can't always go by the MSRP. you can almost never go wrong with natural fabrics or anything that flatters your skin tone. shoes and handbags don't have to match but should not be cheap (think not from pay less) they won't last long and shoes have to carry the rest of you and should be good quality. if you need help try watching "what not to wear" on TLC. it's on friday nights I think and helped me a lot figure out what I needed to do. you don't have to spend a fortune to look good!

Answer 4

It just depends on the item in question, I can tell an item of fine quality from one of poor quality, but I also have no problm shopping in bargin bins, clearance racks or discount stores, I buy what I like, and if I can save some cash then I'm doing my whole family a favor.

Answer 5

You just gotta go to everything with a good eye and lots of good taste.

Answer 6

yes