Bin Store vs. Thrift Store: Which Is Right for You?

Two Very Different Ways to Shop Secondhand

The secondhand market has expanded enormously over the past decade, and two formats dominate the landscape for everyday shoppers: bin stores and thrift stores. They both sell used goods at below-retail prices, but beyond that, they're remarkably different experiences.

This comparison is designed to be fair to both. Neither format is universally better — each serves a different type of shopper and a different set of goals. By the end, you should have a clear sense of which one (or which combination) fits your needs.

How Pricing Works

This is the most fundamental difference between the two formats.

Thrift stores price items individually. Every piece of clothing, every dish, every lamp has its own tag. Staff sort items, assess condition, and set prices based on what they think an item is worth. At Goodwill, a pair of jeans might be $7.99. At a well-curated Salvation Army or local shop, the same jeans could be $5 or $15 depending on brand and condition.

The advantage is predictability. You know exactly what you're paying for each item before you commit. You can decide whether a specific item is worth a specific price.

Bin stores price by volume — either by the pound or at flat low per-item rates (often $1-5 per item depending on the store and category). You're buying in bulk whether you intend to or not, because every item in your cart contributes to your total. There are no individual price tags.

The advantage is lower cost per item if you're buying multiple things. A pound of clothing at $1.49/lb might represent three or four items. The math often works out to $0.40-$1.50 per piece — dramatically less than thrift store pricing.

Winner for lowest cost: Bin stores, usually — but only if you're buying enough items to benefit from the per-pound model.

Product Condition and Variety

Thrift stores receive donations directly from the public and process them at the store level. Staff sort, inspect, and price items before they hit the floor. Items in very poor condition are typically culled or recycled. What you see on the floor has passed at least a basic quality filter.

You'll find a broad mix of everyday household items, clothing, books, kitchenware, furniture, and more. Inventory turns over regularly as new donations come in.

Bin stores sit further downstream in the secondhand supply chain. They source primarily from liquidation channels — Amazon returns, retail overstock, unsold thrift store merchandise. The sorting and curation that happens at thrift stores largely doesn't happen at bin stores. Items arrive mixed and unfiltered.

This means bin store inventory can be a wider range: pristine never-used items right next to damaged goods right next to completely broken items. The lack of curation creates the treasure-hunt dynamic that bin store regulars love — and the frustration that casual shoppers sometimes feel.

Condition consistency: Thrift stores. Potential for exceptional finds: Bin stores.

The Shopping Experience

These two formats feel completely different as physical environments.

Thrift stores look and function more like traditional retail:

• Items are organized by category (clothing by size, books by genre, etc.)
• Prices are clearly marked on each item
• You can browse at your own pace without time pressure
• The environment is generally clean and accessible
• Great for bringing kids or shopping with a friend

Bin stores are warehouse environments built for efficiency and volume:

• Large bins or tables filled with unsorted mixed merchandise
• No individual price tags — weigh and pay
• Bin rotations create time pressure (the best stuff goes fast)
• Physically demanding — you'll be standing, bending, digging
• Can be crowded during peak times or bin drops
• Less predictable from visit to visit

Neither experience is inherently better, but they attract different personalities. If you enjoy the meditative quality of browsing through organized racks, thrift stores suit you. If you enjoy the high-energy hunt and the unpredictability, bin stores are your format.

Who Each Format Serves Best

Thrift stores are best for:

• Casual shoppers who want to browse without commitment
• Families with kids who need a relaxed environment
• Home decorators looking for specific items (a lamp, a frame, a particular type of dish)
• Clothing shoppers who want to check sizes and condition before buying
• Shoppers with limited time who can't afford a long dig session
• First-time secondhand shoppers who want a less intimidating introduction

Bin stores are best for:

• Resellers who need low acquisition costs to maintain margins
• Bulk buyers who need volume (clothing for a large family, supplies for a business)
• Deal hunters who enjoy the treasure-hunt experience
• Amazon return shoppers who want access to liquidation inventory
• Shoppers who can visit regularly and build knowledge of inventory cycles
• Experienced secondhand shoppers who know what they're looking for quickly

Price Comparison: Real-World Examples

Prices will vary significantly by location, store, and inventory quality. The bin store prices above assume a $1.49/lb rate for soft goods and flat pricing on hard goods.

The Quality Question

One area where thrift stores consistently outperform bin stores is in knowing what you're getting. At a thrift store, you can examine every item before committing to it individually. You can check for damage, missing pieces, and wear.

At a bin store, you're often making faster decisions under the pressure of other shoppers also digging through the same bin. Items may have less space to properly inspect. Electronics typically can't be tested. The "as-is, all sales final" policy at most bin stores means mistakes are costly.

For buyers who are risk-averse or focused on specific items, this matters. For buyers who are comfortable with the uncertainty and price the risk into their willingness to pay, it's less of an issue.

Can You Use Both?

Yes — and many experienced secondhand shoppers do. A common strategy:

• Use bin stores for high-volume, low-risk categories (clothing, books, basic housewares)
• Use thrift stores for higher-ticket items where condition matters more (electronics, collectibles, furniture)

Some resellers also use bin stores for sourcing and thrift stores for "cherry picking" — identifying high-value individual items that have slipped through without appropriate pricing.

The two formats complement each other more than they compete.

The Bottom Line

Choose bin stores if you prioritize lowest possible cost, enjoy the treasure-hunt experience, buy in volume, or are reselling to build margin.

Choose thrift stores if you want predictable individual pricing, a more organized shopping environment, better condition consistency, or a lower-stress experience.

Use both if you're a serious secondhand shopper who wants the best of what each format offers.

Use Bin Store Map to find bin stores near you, and let your own experience guide you to the format that fits your style.