Most people and amateur thrifters do not decipher characteristics between a thrift store and a thrift shop. To most, they are the same thing: a cheap, used clothing store. However, though these stores operate on the same basis of selling used clothing, there are crucial differences between the establishments.
1. Selection
An example of a thrift store is a store like Goodwill or Salvation Army. These stores are ones where individuals can donate their clothes and other items for a tax deduction, or where any unneeded things are sent. The only filtering process that occurs at these stores are ones to make sure that the clothes are clean and do not have any holes in them.
Vagabond and Buffalo Exchange are good examples of thrift shops in the San Marcos-Austin area. Both of these stores will show up when an internet search for thrift store is made, but these establishments are closer to a thrift shop. Vagabond and shops like it are curated thrift stores. This means that the clothes in the stores are purchased by the stores and go through a careful selection process to insure quality materials and style. Buffalo Exchange is a consignment store where 100% of the items in the store were sold directly to the store by customers. These stores operate on a buy, sell, trade mentality.
2. Price
Wheres at a thrift store you could purchase a pair of jeans for $5-10, the same pair of jeans would cost anywhere from $15-100 at a thrift shop. This is because at a thrift store prices are chosen on a broad spectrum, and most of the time, no matter the brand, all jeans will be the same price. The same goes for all other items in a thrift store.
At a thrift shop however, items are priced on an individual basis. This gives employees the ability to appraise items on standards of current fashion trends, brand, and quality. This is the reason why one might see outlandish prices at these shops.
3. Shoppers
At a thrift store, one can expect a wide variety of shoppers. This crowd will consist mostly of individuals who are there to take advantage of the low prices. However, just because someone is shopping at a thrift store does not mean they are in a squeeze for cash. Many shop at these stores to find unique and vintage items that they could not find anywhere else.
Thrift Shop patrons have the same goals of unique fashion as some thrift store customers, but they are willing to spend a little bit extra to get there. Every item that can be found at a thrift shop can be found at a thrift store as well. The reason many prefer to spend extra money going to a thrift shop is because the process is much easier. These shoppers would rather spend money to bypass the junk and random items that one has to dig through at a thrift store.
One of these establishments is not superior to the other. They sell similar clothing, but one specializes in convenience while the other specializes in low pricing. I am a loyal thrift store patron, but honestly sometimes I would rather visit a thrift shop than a thrift store just because there is a greater chance of finding what I want with less trouble.
Thrift Sitch 