Back-to-School Thrifting Tips: How to Score the Best Gear on ShopGoodwill.com
Summer’s officially wrapping up and school is soon to be back in session. Each year, billions of dollars of back-to-school supplies are newly purchased, with households spending hundreds on items likely to end up in a landfill. While it can be tempting to go to your local chain or rely on those over-priced retail stores, you have options when it comes to back-to-school shopping.
If you want to give your wallet a break, help out the planet, and shake up your back-to-school routine, you can’t go wrong with a bit of online thrifting, and ShopGoodwill.com is just the place to do it. It’s the ultimate destination for budget-conscious parents and students looking to stand out, as you’re sure to score one-of-a-kind gems you won’t find mass-produced today.
Ready for a bit of excitement (and major financial relief)? Explore a few back-to-school shopping and thrifting tips to ensure your fits make the grade this year.
The Benefits of Online Thrifting for Back-to-School Shopping
While brick-and-mortar thrift hunting can also be super fun and rewarding, digital thrifting opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your back-to-school shopping. We offer a wide volume of premium brands and vintage clothing, all available online (and coming from Goodwill locations across the U.S. and Canada), so you always have a huge variety of stylish and rare options at the ready.
Browse right from your couch to save time and money, all while finding unique back-to-school outfits other students likely won’t be wearing.
Thrifting Tips to Uncover Premium Brands
Knowing how to bid and buy on ShopGoodwill.com will help you score the best back-to-school outfits—without the stress. Learn how to locate high-quality apparel in a snap.
Category Scouting: Broad vs. Specific Search Queries
To get started, head to our clothing category. Then, navigate to children’s clothing to browse a variety of awesome back-to-school outfits. In the market for something specific? You can also search for popular brands prime for thrifting, like Patagonia, Levi’s, and Nike, by filtering the results.
Navigating the Search and Filter Tools
To really participate in some A+ online thrifting, you’ll want to take advantage of our Advanced Search page, where you can filter listings by regional seller, item price, and more.
Staying in the Know
With a registered account, the “My ShopGoodwill” dashboard is also your go-to when it comes to staying organized and keeping an eye on the auctions you care about most. Your “favorites” section is where you can set up watchlists, bookmarking and monitoring those back-to-school pieces. You can even enroll in notifications to get info about ongoing bids, so you never miss a beat when shopping.
Auction Strategy: Thrifting Tips for Winning Every Bid
Unlike standard retail, back-to-school shopping on ShopGoodwill.com requires a bit of strategy, but the results are well worth it. Explore a few tactical auction rules to help you stay ahead of the curve.
Consider Proxy Bidding
Back-to-school shopping at an online thrift store doesn’t have to mean sitting on your computer for hours. Whether you’re just getting started with us or an expert at online thrifting, proxy bidding is a powerful time-saving tool you’re sure to love. As a smart-bid system, this allows you to enter your max bid amount for an auction. Then, the system will automatically place bids for you, without going above that max amount.
Score a Last-Minute Win
Check out our Last Chance section to take a look at auctions that are ending soon. Then, feel free to swoop in and score the back-to-school outfits of your student’s dreams. There are tons of hidden gems waiting for the right home, and shopping at the last second lets you skip the bidding wars (and score a great item fast).
Factoring in Additional Charges: Shipping & Dimensional Weight
Back-to-school shopping with us is a budget-friendly and earth-friendly alternative. But to make sure you’re really making every dollar count, you’ll want to stay in the know about shipping costs. And we always strive to keep things transparent.
You’ll find shipping info in the shipping tab of each item’s listing, and you’ll want to read it thoroughly before bidding. Here, you’ll have access to all the need-to-know details. Plus, you can even use our Shipping Calculator to estimate your shipping and handling total based on your address.
Beyond Clothing: Expanding Your Online Thrifting Strategy
While clothes shopping is an exciting part of back-to-school shopping, you’ll want to make sure you also find fresh supplies for a fresh start. And ShopGoodwill.com also has tons of classroom-ready essentials your student needs to succeed.
Scouting High-End Backpacks and Footwear
While online thrifting is about uncovering hidden gems and participating in more sustainable shopping practices, it’s also about finding durable, high-quality items that last.
Score pieces that won’t fall apart after the first semester. Tip: Look for North Face backpacks or Adidas sneakers, both sure to hold up throughout the school year.
Uncovering School Electronics and Tech Essentials
Whether you’re looking for graphing calculators, headphones, or study lamps, you’ll want to explore (and continuously check back in on) our computers and electronics section. You never know what back-to-school essentials might appear just in time for the first day.
Curating Dorm and Study Spaces on a Budget
Gearing up to decorate your dorm, headed back to college, or stocking up on supplies for your study space? There are tons of high-quality finds on our platform, all ready to help you get your higher education in style. Explore office supplies, art, items for the home, and more to customize your space and take your study game to the next level—without breaking the bank.
Feeling creative? ShopGoodwill.com is also the ideal place to find items prime for upcycling.
New Year, Fresh Finds
Back-to-school shopping doesn't have to mean overspending or settling for the same styles all the other students will be wearing. When you thrift your back-to-school wardrobe and essentials on ShopGoodwill.com, you’re gaining access to amazing hidden treasures that look great, work well, and are designed to last.
Plus, you’re giving these pieces a second chance at life, saving some cash, and contributing to a more sustainable future. So, before you head to your local retail store or fill your cart with brand-new items this semester, explore a few of our best thrifting tips. Then, start browsing on our platform to see what all the buzz is about and find the perfect pieces—all before that first bell rings.
FAQs
When is the best time to start back-to-school shopping on ShopGoodwill.com?
Great finds take time. We recommend starting your online thrifting search about four to six weeks before school begins to accommodate auction cycles and make sure there’s time for your items to ship before classes begin.
How can I combine shipping to save money on back-to-school outfits?
To save on base shipping rates, you can often bundle items from the same Goodwill seller if you score them within the same seven-day period. To find out if your item is combinable with other items, navigate to the shipping tap on the listing.
What are the top thrifting tips for ensuring clothing fits perfectly without trying it on?
Be sure to check listed flat measurements, rather than trusting tag sizes when shopping for back-to-school outfits online. When in doubt, always size up so there’s room to grow into these pieces.
Sources:
1. Keep America Beautiful. (n.d.). 10 sustainable ways to prepare for back to school.https://kab.org/10-sustainable-ways-to-prepare-for-back-to-school/
2. National Geographic. (2021). Here’s an Earth-friendly guide to back-to-school shopping. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/heres-an-earth-friendly-guide-to-back-to-school-shopping/
