We asked our community to spill their op shopping secrets. No judgment, no shame, just the honest truth about what really happens in the aisles. Here’s what they confessed.
The Smugglers
“I smuggle my op shop hauls in when my husband is out and integrate them slowly. It works, he doesn’t notice. I balance it out by making a big show of donating things too.”
“My husband asks ‘is that a new top?’ and I can honestly say no.”
“I sneak things into the house after a guilty shop. Meaning I absolutely do not need anything at all.”
The Stalkers
“I see someone holding up something I really like so I semi-stalk them to see if they put it back on the rack. I’m ready to pounce.”
“If my son really wants something I refuse to buy, he hides it. Sometimes so well I can’t find it to buy later. A volunteer once told me she finds little toys hidden away and hides them better so the kids can find them when they come back.”
The Helpers
“I listen to other shoppers talking to the racks and pass them things they mention they’re looking for.”
“If I see someone carrying a linen shirt and I spot another similar one, I’ll ask if they want it.”
“I take stained or ripped items to the counter so staff can repair, wash, or throw them. Often volunteers aren’t aware and they’re very appreciative.”
The Organisers
“I can’t help myself. I match orphaned items into sets. It’s the librarian in me.”
“I rearrange the DVDs and put the kids ones all together, or all the same TV series together.”
“I put books in alphabetical order by author.”
“I group items that are similar style or same colour on the shelves as I’m shopping. It makes me happy and helps people find matching sets.”
The Justifiers
“I Google prices of what it might have been new so I can tell my husband look at how much I saved.”
“If something is a little more than I’d like to spend, I Google image it to see if it’s worth that much or more. If it is, it justifies me buying it.”
“I like to pretend I’m a pro stylist and put outfits together for imaginary clients, then congratulate myself for saving them imaginary money. Then I remember I can barely even dress myself half the time.”
The Rental Programme
“My husband says I really only ‘rent’ things from the op shop because I buy items, use or wear them a few times, and donate them back. No one can accuse me of being a hoarder.”
“Most of the clothes in my wardrobe are from op shops and when I’m sick of them or don’t have room, I take them back again.”
“I buy clothes to work at the op shop, then later put them in the recycling bin after two or three mix and match wears.”
The Signs
“If there’s an empty carpark outside I take it as a SIGN I have to go in.”
“The shops call me when they know there is something I need.”
The Obsessives
“I can’t leave behind any blue hand-blown glass or Orrefors crystal.”
“I buy anything with birds on it, even if they don’t fit and don’t suit me.”
“I work in one. It’s hard to contain myself.”
The Hiders
“If I don’t have the money on me I’ll hide something and come back the next day. We listen and we don’t judge.”
“I picked up three little wooden rabbits and was joyful. However at checkout I only had one left. Sad. I paid for the three and told the checkout lady there were two baby rabbits somewhere in the shop. My karma was I’d broken the ears off by the time I got home.”
The Relationships
“I kiss my jeans goodbye when I take them off and say ‘I love you my darlings and I’ll see you soon.’ Sometimes I hug them. Sometimes I apologise to them.”
“When I’m putting items on the racks I find myself saying ‘where do you belong, my lovely? Let’s find your family’ or ‘what are you doing on the floor lovely, where’s your hanger?’ And of course ‘oh sorry’ when I bump into the mannequins.”
“I can’t wait to go home and wash glass items. They’re dusty and dirty and need to find their shine again.”
The Boomerangs
“I almost bought back jeans that I’d donated.”
“I’ve bought so many items at op shops and later donated them without using them. Especially clothes I bought without trying on. I still have at least 25 unread books.”
The Solo
“I live with just me and my cat so no one can say ‘did you really need that.’ The cat doesn’t mind at all.”
The verdict?
Op shopping isn’t just about finding bargains. It’s stalking, smuggling, organising, justifying, and occasionally having full conversations with inanimate objects. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s your op shop confession? Drop it in the comments. No judgment zone.
Author: Jo
Life Time Op Shop Lover and Digital Creator
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.