Best time to shop thrift stores for clothes?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Do you think there is a best time of year to shop for clothes at thrift stores?

Seems it would have to be a point when more people are making clothing donations _and_ thrift stores are clearing out the old, and replacing it with the new.

Just before December holidays since many know they will be getting new stuff? Just after holidays because now it won't all fit in home closets?

Change of seasons?

???

I've never been able to see a trend, but maybe I've not been observant enough. And maybe it is different for kid's clothes as compared to adult clothes.

[Jacklad]

I find that there's a lot of new clothing in the thrift stores during the March/April time frame. I think it tends to be Christmas gifts that either don't fit or aren't the recipient's style - they tend to hit the stores as the spring cleaning/closet blitz starts.

Jackie

[toys]

Around Christmas is always a good time... most everyone is in the giving spirit.

But also around garage sale times. As in, after people have the yard/garage sale and can't sell everything. I know, I know that really narrows it down. IME, there are two main times for garage/yard sale clean-ups... early summer (post-memorial day) and late summer (post-labor day).

Also, a lot of thrift stores will offer incentives for 'dontation' during certain times of the year. I know some of the local ones will only pay for items during July, for example. Granted it's only $5 (usually store credit) per garbage bag, but still. (I'm guessing that means July is a slow time)

[rusty@saving]

if you live in or near a college town, at the end of the semester, all the students clear out things they don't want due to no room. furniture too.

[shengmei]

I don't understand why thrift stores charge sales tax. Since the items are second hand and we are not the primary consumers we should pay no sales tax.