BIFL while secondhand buying: what brands do you see most often?

Submitted by emmybby t3_112791y in BuyItForLife

By secondhand buying I mean thrift stores, eBay, yard sales, estate sales, Facebook marketplace, etc. This is the main way I'm ever able to afford any sort of BIFL products. I don't tend to find them often, it's more of a diamond in the rough kind of ordeal.

For the most part, I wouldn't see a lot of great brands at my thrift stores, but I still want to keep an eye out for good quality brands that'll last me a long time. Thinking specifically about someone posting their Bassett leather couch, because I need a new couch and so they've been on the mind. What are some telltale signs of a well made couch? And not specific to just couches, what are some common BIFL brands that end up in thrift stores? What's your best BIFL yard/estate sale find?

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RabidBlackSquirrel t1_j8igyb8 wrote

I've debriefed the missus on tool brands to look for at yard/estate sales. Anything Snapon, MAC, Matco, really anything that looks older and labeled made in USA or Germany is a grab it and review item.

A LOT of vintage MCM furniture goes unlabeled, or has been shabby-chic'd/Pinterested and can be had for pennies and restored/rescued. A lot of authentic MCM furniture is BIFL, especially Danish, Swedish, and many American brands. Plus, the designs are timeless.

FB marketplace is decent, I have better luck selling than buying though. You MUST be fast. I got a Dewalt DWS780 with cart for $250, but I answered within minutes of posting and was across town with cash in minutes. It's a $750+ saw new. There's deals on FB, but it's not for casual viewing if it's something desirable like tools. Furniture is an easier FB buy - a lot is posted due to logistical problems ("I'm moving and need this gone now"). I have a truck and can take stuff all on my own and fast, makes me an easy sell versus the other buyer who has to coordinate shit. When selling, I give the same kind of preference, I just want the thing gone.

eBay is tough - most people know what they're selling and deals can be hard to find given that listings need to be keyword heavy to get views. Harder to "sift through the pile" so to speak, just the nature of the platform.

Thrift stores in my area are picked through before stuff hits the floor. Still worth browsing, but the best items are long gone before I'll ever see them.

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Xyspade t1_j8jrw42 wrote

>labeled made in USA or Germany

I'd add Japan to that list, their cars and a lot of their appliances and electronics were and are top of the line. They know what they're doing.

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TheMrDrB t1_j8k2tln wrote

Anyone can make a really good product. But anyone can also make complete crap. I've had USA made tools fall apart in my hand and Chinese made tools survive the Gauntlet that is my job. A good example of a USA made tool being trashy is the Matco eighty8 tool line. I one one of each drive for the series and all 4 have been back to the tool truck for a rebuild within 6 months. On the flip side I've had my Chinese built Proto 45 tooth ratchet for over 5 years without incident. I know that tooth counts matter and that it may be an unfair comparison but that's just my 2 cents on the matter i suppose.

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hudstr t1_j8k80oq wrote

I wouldn't tell that to someone who doesn't who doesn't know much about tools. Most of the tap and die sets I see at garage sales are made in Japan probably from the 80s or 90s and are absolute garbage. They were sold and priced like what Harbor Freight is today.

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Dear_Watson t1_j8jxr4m wrote

For furniture Facebook marketplace is incredible if you’re fast and ready to pickup. Me and my girlfriend managed to snag a full leather couch/chair set with matching side tables for $200 because the seller had bought a new set and realized they would never use this one in the basement. Not even sure of the brand but the couch is full grain black leather and the side tables are solid steel and glass. Probably cost about $2-3k new if I had to guess. It’s a little older for sure, but it’s probably the most comfortable couch I’ve ever used

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vena_cava91 t1_j8l8tdr wrote

How do you identify the quality furniture and MCM?

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coursejunkie t1_j8jazrd wrote

Jansport bags. They last forever. I found one of their space ones for $2 at a thrift store.

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Vindictive_Vin t1_j8jcipl wrote

Many of them have life time guarantees as well.

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coursejunkie t1_j8jcsxk wrote

All do. I've send back one bag twice. I've had it since the 90s.

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Vindictive_Vin t1_j8jcydc wrote

Oh I was under the impression it was only certain models. That’s cool.

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coursejunkie t1_j8je0kh wrote

No it's almost everything Jansport.

https://www.jansport.com/customer-service/warranty.html

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"This warranty applies to all JanSport branded equipment only (e.g., packs, bags, pouches, totes, cases). The warranty does not apply to pins, patches, face masks, facial coverings, or related accessories. Please carefully review the exclusions to confirm whether your product is covered. If your product covered by this warranty fails due to a manufacturing defect, we will repair it without charge, or replace it, at our discretion. Only unaltered and unmodified items and original workmanship are covered. This warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear, or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use. Damage not covered under warranty may be repaired for a reasonable rate and a fee will be charged for return shipping."

​

I usually end up with issues with zippers and then they end up repairing whatever else they find that might be a little off even though it's usually light normal wear and tear. (It seems to take about 10 years to show any wear and tear at all and it's usually pretty mild).

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hi_heythere t1_j8kmz83 wrote

Patagonia is one. They have a lifetime warranty and if they can’t patch it for free they’ll give you a credit towards a new item. I have found so many things for less than 50 for items priced well over 100-300

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Cazarstan t1_j8jp26q wrote

Men’s dress shoes: I look for Allen Edmonds, Alden, vintage Florsheim, and a few others. Clean them up and resell them if their not your size.

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ripgoodhomer t1_j9cgz3c wrote

I respectfully have to disagree with reselling shoes that aren’t your size.

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Xyspade t1_j8jr7ek wrote

You're not really going to see BIFL brands while second hand shopping any more often than "disposable" brands. Like you said in the second paragraph, for the most part you just go into the thrift store or yard sale or whatever already knowing what you're looking for and picking stuff out from there (unless something catches your eye and it seems cheap).

As for BIFL brands, the sidebar is a great place to start. I can't recommend couches specifically, but the best kind of furniture to get is the stuff that's hand-made from hardwood. And as for my best find, I mostly look for/collect electronics so there's not much BIFL material there lol, but if it can be vintage and still fulfill a modern use case (like a stereo system, pencil sharpener, electric fan, fluorescent light fixture, etc.) I'll always go for that.

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CastaneaDentata7 t1_j8jtjzg wrote

For cookware, I see Revere Ware with regularity in thrift stores. Any of the older pieces (generally have the city of the US factory on the bottom) will be BIFL quality. That’s how I collected my cookware collection that I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. :)

AllClad also shows up, but only rarely.

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AngeliqueRuss t1_j8lpopb wrote

I have better luck on Craigslist than thrifting for most BIFL.

A lot of folks still use Craigslist.

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lack_t0se t1_j8jmxxh wrote

I see a fair amount of Dockers stuff, usually in good condition too. One of my favorite jackets is a thrifted Dockers jacket that's probably from the 90s. Lots of pants too, however I've never bought them. Usually reasonably priced.

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Blessedandamess- t1_j8kobba wrote

LL Bean. I found a nightgown of theirs at the thrift store and it’s literally my favorite piece of clothing. I also have moccasin slippers by them that have lasted 10 years. Anything they make is usually great quality.

Vintage furniture. We have telephone tables from the 1960s that are still in fabulous shape.

Pendleton makes great wool products, I’ve found a few skirts by them. I’ve heard they also make blankets and things like that.

Vintage linen is far superior quality to stuff today. I’ve found towels from the 70’s that are still going strong.

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NotoriousSouthpaw t1_j8kuqmh wrote

I see Land's End fairly frequently, particularly jackets and bags. The old made in USA-era leather goods often look near-new and feel well made.

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FerengiCaptain t1_j8jkese wrote

High Sierra backpacks, Levi jeans, nike/addidas socks I find in local thrift stores. I find LL Bean (vintage) on ebay often

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DisplacedNY t1_j8l871y wrote

I've found estate sales, online auctions and in person, to be great sources of BIFL items like wool hand-tufted rugs that I would never be able to afford new. I pay a local rug cleaner to clean them and even with that cost it usually turns out that I get a good quality rug for 10-20% of what I'd pay in a rug store.

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Lonely-Connection-37 t1_j8mwoi7 wrote

Mostly fine top shelf clothes have found a few nice pairs of hunting boots also and lots of poly propylene underwear always find nice wool socks for my wife never for my big feet

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Hallelujah289 t1_j94ff2c wrote

Well there’s well made items that have high resale value, and there’s ones that don’t, but they’ll add to your closet.

If you want to resell items, look out for Carhartt. If you just want nice clothes for yourself, then Eddie Bauer.

I think for clothing, it’s good to get a sense for materials. Such as wool, cashmere, angora, etc.

And then of course there’s grades of fabric, so anything that drapes nice, doesn’t wrinkle easily, and has some thickness.

And then there’s the purpose of the garment—does it seem made to a specific function? Does the fabric make sense for that function? Do the features work for their purpose?

One thing that seems a mark of good quality is YKK zippers.

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