Seven secrets to successful op shopping

Once considered the domain of grannies searching for a crocheted hankie, op shops have become a haven for hipsters, fashionistas, avid recyclers and bargain hunters, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, as revealed by his wife on the weekend. Mrs Abbott was launching National Op Shop Week, and to celebrate we asked some of Australia's most passionate op-shop bloggers for their top tips for finding treasure, and their best ever buys. 1. Spend time searching Can't be bothered flicking through the crammed racks in your local op shop? Then it's unlikely you're going to walk away with luxury designer goods for less than $50, like Laura Timberlake, editor of Melbourne-based second-hand fashion blog A Little Boutique Near Home Stamina separates those who leave their local op shop disappointed after a quick peek, to those who can rattle off a list of their best buys quicker than family birthdays. "Make sure that you look through the stores thorou…
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  • 2019-12-01
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How to find treasures in op shops and garage sales

Can you still find anything in op shops that is worth more than what you paid for them? Or at garage sales, or trash and treasure markets? It often seems that even people who dump the contents of their back shed on a tarp know the exact value of everything. James Cockington with a vintage magazine he has collected.CREDIT:SYLVIA LIBER

You can blame this on online auction sites and smart phone apps that give you an estimated value, usually optimistic, at the click of a button. "But this is what it's going for on eBay," the sellers will tell you.

There are still bargains to be found, just fewer than there used to be. For example, the $4 op shop cup that sold for more than $75,000 at a Sotheby's Australia auction in April 2013. The astute vendor spotted this on the shelf in a Sydney opportunity shop and…
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  • 2019-11-30
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