Thrifting has become a full-time job for folks. Resellers are picking through selections at thrifts only to turn around and sell them online at a high markup. That’s extremely apparent in the line of clearly professional shoppers outside the Buffalo Outlet. There are still treasures to find at a really good price, but just know the real gems are likely gone unless you’re willing to fight the rush at 10 a.m.
Buffalo Exchange is an indie-sleaze icon. Back in the 2010s when Tumblr had a chokehold on youth culture – and McQueen skull scarves, galaxy leggings, American Apparel disco pants and Jeffery Campbell Lolita boots were rampant – it was the epitome of secondhand shopping, curated to the times.
As trends shifted, so did the popularity of Buffalo Exchange. But the iconic store in San Antonio, located at 145 W. Olmos Drive, is still going strong. It transitioned from a traditional Buffalo Exchange to an outlet location more than a decade ago, offering last-leg deals that didn’t sell at other locations, with prices maxing out at $8.
The prices are hard to beat, but the selection is interesting. Items tend to sit on the shelves for an exceptionally long time. Items that were there on my last visit a year or two ago were still there when I visited on Friday, October 16. But new things emerge, and it seems they have a process for cycling out less desirable pieces through discounts and rummaging bins.
There are treasures to be found, overlooked by resellers unwilling to take a gamble. I spotted a lovely Ralph Lauren daytime wrap dress in a vibrant green with a geometric pattern, a Michael Kors knits dress suitable for nighttime wear with metallic threading and vintage varsity jackets, all without the $200 price tag tacked on at other secondhand shops.
But this location also seems to be where mall brands find their final resting place. Urban Outfitters sweater vests and shirts fill large portions of the racks – an opportunity if you’re after that true 2012 vibe – and there are plenty of skirts, shorts, dresses and tops priced around $4 to $5, which would cost around $30 brand new.
The biggest challenge is finding the good stuff before it’s snatched up. On a Friday morning, the store opened to a line of people, all of whom appeared to be resellers. In fact, a bit of eavesdropping revealed that this was a weekly event for some of them, who were talking about a missed opportunity for a blazer to sell the week before.
With thrift store prices rising so rapidly – a major pain point for longtime thrifters – this is a great place to snag a deal under $8. But it’s not necessarily the spot to discover designer duds at a major discount. Unless you’re savvy enough to know the brands the resellers don’t carry.