 "Photo: McKenzi Taylor")
 "Photo: McKenzi Taylor")
 "Photo: McKenzi Taylor")
 "Photo: McKenzi Taylor")
It happens too often. Someone walks into a secondhand store, aimlessly peruses for ten minutes, catches a glimpse of a 1970s knickknack from hell and classifies everything as "crap," never to return again.
If you are not an avid thrift shopper, you may be thinking back to a horrifying experience much like this, or one of your own. The key to erasing these nightmares is learning a few very simple ins and outs of thrift shopping that can save you mega money.
It takes a bit of talent, an open mind, a little direction and a lot of patience to master the aisles masqueraded with heinous holiday sweaters and lingerie nobody in their right mind would even touch. But once you've learned that simply glancing at the "crap" will get you nowhere, you can dive in and find the treasures that are waiting to be discovered.
Media Credit: Skyler Dowling
The first stride in becoming a successful secondhand shopper is understanding that thrift shopping is completely different than shopping in a regular retail store. The racks do not hold the same thing in six different sizes; rather, each item is unique.
Most of the time, stores are organized and have separate sections for men's, women's and children's clothing, as well as designated areas with electronics, kitchen items, books, luggage, records and more.
Before jumping right into the madness, familiarize yourself with how the store is setup: Do a quick scan of each section, which will help you get a feel of what the store has to offer you as a shopper.
After a quick overview, commit yourself to a location and get ready to dig, sort and look through each item.
Skipping over sections that look worthless is one of the biggest thrift shopping mistakes; you never know what you'll find shoved in the depths of the racks.
When shopping at a retail store that sells only new clothes, there's always the chance that the season's styles do not appeal to the customer.
Each individual has his or her own taste, so keep yours in mind when you are faced with a large selection.
Thrift stores cater to the fact that everyone has their own personal style; there are many colors, textures and patterns from many decades that are both unique and come with an unknown history.
To open the eyes of a few students at USD, we took a trip to the local Civic Council in downtown Vermillion. The test shoppers were asked to browse a bit to see if they could find anything that caught their eye.
"At first I was a little hesitant, because I had a hard time finding things," freshman Mary Willis said. "But the more I looked around, the more things I found that I would actually buy."
Affordability is perhaps the best reason to shop in secondhand stores. Sweaters and pants usually cost no more than $2.00.
"Taking the financial benefits into consideration, I think that shopping at thrift stores can be beneficial, especially in a college student's circumstance," sophomore Jarrett Allen said. "I found some fly stuff and will definitely take into account everything I've learned for the next time I go shopping. I'll be back."
For some, the idea of purchasing items from a store that is chock full of potential Halloween costumes is a bit intimidating.
Fellow shopper sophomore Melissa Behrens said she rarely shops at thrift stores for everyday clothes, but after coming, she has a new outlook.
"I'll definitely be more open-minded about what I can find in secondhand stores," she said.
Behrens has the right idea. An open mind is the trick to finding great pieces. Don't discriminate against anything that has the potential to look fabulous.
Instead, envision the possibilities. Because things are almost always priced affordably, thrift stores are a place to pick up items to use in other ways.
Thrift shopping is a version of recycling. If you spot a shirt with a great pattern, only to look at it from the front and learn that it is hideous, you can purchase it anyway and use the fabric in a creative project such as making a quilt or a tote bag.
To ensure that you don't miss out on anything, shop often at thrift stores.
The inventory is constantly changing as new donations are brought in. The popular phrase "One man's trash is another man's treasure," is the attitude to have when thrifting.
When shopping in secondhand stores, take the time to figure out why the items are considered "trash."
Many times, items are discarded because they simply no longer fit the previous owner, or their style preference changed.
One of the greatest perks to thrift shopping is snagging a great item that only you own.
Next time you need to elaborate on your wardrobe, check out a local thrift store.
Investing in recycled clothes can be successful both economically and fashionably.
And there's nothing better than paying pennies for rockin' clothes with history.
Reach reporter Heather Johnson at Heather.Johnson@usd.edu.
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