Thrifting Craze in Salinas

By: Jocelyn Lysik

The Goodwill bins in Salinas, California, have been booming with thrifters as second-hand shopping has increased around the U.S.

More people are turning to second-hand clothing options as first-hand clothing prices skyrocket. This stark rise has been apparent at the local bins. In fact, according to a study by Capital One Shopping, as of 2024, the U.S. secondhand market is worth an estimated $50 billion, up 30% from 2023.

But with all the second-hand store options available in the bay, why is Salinas a hot spot?  

The Goodwill bins, also known as Goodwill outlet stores, sell clothing and household items in large, unorganized bins. These items either didn’t sell at the regular stores or haven’t been sorted yet.

Annika Sheridan, a 15-year-old who has sifted through the bins three times prior, said she shops there because it’s affordable and paid for by the pound, expressing that it can be hit or miss. 

Because of the disorganization and rejection from the main Goodwill stores, the items are sold at a shockingly low price. All items are sold by the pound, with clothes typically being $1.89 per pound. 

To put it into perspective on how much you can get, I bought 13 pieces of clothing for $23.02. This included jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and more.

However, gloves are necessary when sorting through the bins, for there is no quality control. This means that anything people donate to Goodwill can blindly end up in these large bins. And I mean anything. 

According to Brittany, the assistant supervisor of Goodwill Central Coast Outlet, there's an aggressive culture in thrifting that most are unaware of. She explained that people will fight, jump over each other and play tug of war for the clothing they want.

From opening to closing, the Salinas bins are packed. 

“A typical day at the bins is hectic. There is never a dull moment,” Brittany said.

As employees bring new bins out, they warn customers that if they cross the line before being told to, they risk getting kicked out. 

Once all bins are placed, the workers will count down from three to release a swarm of waiting customers. People will run and shove to get the best unseen item.

“At local thrift stores, they hand-pick the items…whereas at the bins there’s more variety,” Sheridan explained. 

With the combination of the dramatically low prices and the possibility of finding anything inside these bins, they have become extremely popular.

When asked about demographics, Sheridan explained that there are three main groups she observes at the bins; people looking to resell cheap items on other second-hand sites, Gen Z shoppers and lower-income families. 

There is a wide range of people who are all looking for cheaper ways to buy clothing, whether to keep up with the ever-changing fashion trends, make money fast, or afford clothing in general. And it all happens at the bins.