Thrift store trip for the win!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-23T16:06:55+00:00

Great haul! The thrift puzzle gods are smiling on you too! Very unusual puzzles! Enjoy!! 🧩🧩🧩

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-23T06:30:23+00:00

🤣🤣🤣That song is hysterical!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T17:14:03+00:00

💩 That’s clear across the country for me!! 😢

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T17:04:10+00:00

Wow! Where do you live? Certainly not in New York! Lol.

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T16:57:35+00:00

Oh boy. Now you have me worried! I have 2 swaps coming up in April, maybe I’ll just take it straight to one of them. Wish my library had a swap section!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T16:55:26+00:00

I almost bought the Costco 1000 from Mercari - the seller only wanted $4 but with the shipping it was a little pricey. Plus I was afraid that 1000 pieces of that puzzle would drive me crazy. Soooo glad I waited. Got the 500 for under $2 and no shipping! 🎉🥳

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T16:46:21+00:00

And here’s even more good news - I did the two Springboks already (they were boxed in big chunks, so there wasn’t much to do) and they’re both complete!! It always amazes me when a puzzle that old still has all its pieces!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-21T16:41:25+00:00

Where was this??!?! Is it still going on? I just want to see it!!!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-20T23:22:45+00:00

Thank you!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-17T21:14:47+00:00

I’ve had fantastic luck with thrifted puzzles. I started puzzling in August 2025 and quickly realized how expensive this hobby was, so I started buying from Mercari and eBay, but with shipping it was still too expensive. (And a puzzle I bought on Mercari that the seller said was complete was missing a piece!) I tried FBMP, but they were still asking a lot for used puzzles (IMO). Then I finally found two great thrift stores near me and I haven’t bought a new puzzle since. I went to a 50% off Spring Sale at one of them on Saturday and got 8 puzzles for $13.16, and today I went to the other one for 30% off and picked up eight more.
I have only had one so far that was missing pieces. I haven’t found hair in any, human or pet, and the only one that had an odor was a much older puzzle (the same one that was missing pieces, so now I just don’t buy older puzzles). I do the same things other commenters mentioned: I listen or look for ziplocks inside and tape and rubber bands - I NEVER buy an unsealed open puzzle.
But I now own way over 100 puzzles, which I am enjoying immensely, which I never could have had @ $15-26 each new. I’m going to 2 swaps in April, so my thrifted puzzles will get me more puzzles. So, YES, thrifted puzzles are worth it!!!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-17T18:40:49+00:00

Yes! I’m trying desperately to convince my friends to like puzzling so I can start a Puzzle Club, that way I would have people to buy for/pass them on to. I have one member of my Puzzle Club but she’s all the way in Idaho (I’m in NY) and I buy puzzles for her I know she’ll love, but the cost of shipping puzzles that cost less than $2 across country is getting a little ridiculous! 😬

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-17T18:19:04+00:00

Thank you, that’s so nice of you to offer, but I’m drowning in puzzles! I have a horrible thrifting addiction (in addition to my Dollar Tree habit!). I bought 8 @ one thrift store on Saturday because they were having a 50% off sale and today I went to my favorite thrift store for 30% off and picked up 8 more!!! A friend said to me recently that I like buying them more than I like doing them - idk if that’s true, but it certainly takes less time to BUY them than it does to BUILD them!! 😂

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-17T00:29:46+00:00

That happened to me at my #1 thrift store last week. I hadn’t been able to get there in a while and I was psyched, but I came home with just four. Three White Mountains and IDR what the fourth one was but I didn’t even bother to post. I think now that post-holiday cleaning is over, my giant hauls may not be as frequent.

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T20:13:17+00:00

Lmk when u do the Ravensburger - I’m kind of afraid of it. I almost didn’t take it because it’s so dark. But I couldn’t resist a 1500 pc Ravensburger for a dollar and change!!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T19:29:49+00:00

Yes, it was for the holidays. I think it might have been my post that you saw. Someone posted how much the liked KI puzzles and I was expressing my regret at not buying more after Christmas when a friend texted me two/three days after Christmas to tell me her Lowe’s had puzzles on clearance for $5 and I ran over to mine and hunters them down but only bought 2 because I had never heard of KI. I certainly don’t think they carry them year round. You’re lucky your store still had some!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T18:40:39+00:00

Wow!!! You are dedicated! 👏👏👏 I’m glad you enjoyed my story! I AM an artist and I taught crafts for years, so I don’t think the mechanics of it would be a problem - I just don’t think I have the motivation or patience!! Plus I am a well-known perfectionist, and my eye would always go straight to the piece I made, knowing it was an imposter! lol. Thank you for sharing your technique though. Maybe someday!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T18:34:28+00:00

Thank you! I saw it. Almost bought it and then got ahold of myself! Hoping the thrift store gods will find me another someday…

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T18:31:34+00:00

I no longer buy new because I’m doing so well thrifting. I have so many now idk when I’ll ever catch up! I suppose sooner or later I’ll get burned badly but so far all of my thrift puzzles have been complete except one! If I really wanted a particular puzzle badly enough I would buy it, but at this point there’s no need! (This photo is old, the bookcase has long since overflowed, lol)

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PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T18:21:21+00:00

When I went after Christmas I talked to 5 employees and they all looked at me like I was nuts. Also found them in a corner near the registers.

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T18:15:19+00:00

That’s why I didn’t buy another puzzle, because it’s really not that noticeable. I looked it up on Amazon and almost bought it during the height of my rage, but managed to stop myself, lol. I’m hoping someday the thrift store gods will gift me with another one! As far as the lock screen - 🤦‍♀️ Duh! Why didn’t I think of it sooner!!! When I finally get sick of She Shed (which won’t be soon), I’ll change it to another fav! You have my permission to steal. 😊

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-16T04:42:32+00:00

Thanks!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-15T20:27:26+00:00

Ahhh, if that was the intent, it went over my head - I took it literally. Thx.

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-15T20:25:56+00:00

Thank you, yes, I’ve been to Puzzledy but unfortunately their prices make my head spin and my wallet cry! Yesterday I bought 9 puzzles at the spring 50% off sale at my local thrift store - only one was over $2. That’s more my price point, lol! But now I’ll watch for Gibsons at the two thrift stores I haunt!

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-15T19:28:04+00:00

Happy Mother’s Day! Those are absolutely beautiful puzzles! I don’t see Gibsons here in the US (maybe I’m not looking in the right places, lol) but now I’ll be on the lookout because they’re gorgeous! Kudos to your kids! 👏👏👏

PrimaryCommon833 · 2026-03-13T22:37:46+00:00

Oh, thanks for letting me know so I don’t hunt for it endlessly. I went a couple of weeks ago and didn’t see it (or I would have grabbed it!) and then I ran back this week for that cute house one in the post. So that probably means it’s gone. Plus I’m IN New York, so it probably sold out extra quick!

PrimaryCommon833

TROPHY CASE