Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 80s cartoon handheld game

Thrifting for Retro Anime, Cartoons, Games, and More - My Favorite Places to Thrift

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It wasn’t until I became an adult that I enjoyed thrifting. Not only could I save money but I could find cool pieces to flesh out my ever-changing style. In time, my love of thrifting has branched out to collecting retro anime, cartoons, toys, music, and more. Here are my top 4 favorite places to find gently used items. 

1. Ebay-As a retro collector, you may have hesitated to make an eBay purchase for a while. But don't worry - I did too! After placing my first order in 2021, I've been hooked - I've since placed over 40 orders on the site. Aside from one broken VCR, all my purchases have gone smoothly. eBay offers a variety of ways to make a purchase - you can bid on auctions, buy now, or send offers. Of all the platforms, eBay is my go-to for finding rare VHS tapes or vinyl records - and I've found unbeatable deals on music and anime. Shop with confidence - you won't regret it!

2.Half Price Books-I tend to go to this shop a few times per month. Even though I go often, I can always find something that catches my eye. There are times when I just go to “look around” but end up coming out with a treasure. You never know what you’re going to find and that’s part of the fun, discovering new music, books, or clothes that you weren’t expecting. Sometimes I find childhood relics or sometimes I discover something “new”. I recently started browsing their website but I know that I will continue to shop there in person because I always have a good experience. 


    3.Mercari- When searching for specific products online, I tend to search Mercari first. The interface is user-friendly and prices are usually fair. My first Mercari purchase was a handheld Konami Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles handheld game in 2020. The messaging feature also allows you to stay in contact with the seller and to ensure you know what type of product you are getting. Similar to eBay, you can also send offers. As a buyer and a seller on this app, I have yet to have a bad experience. Overall, Mercari is an excellent platform with great deals and a secure environment. I highly recommend it. (Check out my Mercari shop here!)

    (My first Mercari purchase in 2020)
    4. Movie Trading Co.- The name of this store depends on your location. This led to a funny situation where my brother was telling me about “this cool shop called Vintage Stock that sells all types of cartoons, anime, music, toys, and games” and “sends out lots of coupons!” When I finally got to visit the cool shop, I realized that it was a part of Movie Trading Co. In other parts of the country, it is also known as EntertainMart and V-Stock. They usually have good deals and they send out coupons quite often. I can always find something that I like here! (They also have a good website.) 

    As a passionate retro collector, I've scoured countless shops in my hunt for awesome items. Out of all of them, these 4 are my absolute favorites. Where do you usually source your items? Let me know in the comments below!

    Check out some of my other blog posts: 

    Epic Adventures & The Power of Nostalgia

    Retro Rainbow - The Red Collection

    Retro Rainbow - The Orange Collection

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