When I want to get rid of something, I often face the choice: do I bring it to a thrift store, or do I post it online? Both have their advantages, but also their quirks.
After years of trying both, I've developed a feel for what works better when.
The Thrift Store: The Classic Option
Thrift stores (Brockenhaeuser) have been around for decades in Switzerland. Caritas, the Salvation Army, local Brockis -- they all accept donations and resell them. The proceeds usually go to charitable causes.
The big advantage: you get rid of everything at once. No coordinating with individual collectors, no waiting for interested parties. You bring your stuff, hand it over, done.
Some thrift stores even have a pickup service. You call, arrange an appointment, and they come with a delivery van. Practical when you don't have transportation or want to get rid of a lot of stuff.
The downside: thrift stores are picky. They only take what they can actually sell. Old IKEA furniture, worn-out clothing, broken electronics -- those get rejected. And you never know in advance exactly what they'll accept and what they won't.
Online Platforms: The Direct Route
On platforms like PIKITUP, Facebook groups, or similar ones, you give directly to other people. No middleman, no institution.
The advantage: you decide what happens. You choose who gets it. And you get to see someone being happy about it.
On top of that: someone online will also take things a thrift store would reject. An old KALLAX shelf that has no resale value is still worth its weight in gold to a student.
The downside: you have to put in the work. Taking photos, writing descriptions, answering messages, coordinating pickups. That takes time and energy.
What Works Better for What
In my experience, there are some clear tendencies.
Suited for the thrift store: larger quantities of mixed items (household clearances), vintage furniture and antiques, high-quality clothing, books in large quantities.
Suited for online platforms: individual furniture pieces, electronics that still work, children's items, standard household goods, anything where the condition is hard to describe (since personal inspection helps).
Some things work both ways. For many items, it comes down to your personal situation.
The Time Factor
If you're in a hurry, the thrift store is often faster -- provided they accept your stuff. You call, bring it by or have it picked up, done.
Online can be quicker, but it can also take much longer. A sought-after item might be gone within hours. A less sought-after one sits online for weeks.
For moves or when there's a deadline, I prefer the thrift store for the bulk and online for the highlights.
The Emotional Aspect
This might sound a bit odd, but: it makes a difference whether you see who gets your things.
At the thrift store, you drop things off and leave. You don't know who buys your old sofa or whether it even gets sold. It's anonymous, efficient, but also somewhat impersonal.
Online, you sometimes get to know the people. The student who's thrilled about the desk. The family picking up the crib. That gives the whole thing a different quality.
Sometimes that matters to me. Sometimes I just want to be done. Both are fine.
The Environmental Question
Both options are better than throwing things away. But there are differences.
With thrift stores, there's a risk that items that don't sell end up being disposed of anyway. Thrift stores have limited space and need to operate economically.
Online, the item goes directly to someone who wants it. No interim storage, no risk of it ending up in the trash after all.
On the other hand: if nobody online shows interest, the item stays with you. The thrift store takes that responsibility off your hands.
My Personal Mix
What I do in practice:
First, I post the highlights online. The well-maintained items, the interesting pieces. Whatever isn't gone within a week or two, I reduce or delete.
Then, the thrift store for the rest. Everything that's left and still looks usable, I bring to the Brocki or have picked up.
What the thrift store rejects -- and usually not much remains -- goes to disposal.
That way I get the best of both worlds: the personal satisfaction of giving things away online and the efficiency of the thrift store.
Conclusion
Neither the thrift store nor online is universally better. It depends on what you want to get rid of, how much time you have, and what matters to you.
Try both and find your own mix. The main thing is that your stuff doesn't end up in the trash.
How do you do it? Thrift store or online? Write to me -- hello@pikitup.ch