A post about an unbelievably "rare" find at a Goodwill thrift store has gone viral on Reddit, sparking excitement in the thrifting community.
The post, shared by u/aplanetkid on February 11, has since amassed 16,000 upvotes, drawing admiration from users who dream of discovering such bargains.
The post, titled "This, my friends, is why I drive 45 minutes to the rich people Goodwill," includes an image of a Dyson V8 animal stick vacuum, partially wrapped in plastic.
The caption reveals the astonishing price, saying: "The thrift gods smiled upon me. I found a Dyson V8 Animal stick vacuum in a bin waiting to be unloaded at Goodwill...for 20 bucks. I feel like I've gotten away with a crime."
The poster explained that, upon returning home, they tested the vacuum and it worked perfectly. However, they discovered some debris inside the vacuum head, which provided a possible explanation for why the device ended up at Goodwill in the first place.
"There was some debris stuck in the vacuum head, mainly pine needles, which makes me think someone vacuumed up their Christmas tree debris, clogged up the head, and then assumed the vacuum was no longer working, so they took it to Goodwill and got a new one. Welp, my cat and I are endlessly grateful," the poster wrote.
Kelly Handley, founder of UltimateThrifting.com and author of Ultimate Thrifting: The Complete Guide to Finding Secondhand Treasures, told Newsweek that such finds are rare, but they represent the thrill of thrifting.
"With over 20 years of experience in the thrifting world, I can tell you that finds like a fully functioning Dyson vacuum for $20 are rare—but they're exactly the type of goldmine that keeps dedicated thrifters on the hunt."
The find comes at a time when thrifting is growing in popularity, fueled by an increased interest in sustainable shopping and budget-friendly alternatives to buying new products.
According to an August 2024 report by Research and Markets, thrift store revenue has been on the rise, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5 percent, reaching $14.2 billion. The report noted that the trend is driven by both increased consumer spending and the growing demand for eco-conscious shopping.
Handley noted that many high-quality items end up in thrift stores simply because their previous owners didn't know how to fix them.
She said: "While gems like this don't come along every day, they remind us why we love thrifting—the thrill of discovery and the joy of turning an overlooked item into a fantastic bargain. All too often, items end up at Goodwill and other thrift stores because donors don't know how to fix them or they don't know what else to do with them."
"In many cases, a minor issue—in this case, pine needles clogging the vacuum head—can be easily remedied, turning what looks like junk into a prized treasure," she noted.
For those hoping to score similar deals, Handley offers practical advice. "Be patient, watch for new stock, and inspect items carefully. Sometimes an item that might seem broken is just waiting to be rescued with a little cleaning or repair."
'Incredible'
Many Reddit users were amazed by the deal and shared their own thoughts on thrift store hunting.
One user, u/Far-Education8197, commented: "That's amazing! I had to buy a new one of these after my last one conked out on me...cost me over £100 [around $126] but one of the best vacuums I've ever used. Great find!"
U/Total-Guava9720 pointed out: "My son lives in an affluent neighborhood, and the nice things these people throw away is incredible."
Others were particularly impressed with the completeness of the find, as u/Sailor_Callisto noted: "The fact that it came with the instructions and attachment pieces is awesome."
Some users expressed envy and admiration for the poster's thrifting luck, such as u/thelaststarebender, who wrote: "I need to find a rich people Goodwill!"
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
A stock image of a woman using a vacuum at home. A stock image of a woman using a vacuum at home. iStock / Getty Images PlusDo you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
