Thrift Store VS Okrika

I went to a thrift store for the first time in my life.

Now I can hear some people saying "mmm....Tobe! you no dey enter Okrika before?" lol. 

Admittedly, the first thing I noticed when I entered was that the store smelled like proper 1st grade Okrika. I went through several racks and saw some nice looking stuff and then some really nice looking stuff and then some drab stuff. Then I went to another section of the store...the section that almost mentally took me back to the days of Tejuosho and Balogun market bend-down boutique. 

I got in in time to see the "new-in" boxes open and people rushed in the same way people rush in when a new Okrika bale is opened. There were also people who struggled over items and took things only to return them when they realised they didn't really want them. There were the most interesting items...a bag of rubber bands, a CD holder with old CDs in it, old magazines, used computers, Nintendo Wii (for $42 with controls - If there wasn't already an X-Box, I would have bought that), a Samsung camera for $12 and more

I picked out a functional jacket and when I got to the check out counter and found out it cost $2.47 (less than 1000), I almost did a back flip. I had expected it to be cheap but not that cheap. I jejely paid and packed my jacket and immediately made up my mind to visit again soon :)

I came up with a few differences and similarities between Thrift Stores and Okrika:

SIMILARITIES

- They have the same smell

- They are all used items

- You should wash/disinfect them before you start wearing them

- They are significantly cheaper than brand new items

- You know how you have to settle down to 'use clear eye' to pick out stuff from an Okrika bale? Same with a thrift store. It's easy to miss nice good stuff if you aren't paying attention.

DIFFERENCES

- Thrift stores are actually arranged and sorted like proper stores, with labels and departments and sorted items in order. With Okrika, it's all just bundled up together and you must bend down and select (like the song says)

- Some thrift stores have return policies. Just try returning an Okrika top to the seller...mchew. #SoLongAStory

- Thrift stores depend on donations from people. Okrika sellers buy used cloths (probably from thrift stores) and resell.

- Thrift stores are cheaper than Okrika (for the above stated differentiation)

- With a thrift store, you would most likely find different sorts of used items...cloths, books, toys, furniture etc. With Okrika, you know it's just cloths you can get. If you want books, you have to find a second hand book store. (Are there stores for used furniture and toys in Nigeria? I have never seen)

- Thrift shopping could be a fun family/group activity. Okrika shopping is stress in 3D. 

Are there any more differences and similarities you can think of? go ahead and share.

Meanwhile, check out the Jacket I bought. Good deal or nah? Plus more photos from my the store.

The $2.47 Jacket