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Thrifter Finds ‘Killer Deal’ on FB Marketplace—Things Take Turn at Pick Up

1 day ago
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A thrifter’s routine search for a bargain on Facebook Marketplace turned into an extraordinary windfall.

The incident was detailed in a Reddit post shared by u/dreggirT in the r/ThriftStoreHauls subreddit, where it garnered 9,900 upvotes since it was uploaded on December 7.

Titled “By far one of my favorite marketplace finds,” the post features an image of a red wall art piece.

In the caption, the poster explained how the experience began after spotting the item listed for what they described as a “killer deal” about an hour away. Eager not to miss out, they decided to act fast. “Pre-emptively drove to the area out of eagerness before he even responded,” the poster wrote. “Thankfully we met up shortly after and he was the nicest guy ever.”

What started as a straightforward pickup soon evolved into a much deeper exchange. According to the poster, the seller shared that his wife had worked as an importer for the Vitra Design Museum [in Germany] and that the couple had recently sold their home. They were in the process of moving and trying to part with items that would not be coming with them.

Curious, the buyer asked whether there was anything else the seller might be willing to let go. The response led them into the seller’s workshop, a space where he tinkers with modular synthesizers and builds guitars. “Just the coolest,” the poster wrote.

Inside the workshop, the seller dusted off several boxes and invited the thrifter to take a look. As the poster opened them, the scope of the discovery became clear. “They’re all George Nelson clocks!” the user wrote, referring to the late American industrial designer known for his iconic clock designs.

The seller explained that the clocks had some defects and were originally destined for disposal. “He told me how they all had minor defects and that the museum was going to throw them away, so they kept some and have just been collecting dust since,” the poster said.

The encounter resulted in a haul far beyond what the thrifter had imagined. “I ended up walking away with FOURTEEN George Nelson clocks,” the poster wrote, adding that most of them began working again after being brought home. Some require minor repairs, but the sheer number and quality of the items left the buyer stunned.

The generosity continued. According to the post, the seller also gave the thrifter a Philippe Starck “Toy Chair,” shared stories about art and furniture, and gifted an end table he had made in the 1980s. “It was honestly so fun hearing all his stories and seeing his personal collections and such,” the poster wrote. While they noted that a shelf they received had become a new favorite piece, they emphasized that the experience itself was just as meaningful. “The shelf is my new favorite piece but the stories made it worth it even more.”

Stories like this help explain why second-hand shopping continues to grow in popularity. According to a 2025 report by Capital One Shopping, 93 percent of Americans shop online for second-hand items.

The report also found that there are more than 25,000 resale, consignment, and not-for-profit resale shops across the United States, with thrifters saving an average of $2,071 per year by purchasing second-hand.

The second-hand economy itself is expanding rapidly. As of 2025, the U.S. second-hand market is valued at an estimated $56 billion, and projected to reach $61 billion in 2026, according to the report.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.

A woman opening the door to a delivery person.

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