Shopper stunned after finding valuable item for cheap at local thrift store: 'I am so jealous'

A simple trip to the thrift store resulted in an unexpectedly high-quality coffee table for a jaw-droppingly low price, with a matching desk.

The shopper posted to the r/ThriftStoreHauls subreddit, a corner of the internet dedicated to celebrating secondhand wins, where users regularly show off everything from vintage clothing to high-end appliances rescued from obscurity.

This particular find stood out because the table appeared to be a sturdy, well-finished piece that commenters quickly identified as potentially mid-century inspired. Some even speculated it could resell for hundreds of dollars if properly restored.

"I am so jealous. This is an Adrian Pearsall design and likely worth several hundred dollars in a gallery setting. If proven to be from original production date, it could be more," said one commenter.

Thrift stores can be a gold mine for well-made furniture crafted with real wood and timeless designs. These qualities are increasingly rare in affordable, newly manufactured pieces. By shopping secondhand, you can save hundreds of dollars while bringing home items that will last far longer than their new counterparts.

Buying furniture secondhand also keeps bulky items out of landfills and reduces demand for resource-intensive manufacturing. It's great for your wallet and for the planet, especially at a time when fast furniture contributes heavily to waste and pollution. 

Similar "white whale" finds from high-end kitchen appliances to valuable lamps and designer accessories regularly pop up in thrift stores, reminding shoppers that patience and curiosity can pay off in big ways.

In this shopper's case, that curiosity paid off twice.

"I got to thinking about if there was a matching piece, so I drove back down an hour and I found this guy buried behind a bunch of dressers. $7.32 also," they replied in the thread, with a photo of a matching desk.

Would you buy formal clothes from a thrift store? Yes 💯 I already have 😎 Depends on the event 🤔 Nope 🙅 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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