As Aussies continue to decry the rising cost of living, one bargain hunter has proven there are still treasures to be found in op shops across the country.
Brisbane woman Heidi Eiser was thrilled after popping into North Ryde Vinnies while visiting Sydney on holidays to find a brand-new-looking handbag for just $12. But it wasn’t until she got it home and Googled the brand that she realised it was worth much more.
“I saw the bag hanging up in the bag section and was instantly drawn to the colour and quality,” she told Yahoo News Australia. “I looked inside the bag and saw it had a “made in Italy” tag but didn’t notice the brand. I didn’t think much of it until I got back to our room. I noticed the small label embossed on the bag and on the pouch inside.”
Heidi Googled the brand Mansur Gavriel and was stunned to discover the bag she picked up was worth nearly $1,000. “They don’t sell this pouch bag in this colour combination any more, but the black version was $995. I couldn’t believe it,” she exclaimed.
Woman’s ‘best’ op shop find
Heidi, who collects cans and bottles around her Brisbane neighbourhood to make purchases, knows her way around hunting for hidden treasure but admits the handbag is the “best” and most valuable find she’s ever made.
“But I do shop secondhand markets, op shops, Depop and Facebook marketplace regularly and I am pretty proud of my finds,” she said. “My partner and I moved into our place together a year ago and the majority of our furniture were secondhand finds.”
She also buys clothes, crockery and vases from op shops. “A lot of old casserole dishes are such good quality, I find it’s much better to buy them secondhand than to buy new,” she said.
Vinnies op shop is regularly requesting quality donations. Source: Supplied
Charity shop hunter’s secret to success
Despite finding success, Heidi believes op shops are “getting more and more expensive.”
“It’s disappointing to see because I feel like op shops are there to be accessible for many people,” she said. “But occasionally you can still find a really good bargain.
“My tips for finding a bargain are to go to op shops regularly, and search Marketplace and Depop regularly. Good finds go quickly. So if you’re there first, you’re in.
“I also ask myself regularly if I’m purchasing something because I need it, or just because it’s cheap,” she adds.
Most importantly, she added, is to “have fun”.
“You can find some incredible things. And I’ve had such genuine experiences purchasing from people and hearing the backstory to their pieces.”
Sustainable consumption front of mind for Aussies in 2025
Consumer specialist Professor Gary Mortimer from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) told Yahoo that with the cost of living continuing to be an ongoing concern, there is a growing appetite among Aussie consumers to buy sustainably this year.
“What we’re seeing is the growth of demand for secondhand clothing, charity shops, and secondhand luxury goods,” he said. “I think sustainability is still top of mind for consumers this year.”
It’s something Heidi agrees with, explaining she loves the “circular effect” of secondhand shopping.
“I still try to shop mindfully. I keep in mind (and on a note in my phone) the gaps in my wardrobe and in my house that I would like to fill. And if the item is outside of that, I try to ask myself if I really need it.”
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