If you suddenly feel like everything at the store costs more than it did a month ago, you’re not wrong—and more hikes are on the way. New tariffs on Chinese-made goods have quietly crept in, and they’re hitting categories many of us rely on: clothes, bikes, kitchen gear, tools, and even furniture. Some of these items now carry effective duty rates as high as 145%.
The catch? These duties only apply to new items entering the country. Anything already here—whether it’s on Facebook Marketplace, in a thrift store, or sitting in your neighbor’s yard sale pile—is exempt. Which makes secondhand shopping the unsung hero of the tariff era. Here are several categories where thrifting now makes more sense than ever.
1Apparel and Shoes
With tariffs back in full force, fast-fashion imports from China are now carrying combined duties that make these clothes nearly inaccessible. To put it another way, that means ultra-affordable platforms like Shein and Temu aren’t so cheap anymore.
I’ve seen trends come and go—but when thrifting clothing secondhand, go for cotton, wool, and leather because they hold their own over time. Several styles from the 90s are also back in style. Scan the tags for natural fibers and trust your hand: If it feels flimsy or synthetic, skip it. Focus on basics that layer well and age beautifully.
2Bicycles
Bikes from China now come with about 81% in total duties. E-bikes? Nearly 70%. So? Look for your kid’s next bike size at a thrift store this summer, and don’t be intimidated by a little dust.
Flip the bike and look for dents along the frame, then spin the wheels off the ground. A good vintage bike often just needs fresh tubes and a tune-up—and older models are sometimes better built than today’s entry-level options.
3Home Decor & Toys
Tariffs on imported ornaments, artificial trees, and kids’ toys could nearly double their price tags by the 2024 holiday season, so start shopping secondhand now for gifts. Summer is the sweet spot—donation bins are overflowing, and prices drop.
If you collect vintage decor, bring gloves and dig deep. Skip anything broken unless it’s rare, and always check battery compartments for corrosion. With some smart searching, hopefully the child in your life can collect as many dolls as they want.
4Metal Furniture
Section 232 duties just expanded to cover even more metal-based goods. That includes furniture frames, which now carry a 25% surcharge in addition to any China-specific tariffs.
When shopping for metal-framed second hand pieces, don’t worry much about light rust or scratches (these can be remedied). What matters is construction—give the piece a wobble and check how the joints are held. Welded seams beat screw joints every time, and metal can usually be revived with a little oil and steel wool.
5Metal Cookware and Bakeware
Metal cookware hasn’t been spared either. The revived 25% metals tariff means even budget-friendly aluminum pans are now more expensive. I don’t even want to think about how expensive imported cast iron pans are going to be.
When shopping second-hand in the kitchen section, run your fingers along the bottom of pans—if it’s flat and heavy, it’ll distribute heat well. I avoid anything warped or deeply scratched. Cast iron is gold if you’re willing to re-season it.
6Solid Wood Furniture
New lumber tariffs have ripple effects, raising the cost of anything made from solid wood. Costs are high even if wood furniture is made in the U.S. because sometimes the lumber comes from elsewhere.
I personally prefer cleaned-up, second-hand wood furniture in general, but if you’re new to this market, here’s a little trick: Open every drawer. If you see dovetail joints (interlocking wedges at the corners), that’s a green flag. Press down on surfaces—wobble means warped wood. Also, don’t get stuck with MDF masquerading as the real thing.
7Luggage
Luggage makers are reporting price increases up to 40% after losing tariff exemptions. One brand raised a $155 backpack to $212 in a week. Yikes.
But test every second-hand zipper—twice. Roll the bag on different surfaces and pop open the interior seams. If the frame is solid and the brand is recognizable, it’s probably worth grabbing. Replacement parts for heritage luggage brands are easy to track down.
