If you’re a regular thrift shopper, you’ve probably been faced with this dilemma: you have a favorite shop that’s either a hidden gem or mildly popular and before you know it, everyone’s discovered it! The aisles that used to be semi-full are now packed. Sigh. What’s a thrifter to do? Well, instead of ditching your go-to secondhand store, you just have to shop smarter.

Check out a few tips to navigate a newly crowed thrift shop.

My last visit to the Goodwill Outlet was less than pleasant. I was able to find great accessories, but there was suddenly a ton of people. I mean, can you blame them? With clothing priced at $1.69/pound, who wouldn’t want to shop there? The issue wasn’t just the size of the crowd, but more so the aggressiveness. I used to love this store, but the energy has totally changed from when I discovered this gem four years ago.

When faced with your favorite thrift shop becoming a crowded location, here are three things you can do.

Go Another Day and/or Time
Typically go thrift shopping on a weekend? Switch it up to a weekday when you have the day off or during your lunch hour. Some thrift shops are vastly different on weekdays compared to weekends. It will usually be more laid back and chill. Most of us are creatures of habit, so switching up your thrift schedule can yield different results.

Use the New Crowd to Your Pro Advantage
A new crowd is usually less acclimated to a store, but you, you’re the pro! You know the lay of the land and this is where you have the upper hand. Before entering the shop, have a plan of attack. Maybe it’s the dresses, tops or accessories and if your location is organized, you know exactly where to find these items. Also, you might already be familiar with the staff there. All of these things can work in your advance and get you in and out the store swiftly.

Embrace the Crowds
This might be tough to hear, but crowds can be great for a thrift shop. The more people who know about a location, the more people are willing to donate to said location. Hopefully. This isn’t always a given, but the two can be correlated. If no one knows a shop exists, donations can be minimal {or subpar} and that means you’re not getting the best of the best selection. So welcome those crowds. If you can’t beat ’em, embrace the newfound attention {and donations} they bring to a shop!

However, if you absolutely prefer another thrift store, just search for a new one. Shops in suburban areas outside of major cities tend to have great, affordable pieces. Check out The Thrift Shopper for a store near you. Just enter your zip code and see what pops up.

Photo: 1, 2, 3