Thrift Shopping in Singapore: Charity Shops or Resale?

New2U is SCWO’s thrift shop at 96 Waterloo Street. Proceeds support its work with women and girls. Published shopping hours are Monday–Friday, 10.30am–2.30pm, and the fourth Sunday of the month, 11am–2pm. It closes on public holidays.

That makes it a weekday-lunch or selected-Sunday stop, not an any-weekend shopping plan. Check the current New2U page before travelling.

REFASH is a commercial secondhand-fashion retailer, not the same model as a charity shop. Its store directory lists both opening hours and what each outlet accepts.

For example, Bedok Mall is listed at #01-55/56, 11am–9pm daily, with clothing selling and selected bags/wallets services. Aperia Mall is listed at #01-05, noon–8pm daily, but does not accept drop-offs. Those differences matter if you are carrying clothes to sell, not merely browsing.

Look at the seams, zip, buttons, lining and underarms. Check the actual measurements rather than trusting a familiar size label. Ask about fitting and returns before committing.

Then add the real cost: purchase price plus cleaning, alterations and any repair. A S$10 find that needs S$25 of work is a S$35 decision. That is a budgeting example, not either shop’s price quote.

Our rule: name one outfit you will wear it with and one occasion you will wear it to. If both answers are vague, leave it. Coming home empty-handed is better than buying another wardrobe problem.

New2U publishes an acceptance list and asks donors to check its Instagram for current donation status. It does not accept items such as furniture, electrical appliances, soft toys or child-safety equipment. Check before packing; never leave rejected goods outside.

For resale, read the selected outlet’s acceptance and payout process. “Secondhand shop” does not mean “will buy everything”. On a first visit, browsing without a clear-out bag is the easiest way to understand the store.