Savi – Op Shop Finder

Why Are Op Shop Prices Going Up? Here’s What’s Really Going On

op shop prices going up Australia

If you’ve walked into an op shop lately and done a double take at the price tag… you’re not imagining it. That $25 dress? The $15 Kmart top? The occasional “wait… isn’t that more than new?” moment? Yep — op shop prices are rising. But the story behind it is a little more interesting (and a lot more positive) than it seems.

The Rise of Op Shopping (It’s Huge Right Now)

Op shopping isn’t niche anymore — it’s booming.

  • Australia’s second-hand apparel market has grown from ~$396M in 2018 to ~$578M in 2024
  • It’s projected to almost double again by 2032
  • Around 70–75% of Australians have bought second-hand clothing in the past year
  • Op shops are helping us save around $2 billion annually

Even better? Over 308 million clothing items are reused each year, keeping huge amounts of textile waste out of landfill

More people than ever are thrifting — and loving it.

Why Are Prices Going Up?

There’s no single reason — it’s a perfect storm of a few big shifts:

1. Demand has exploded

More people are op shopping than ever, which means more competition for the really good finds. Some stores have even seen customer numbers jump by 30–50% or more — and with that surge in demand, prices are naturally starting to edge up, especially for the best pieces.

2. Op shops are evolving

They’ve come a long way from their humble beginnings as “opportunity shops,” providing affordable clothing to those in need. Many now curate their collections, highlight sought-after brands, and create boutique-style displays — they’ve levelled up into retail spaces that rival traditional stores. As a result, pricing is becoming more intentional too, with better pieces often marked closer to their perceived value.

3. The reseller effect

Let’s be honest — the “flip culture” is real. More people are op shopping with resale in mind, and stores are well aware of it. As a result, some items are now priced with that in mind — especially well-known brands, pieces with strong resale potential, or anything with a vintage edge.

clothing reseller browsing op shop rack

4. Fewer quality donations

People are holding onto the good stuff and selling it themselves on platforms like Depop and Marketplace, which means fewer high-quality pieces are making their way into op shops. At the same time, what is being donated is often more fast fashion, which doesn’t hold its value as well. That combination shifts the mix — and naturally pushes prices up, especially for the better-quality finds everyone’s hunting for.

5. Rising costs

Rent, wages, transport — op shops aren’t immune to inflation. Just like any other retailer, their operating costs have gone up across the board, from keeping the lights on to moving stock between stores. And while many rely on volunteers, there are still paid staff, logistics, and overheads to manage. Even charities need to cover these costs to keep their doors open — and that reality is starting to show up in pricing.

6. Unsellable donations

Not everything that lands in an op shop makes it onto the rack. A surprising amount is damaged, worn out, or simply unsellable — and dealing with it takes time and money. From sorting to recycling or landfill fees, it all adds up. As fast fashion becomes more common in donation bags, this problem is growing — and those hidden costs flow through into higher prices.

7. Online competition

More shoppers are also turning to online secondhand instead of browsing in-store. With platforms like Depop, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay, it’s easier than ever to search, filter, and shop from home — and that convenience is hard to compete with.

That shift is starting to show up in the numbers. Industry data from IBISWorld shows revenue actually declined by around 2.4% in 2024–25, partly due to growing competition from online resale platforms.

With more competition and tighter margins, op shops are having to be more strategic about what they stock and how they price it.

woman browsing online platform for secondhand clothing

Here’s the Reality Check

Despite the viral “$40 dress outrage” posts, the reality is a bit less dramatic. The average item price still sits around $5.81, and Australian shoppers save around $2 billion each year by choosing secondhand. That average covers everything from clothes to books, toys, furniture, and homewares — many of which are priced very low. So, while the numbers suggest prices haven’t shifted dramatically overall, the experience feels quite different. If you’re shopping for clothes, it’s a different story — the good stuff definitely isn’t as cheap as it used to be.

So yes, prices have risen in some cases… but overall, op shopping remains one of the cheapest ways to shop — especially if you know how to spot a good find. Realistically, op shops can’t compete with ultra-cheap fast fashion — but they do offer value of a different kind.

The Trade-Off: Cheap vs Value

Let’s double click on that… A lot of people op shop for the cheap prices — totally fair. But when you zoom out, there’s a bigger picture.

The real value of op shopping isn’t just about saving money. It’s about reducing textile waste, giving clothes a longer life, supporting charities, and playing a part in the circular economy.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: Australians buy around 56 new clothing items a year on average — we’re among the biggest consumers of clothing in the world , even outpacing the U.S. on a per-person basis. That’s a lot of fast fashion entering the system — and exactly why secondhand matters more than ever.

Our Take

Yes — rising prices can feel frustrating. But there’s more to it than that. Op shops aren’t just cheap clothing stores — they’re part of a much bigger solution. Even if a thrifted item costs a little more than it used to, it’s still helping to reduce waste, cut demand for fast fashion, and support community programs.

Buying ultra-cheap fast fashion may be a massive problem — but buying secondhand is part of the solution.

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The Bottom Line

Op shopping is changing — but it’s not losing its magic. It’s just growing up. It’s shed its stigma and gone mainstream — which is exactly a move in the right direction. It’s worth remembering that op shops in Australia generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year to fund community programs, from housing and crisis support to healthcare and job services. So while the prices might not always feel like a $2 bargain anymore… the impact? Still priceless.

Read next: Curious about the real impact of op shopping? Check out our Global Op Shopping Stats — the numbers might surprise you.

References

Sources: Australian Fashion Council, Charitable Reuse Australia, ThredUp Resale Report, IBISWorld, and Australian media reporting.

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