A lot of useful things can be found while hunting through the aisles of thrift stores: vintage clothes, old video games, art, books, furniture.
And then there are the things that pose questions, like: What in the world is this? Who actually bought this in the first place? And who would buy it secondhand?
Thrift stores are filled with bizarre items, and while some may be destined for the trash, others are just strange and funny enough to warrant a second look.
The Instagram account Thrift Store Art has rounded up some of the most mind-boggling and amusing examples on the internet, from some disturbingly sexy Hagrid fan art to a Nicholas Cage backpack that is the stuff of nightmares.
Bryan Dickerson, the account’s creator, told BoredPanda that the page celebrates ‘some truly WTF projects’ that ‘someone out there thought … was the best idea in the world and spent the time to see it through.’
That’s not where the Sorting Hat goes! Some truly bizarre things can be found in thrift shops
Back to school! The Instagram account Thrift Store Art has rounded up some of the most mind-boggling and amusing examples on the internet
Creepy! This baby snail hybrid is absolutely horrifying
Weird: It’s hard to understand why someone would print up this tea towel, and why anyone would buy it
Pure smut: Some shoppers have discovered unexpectedly dirty books
Uh… It’s unclear if this backpack was ordered as a joke — or if it was bought for someone named Janus and a letter fell off
Misplaced picture? The filler photo for this frame is pretty inappropriate
House of horrors: These toys were presumably borrowed from a house literally haunted by demons, since there is no other reasonable explanation
The origins of this painting are unknown, so we’re happy to believe that Tom Cruise ordered it for his home (because why else would he look taller than Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler?)
The best: Amazingly enough, these are the pieces that thrift stores choose to re-sell. Some items are actually thrown out
It seems some people have some strange ideas about pet ownership and pantering
Now THAT will be stuck in our heads all day! Another person appears to have made up this very odd custom shirt
The Instagram account that posts these photos takes submissions from followers
Some suggestions: We imagine this CD also makes sounds like ‘cheering for sports,’ ‘moaning over small head cold,’ and ‘urinating while standing up’
So nice: Truly, there are some very, very bizarre videos and books out there
Run, little girl, run! Some creative person Photoshopped this little meme girl into a photo with bears
Strike a pose! The farmer in this book must be auditioning for RuPaul’s Drag Race — though, to be honest, his makeup could use some work
Goin’ for a run in the country! Because cowboys like to play sports sometimes, too
Woof: It’s bad enough some fetishist had this made, but it’s a crime against canine-kind that a thrift store was willing to re-sell this (left); meanwhile, Houston is looking smoggy (right)
Kissin’ cousins: In most places, this picture frame is illegal
But does it NEED to be on a shirt? Apparently, custom T-shirt shops have no restrictions
Divine insults: The customization on this painting probably narrows down the customers who’d buy it
Can’t forget: What some people consider ‘art,’ others would consider ‘nightmare inspiration’
Leo o’clock! Whoever put the $4.99 price tag on this clock obviously doesn’t realize it’s priceless
Don’t know what you heard about me… We may have misheard the lyrics all along — it turns out, 50 Cent is a ‘motherf***in L-A-M-P’
Gross: These shoes don’t just toe the line of questionable taste – they cross it
Dad jokes: Someone likely made himself giggle by turning a Liszt album into a food shopping list
How romantic: The backstory of this ashtray is one of 2020’s great mysteries
The connection between this hoodie’s message and Beanie Baby artwork is another major cliffhanger
They can’t bear to show their true identity! One store had not one but two faceless stuffed animals
Where’s the beef… sticker? Because what ’80s kid didn’t beg for Wendy’s stickers for Christmas
Odds and ends: The best part of waking up is a “Boy With a Problem” cup (left), and this Billy Ray Cyrus airbrush jacket is achy-breaky on the eyes (right)
Jesus, take the keyboard! Another priceless piece of art wonders, ‘What if God was one of us?’
Furure trend? Surprising, really, that this pin never caught on
Essential reading: There are truly some fascinating books for those willing to dig deep