Thrift Store or Resale: Where Should Big Items Go?
Thrift stores are great for clothing. For an appliance, a hot tub, or a play set, Ari Kimmelfeld says the hard part is getting it out of the house at all.
Watch the episode: From a Peloton Resale Site to 3,000 Drivers Nationwide, Commonplace's Ari Kimmelfeld, The Modern Day Business Diaries with Divine Grace Corcio, aired November 4, 2026. Listen on Spotify.
Short answer: For clothing and small things, a thrift store works well. For big items like an appliance, a hot tub, a play set, or a jet ski, Ari Kimmelfeld says the hard part is getting them out of the house at all. On Commonplace a crew inspects the item, moves it out, and you are paid at pickup.
Host Divine Grace Corcio asked Ari about the gap between thrift stores, peer-to-peer marketplaces, and Commonplace on The Modern Day Business Diaries.
What Ari said
I think thrift stores definitely have a place, and I think when it comes to smaller items like clothing, thrift stores are fantastic.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Modern Day Business Diaries, at 13:59
But, I think when it comes to the big and bulky categories, it's still pretty hard to get them out and into the thrift store.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Modern Day Business Diaries, at 14:24
Big items need a crew
And a lot of the time, people that are selling are just happy that a team of movers can come in and professionally remove the product, whether it's an appliance, a hot tub, play set, a jet ski. These things aren't necessarily easy to move.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Modern Day Business Diaries, at 14:34
So, getting somebody to inspect it, move it, and then pay you for it on the spot is something that I don't think thrift stores offer just yet.
Ari Kimmelfeld on The Modern Day Business Diaries, at 14:44
Selling a big item on Commonplace
- List it free. Upload photos and set the price you want to take home.
- Your take-home price. Commonplace adds its 20% platform fee and a pickup fee on top to set the buyer's price.
- No hauling. A trained crew picks it up, taking it apart when needed.
- Paid at pickup. By Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or bank, before the item leaves your home.
- Moving first? Store to Sell keeps it in a Commonplace warehouse until it sells.
Read how to get rid of old appliances and how to get rid of an old hot tub, or browse used hot tubs. For the full conversation, read Two Buttons: Ari Kimmelfeld on Modern Day Business Diaries.
Commonplace is the Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and OfferUp alternative for big items. Listing is free, and Commonplace handles pickup, inspection, delivery, secure payments, and a free two-month parts warranty. Labor coverage is available as an add-on. White-glove delivery is free within 100 miles, longer distances are quoted by ZIP, and Commonplace ships nationwide. See how it works.
Related questions
How much do I take home if I sell?
You set the price you want to take home. Commonplace adds its 20% platform fee and a pickup fee on top to set the buyer's price, and you are paid at pickup.
Do I have to move it out myself?
No. A Commonplace crew picks it up, including disassembly when needed.
What if it is not worth selling?
Read how to get rid of old furniture for the other options.
Thank you to Divine Grace Corcio for having Ari on The Modern Day Business Diaries. Quotes are from the episode, lightly edited for reading. Listen to the full conversation on Spotify.
More from Ari's podcast interviews: questions Ari answered on podcasts and every show he has been on.