Five Types of Thrift Vendors You Need to Watch Out for in Yaba Market to Get the Best Deals

If you’ve never been to Yaba thrift market before, take this as the best guide you’ll ever see. 

 

There’s a difference between Shege and Shege promax, but going thrifting in Yaba Market without being properly prepared is like a combination of both. 

 

It’s not just that you have to keep your eyes open, it’s that you have to maybe get an extra eye at the back of your head. 

Thrifting at Yaba Market is not for the faint-hearted and whether you’re a regular customer or it’s your first time, one thing is certain—you’ll get amazing fashion pieces there. 

 

But you’ll also get to meet different kinds of vendors there that you need to know how to handle so that you don’t end up buying what you don’t need, or buying an item that is not durable. 

 

You also want to make sure you’re safety conscious, properly guiding your phones and bags so you don’t become a victim of circumstance. Thank me later. 

 

There may be more but these are the five types of vendors you’ll definitely meet while thrifting in Yaba. 

 

But once you know these vendors well, you’ll leave the market with unique finds and still have some change left.

 

 

1. The OG

I call these ones ‘Agba’ majorly because they most likely have been selling clothes in Yaba before I was born. They’ve seen it all. They even flaunt it too, like a newly acquired title. The thing about these vendors is that their shops may seem regular, but even though trends may come and go, they always remain. 

 

They know the vintage pieces that you won’t find anywhere else. They can identify quality when they see it and they know the worth of what they have. This is where you need to get your bargaining skills to a hundred to make sure you get a good deal. 

But make sure you respect your elders too and maybe they may just be nice enough to give you a discount. 

 

Now, just because they know everything about thrifts and their quality doesn’t mean that you should not inspect the clothes well. Make sure you check them regardless. 

 

2. The Smooth Talker

You know those people that once when you wear anything, they can make you believe you’re the next Ayra Starr, even if the shirt is falling from your shoulders in an unfashionable way. 

 

They may hype the clothes, hype you and even hype your future. They do this to the extent that you may pay exorbitantly for something that you would have found cheaper elsewhere.

 

They may make you think that this piece is one of its kind or make you think that if you don’t buy it now, you’ll regret it forever. 

Shine your eyes. Make sure you don’t get carried away by all the sweet talk. Bask in the compliment, revel in it, but make sure you stick to your budget and ask yourself if you really need the item while handing over your cash. 

 

3. The Urgent 2k 

I don’t know about you but if you meet this vendor, you’ll notice that they’re always in a hurry. They create fake urgency and so they make you feel like if you don’t buy it, someone else will buy it. 

 

If you don’t use the extra eye I told you to carry along, you may have bought three jeans, two tops, and two pairs of shoes without even realizing it on time.

 

The best way to get through this kind of vendor is to breathe in and out. Don’t allow anyone rush you. Make sure you calm down and decide if you really want the item. Truly, some items may indeed be the last find but most times, there’s another vendor with a similar item or even better. 

 

4. The Sharp-But-Quiet One

Some vendors don’t say much but they observe you like their lives depend on it. They are not as loud and aggressive as the other vendors but they’re always calculating how much they can make off you. 

 

Once you dare show interest in a particular item, they’ll unleash and drop a price that may make your account balance bleed.

 

Don’t be misled by thinking you’re getting a good deal because they’re not as pushy. Make sure you negotiate properly. 

 

5. The Oversabi 

The first way to identify this category is that they don’t take no for an answer. They are the ones that will call you ‘my colour’, ‘my wife’ and they may even drag your hands insisting with all their might that they have everything you need. 

 

They will drag you here and there, and force items into your hands. They most likely believe that the more they disturb you, the more you’ll spend. 

 

For me, their constant pestering gets overwhelming. It may wear you down and you might end up buying something just to get them off your back. 

 

Another thing is that they may try to upsell you on things you don’t even need. 

 

Stay focused. That’s the best advice for this category. They may be all up in your face but remember to stay focused.

 

Thrifting in Yaba Market is definitely not easy, but it’s always worth it. If you know the kind of vendors you’re dealing with, you can have a smooth experience too.

 

Also, remember to trust your instincts and to price like your life depends on it. 

 

I never go to the market alone because I like good company and I like the idea of using an extra eye for a better sense of judgement but you don’t have to if you don’t want to. 

 

At the end of the day, thrifting in Yaba market might be a little crazy, but with a little wisdom and this information, you can come out with a lot of unique thrift items—without spending a lot of money. 

 

Which of these vendors have you met before? Let us know in the comments.