Thrift stores can be cluttered, dimly lit and well... a little scary! I've put together this guide to make thrifting a little less intimidating.
The key to your shopping success is to decide what it is that you're really looking for. Current brands? Vintage clothing? What do you value more - good prices? environment? Let's start talking about where to look for what you want.
Environment:
If you're uncomfortable digging and shuffling through small cramped stores, try sticking to the chain stores. Places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and Hospice usually offer a more pleasant shopping environment. They are usually well lit, with cleaner floors and more open space. The drawback to shopping mainstream thrift is the price range - clothing is usually overpriced in these shops. You may end up paying $5.00 for a shirt that would have cost you $2.00 at a smaller store.
Pricing:
This is a tricky part of thrifting, because while all consigned merchandise is well below mall prices, there is some degree of variation between thrift stores when it comes to price. More common,
corporate stores like Salvation Army often have higher prices. The shops to look for if you're looking for a really good bargain are a little harder to find. These stores will often be small and privately owned. A little hole in the wall place may be harder to scrounge through, but the deals can be stellar. Try to avoid stores that use words like
"boutique" or
"treasures" in their title. This means that whoever owns the shop thinks that their merchandise is special somehow
(but let's be honest, all thrifted goods are equally second-hand). Another word to watch for is
"consignment" since, again, that's just a way to make "thrift" sound better.
Another factor that makes for lower prices is affiliation. If the store is privately owned, that store may be the owner's only source if income. This means higher prices. If the store is linked to a charity, it could go either way; prices could be high or low.
I've found that if a store is affiliated with a local church, you may find the lowest prices there. Why? Well because the merchandise is often donated, the workers volunteers and the profits solely going to the church. Beware though of stores that are chain stores that seem church affiliated like St.Vincents. Again, chain stores often have the highest prices.
Location:
Here's one key to thrifitng for what you want: Think to yourself,
"where are they getting their merchandise?" Usually, thrift stores get their merchandise through
donations from individuals in the local community. If you go to a thrift store in the poorer part of town, you're not likely to encounter a lot of high-end merchandise; brand names may be scarce here. However, if you shop at a thrift store in a nicer neighborhood, while the prices may be a little higher you may find more name brand merchandise.
Era:
This section ties into the 'Location' portion. If you want clothes that you could find at the mall, then shop where the local community would be wearing those clothes. If you want Abercriombie jeans, don't look in the small-town church shop, go for the larger city store.
College towns are great places to find current brands. Also, the bigger the store, the more likely you are to find mall brands, though it may cost an extra buck or two.
If you want vintage, that's another game entirely. Sure, it's cool to rock that 70's dress around your college campus, but anyone from a small town knows that only current brands are acceptable. Having new clothes says that you've got money and wearing vintage might be considered lame or just weird (sorry to everyone living in small town America that loves vintage like I do). What does this mean for you though?
This means, get out of the city, pick a small town and go nuts. These shops will be chock-full of 80's cocktail dresses, 70's polyester blouses, and so much more, all yours for the taking!
All of this is only my opinion, and only gained through my own experience in the thrifting world. Feel free to comment with your own advice, experiences or suggestions :) Hope this helps!
Another factor that makes for lower prices is affiliation. If the store is privately owned, that store may be the owner's only source if income. This means higher prices. If the store is linked to a charity, it could go either way; prices could be high or low. I've found that if a store is affiliated with a local church, you may find the lowest prices there. Why? Well because the merchandise is often donated, the workers volunteers and the profits solely going to the church. Beware though of stores that are chain stores that seem church affiliated like St.Vincents. Again, chain stores often have the highest prices. 
If you want vintage, that's another game entirely. Sure, it's cool to rock that 70's dress around your college campus, but anyone from a small town knows that only current brands are acceptable. Having new clothes says that you've got money and wearing vintage might be considered lame or just weird (sorry to everyone living in small town America that loves vintage like I do). What does this mean for you though? This means, get out of the city, pick a small town and go nuts. These shops will be chock-full of 80's cocktail dresses, 70's polyester blouses, and so much more, all yours for the taking! 
