Second-Hand Shopping

Thrift stores, second-hand shops, flea markets and yard sales are just a few of my favorite places to find little treasures, unique pieces, vintage and sometimes even a special gift. Lately, especially during COVID, online yard sales and resell websites have grown in popularity and my favorite is Mercari. I love buying and selling on Mercari, finding second-hand items and even a rare vintage item here and there. I often find myself heading to Mercari to look for gift ideas before any other site. Over the years, I’ve found everything from clothing to books, dishes and fun decorations for the home on Mercari but this time, I found the best treasure ever.

My Favorite Mercari Find:

I love thrifting…

Visiting local flea markets, second-hand shops, yard sales, online resale groups, Mercari, Poshmark, even eBay…

Those are my favorite places to shop, to find unique pieces, my favorite vintage items, fun accessories and of course, little treasures.

And out of all the years of thrifting, second-hand shopping, bargain hunting, I finally found my favorite treasure ever!

haha, not what you were expecting is it?

I can see your confused looks,
this is not what anyone would expect me to say is my favorite.

Oh, believe me, I have lots and lots of favorite little finds, little treasures throughout my house.

I’m even planning a fun post to show off some of my favorite finds here soon.

So why are little toy cars my most favorite ever?

It’s the story behind them, the meaning, that makes them my favorite and the most special.

I don’t collect toy cars, I never even look for them unless my dad specifically asks me to.

Just not my thing.

So why the sudden interest in a toy Land Cruiser?

My dad…

A Cruise Down Memory Lane:

Growing up, my dad had a blue with white top Toyota Land Cruiser. He had more than one, most were project pieces but this was his main cruiser and he drove that thing everywhere. My dad loves Land Cruisers! Unfortunately, the blue one was wrecked/totaled and he never replaced it and has since passed the project one on to my brother due to declining health.

My dad truly loved that Land Cruiser and although he did his best to hide it, I always knew how much it upset him when it was totaled.

At one time, long ago, he also had a toy version of his Land Cruiser.

He says my brother and I lost it.

I don’t agree but that isn’t important haha.

Anyways.

A Random Mercari Search…

I was at the computer one night, bored and browsing around on Mercari. Just randomly scrolling to see what I might come across when a toy Land Cruiser showed up in my feed.

I took a screenshot and sent it to my brother.

The one I found that night was a random safari-style Cruiser.

My brother said dad probably already had that one…

and at that moment I remembered the one he lost. Yep, totally random but that’s typical me.

I asked my brother what was the one he lost, he reminded me it was the one like the real one and off I went, down the rabbit hole of searching for a specific item.

It was time for my dad to finally have his Land Cruiser.

And OH. MY. GOSH…

I found not one

but two!!!

Now this isn’t the first time I have randomly searched for one over the years

but it is the first time I have ever found one!

I quickly sent screenshots to my brother to make sure it was the right one (over the years, they have released so many with just tiny little differences and I know nothing about these things).

He confirmed they were indeed the one that was lost, that the more “played with” one was the closest in color to the one lost and his real one.

I immediately purchased that one.

Hesitated…

…

…

and sent an offer on the second one.

It was the only two I have ever found, amazing prices and honestly, I could see no difference.

Offered accept,

Purchases confirmed,

Mailed and on the way!

How am I supposed to keep this secret?!!

I managed…

just barely.

Both finally arrived and my excitement was that of a child on Christmas morning.

I could not wait to surprise my dad!

The Perfect Gift:

I carefully packed them up and sent them on their way to my dad…. right before our major winter storm was due to arrive. Yes, I stalked tracking every day.

Lucky for me, they arrived a day early and ahead of the storm.

And unable to contain my excitement, I called my dad and let him know the package had arrived and not to forget to go by and pick it up!!

And my dad absolutely loves them!

The more played with one is indeed almost identical to the one lost (okay, yes, my brother was right), he was thrilled with my find and already had plans for where each of them would go.

I know my husband and everyone laughed at how excited I was over this find and surprising my dad but buying gifts for my dad is close to impossible. He is the absolute hardest to purchase for. Either he already has everything he wants or he refuses to tell us anything he needs or he grumbles at us not to waste money on him and use it for something important. My dad is where I get my attitude about useless/pointless gifts. There is no reason to waste money on a tie, a book, anything just to give someone something. Gifts should have a purpose, should be meaningful.

And for the first time ever, I found the perfect gift for my dad.

Surprising him with these toys meant the world to me and although I couldn’t be there to see his face, I know it meant a lot to him. This wasn’t just about the toys, it was remembering something important and spending the time tracking it down, remembering him and thinking of him.

Okay, I’ll end up emotional if I keep going.

Anyways, this is why these two little toys will forever be my most favorite find.

Do you enjoy shopping on Mercari?
If so, what has been your favorite find? Let me know in the comments!