Opportunity shops, commonly known as op shops, are stores that sell second-hand goods for charitable causes. I have recently been obsessed with them and here are five reasons why:

1. You do not know what you will find. Unlike most retail stores with searchable online inventories, op shops offer unpredictable shopping experiences. The goods on display depend entirely on what people donate and what store owners choose to sell. It is a dynamic, moving force with new discoveries each visit.

2. The goods have a story. This used to be a turn off for me – why wear a stranger’s old clothes? – until I visited a store in Chicago. As I was flicking through some sports apparel, an observant worker pointed out that the shirt I was examining had just arrived today. It was worn by an athlete in the NLB that had grown too small for them but fit me perfectly. Now when I wear the shirt, I feel the strength of a national level baseball player flowing through my veins.

3. They are cheap. Last week, I purchased paperbacks of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, The Black Swan, and Brave New World for just $7. On Amazon, the three would cost nearly $60. As an Asian, discounts make me happy; especially when they are a lucky 88% off.

4. They support worthy causes. Some op shops use funds for community advocacy, others for cancer research, others to fight poverty and inequality. Any of these causes, plus the many more out there, beats buying from online retailers.

5. They create connections. Last week, the customer in front of me was buying a tie when the cashier recognised it as a donation from their coworker. “Barry! Someone snagged your favourite tie!” she called out. Barry, a middle-aged man in a beanie, hurried over and shared stories about the tie’s travels and the meaning behind its design. The conversation ended with the two men exchanging contact information, with the tie’s new owner promising to send photos. A simple secondhand purchase had sparked a new friendship.

Here’s to more op shop adventures.