Well, if you're talking about wines, of course, vintage means one thing; but if you're talking about Ebay, it means quite another. You can probably tell how old an Ebay buyer is by what s/he considers "vintage." To me, (and I am over the hill, to put it nicely), "vintage" is  the1940s-'50s. But to someone younger, say my fashionista daughter, "vintage" is the 1980s - or even the 1990s. Now this can be a problem in terms of listing items for sale on Ebay. One man or woman's "vintage" is another man or woman's "antique" depending on the age of the seller. I tackle this problem of semantics by clarifying what "vintage" means in each listing - for example, by listing the general decades in the title or at least in the first paragraph: "1960s", for instance. Some times I can recall Go-Go boots from the 1960s and I don't have to consult a Miller's reference book, (which I heartily recommend, by the way). But other times, I can't recall if the Eames chair was from the 1950s or later, or even a re-issue from Herman Miller....And so it goes. Personally, I don't consider the 1990s "vintage" -- and even the 1980s is stretching it a lot (unless it's a Nolan Miller cocktail suit  from the "Dallas" era with big shoulder pads and giant rhinestone buttons). When in doubt about the "vintage-ness" of your item, it's always best to surf Ebay for similar items - or to consult great reference books like the above-named Millers books (Guide to the 1950s, for instance)...Props: (Where we list great Thrift Stores) -- I am a big fan of the DAV stores.  In fact, some of the most valuable items I ever found, I found at the DAV. Unless there is a cookoo head in the back, most of the times the valuable collectibles are marked reasonably and put in a jumble with the Made-in-China repos. Very good "vintage" California pottery can be found at the DAVs in my general area.In your location, you are also likely to find quality regional items..Action:  (What to Buy Now:) --Plastic - here I am talking about the same advice "The Graduate" got - only, in this case, the buy indication is for heavier, well-made "vintage" (i.e. 1950-60s) plastic  -Russel Wright, Melamine, Lucite, webbed garden chairs, red & white kitchenware (canister sets, for example) and so on. But also (red alert); Look out for old credit cards - the "plastic" most of us are concerned with, these days....I wager (and I only do that here) that early versions of credit cards (including service stations) will command escalating prices. Many of the early cards have been destroyed or cut-up. But if you happen to run across any (at a thrift store or even the bottom of your drawer), put them in your inventory, and "hold" for now.They will keep going up.....A little birdie told me even early Tupperware is hot, but you couldn't prove that by me.,..My "vintage" stacking, plastic Tupperware S&P shakers did not sell...Scenes: (What goes on at Thrift Stores): Thrift stores sometimes have great bargains on wrapping materials: bubble wrap, brown paper, jewelry boxes. You don't always have to thrift for antiques or collectibles for your inventory-- sometimes you can shop for Ebay packaging bargains. You can find packing materials on the shelves where the thrift stores keep gift wrap, old calendars, ballpoint pens etc. Once I found a giant bag of "vintage" pencils (including snow globe pencil tops, Historic site, Las Vegas etc.) in this area. But also nice mailing envelopes. Doubled my pleasure and my fun!!.. It can pay you to look around on the paper-goods shelves!....Flops: (Items to Avoid at Thrift Stores): Games. Sorry gamers, but most of the board games I have purchased have ended up going back to the thrift store. To my disappointment, most of the games I bought had missing pieces, lacked the rules, were short on spinners, pretend money, etc. Thrift stores usually tape the game boxes together, so you can't tell if the game is intact until you get home. I have a nice collection of left-over "vintage" Monopoloy metal playing pieces on my desk, because I never found a complete set in a box. I also am the proud owner of  3/4 of a box of "vintage" Cootie parts.....The most popular "donated" game these days seems to be Trump - I see it at almost all the thrift stores I visit. Maybe one day, The Donald will come up with a way to sell his old games and make money for charity..(Wait a Minute - I think that's happening now.)... The only board games I consider buying, then, are at yard sales or estate sales, where I can look inside the game box, count the pieces, consult the rules, and determine if the game/board is intact - before purchase. And even then, I must remember even "vintage" games don't always sell well on Ebay... Of course, you don't need a game board to play the thrift shopping game...Find something truly valuable at a thrift store, and you, too, can be Queen for a Day!!