4 Best Thrift Secondhand Stores in Johannesburg (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Talise Sterling, Goods and Shopping · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 6 min read

Finding a genuine bargain among these thrift secondhand stores in Johannesburg means knowing which shop is a well-run charity operation and which is a chaotic, three-storey rabbit hole. Together they carry 492 Google reviews, and the spread between the highest and lowest rating runs almost a full star, so the difference in experience is real, not just marketing.

Short answer: The highest-rated thrift stores in Johannesburg are Toc H Charity Shop and Junkie Charity Store, both at 4.4 stars, in Parktown North and Linden respectively. Collectors Treasury (4.0, 165 reviews) is the standout for secondhand books, holding what reviewers describe as one of the largest secondhand book collections in the Southern Hemisphere, while Cash Crusaders Carlton Centre (3.5, 219 reviews) covers electronics and general secondhand goods.

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1. Collectors Treasury
2. Cash Crusaders Carlton…
3. Toc H Charity Shop
4. Junkie Charity Store
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Johannesburg's Thrift and Secondhand Stores, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Collectors Treasury	4.0 ★	165	Secondhand books, records and antiques	View ›
2	Cash Crusaders Carlton Centre	3.5 ★	219	Secondhand electronics and general goods	View ›
3	Toc H Charity Shop	4.4 ★	57	Charity shopping with rotating stock	View ›
4	Junkie Charity Store	4.4 ★	51	Eclectic secondhand finds	View ›

4 Best Thrift Secondhand Stores in Johannesburg (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Collectors Treasury

4.0165 Google reviews

Collectors Treasury is a used book store in Johannesburg's City and Suburban area, also carrying antiques and records. Reviewers describe an enormous, sprawling stock, with one estimating more than two million books on the shelves, run by two brothers across three storeys. It's less a tidy retail shop and more a book lover's excavation site.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly call it a book lover's paradise with an enormous range of titles
Owners will track down out-of-print books on request, according to one reviewer
Safe parking is available, which reviewers note as a plus for the area
Strong reputation among visitors specifically seeking rare or hard-to-find titles

Worth knowing

Cramped, hard-to-navigate aisles with limited organisation, by the owners' own admission to one reviewer
One customer described pricing as high for books with visible water damage

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4 / 5

Review volume165 · 91st

Confidencemoderate

Recency8 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown54% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The standout pick for secondhand book hunting specifically, provided you're prepared to dig. Not the place for a quick, tidy browse.

Website +27113346556 Directions

CTP House, 244 Commissioner St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2001

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Cash Crusaders Carlton Centre

3.5219 Google reviews

Cash Crusaders Carlton Centre is a branch of the national Cash Crusaders chain in Marshalltown, a second hand store dealing in electronics, furniture, games and general household goods, alongside loan services. It's the most-reviewed name on this page and one of the larger, more corporate options.

What people praise

Wide inventory spanning electronics, furniture, gaming and more
Central Marshalltown location inside the Carlton Centre
Store management publicly responds to and follows up on customer complaints

Worth knowing

The lowest rating on this page, with multiple reviewers describing slow refunds and difficulty reaching staff
Several complaints centre on faulty secondhand electronics and repair delays

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating3.5 / 5

Review volume219 · 97th

Confidencemoderate

Recency6 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown42% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Useful for its range and central location, but it carries the lowest rating on this page, driven mainly by refund and communication complaints. Keep your receipt and confirm the return policy before buying electronics.

Website +27692217272 Directions

Commissioner St Shop 101 &102, Carlton Centre, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 1711

#3🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Toc H Charity Shop

4.457 Google reviews

Toc H Charity Shop is a Parktown North thrift store that has operated for over three decades, according to its own listing, selling secondhand clothing, household items, books and collectibles with proceeds supporting charity. Reviewers describe a small shop with frequently changing stock that rewards regular visits.

What people praise

Consistently described as the best charity shop in the area by long-time customers
Prices praised as excellent, with stock that changes often enough to justify repeat visits
Staff, including the manager, described as welcoming and personally engaged with regulars
Donations are logged and acknowledged, which reviewers appreciate

Worth knowing

One long-time customer described a decline in friendliness and a stricter no-negotiation policy after a change in management, though this is a single account

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume57 · 79th

Confidenceearly

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown63% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A well-loved, small-scale charity shop with a loyal following. Visit regularly if you want first pick of new donations.

Website +27774112261 Directions

17 4th Ave, Parktown North, Randburg, 2193

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Junkie Charity Store

4.451 Google reviews

Junkie Charity Store is a Linden second hand store selling a mix of clothing, kitchen gear, books, art pieces and household odds and ends. Reviewers describe it as a place for unique finds you won't come across elsewhere, though opinions on pricing and cleanliness are split.

What people praise

Reviewers describe genuinely unique stock across clothing, art and household goods
Staff, including a specifically friendly team member, praised by name for helpfulness
One customer picked up five items for around R120, calling it a bargain
Open seven days a week, including Sundays

Worth knowing

Some reviewers describe the store as dirty, dusty and cluttered
Pricing on certain items, especially clothing, drew complaints of being overpriced for their condition

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume51 · 74th

Confidenceearly

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenessphone · hours

Rating breakdown80% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Worth a browse for genuinely unusual finds, but expect a cluttered shopping experience and mixed pricing depending on the item.

+27720703767 Directions

Shop 18, 59 4th Ave, Linden, Johannesburg, 2195

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How we score

Every number on this page is computed from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the business’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them, ranked against other Johannesburg thrift and secondhand stores. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a rating built on hundreds of reviews carries more weight than one built on a few dozen. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

What to expect on price at Johannesburg thrift stores (2026)

None of the stores on this page publish a fixed price list, since thrift and secondhand pricing depends entirely on the item, its condition and the individual shop’s policy. Reviewers do describe real examples, from a bag of five items at Junkie Charity Store for around R120, to complaints of high prices on damaged books at Collectors Treasury, so expect variation store to store and item to item.

Serving all of Johannesburg

The stores above cover the Johannesburg CBD, Marshalltown, Parktown North and Linden. Searching for a thrift or secondhand store near me? Every listing shows a live phone number and address so you can check current hours and stock before you go.

What to ask before you shop secondhand

What’s the return or exchange policy on secondhand electronics?
How often does the stock rotate, and is there a best day to visit for new arrivals?
Are prices fixed, or is some negotiation expected?
Does the store test electronics before selling them?
Where does the store’s donated or sourced stock come from?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these thrift and secondhand stores?

We started from thrift and secondhand stores in Johannesburg with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Which store is best for secondhand books in Johannesburg?

Collectors Treasury is the clear specialist, with reviewers describing an enormous stock spread across three storeys, though it rewards patience over a quick browse.

Do these stores accept donations?

Charity-focused shops like Toc H Charity Shop typically accept donations, with reviewers noting they log and acknowledge each one. Confirm with the individual store, since policies differ from purely commercial secondhand sellers like Cash Crusaders.

The bottom line

Toc H Charity Shop is the safe, well-loved default for general secondhand browsing, while Collectors Treasury is the destination if books are the goal. Whichever you choose, check the return policy before buying anything electronic.

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