It’s not exactly easy to find high-quality clothing these days. Around 70% of the fibers used in clothes today are synthetic, and even pricier brands often cut corners on materials.
That’s why thrift stores, once a place for cheap, one-of-a-kind finds, now feel more like treasure hunts for anything made to last.
So when one shopper in Utah stumbled across a genuine Harley Davidson leather jacket while thrifting, he thought he’d hit gold. That was until he flipped the tag.
It Costs How Much?
TikTok creator @imber_torres14 posted a video of himself browsing through racks at a local thrift shop when he came across what looked like a near-perfect Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket.
He holds it up to the camera, showing the details: smooth leather, heavy-duty zippers, and clean stitching across the back. It looks vintage but barely worn, something you’d expect to find hanging in a collector’s closet.
But then comes the reveal. The price tag says $250.
“POV: you go to the thrift because you’re broke, but then you see the price,” reads the on-screen text.
The video got over 613,400 views.
Why Is It So Pricey?
At first glance, $250 for a used jacket seems steep, especially when thrift stores are supposed to be a budget option. But when it comes to Harley-Davidson gear, that number isn’t out of line.
A new Harley-Davidson leather jacket can cost anywhere from $400 to $625, depending on the model. And for vintage pieces, the resale market is alive and well; similar jackets on eBay are listed for $300 to $400, sometimes more if they’re from the 1980s or early 1990s.
Still, it’s easy to see why some shoppers were frustrated. Thrift stores have always been a place for bargain hunters and low-income families, not a reseller’s paradise. The irony, of course, is that the very reason these older pieces are worth more is that they’re built better than most modern-day fast fashion.
Today’s average jacket is made with polyurethane blends or faux leather, which are cheaper to produce but don’t age the same way. A well-cared-for vintage leather jacket, on the other hand, might still look brand new decades later.
So while that $250 tag may sting, it might not be as outrageous as it seems.
Commenters Share Their Thoughts
In the comments, TikTok users mostly sided with the shopper—but some argued the price made sense given the quality.
“Mind you someone donated that… FOR FREEEEEE,” one person wrote, though it’s worth noting that not every thrift store relies solely on donations. Some buy inventory from liquidators or wholesalers.
Another user pointed out the damage caused by the pricing tag itself: “AND they stabbed a hole in the leather.”
Others shared nostalgia for the days when thrifting meant actual deals. “Literally!!! I miss when thrift stores were actually affordable,” one person said.
But not everyone saw it as a loss. “Honestly I would still get it,” one commenter wrote.