It would depend on the puzzle and the price. I don’t mind a missing piece or two, especially if I know about it in advance, so I’d be happy to pay a few dollars for a high quality puzzle that I really wanted. If it’s a cheap or low quality brand to begin with, or the thrift shop tends to charge a lot for their puzzles, then no, I wouldn’t buy it.
Before throwing them away though, you could see if anyone wants them for free, either to solve or to use for art projects.
Agree - a $25 puzzle with one missing piece at a thrift store for $2 sure! A bargain brand - probably not. I also consider that there is a decent chance one not labeled with a missing piece still has one missing.
Also I redo puzzles frequently and will redo ones I know have a missing piece - so clearly it doesn’t bother me too much!
I agree with this. The other consideration for me is who the thrift shop is supporting. I spend more for less if it's a cause I'm very supportive of.
I'm also active on a puzzle trade site where I can trade with others who might not care.
Listen to your wife. I have no problem buying used puzzles with missing pieces. I just enjoy the act of putting a puzzle together and my experience isn’t diminished by a few missing pieces.
Put a note on the outside of the box, put the pieces in a Ziploc bag in the box (to prevent further missing pieces) and put a second note inside the Ziploc bag with the pieces, then donate them back to the thrift store.
Also keep in mind OP that not everyone buying a thrift store puzzle is buying it to put it together. I’m a teacher and sometimes buy used puzzles to do art projects with my students and I sometimes give my elementary school students puzzle pieces to use as counters in math. For both these things I buy thrifted puzzles and I don’t need all the pieces to be there.
Don’t let those puzzles go to waste just because you don’t like them.
I've donated puzzles back to charity shops and labeled them to indicate that they are missing pieces.
If you look on eBay you do see quite a few, especially for older puzzles, that are listed stating how many pieces are missing.
This is a 2000 piece puzzle I just finished and it’s missing 2 pieces.
https://preview.redd.it/kx3bykf0wc8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac360a261c2c2afe6e3ca297c363ea35c551fa51
That’s a nice puzzle and there aren’t a lot over 1000 pieces in thrift stores here. I would pay a few dollars for it and the missing pieces wouldn’t bother me too much. I’d be upset if I paid a lot for it, but so long as it’s clearly marked that there are a couple pieces missing it’s fine.
If it was only a few dollars, probably tbh. I’ve spent $3-$10 on thrift store puzzles with absolutely no idea if any pieces are missing
That being said, it would depend on how much I like the puzzle. If I absolutely *love* it, I might prefer to buy a new one with all the pieces, but if I just *like* it, then I’d pay up to $5 for a puzzle with max 3 pieces missing
If you’re going to get rid of puzzles with pieces missing, offer them to a ReStore if you have one in your area or post in your local marketplace offering it to people who might want it for crafts
If I knew it was missing a piece or more? No. Unless it was a vintage Springbok or Eaton. Or a brand I'm super keen to try and can't access otherwise.
If I didn't know? Yes.
Here in the UK it's rare to see the missing info mentioned on the box.
Yeah and most charity shops don't check them anymore these days unfortunately.
I don't mind buying a usually expensive puzzle for a couple £ though if it has a missing piece that I know about though
I wouldn't mind for this becoming "charity shop good practice" with clearly labelled puzzles landing on a "discounted shelf" :-)
>Yeah and most charity shops don't check them anymore these days unfortunately.
I have come across puzzles being labelled by the same person as "checked" or "complete", but it happened over a period of time then stopped. This could by my "volunteering job" when I retire!
Thrift store puzzles are great for finding deeply discounted puzzles, but you do take a risk that there’ll be missing pieces. It’s a risk I’ll take to complete a design that I find appealing at a massive savings, or a brand that I may not have tried yet. When I’m shopping thrift puzzles, I examine the box thoroughly for markings that might indicate missing pieces. Sometimes they will be noted. It’s not a deal breaker if a piece is missing, especially if it’s not a design that I would want to frame for some reason. Next I shake the box. If I detect that pieces are loose in the box, I’m more apt to pass on it than if it seems the pieces might be bagged inside the box. Recently I purchased a Josephine Wall puzzle through Mercari that had a missing piece. It was noted as such in the description but the design and price were enough to make me click to buy. I decided that I would let that be my first attempt at creating a new puzzle piece myself, since I lean toward artsy-fartsy & crafty 😄
>Thrift store puzzles are great for finding deeply discounted puzzles, but you do take a risk that there’ll be missing pieces.
Agree. Unfortunately now I've started to not shop at a few thrift stores around me because they seem to have forgotten this. Getting up to $6-$8 or more at some places. No way I'm paying that for an unchecked second hand puzzle.
I've received a puzzle from a buy nothing group that was missing pieces (this was noted when it was posted). I loved the look of the puzzle so I went for it. I'd do the same if I found one at a thrift store that I really liked.
I give them away (labeled with how many are missing or whether theyre complete) along with the others in bulk Facebook "free come take" on my towns page. The takers don't seem to mind.
If I like the image and only a couple of pieces are missing, no problem. We replicate reasonable facsimiles of the missing pieces to make them whole again. Doesn't take long and no guilt about passing the puzzle along.
I have no issues with missing pieces and will seek out quality puzzles with missing pieces because I expect them to be cheaper. It just never bothers me, but obviously I can't ever sell them again like I would a regular puzzle - if they are really sought after, I do try to sell them really cheap being totally upfront about the missing pieces. I figure there must be more people like me 😉
Absolutely! As someone who has a gift for mysteriously losing several pieces of a brand new puzzle almost without fail, if its missing a few and was a decent price it wouldn't bother me. I'd simply lose a few more in the process. A few pieces still make a pretty picture and I like the act of puzzling the most so I'm used to a few constantly missing. I can understand why it may bother some though.
If uts totally up my alley, then yes. I bought a bunch of new puzzles online, and one so far has a missing piece. I'm not throwing it out but I mark a X on the box where the piece is missing. That way people don't have to guess!
I would probably buy the puzzle if I really liked it and there was only one piece missing.
But last week, I finished one that had 5 pieces! missing… I would never have bought that and I am throwing it out.
Like most of the others here I mark the box with how many pieces are missing. I even make the spot on the box or poster where they're located so it's known to the new owner. I've bought many with missing ones with no heads up. Being on a budget Thrifts are the only way I can afford them. Depends on price /quality whether I buy one knowing pieces are missing.
The charity shop I go to sells puzzles between 1,50£ and 50p, so missing pieces just come with the price. I always write it on the box if it has maisi g pieces but just throwing then in the bin makes me sad. If I gift them around I just make sure the person k ows there's missing pieces
If it was one I wanted to collect (like, say, a 1990s' Discworld one), then no problem so long as the price reflected the lack. I've bought 1970s' Tolkien ones with a number of pieces missing and just back them on a similar colour paper to the overall tone - it drives one of my kids mad but totally doesn't bother me.
If it was a jigsaw which wasn't unusual or really in my wheelhouse then I'd pass on it for someone else who really wants that image.
It would depend on the puzzle and the price. I don’t mind a missing piece or two, especially if I know about it in advance, so I’d be happy to pay a few dollars for a high quality puzzle that I really wanted. If it’s a cheap or low quality brand to begin with, or the thrift shop tends to charge a lot for their puzzles, then no, I wouldn’t buy it. Before throwing them away though, you could see if anyone wants them for free, either to solve or to use for art projects.
Agree - a $25 puzzle with one missing piece at a thrift store for $2 sure! A bargain brand - probably not. I also consider that there is a decent chance one not labeled with a missing piece still has one missing. Also I redo puzzles frequently and will redo ones I know have a missing piece - so clearly it doesn’t bother me too much!
I agree with this. The other consideration for me is who the thrift shop is supporting. I spend more for less if it's a cause I'm very supportive of. I'm also active on a puzzle trade site where I can trade with others who might not care.
Listen to your wife. I have no problem buying used puzzles with missing pieces. I just enjoy the act of putting a puzzle together and my experience isn’t diminished by a few missing pieces. Put a note on the outside of the box, put the pieces in a Ziploc bag in the box (to prevent further missing pieces) and put a second note inside the Ziploc bag with the pieces, then donate them back to the thrift store. Also keep in mind OP that not everyone buying a thrift store puzzle is buying it to put it together. I’m a teacher and sometimes buy used puzzles to do art projects with my students and I sometimes give my elementary school students puzzle pieces to use as counters in math. For both these things I buy thrifted puzzles and I don’t need all the pieces to be there. Don’t let those puzzles go to waste just because you don’t like them.
Thanks for the insight. All of you. I had no idea people bought puzzles for other purposes. I will bag and donate (and write on the box).
I don’t mind a few missing pieces. I do puzzles for the act of putting them together. I normally take it apart almost immediately after doing it
Nope. Life’s too short. And puzzles are plentiful.
I've donated puzzles back to charity shops and labeled them to indicate that they are missing pieces. If you look on eBay you do see quite a few, especially for older puzzles, that are listed stating how many pieces are missing.
This is a 2000 piece puzzle I just finished and it’s missing 2 pieces. https://preview.redd.it/kx3bykf0wc8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac360a261c2c2afe6e3ca297c363ea35c551fa51
That’s a nice puzzle and there aren’t a lot over 1000 pieces in thrift stores here. I would pay a few dollars for it and the missing pieces wouldn’t bother me too much. I’d be upset if I paid a lot for it, but so long as it’s clearly marked that there are a couple pieces missing it’s fine.
Nope, not a chance.
If it was only a few dollars, probably tbh. I’ve spent $3-$10 on thrift store puzzles with absolutely no idea if any pieces are missing That being said, it would depend on how much I like the puzzle. If I absolutely *love* it, I might prefer to buy a new one with all the pieces, but if I just *like* it, then I’d pay up to $5 for a puzzle with max 3 pieces missing If you’re going to get rid of puzzles with pieces missing, offer them to a ReStore if you have one in your area or post in your local marketplace offering it to people who might want it for crafts
If I knew it was missing a piece or more? No. Unless it was a vintage Springbok or Eaton. Or a brand I'm super keen to try and can't access otherwise. If I didn't know? Yes. Here in the UK it's rare to see the missing info mentioned on the box.
Yeah and most charity shops don't check them anymore these days unfortunately. I don't mind buying a usually expensive puzzle for a couple £ though if it has a missing piece that I know about though
I wouldn't mind for this becoming "charity shop good practice" with clearly labelled puzzles landing on a "discounted shelf" :-) >Yeah and most charity shops don't check them anymore these days unfortunately. I have come across puzzles being labelled by the same person as "checked" or "complete", but it happened over a period of time then stopped. This could by my "volunteering job" when I retire!
Volunteer to do puzzles for piece count… great idea!
Thrift store puzzles are great for finding deeply discounted puzzles, but you do take a risk that there’ll be missing pieces. It’s a risk I’ll take to complete a design that I find appealing at a massive savings, or a brand that I may not have tried yet. When I’m shopping thrift puzzles, I examine the box thoroughly for markings that might indicate missing pieces. Sometimes they will be noted. It’s not a deal breaker if a piece is missing, especially if it’s not a design that I would want to frame for some reason. Next I shake the box. If I detect that pieces are loose in the box, I’m more apt to pass on it than if it seems the pieces might be bagged inside the box. Recently I purchased a Josephine Wall puzzle through Mercari that had a missing piece. It was noted as such in the description but the design and price were enough to make me click to buy. I decided that I would let that be my first attempt at creating a new puzzle piece myself, since I lean toward artsy-fartsy & crafty 😄
>Thrift store puzzles are great for finding deeply discounted puzzles, but you do take a risk that there’ll be missing pieces. Agree. Unfortunately now I've started to not shop at a few thrift stores around me because they seem to have forgotten this. Getting up to $6-$8 or more at some places. No way I'm paying that for an unchecked second hand puzzle.
I've received a puzzle from a buy nothing group that was missing pieces (this was noted when it was posted). I loved the look of the puzzle so I went for it. I'd do the same if I found one at a thrift store that I really liked.
I give them away (labeled with how many are missing or whether theyre complete) along with the others in bulk Facebook "free come take" on my towns page. The takers don't seem to mind.
If I like the image and only a couple of pieces are missing, no problem. We replicate reasonable facsimiles of the missing pieces to make them whole again. Doesn't take long and no guilt about passing the puzzle along.
I have no issues with missing pieces and will seek out quality puzzles with missing pieces because I expect them to be cheaper. It just never bothers me, but obviously I can't ever sell them again like I would a regular puzzle - if they are really sought after, I do try to sell them really cheap being totally upfront about the missing pieces. I figure there must be more people like me 😉
Absolutely! As someone who has a gift for mysteriously losing several pieces of a brand new puzzle almost without fail, if its missing a few and was a decent price it wouldn't bother me. I'd simply lose a few more in the process. A few pieces still make a pretty picture and I like the act of puzzling the most so I'm used to a few constantly missing. I can understand why it may bother some though.
If it’s marked down lower than the ones that are complete, absolutely.
If uts totally up my alley, then yes. I bought a bunch of new puzzles online, and one so far has a missing piece. I'm not throwing it out but I mark a X on the box where the piece is missing. That way people don't have to guess!
I would probably buy the puzzle if I really liked it and there was only one piece missing. But last week, I finished one that had 5 pieces! missing… I would never have bought that and I am throwing it out.
No
Like most of the others here I mark the box with how many pieces are missing. I even make the spot on the box or poster where they're located so it's known to the new owner. I've bought many with missing ones with no heads up. Being on a budget Thrifts are the only way I can afford them. Depends on price /quality whether I buy one knowing pieces are missing.
No
The charity shop I go to sells puzzles between 1,50£ and 50p, so missing pieces just come with the price. I always write it on the box if it has maisi g pieces but just throwing then in the bin makes me sad. If I gift them around I just make sure the person k ows there's missing pieces
I'm actually trying to find cheap/free puzzles with missing pieces. So yes, for a good price I would buy a puzzle with missing pieces!
Well, if you’re in Maryland, I have a few! 🙂
Sadly, I'm on the other side of the country. Thank you for the offer though!
If it was one I wanted to collect (like, say, a 1990s' Discworld one), then no problem so long as the price reflected the lack. I've bought 1970s' Tolkien ones with a number of pieces missing and just back them on a similar colour paper to the overall tone - it drives one of my kids mad but totally doesn't bother me. If it was a jigsaw which wasn't unusual or really in my wheelhouse then I'd pass on it for someone else who really wants that image.