Lapu-Lapu City : The Thrifting Haven

Lapu-lapu City is a haven for thrift shop enthusiasts, offering a wide range of options from clothing to footwear. It attracts both local and international tourists who come here just to indulge in thrift shopping. As an avid thrift shopper, I can vouch for its appeal. I would even cross an island to shop here. Lol. So, if you're a fan of thrift shopping, this place is definitely worth a visit. Today, I will take you through the footwear thriftmarket here in Lapu-Lapu Market, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines.

To be honest, I'm a huge fan of thrift shopping. Not only is it affordable, but you can also find authentic items. I rarely buy from malls because it's expensive, and for me, it's not worth it, especially when it comes to footwear. I don't mind purchasing second-hand things, but I'm not very particular about it’s brand. As long as they're comfortable and fit me well, I'm content.I always look for ones with tags and genuine brands.

How to get here?

If you have your own vehicle, you can opt to take either the first or second bridge to get to Lapu Lapu City. Alternatively, you could take the third bridge, although it's a bit farther away. The first bridge is conveniently located near the market in Lapu Lapu City. If you're coming from downtown Cebu City, the quickest way to reach Lapu Lapu City is by taking a ferry boat from the third port. The ride only takes around 20 to 30 minutes and will take you directly to the market in Lapu Lapu City.

I will walk you through the things you will find in the Lapu-Lapu City Market as we walk along the streets to find the perfect purchase.

One thing I love most is walking around the market and simply just seeing whatever they are selling. It is such a stress-reliever for me.

Here in Lapu-lapu City Market we have a “suki”, a stall vendor where we always buy from because that seller has branded and updated shoes designs and the seller gives us discount but unfortunately, he was not here today because of some family emergency so we just walked around to see all the other sellers in the place.

Since our suki is not here today, I think I am not gonna purchase anything I will just go on window shopping and just stroll around the Lapu-Lapu City Market.

Upon walking around the Lapu-Lapu City Market, we saw so many vendors on different stalls. Most of these shoes are second-hand shoes that are of 9 out of ten quality. Most of the footwear sold here are branded and genuine. So if you are a fan of thriftshopping, Lapu-Lapu City Market is the place to be.

Upon walking around I saw these bunch of people, the buyers are negotiating with the seller regarding the price of the footwear they want to buy, they asked for a discount. If the price is ₱250 the seller will sell it for ₱220. Okay, that’s a discount right there.

There are really a lot of people here in Lapu-Lapu City Market so I highly suggest if you want to come here, do not bring large backpacks or a lot of things because it would be such a hassle and passing through a lot of crowd would be such stressful.

This stall sells footwears all for ₱150 pesos. That is a fixed priced already and they will not give you a discount if you will ask for one. But, if you would really think about it, ₱150 is already so cheap and you would not want to ask more discounts if the price is that low already.

As I walk around the Lapu-Lapu City Market, I saw more and more footwear.
But as of today, the brand that I am looking for is just nowhere to be found so I just have to keep on walking, searching for the stall that sells my need. It is a fun experience to walk around and see all the options they have here, certainly, a lot.

It's common to see buyers and sellers negotiating prices. While it's understandable for buyers to look for ways to save money, it's important to remember that sellers are running a business and asking for discounts should be done respectfully. However, I've noticed some people asking for discounts that are way too low, which is not fair to small business owners who may not have the same resources as department stores. It's important to show respect and not push for discounts that are unreasonable and too steep.

This particular stall catches the eye with its unique collection of children's clothing, among the sea of shoe sellers. It's a great stop to pair with a shoe purchase, as they also offer a variety of socks to choose from. If you will buy a pair of shoes , might as well pair it with some socks to have a complete purchase.

Upon strolling around, I saw this stall that sells a lot of footwear for children. The shoes are in good condition and just need a little cleaning to look presentable. I recall buying shoes for my son from thrift stores when he was younger. I used to find authentic Nike, Adidas, Puma, and other popular brands. However, as he has grown older, he prefers to choose his own shoes that match his personal style. Whenever he wants new shoes, I take him to the store so he can select the design he likes. As a basketball enthusiast, he tends to choose shoes that cater to his needs.

The vendors are situated in the center of the street with their stalls lined up on either side. Once you have selected an item, they will approach you to discuss your purchase. You can negotiate with them for a discount, but keep in mind that they also have families to provide for. When asking for a discount, be cautious not to request a price that is too low and unreasonable. Although we go thrifting to save money, it's important to consider the vendor's livelihood. These prices are significantly cheaper than those found in department stores.

As a buyer, I can definitely relate to the man inspecting the quality of thrift shop shoes. In these times of rising costs and inflation, it's important to spend our money wisely. Rather than buying overpriced shoes at department stores, I prefer to go thrift shopping and save money for more important expenses like bills. As priorities change with adulthood, thrift shopping becomes a more appealing option for many. While it's not for everyone, thrift shopping offers the chance to find genuine brands at a fraction of the cost of department stores.

Here are the snippets I got while strolling around the Lapu-Lapu Market, Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines.

I did not find what I was looking for, so I bought nothing. Even though I did not purchase anything, I just had so much fun walking around the Lapu-Lapu Maket, and I will definitely come back here soon. I enjoyed walking around the market. It was a fun experience indeed.

If you're planning to visit this place for thrift shopping, it's recommended to avoid bringing backpacks and instead opt for small bags or sling bags. This will make it easier to pass through crowded streets. Additionally, it's best to bring enough budget as you might be tempted to buy a lot of stuff, especially when sellers have just opened new bundles. You'll find a lot of branded footwear being sold here, so if you're coming from far away, it's a good idea to make sure you have enough budget to make your thrifting experience worthwhile.

Hope you all enjoyed my mini tour at the Lapu-Lapu City Thriftmarket. Ciao!☺︎♡