No — Burlington is not a thrift store. It is an off-price retailer selling new, discounted department-store inventory. Here is the actual distinction and what to do if you want a genuine thrift.
Burlington, formerly Burlington Coat Factory, is one of the three major US off-price retailers alongside Ross and TJ Maxx/Marshalls. The stores sell new merchandise — clothing, accessories, home goods, baby gear — sourced from excess inventory at full-price retailers, last-season department store overflow, and direct-from-manufacturer buys. That is a completely different business model from thrift. If you are trying to figure out where the confusion comes from and what counts as an actual thrift store, this guide covers the distinction. For the broader landscape of genuine thrift chains, see our Thrift Store Chains hub.
The actual definition of a thrift store
A thrift store sells secondhand goods — items that have been previously owned and donated or sold to the store. The inventory is inherently used. Most thrift stores in the US are nonprofit-affiliated (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Arc Thrift, DAV) or partnered with charities (AMVETS, Savers, Value Village). The mission-driven model is common but not universal; for-profit thrifts exist too (Red White & Blue, America’s Thrift, Buffalo Exchange). Our What Is a Thrift Store? How It Works and Why It Matters piece walks through the full definition in more depth.
Burlington does not meet that definition. Everything Burlington sells is new-with-tags, factory-sealed, or fresh from a manufacturer. The discount comes from the sourcing model, not from the item being secondhand.
How off-price retail actually works
Off-price retailers like Burlington buy inventory in three main ways:
1. Department store overstock. When Nordstrom, Macy’s, or similar full-price retailers over-order a season, they sell excess to off-price buyers at significant markdowns. Burlington, Ross, and TJ Maxx compete for these buys.
2. Manufacturer overruns. When a brand manufactures more inventory than the primary retail channel ordered, off-price chains buy the excess directly.
3. Cancelled orders. Department stores sometimes cancel orders late; manufacturers sell the cancelled production to off-price chains.
The result: Burlington’s inventory is new, but brands are often a season or two behind, sizes are incomplete, and availability is unpredictable. The price is 30-70% below what the same item would have sold for at the original retailer, which is legitimate savings — but it is not the thrift economics (secondhand items at 80-95% below new).
Why people think Burlington might be a thrift store
A few legitimate reasons for the confusion:
1. Burlington’s store environment. The layout is deliberately no-frills — metal racks, basic signage, utilitarian fitting rooms. That visual vocabulary overlaps with thrift store aesthetics. Burlington looks less “polished retail” than, say, a Macy’s.
2. Deep discounts suggest secondhand. An $18 cardigan that would have been $65 at a full-price store reads like a thrift find to shoppers who have not seen the full-retail version.
3. The word “factory” in the old name. Burlington Coat Factory implies wholesale, outlet, or discount operations, which many people associate with secondhand. The name was shortened to Burlington in 2009 precisely because the company wanted to move past the coat-only association, but the “factory” part still reads differently from “department store.”
4. Similar-seeming retailers are often confused. Ross is frequently mistaken for a thrift — our Is Ross a Thrift Store — Here’s the Honest Answer piece covers that one. TJ Maxx and Marshalls are also off-price. Goodwill is actually a thrift store — Is Goodwill a Thrift Store — Here’s the Honest Answer covers that yes-answer.
When off-price makes sense and when thrift does
Off-price (Burlington, Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls) is better when:
- You need a specific size or current-season item
- You want new-with-tags condition
- You are shopping for baby gear, linens, kitchenware where freshness matters
- Time is limited — off-price stores are faster to browse than thrifts
Thrift (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Savers, Arc) is better when:
- You want the deepest possible discount
- You are open to prior-season or vintage items
- You are furnishing a home, not just clothing a closet
- Mission alignment matters — nonprofit thrifts route revenue to charitable programs
- You enjoy the hunt (thrift requires patience; off-price does not)
Thrifted items often need a quick refresh — a reliable Clothing Steamer For Wrinkles on Amazon handles most issues in minutes. Off-price items come home wearable as-is.
If you meant to thrift, where to actually go
Start with the chains that are unambiguously thrift stores. Our Salvation Army Thrift Store anchor covers Salvation Army in depth. For finding the nearest thrift to you, Thrift Store Chains has location intel. For the full how-to once you get there, Thrifting is the master resource.
The verdict
Burlington is a solid off-price retailer. It is not, under any reasonable definition, a thrift store. If what you want is cheap new clothes and home goods in a no-frills retail environment, Burlington delivers — prices 30-70% below full retail on current or recent-season inventory is legitimate value. If what you want is secondhand, mission-aligned, deeply-discounted-because-it-is-used inventory, you need to be at Salvation Army, Goodwill, Savers, Arc Thrift, or a comparable operation. Many shoppers benefit from both — off-price for essentials you need in specific sizes and current season, thrift for everything else. Understanding the distinction saves you from being disappointed at either store for the wrong reasons.
FAQ
Does Burlington sell used clothing?
No. All Burlington merchandise is new. The stock comes from department store overstock, manufacturer overruns, and cancelled wholesale orders.
Is Burlington cheaper than thrift stores?
Generally no. Thrift stores (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Savers) are usually cheaper per item than Burlington because they sell secondhand. Burlington beats thrift only on quality-per-dollar for specific-size new items.
Is TJ Maxx a thrift store?
No. TJ Maxx is an off-price retailer, same category as Burlington and Ross. New merchandise sourced from overstock. Our Is Ross a Thrift Store — Here’s the Honest Answer piece covers the off-price vs thrift distinction in depth.
For off-price routing through Macy’s Backstage, Nordstrom Rack, Gap Factory, and shopgoodwill, see our Off-Price + Outlet Retailers hub.
