Hillcrest · Best Thrift Stores in San Diego
Buffalo Exchange Review
Last updatedRanked #2 of 4 in Best Thrift Stores in San Diego
The highest turnover in the city — worth checking weekly.
Score breakdown
- Experience88/100
- Consistency90/100
- Value84/100
- Atmosphere82/100
- Uniqueness74/100
The verdict on Buffalo Exchange
Ranked #2 of 4 — 86/100 in our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego coverage
A well-lit, well-sorted resale floor that skews contemporary. Not the cheapest, but the hit rate on wearable pieces is high.
What to buy at Buffalo Exchange
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Current-season secondhand.
Sell your own clothes for store credit at a better rate than cash.
Is Buffalo Exchange good value?
Buffalo Exchange sits at $$ — the mid band for this category. We scored 1 other $$ shop on the same list, and Buffalo Exchange outscores 0 of them. The bracket leader is Flashbacks Recycled Fashions at 89/100, so compare the two before you commit.
Buffalo Exchange FAQ
Is Buffalo Exchange expensive?
Buffalo Exchange is priced at $$, which puts it in the mid-range band for this category. We scored 1 other $$ option on the same list for a direct comparison.
Is Buffalo Exchange worth it?
It scores 86/100, 0.5 points above the 85.5 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I look for at Buffalo Exchange?
Look for Current-season secondhand.
What else is nearby Buffalo Exchange?
Great Maple (90/100 in our best brunch in san diego list) and Hillcrest Farmers Market (90/100 in our best farmers markets in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong consistency — scored 90/100 in our ranking
- Strong experience — scored 88/100 in our ranking
- Top-2 finish out of 4 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Uniqueness is the weak point — 74/100, below the rest of its scores
- Sell your own clothes for store credit at a better rate than cash.
The full review
A well-lit, well-sorted resale floor that skews contemporary. Not the cheapest, but the hit rate on wearable pieces is high.
On our weighted scale it earns 86/100 — good for #2 of 4 places we evaluated for best thrift stores in san diego. We shop the places we rank, buy at regular prices, and score on selection, condition, pricing and staff knowledge rather than on advertising.
What to buy at Buffalo Exchange
Current-season secondhand
Price range: $$
How we scored Buffalo Exchange
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: experience, consistency, value, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We shop the places we rank, buy at regular prices, and score on selection, condition, pricing and staff knowledge rather than on advertising. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.