Les ventes de garage et les friperies sont une tradition québécoise bien ancrée.
1. Second-hand culture in Quebec
In Quebec, buying and selling second-hand items is deeply embedded in local culture. It's a normal, valued practice across all income levels, encouraged by growing environmental consciousness.
For a newcomer who needs to furnish an empty apartment, the second-hand market is an extraordinary opportunity to save several thousand dollars. On July 1st (Montréal's massive moving day), hundreds of pieces of furniture and good-quality appliances are left on sidewalks — entirely free.
2. Garage sales
Garage sales are organized by individuals selling their personal items, usually on Saturdays and Sundays from May to September. Suburban residential neighbourhoods — Laval, Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert — have the best garage sales in terms of volume and quality.
To find garage sales: Kijiji (Garage Sales section), VenteDeGarage.ca, or local Facebook groups. Arrive early — the best items disappear at opening.
3. Thrift stores and second-hand shops
Thrift stores sell clothing, accessories and sometimes furniture at fixed prices. The most well-known in Quebec:
- Renaissance: Quebec social-mission chain — part of profits supports employment programs. Very affordable.
- Value Village: very large selection, slightly higher prices than Renaissance.
- Friperie Saint-Laurent (Montréal's Saint-Laurent Blvd): known for vintage and trendy clothing.
Particularly useful for winter clothing — a nice winter jacket: $10–30 at a friperie vs $100–300 new.
4. Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace
Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace are the two most-used online platforms for buying and selling second-hand in Quebec.
Kijiji: the historic platform — furniture, appliances, bikes, cars, electronics, clothing.
Facebook Marketplace: particularly useful for furniture and household items.
Strategy for newcomers: search for complete lots — full kitchen sets, complete bedroom or living room sets sold in one transaction. Kijiji also has local Facebook groups for items given away free — search *dons* or *gratuit* in your neighbourhood.
5. Frequently asked questions
Common questions about garage sales, thrift stores and second-hand platforms in Quebec.
When is garage-sale season?
Garage sales take place mainly from May to September, on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The peak period is June–August, when weather is reliably warm. A few sales happen in late April or early October, but they are rare. Outside of warm months, you can still find second-hand deals year-round on Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace, which operate 365 days a year.
How do you stay safe when buying on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace?
For safe second-hand transactions, follow these habits: meet in a public place (a café, a shopping centre parking lot, a police station lobby — some stations have designated safe-exchange zones); bring a friend when possible; pay cash for small amounts or use Interac e-transfer only once you have confirmed the item; never pay in advance before seeing the item in person; trust your instincts — if a deal seems too good to be true or the seller pressures you, decline.
Is haggling normal at garage sales?
Yes, haggling is completely normal and expected at garage sales in Quebec. Sellers generally price items knowing that buyers will negotiate. A polite offer 20–30 % below the asking price is perfectly acceptable. The typical phrase is *« Vous accepteriez [montant] ? »* (Would you accept [amount]?). If the seller says no, respect the refusal — pressure or aggressive bargaining is frowned upon. At thrift stores (friperies), prices are fixed and negotiation is not practised.
Can you furnish a first apartment entirely with second-hand items?
Absolutely — and many newcomers do exactly that. Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace regularly have complete lots (sofa + coffee table + lamps sold together) at very low prices. July 1st curb finds in Montréal can cover a surprising share of furniture for free. Thrift stores fill in the gaps for kitchenware, linens and small appliances. A realistic first apartment can be furnished for a few hundred dollars rather than a few thousand — leaving budget for other settlement priorities. The quality varies, so take your time browsing rather than buying everything in one rush.
6. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Bottle deposit and recycling in Quebec — for properly disposing of your items.
- Immigrant family budget — for planning your expenses on arrival.
- July 1st moving day in Montréal — to recover furniture abandoned during moves.
7. Official sources
- For Kijiji: kijiji.ca
- For Renaissance thrift stores: renaissance.ca
- For Value Village in Quebec: valuevillage.com
- For Quebec's recycling and donation policy: recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca
Author's Note: if you arrive in Quebec in June or early July, walk through residential streets on the morning of July 1st. You'll find sofas, tables, bookshelves, lamps and sometimes appliances in perfect condition on the sidewalks. It's entirely free and perfectly normal — it's a Montréal tradition. Bring a large bag, and you could furnish a good part of your apartment for free in one morning.
