It’s a situation we’ve all experienced at some point. A beloved product is suddenly no longer available for purchase, leaving us wondering why the manufacturer didn’t give us a heads up.

Discontinued items are an inevitable part of life, often resulting from low sales, shifting consumer habits, production costs, or even hidden flaws in the product. A recent article in the New York Times explores the unseen world of online communities where shoppers share tips, find support, and track down these hard-to-find items.

The article features a devoted fan who is on a mission to acquire as many of Filson’s discontinued padded laptop bags as possible, scouring the internet to get them before they become popular again. It also mentions Discontinued Beauty, a website that offers a range of products that are new to the site but no longer available elsewhere. One notable example is a $169.95 “essential protein restructurizer” by Redkin, which can be purchased for $32 in its newer version.

While using discontinued products may pose some risks, one creative director interviewed by the Times seems unfazed. She has managed to get her hands on a discontinued lip pencil from NARS and admits to storing it under her sink, despite being unsure of the optimal storage conditions. “Now, do I know the proper way to store this for optimal conditions? No,” she says, highlighting the dedication of some fans to tracking down their favorite discontinued products.