Do you find this to be true about your Goodwill?

[delmar411]

This seems strange, but the manager at one our Goodwills here that have a lot of Target "leftovers" told me that they charge them and they put a little higher prices on them because of that. I told her I thought it was strictly donations and she said that when they get large lots like that new from a store they pay a certain amount for the whole lot - not much I'm sure - but gives them the "freedom" to charge more Also, I found out that the stores are sort of franchised out so a certain amount of rules are "set" but they have leeway on others. There are about 8 here in this area that are all under the same management, but I'll have to say they are usually neat and clean. I have been in some that I would not go back to

Here Target donates all salvage but the goodwill is required to price them at 50% of retail. Which is stupid since you can see the clearance stickers on them with much lower prices. If it didn't sell at Target for that price then why would it sell at Goodwill for double? LOL

But we get a lot of great deals at Goodwill. I've been stalking them lately (we have 5 within a 10mile radius) to try to find a coffee table that I can use for the boys as a lego table. Hopefully I'll find one soon.

We just got a grocery bag of legos for $3. A galactic heroes millennium falcon for $6. This one! A turbo tank star wars thingy for $5 (perfectly complete too!). This one and it looked like the people hadn't figured out that there was a vehicle underneath or how to get it out.

We like to look around and see what we can find. I also got a grocery bag of new in package happy meal toys for $3 for the school's prize bin.

We find random good stuff in our travels.

Also we find a lot of powermat NIB stuff there. We've gotten 2 iphone case chargers and 2 ipod (work for the iphone too) chargers for $5-10 each. This one and this one

 

[North of Mouse]

dellmar411, looks like we would make good shopping buddies - my experiences also

 

[deedeecee]

I was just donating to my local Goodwill and I had to wait behind a line of cars (donations are made via a drive-thru process in the back of the store), so I definitely think there will be lots of merchandise in the stores. I have never checked out Goodwill right after the new year, so I might have to check it out today.
I was at the Salvation Army store on New Year's Eve (after my Goodwill donation). I bought 2 skirts and a dress for my daughter, pants and two handbags (vintage clutch and like-new Coach mini-backpack). $8.50!
(In my area, Goodwill gets the Target salvage, not Salvation Army.)
Happy thrift shopping!

 

[threecrazykids]

I went to my local Goodwill first thing this morning...nothing.

It was REALLY bare in the houseware/home goods/toys section...as in maybe 20 items TOTAL on the shelves. I'm hoping they are cleaning house and preparing for new merchandise!

 

[neatokimmo]

Our goodwill is way overpriced. Why would I pay $4 for a ratty fuzzed up shirt for DD when I can hit Target clearance and get it new for that price? Plus it is funky in there.

Our Salvation Army is better. It is much more crowded so you get to dig. The prices are about half too.

 

[ctinct]

We got a Savers last year, and ever since then the Goodwill has not seemed to have as much good stuff. Savers sends out postcards with a date and sends their truck around to neighborhoods every couple of months to pick up bags left by the curb. I wonder if this has cut down on the donations Goodwill gets here? Sure seems like it. I am off this week and had lots of time. Went to Savers and got seven shirts/sweaters and two pairs of pants for $33.50. One of the pants was from Anne Taylor. Fully lined, about $80 new, although they were just on sale for half price. I paid about five dollars. The other pair was brand new from Marshalls. Shirts were Lands End, JCrew, one from Kohls, and some other name I can't remember.

One thing I noticed about Savers is that they seem to have leeway regarding who sets the prices. For example, I found a purple JCrew sweater marked $7.99, and a little later down the rack, found almost the exact same sweater for $2.99. Goodwill has one set price, except for their "boutique" items. Sometimes Savers prices are wacky because of this. I won't pay $5.99 for a Walmart shirt when I can probably get it new for about the same amount.

BTW, if you have a Savers near you, go to their website and sign up for their card. If you go in within two weeks of signing up, they will give you a 25% off coupon.

 

[Abbeys_mom]

You can shop online for Goodwill too! That is where some of the really good stuff goes, auction style.

This is my local one for clothing/accessories: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/listings/listbycat.asp?catid=10

Scroll all the way down to the bottom for stuff going NOW, some without bids and for cheap!

 

[millerwdwfans]

The avoid/afford typo has already been pointed out but that's one of the funniest auto corrects I've ever read! Of course only Disney addicts find it so funny but it's hilarious!

 

[jackirkh]

Clothes seem to be the topic of discussion hear but don't forget about BOOKS! GW sells paperbacks for $1 and hardbacks for $2, regardless of the title! I shop for books very often at GW and have added many great books to my library.

 

[Jamie25UGA]

Clothes seem to be the topic of discussion hear but don't forget about BOOKS! GW sells paperbacks for $1 and hardbacks for $2, regardless of the title! I shop for books very often at GW and have added many great books to my library.

Books are the main thing I get at goodwill but I've stopped going because every single time I'm in there someone who works there is taking all of the "color of the day" books off of the shelf! There are two in my area that I go to and one of them has a nice size book selection and the another one had barely any books, now when they started taking the red sticker books off (if red items are 50% off that day) they're down to not even a full shelf of books. I get that they want to make money but what's the point of doing 50% off if they're going to take the items and put them in the back? I'd rather them do 50% off the color excluding books so I could actually see a good selection of books instead of empty shelves. I'm wondering if this is something that happens at all goodwills or just the few in my area?

 

[starry_solo]

I never get any good stuff at the Good Will near me

 

[RadioMom]

There are some people ( and they've passed this same attitude of snobbery on to their children) that will not go in or buy anything from Goodwill. Their loss, as PP said, it saves me money for my next Disney trip . I have bought lots of name brand clothing, shoes, etc. with the tags still attached and would never pay the full (or even sale) price for these items at the store - too much for my pocketbook . It's really addictive for me, love to see what's there that I don't really need . There are no discounts - ever - at the stores around here, but what I find is well worth the prices charged and it just feels good to get a bargain .

I used to be one of those Goodwill snobs! I used to donate to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Talize and Value Village but I would *never* shop there. It was my children who helped me change my attitude believe it or not! They convinced me to go in and check it out so I did. And low and behold I found t-shirts for my daughter's high school gym class already logo'd and like new, Hollister (hard to find in my area of Canada) and American Eagle tops for my son, also like new. Now I pop in once a month or so. I've found great kitchen/decor/blankets for our summer trailer at a fraction of what I would have paid retail. Also some gorgeous, expensive cookware I paid about $10 for.
You have to be willing to put the time in to look around and yes, there will be a lot of stuff that will make you go "REALLY? What were they THINKING?" but one person's trash is another's treasure they say.
I never pay full retail for anything if I can help it, so trekking through the thrift store jungles is worth its weight in gold to me. Now. And now, more money for Disney and other important things!!

 

[lucigo]

Thank you to the OP! I went to our Goodwill today after reading this post.

I got:

A 12" fiestaware plate (cobalt blue) for $0.99
A brand new button down shirt for hubby for $2.99
An awesome office chair for $9.99


And yes, I'm most excited about the plate! LOL

 

[FloridaPixie]

There is an awesome Goodwill 5-minutes from my house that was just built in the last couple of years. It is large and clean. I have made several donations, usually after the first of the year as I am getting ready for our neighborhood's annual April yard sale, then again after the yard sale. I have shopped there too, and got great deals (49 cents each) on the $4 scented shades for the wooden air freshener that warms the shades. I spent $3 on a very large, like-new Littlest Pet Shop set that would sell for approximately $35 new. I've never had luck with clothes, but am mainly interested in house goods, books and toys anyway!

 

[DAISYDUCKRN]

The GoodWill stores in my area are really not good at all. I often go to other thrift stores and find very good stuff. The GWS here seem to have junk, the clothing is very worn and the housewares are mostly broken. Today I went to Village Thrift and for $44.00 I got lots of onesies and other baby clothing(they were all new and a few were extremely gently worn), Propet shoes, wool dress coat, 2 sweaters, all are well known brands, also TV pillow covers, curtain valances for my kitchen window, temptations cookware piece, pumpkin candle holder for the fall. May go to another thrift store tomorrow

 

[patsal]

That is what I get for typing on an iPad with auto correct before having coffee in the morning.

It should be "afford" not "avoid."

The reason a few of the parent's of my students thought they had an illiterate reading teacher!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Shopping at the thrift is one of my favorite hobbies. The Salvation Army and Savers seem to have been stuff than Goodwill in my area.

My thing lately has been vintage coats. I've gotten some really lovely ones and I like having something that is different from what everyone else is wearing.
The other thing is the quality. Retail on some items is just so ridiculous to me. I'm not paying $200 for a wool/synthetic blend coat when I can find a 100% wool or camel hair one for $10 at the thrift store.

I also like reusing thrift store items for new things. Those ugly or shrunken wool sweater make great hats, mitten and throw blankets.

My biggest find was probably a TOD'S bag. It was $6 at the Salvation Army.

 

[Eeyore98]

You are all making me miss the Goodwills and other thrift stores I left behind in St. Louis! The Goodwills here in Austin are SO EXPENSIVE! All jeans - $8 - regardless of wear. Really? I could get new Target jeans on clearance for that!

 

[QVCshopper]

I love the two Goodwills near me. I have gotten wonderful things from them, including Lands End snow pants for my kids, Lands End winter coat and boots, London Fog winter coat (really, all of their winter gear). Also, tons and tons of Gymboree clothes, as well as American Girl and Lands End clothes for my daughter, Carters PJs, LL Bean sweaters and pants for me and hubby, an entire brand-new materinity wardrobe for me from Target, etc.

I could go on and on, but shopping these has saved me so much money and no one ever would know. You have to know what to look for and I like to stick to my favorite brands. I have also bought dishes/cookware and I used to buy a lot of wonderful toys until the law was passed that they can’t sell used toys anymore. The only downside is it takes time and patience to look, and it's best to check back frequently.

 

[HunnyPots]

Our GW is nothing but overpriced junk and the store smells like unwashed clothes. No way would I ever buy clothing there. Why would anyone pay $5 for a stained worn out T shirt? In the homegoods section, they have stacks and stacks of old electronics that are sold "as is" and you can't even plug anything in to see if it powers on. That's pretty much it. I'm always amazed when I read of the good deals people find at GW stores - it sure doesn't happen here!