I'm addicted to Goodwill!

[flagdaytwins]

I was in the Salvation Army today!! I drop off alot and go in occasionally. And whoever said it was right: their stuff is way overpriced ($3.99 for a beat up disney pocketbook; $5 for an OLD workout video). Just curious, what do women's jeans cost at Goodwill? They are $4.99 at the SA.

 

[babiesX2]

I was in the Salvation Army today!! I drop off alot and go in occasionally. And whoever said it was right: their stuff is way overpriced ($3.99 for a beat up disney pocketbook; $5 for an OLD workout video). Just curious, what do women's jeans cost at Goodwill? They are $4.99 at the SA.

My local GW prices jeans at $1.99. I've noticed there are usually set prices for most things, but I think it depends on who is doing the tagging. Today the toys I bought were a little pricier than usual, but they were in such good condition that I paid the extra $1.

 

[TyNicJen]

What city are you GW's in. I went a long time ago and they seemed pricey. I'n on L.I. NewYork. Maybe thats why. or I should give them another chance. Salvation has had a few toys but most were not in good shape.

 

[Dznypal]

I love going to Goodwill for my disney things--

my collection now is the refillable mugs--(not to reuse just to collect )

Ive got pretty many of the hotels

my best find was a beach bag from the disney cruise with the price tag still on the price was tore off but had the rest of the tag-

its blue and white stripe with the mickey ears and wave stiched on

brand new for $2.49!!!!

 

[BeccaGrace]

Our Goodwill is a bit pricier but still totally worth it...our jeans/pants are $4.99 and not long ago I found an awesome pair of denim overalls from the Disney Catalog with an embroidered mickey face on the chest for $5.99.

And someone who is my exact same size and height must have donated their entire Ann Taylor wardrobe because I found about 4 pairs of pants all hemmed to my exact measurements!

But my favorite find was a brand new (still sealed in plastic) 12x12 Creative Memories album w/ pages for $2.99!!!!

And now ours gets all the clearance stuff and damaged items from Target...usually the clearance stuff can be cheaper in Target but the damaged stuff can be a great deal. The other day they had the Disney princess cell phone with the four interchangeable faces that have sayings from the different princesses---I've seen it anywhere from $9.99-14.99 and I got one there with a dented box for $3!!!!

It really is great for Disney stuff...we get all our sing-along-song vhs tapes there for 99 cents-$1.99.

Goodwill rocks!

 

[clh2]

I just got DD (12 YO) 3 pairs of jeans for a total of $17, there was 1 pr of Levis, 1 Lees,and 1 pair of a name I didn't recognize. I was so excited, I really didn't want to buy DD any jeans, but her 12's just didn't fit, so she really had nothing to wear. Literally. I also didn't want to spend a fortune on jeans, spring is just around the corner - and if these jeans don't fit next fall - I certainly won't lose any sleep over it.

DD will go back there anytime - as long as I respect her opinion on not making her buy something she really doesn't like.

 

[HayGan]

Another thrift store addict here I've cut down on my trips lately because quite frankly we all have too many clothes (most of them from there!) I keep saying that I'm going to building up my ebay sales from their inventory but I don't have time to list the stuff I already have! My favorite one gets great stuff from some of the more affluent neighborhoods in the area! My best find was a black Armani suit IN MY SIZE for $20

 

[summerrluvv]

What city are you GW's in. I went a long time ago and they seemed pricey. I'n on L.I. NewYork. Maybe thats why. or I should give them another chance. Salvation has had a few toys but most were not in good shape.

I have popped into the GW store near me (Selden) and it's horrible. The stuff is wayyy overpriced. Last week I saw a junky old bike for $24.99 and had a chuckle. They mark the Target stuff up higher than it was when it was on clearance at Target. The manager tried telling me that Target prices their items for them so I emailed Target and they said they do nothing of the sort. The worst was when I saw the stained up Ikea rug I owned (I had thrown it in the dumpster of my complex) and it was priced to just about what I paid for it new! I knew it was my rug because I remembered the marks on it. The GW near me disgusts me.

 

[luvmyboys]

The worst was when I saw the stained up Ikea rug I owned (I had thrown it in the dumpster of my complex) and it was priced to just about what I paid for it new! I knew it was my rug because I remembered the marks on it. The GW near me disgusts me.

Eww! Yuck! Our GW is too far away (only 15 miles, but can be almost an hour w/ traffic) and the few times I've been close enough to drop in, it was overcrowded and very disappointing. I used to love thrift store shopping when I was a teenager in Ohio. I do miss a great bargain find! Nothing like the thrill of the hunt...

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The Goodwills that I have been to in NY are WAY overpriced compared to the ones in TN, NC, SC and FL. I rarely find anything in the NY Goodwills that make it worth the price.

 

[kilee]

Our Goodwills and SA are way overpriced too. Now, about 50 min in PA- there is a HUGE SA that is very decent and reasonable. We also have a thrift store chain called "Amvets"-- identical to Goodwill- only HUGE stores. They are about 1/2 the size of a Walmart and we have 3 in our area. Their prices have gone up quite in the last year-- clothing used to be all under $3 and now it ranges $0.79-5.00. The best though is about 5 times a yr they hold 1/2 off days too. So, bargains can be found. I also found it best to shop opposite season there. In the summer the sweaters are like $0.99- and in the winter same item is $5.00.

 

[pweyl36]

2WKS AGO I FOUND THE NEW LEPSTER THAT YOU CAN HOOK TO THE TV. IT WAS STILL IN THE BOX UNOPENED.THEY GO FOR $90.00 I GOT FOR $3.99. IAM GOING TO SAVE IT FOR DS BIRTHDAY .THEN 2 DAYS AGO I FOUND FINDING NEMO GAME FOR THE LEPSTERS FOR $1.99

 

[babiesX2]

2WKS AGO I FOUND THE NEW LEPSTER THAT YOU CAN HOOK TO THE TV. IT WAS STILL IN THE BOX UNOPENED.THEY GO FOR $90.00 I GOT FOR $3.99. IAM GOING TO SAVE IT FOR DS BIRTHDAY .THEN 2 DAYS AGO I FOUND FINDING NEMO GAME FOR THE LEPSTERS FOR $1.99

Leap Frog Rocks! My girls have tons of Leap Frog toys that I paid $2 or $1 for at GW.


The GW here in our town is the only one I am really comfortable with. Alot of the stuff I get because I go when it is being put out on the shelf. They have more workers in the morning until lunch and that is when they stock. I will just hang around and browse while they bring out their carts of "merchandise." My in-laws live in Colorado Springs and I always check out their GW's but I agree with others in large cities who said they are overpriced. They do seem to have more interesting things (a lingerie section), but "merchandise" is priced higher.

Even my local GW will overprice some things. They have had a baby doll carrigage (pram type) in the front window for 2 months now priced at $20. It is just a plastic doll carriage, but they have it priced as if it were for a human baby. They also have a stroller from the 70's that is really gross and beat up, but they have it priced for $20 because it is "vintage." The thing is missing a wheel for Pete's sake! It is orange and yellow and has spider webs on it. I seriously doubt if it even folds up. I've just learned that the good stuff doesn't last (usually never even touches a shelf) so be there in the morning and get what I can get! It is very fun and I enjoy the thrill of saving so much money. My kids have tons of neat toys, and I didn't pay retail. My DD13 has a school desk that I snatched up for $10. I spray painted it red (to match her room), and she uses it daily. My dream find is a playhouse.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

We stop at our Goodwill Store all the time - we went looking for a homecoming dress last fall - total cost for dress - black with lace, fancy lacy panties and a black lacy bra - total 6.25 - not only that found daughter 3 other dresses for a whopping 7.00

My daugther swims for 2 swim teams - so goes through swim suits like crazy - have been lucky and found swim suits for 50 cents - 1.00 a piece

We also go for my aunt who is in nursing home - where even though clearly mark - clothes don't come back from their laundry - they want them in sweat suit type outfits - easy to pull on and off etc - last stop - found her nice 2 piece suits for 6.00 and since it was senior day - got 30 % off

We also do the consignment shop also - we have one that "specializies in teen clothes - last trip - found her a real nice black skirt for concert band concerts/performances - think it was 6 or 7 dollars - she has already worn it 4 times - so already have money's worth out of it - also found 2 pairs of jeans - both brand new still with store tag - 2.00 a piece

 

[ceecee]

I have gone into Goodwill 3 times. Never anything good at this one. Funny thing is a saw something I donated! As far as toys and books they are all very old and usually dirty.

 

[babiesX2]

I have gone into Goodwill 3 times. Never anything good at this one. Funny thing is a saw something I donated! As far as toys and books they are all very old and usually dirty.

Can you tell I talking about GW? Dh donated a big wooden crate type holder full of 80's cassettes about a year and a 1/2 ago. I pass by them every day when I go in to shop. I want to say "Just put them in the dumpster already!" A few weeks ago I had hit a dry spot. For 10 days in a row I came out with nothing. I am persistent though and I kept going. A matching set of two portable high chair/booster seats for $5 (with all the belts still attached) broke the dry spell. I saw a display of them in Wal-Mart the next day and they were $19.98 each! Not to toot my own horn, but "Beep, Beep!"

 

[Marla Hellwig]

This was our bargain homecoming dress -

 

[sweet maxine]

This thread is great! So funny too!

I love the Goodwill. There just doesn't happen to be a store near me, but anytime we're traveling I always stop when I see a nice one. I've found lots of books for my kids there for 50 cents or less. It sure beats Barnes and Noble brand new at $7! I've also found lots of older Disney movies still in the clamshell case for $3. Last weekend at a SA store nearby I found two older Mickey movies for 50 cents each! One of them is listed on Amazon for around $5 used, so I feel like I got a bargain.

 

[hsmamato2]

Love Goodwill, here in Ct, we stop at any town where they have one! Almost all my kids clothes come from there,I am so cheap, when we went to build a bear, I hated to pay $5 for a tshirt for the bear, I only pay 1.99 for my kids shirts!
And we dress well! Like you guys, I'm conditioned to find the GOOD stuff that other people discard- any disney store finds are great, and stuff from other peoples park trips to WDW are my favorites! it's a great way to get new WDW coffee mugs! Oh, that makes me think, today I'll be going by an AWESOME store,must...stop..in.....

 

[decaff38]

Love Goodwill! We have 3 other thrify shops in town so it is fun to go looking. On my last trip to Minneapolis (250 miles one way) i printed out all their thrift shops etc.. to shop at instead of the department stores. I spent a total of 100.00 and probably got at least 500.00 worth of stuff. Scrubs for daughter and son, jeans for me,nightgowns for me, dress for summer,, tanks and cute shirts for 16 and 18 yr old. I gave it all to them and not one piece has shown up in my ebay bin. Must have done well.

We are going back over Easter to shop for the Prom dress. There are many high end thrift shops there. For that i will spend more to get a nice one.

Thank goodness I work full time or I might need intervention too,

My major downfall in the summer are auction sales(ooh the rush of live bidding) and of course ,everyone's addiction -GARAGE SALES!!!

My best buy at an auction was a chain saw that someone else actually won. I asked what they paid for it and offered them 1.00 more. They accepted.
Bought it for 6.00 added oil , gas and a spark plug and it runs great. Would have cost 200.00. We really needed it to clear out all the deadfall and underbrush on our lot and hubby was exstatic with the new man toy. We also bought all the cedar for our deck16x 20 for 200.00. I go to my first of the season on Sat.