29 Jun Are Thrift Stores Becoming Too Expensive: Part Two
Two weeks ago I posted what may have just been my most commented on {via the blog and Facebook}, shared, liked and tweeted post. When I posed the question, “Are Thrift Store Prices Becoming Too Expensive?,” you guys chimed in and the overwhelming answer was yes, the prices have increased.
Some people blamed the lagging economy {more people need to thrift so the prices are reflecting that}, others feel since some re-sell thrifted finds, the stores are upping the prices and a few people even believe bloggers like myself are responsible, since we’re putting a spotlight on thrift shopping and making it “chic.”
Hmm, whatever the cause, us frugal folks aren’t too happy with it.
And Goodwill was the one thrift store in particular that everyone kept singling out.
I’ve been a long time Goodwill supporter {shopping, donating and I even styled a Goodwill fashion show for disabled workers}, so I wanted to hear their side. I reached out to the New York and New Jersey branch of Goodwill to see how they determine prices and what percentage of sales are dedicated towards providing services to those in need.
Here’s what they had to say….
First off, thank you and your readers for your feedback. We really mean this as your comments, concerns and compliments help us serve you better.
As far as pricing goes, the stores’ profits support Goodwill’s mission – a dedication to providing opportunities to those outside the economic mainstream. You can learn all about that mission at our programs/services blog, Where the Goodwill Goes, detailing our youth programs (like ballet lessons, summer camp, after-school activities), veteran programs (like Goodwill Suits Vets, giving out a free interview-appropriate outfit to veterans on special holiday weekends), recycling initiatives, rehabilitation programs (like PROS), and many, many more. While our stores serve to fund our programs and provide jobs for those otherwise facing barriers to the economic mainstream (including visible and non-visible disabilities), we also aim to provide an interesting array of like-new clothes at affordable prices at our Goodwill stores.
To do so, we rotate goods, run weekly sales and have a shoppers award program for frequent shoppers. Still, please remember every dollar you spend at Goodwill is put to incredible use, benefiting the less fortunate members of your community – in fact, 92 cents of every dollar supports direct service, whether to single mothers, people with disabilities, veterans, kids, or others in hard circumstances looking for an opportunity to create a better life.
So there you have it…
What do you guys think? Does this change your mind about Goodwill or other thrift stores? Are you okay with paying higher prices if you know the money is benefiting those in need? Has “thrifting” become too chic, so should we just expect higher price tags?
Kimberlee VDW
Posted at 10:55h, 29 JuneI love Goodwill and everything that they do. I don’t think their items are very expensive. Other “thrift” stores that try to sell you over the top vintage finds are the ones trying to make a profit :/
sharing
Posted at 13:24h, 10 Augustconsider this other thrift stores have to buy their product. Goodwill’s items are free to them.
rj
Posted at 23:01h, 23 SeptemberSo true goodwill gets all items free, and now they spend money not just in ceo’s salary but now and increasingly on brand new buildings and ADVERTISING!! ADVERTISiNG is not an answer when your excuse for higher prices is inflation. Goodwill has become a racket and no one can point it out because it uses,the one name on thousands upon thousands of stores but hides its true nature by dividing up into a bazillion different branches so no one can point it out how much they spend on advertising and ceo’s. Please donate to a REAL local CHARITY who GIVES to the poor the MAJORITY of what they get from an all too trusting of the goodwill name, public
wendy
Posted at 21:15h, 04 Septemberthe sad thing is you can go to retail stores and find prices cheaper. money doesn’t come easy. if I had a choice I will pick the new and cheaper over the used and more expensive.
Linda
Posted at 10:50h, 12 OctoberI used to love shopping at Goodwill. Last Friday, I made my last venture inside one of their stores. All the prices in our local store has DOUBLED in the past few weeks. I can honestly go to the Dollar Store or Walmart and buy new merchandise cheaper! What’s up with that? I am so dissappointed in them. Have heard lots of people saying that they will no longer shop there from now on. I will not only no longer shop there, but I will definitely no longer DONATE anything to them. I would rather take my used belongings to the dump rather than have them sold at such rip off prices!!
Debra Walker
Posted at 21:15h, 12 SeptemberIt’s a shame that people donate there goods thinking that it’ will help poor people to afford some things , that if it wasn’t for good will they couldn’t afford the designer things! Now because of cooperate greed once again these people can’t afford the name brand things. Perfect example I was in a goodwill and this lady said there’s a pair Walmart shoes marked for 29$ more than Walmart! Shame own you greedy extives at the top!!! This is not your things to over price !! People should stop donating there designer things !!! Until it goes back to the people and off of the web for bidding!! I wouldn’t spend a dime own line lets stand against greed!!! and not shop until they give the donations back to the people!!!!
Kenneth Livesay
Posted at 10:30h, 04 JanuaryOk I am an addictive thrift store shopper I am constantly looking for deals and items daily I shop either Goodwill or the Salvation Army I know both are charitable organizations but if I had to choose one I would always choose Salvation Army over Goodwill the reason being is for two examples one example is at Goodwill you find an item say marked for 99 you scratch off that Sharpie after you buy it and you see the retail price it’s 299 tell me how that’s right that they’re selling you used items for more money than the retail store would sell and I’ve come across this example multiple times second the other day I went into a Goodwill and actually today and found the painting that I really like but it did not have a price tag on it maybe they forgot to mark that or maybe a customer. It off who knows but anyway I go to the counter and ask how much is this and all I get in return is I am so sorry our policy is that if item doesn’t have a price on it it cannot be sold to you it has to go in the back and get re-evaluated for price what the heck just give me a price that’s the difference between Goodwill and Salvation Army if I go into a Salvation Army in that scenario happen which it has a manager would come to the front and apologize then he would take that item and find something identical and just give me that price that’s why on any occasion if I have a choice between Goodwill or Salvation Army it’s always going to be Salvation Army always hand them and I am more than happy to always rounding my total to highest dollar for donation every time and like I said I shop everyday just about I hope everyone listen to this and just stops patronizing Goodwill they are a racketeering scanning greedy good-for-nothing establishment thank you
Joshua virgin
Posted at 00:49h, 25 JanuaryYeah they are full of it they help no one and the totally avoided the question “how do they determine pricing” well for one they price things according to brand and what it is going for when a item is hot . $ 14 for beat up dusty shoes or 35 for dunks and 50 for Air Force 1s not cool . All jeans , shoes etc should be one price under 5 bucks . The idea is to help the poor save money and help people in need. Also it says the community owns it !!! Hmmmm . And they won’t compromise on price or work with you. Even if you donate boxes of clothes . Plus we are paying taxes again on these items so of course they won’t be shut down . I think it’s so wrong and disrespectful on so many levels
suzanne nelson
Posted at 14:15h, 03 OctoberGoodwill has a lost customer. Also, I will longer donate to them and I donated a lot! What a racket.
Samantha Black
Posted at 22:22h, 16 OctoberThe things you find that are cheaper are fast fashion, assembled in places like Vietnam, where workers put in 12+ hour shifts/day, and get paid very little. Many of these clothes are made from fabric that doesn’t biodegrade. Since it’s made for current trends, its often given to places like Goodwill. If it’s still in any sort of shape they’ll try and sell it. If not, or it doesn’t sell, it goes to a landfill, where it will outlast us and our children.
mellisa
Posted at 09:04h, 19 SeptemberIt’s really sad when I take my daughter in to get used children’s books and they’ve went up from 50cents to 1.99 , that’s excessive.
Rida
Posted at 17:03h, 26 AugustI use to be a faithful Goodwill shopper but their prices have gotten ridiculous. I can find better prices at Walmart and get something new. I use to shop there all of time but no more. I too would rather throw my donations away than give them to Goodwill. They use to offer a 20% off coupon for your donation. They have even stopped doing that.
Samantha Black
Posted at 22:25h, 16 OctoberIt might be fun to take her to the library, let her browse the books. It’s good to introduce children to the library. I was a regular at my local library.
carolyn
Posted at 18:55h, 28 SeptemberI agree with you completely, they get everything for free and take advantage of selling their stuff way above what it is worth, nothing thrifty about this store, way to much money going into their own pockets. i quite giving things to them for this very reason.
Thomas Quigley
Posted at 00:50h, 21 MarchAnd the goodwill online store is starting to look like a pricey antique dealership
Susiez
Posted at 16:28h, 17 SeptemberThere you go this is what I have been saying. Giving 20-25 bags of good clothes and not seeing one item on the floor. What was on the floor was over prices and when I ask for a break on cotton PJ bottom for this older guy that went into a home the manager gave me on of those smirkey look and said not all pants are 4.99. BS I will go to Walmark and buy him pants and never never donate to Good Will again. I’ll find a Church that helps poor people.
susiez
Joblo
Posted at 00:18h, 23 MayJust drive by the Goodwill Corporate Headquarters in your area. I promise it is a magnificent building! And the cashiers are trained to beg for your extra pennies! I noticed the differences from 12 yrs ago or so when I first started shopping there. And I can afford whatever I want new or used, Just a “hobby” for me to shop there. I still go, but usually leave empty handed! Pathetic! Enough said…
Jason Watson
Posted at 13:28h, 25 AprilYeah I for one am so tired of seeing my donations go towards some fancy new buildings and overpaid CEO’s. Goodwill has become Greedwill.
clifford
Posted at 03:58h, 22 FebruaryI knew something was kind of shady when armored trucks started picking up the money bags
Soraya Seifts
Posted at 06:53h, 30 JuneYou are so right! These thrift shops in specific Goodwill and Salvation Army have become a racketeering business. The CEO’s are making $500 hundred thousands and above each year and they give very little if any of the profits they are gaining with our donations to the causes they claimed to be helping. They are running a great scam!!! Perfect setup when they get all their inventory for free and making billions from them. I say is time to exposed them for what they are doing and boycott them by not donating anything to them or endorsing them by buying anything at their stores. It’s about time they are call out and expose!
Steven Morris
Posted at 17:11h, 08 FebruarySome regional managers actually make over 900K a year!
Michael
Posted at 16:47h, 04 SeptemberSo very true. And from what I understand in north carolina the “roundup” goes to the CEO and upper managemnts bonuses.
Gigi Richards
Posted at 04:37h, 22 AugustI agree with you 100%!
VALERIE RAMOS
Posted at 15:10h, 09 MarchI just left goodwill in Albaby, ca. on san pablo. $ 5.99 for used hardback books. It’s greed, bigger salaries for higher ups, imo. I never enjoy goodwill anymore and I’ve been shopping there since the 80’s.
Elizabeth Brown
Posted at 17:19h, 20 OctoberYou are correct on all p0ints, There are four Goodwill’s stores in a two mile radius from my home. I have started taking photo’s of all of the clothing that have the original store price and the Goodwill price is higher by at least $10 or more dollars. I have started going to other thrift stores like Savers and 360.
Rhonda
Posted at 16:48h, 22 OctoberI literally 5minutes ago saw a ring on GOODWILL Website for Over $52000.00!!
A price that high when they got it for free!!
Horrible!! Absolutely Awful Greedy Company!!
Roche Groenenberg
Posted at 05:41h, 23 JulyItems are indeed “free” but distribution, storage, transportation, rent, insurance, utilities, security, wages, waste removal…..etc is not! …and no “discounts” are given to charity bricks and mortar stores.
Brittany
Posted at 06:34h, 12 DecemberYou must work for them, the point is they are getting our stuff for free .. the old
Prices were FINE
Aubrey
Posted at 13:41h, 01 SeptemberYeah I guess that $728,982 annual compensation package for the CEO isn’t free either. And that was 2020’s numbers. I’m sure it’s only grown since then.
Alechia3
Posted at 20:09h, 30 JulyEXACTLY!
And, many times lately,I’ve come out the door s without a purchase.
It used to be a fun adventure. Now it’s just disappointing.
They may move it around,but they will end up reducing prices or trashing it.
I’m not the only one ,not grabbing a shopping cart,lately.
Gray-Smith
Posted at 15:28h, 01 NovemberI was just at a goodwill in cape mo, today. They had a used small make-up pallet for 12$. And a bag of generic plug-ins for 9$. Thats going to far on the price gouging. Another issue is that boots are listed as 7$ unless they are name brand then the price goes up according to brand. Everything they get is donated. I used to shop there on the regular. We have 5 kids and are on a budget. Many of my oldest daughters prom dresses came from there. Now I primarily shop at church run thift stores. They seem to get their demographic of customers better.
Kari Qualls
Posted at 10:21h, 21 OctoberHere’s the thing; yes goodwill does do things re: adult education, and they tout doing things for Veterans HOWEVER, IMHO……. they use this to sound good. My husband is a retired Air Force Chief (E-9) Vet’s have so many other things out there that are actually more helpful to them, with more efforts made. An assistant mgr I spoke with emphasized that they send clothes to other places BUT, that clothing is donated by US..
When state CEO’s make six figures (I checked) and the over all CEO is far beyond that; there is NO LEGITIMATE REASON, to PRICE GOUGE to the extent GODDWILL has chosen to do. Have you done the math???
Dresses up 28% coffee cups up 199%.
Good wills price increases DO NOT MATCH what they say they’re doing with the profits.
I no longer give to GOODWILL and I don’t buy the supposed “GOOD” they do for the community to the degree they try to “sell” it.
We’re NOT idiots Mr Goodwill.
Andrew Bellinger
Posted at 12:02h, 09 MarchYes the pricing at Goodwill is absolutely insane! I just seen a pair of old and ripped up shoes that they were selling for $200+ like what happened here? So you’re telling me because people are buying things and reselling them, that the rest of us now have to suffer? It’s bad enough the pricing of everything else is completely to high but now even the thrift store, which like was pointed out they get everything for free from donations! Unbelievable! Good job GOODWILL showing your true colors and being GREEDY like everyone else!
Benny Sargent
Posted at 18:52h, 29 NovemberFrom what a employee at the Seneca S.C. told me their Condition of Parole , they have to have a job, Minimum Wage, Free Donations,, The Big Ones are taking in the money, BIG TIME!!! The bathrooms are nasty, we bought a microwave, but they didn’t charge us for the Roach Bug’s !
Sadie
Posted at 10:58h, 06 JanuaryIt’s in the name. And no if anything Salvation Army and Goodwill were made for times like these to make things affordable possible, even to the less fortunate. It’s not supposed to be some Vogue weight shop. Those of us that are original thrift, shoppers, X generation here I am vintage,🙇🏻♀️ Have been watching this going on at a pretty steady pace long before Covid. I went into a Goodwell once back in 2015 and there was a pair of jeans hanging on a rack for $75 how shameful that must make people feel that are going in there to hopefully find something For their children or themselves. Anyway peace out.
Rachel Karns
Posted at 22:32h, 23 JanuarySpot on. I was just talking to my daughter about this tonight.
Janet gerow
Posted at 01:53h, 07 MayThe workers tell me the managers make them hike up prices, the “check” the internet not what sold mind you but what’s for sale.
And yes they get their inventory free, and their expenses such as payroll are subsidized by government so they are being disingenuous in their ” rebuttal.
They have forgotten their name “Goodwill”
these nuts
Posted at 01:13h, 02 Decemberyou what goodwill is trying now to copy used Items and pricing them as new which they are not
Jayne
Posted at 10:57h, 03 AprilIf your spending all this money on what you say you are then why are all the CEO of GOODWILL making 500 hundred thousand dollars a year? What do the CEO S of goodwill do anyway. People drop off things to a store and they sell them and pay there employers under 10 dollars an hour. Who are you kidding..and where are all the mentally challenged people you employ? I never see any.
Tara y Terminiello
Posted at 23:16h, 28 AugustI agree, I dont know what people are talking about. Our NJ Good Will Stores charge a flat rate of 4.99 to 6.99 for a skirt, about 8 dollars for a regular day dress. A super fancy gown loaded with lace and crystals could go between 10 and 30 bucks.
The only thing thats really shot up is wedding gowns, I notice they edge towards 50 to 100 now…they used to be 10 and 20.
Andrew B
Posted at 12:06h, 09 MarchLook at their prices online, then you will see the insanity that everyone is talking about! Here where I am in Virginia, the pricing has shot up so much that it’s cheaper for me to shop at Walmart or other stores because of the ridiculous pricing, so unfair!
Elizabeth Brow
Posted at 17:25h, 20 OctoberYour Goodwill is not the norm, all Goodwill’s in AZ price dresses at $14.99 and up, Skirts from $8.99 and up. Tops are $7.99 and up, I saw a sweater yesterday for $29.99, I took a picture of it because I could not believe what I was seeing.
Janet gerow
Posted at 02:08h, 07 MayI went to our Walmart, bought some Tshirts for summe for $3.99 then went to goodwill next door and saw the exact same shirts – USED for $6.99 WTF!
Shannon W
Posted at 15:53h, 26 JanuaryWhich part of Jersey are you in? Because I live in Soutb Jersey and here shirts for kids are $6.99 and adults $7.99_$8.99, pants $10.99, a REALLY nasty pair of stained up, ripped up pair of UGGS $19.99-$24.99. I don’t know what wedding dresses generally are but I saw most were $29.99-$49.99 and that is for the 80’s-90’s puffy sleeved ones.
Steven
Posted at 12:33h, 05 FebruaryThis is very untrue I recently went to a local Goodwill and they had a used well used in fact leather jacket with a price tag of $100 that is just insane for a store that is supposed to be helping those in need with low prices it’s all about profit all about the dollar it’s not to help people anyone who believes otherwise is fooling themselves wake up
No One
Posted at 14:05h, 19 JulyHere in Oregon their prices are outrageous. Their CEO’s have over one million dollar salaries, and they price higher than EBAY and other sellers platforms. They also now are a for profit company, which they should give you your money back on returns, but it’s still only store credit. They do not give back like they like to be perceived, They pay the federal minimum wage. When you are selling used t-shirts for $10 and up, how can you actually price that when new clothes can be cheaper. They have a contract with Target, then price their crap higher than Target actually does………..Shop there all you want, but don’t lie to yourself and say your helping disabled people or your community.
Jeremy
Posted at 17:49h, 31 MarchGoodwill CEO mark curran makes more than $2.3 million dollars per year. That is a sickening large salary for one person who sells the products he acquires for free at ever increasing prices. There is no validation for selling a $15 pair of used Walmart jeans for $10 when goodwill pays nothing for them. Most people would be happy to make a profit off of items they got for free especially when they’re making an obscene amount of money from doing it. Donating to charities and “helping” needy people by taking advantage of people in need of affordable clothing etc does little to mask the greed fueling his ambitions. He takes little to no risk in obtaining inventory and laughs ask the way to the bank at the expense of those ignorant enough to buy into his guise.
Brian K
Posted at 02:06h, 14 AprilAnd your full of 💩 too lady!! #1 ShopGoodwill is scamming customers on shipping cost’s #2 ShpoGoodwill is shill bidding against it’s own customers to drive the bids up so they can get more money! #3 ShopGoodwill allows resellers to use bid bots to bid against other customers locking a certain/all other customers out of bidding so that the Reseller/scalper/scammer gets the winning bid so they can resell the item/items elsewhere! You know why because Goodwill doesn’t care because they make most of their money from resellers and to hell with the rest of us! And #3 You claim that Goodwill helps the community by putting people to work and by keeping items out of the landfill by reselling merchandise! Well you see my son was a regional manager at Goodwill for over 5 years but he got fed up the lies and the scamming that Goodwill does as stated in all I’ve stated above! I’ve also got a cousin who’s worked for goodwill for 20+ years and has never had a raise or promotion! You see Goodwill doesn’t pay it’s lower level employees that good at all and most of the upper management are a load of crooks who keep driving the prices up for profit because Goodwill’s e-commerce a.k.a. their auction site is Goodwill’s money maker so they have even advertised to resellers to buy from them heck a lot of stuff doesn’t even make it to their auction and that money goes directly into the presidents purse because you say the president of goodwill is a woman! Everything is donated to Goodwill and that’s 100% profit for them and the higher ups don’t give a dam for the it’s lower end employees or it’s every once in a while customers! And Goodwill no longer offers job training like it used to! Goodwill is no longer charitable organization goodwill is for 100% what money they can make by scamming customers whether it be by having resellers on their website or by lying to the public saying they are a charitable organization! I recently got a winning bid on a Amazon Echo 10 3rd gen and I had bid $20 to start with and it stayed there until the last 20 minutes and someone bid 2 cents over mine which isn’t supposed to be allowed because I was the first and only bidder up to that point which tells me it was acGoodwill employee or worse a reseller that Goodwill not only allowed to see what other customers had bid but also allowed this Reselling SOB take the bids from other bidders by allowing them to bid cent amounts and not dollar amounts! But for this bid I know it wasn’t only a reseller but a reselling Goodwill employee which is worse because the SOB was able to see what bidders like me had bid! So I tested the SOB I’d try playing them at their own game I tried bidding like $40.30 and I got a pop-up saying that wasn’t allowed but that sorry POS was allowed to continue doing it! So I said enough is enough I placed a $250 bid on it knowing dam good and well I could’ve purchased a Brand New one for less but get this the SOB placed a $250.11,bid! With 30 seconds remaining I said let’s see what happens when I place a $1200 bid on it they still had time to bid but they didn’t! There’s not a F’ing doubt that it was a upper management PIECE OF 💩 SHILL bidding against me to pull a SCAM on me! Oh I never intended to pay for it I wanted to see how far will employee would take it and apparently they took it all the way! This happened at a Fort Lauderdale Goodwill store and all the Florida goodwill stores will the e-commerce part of them are scamming customers on shipping costs because they’ve ripped me off before on shipping and other customers as well I’ve found that out upon researching it! So you’d think after they scammed me on a $100/$200 item they made $1000 above fair market value that they’d go easy on the shipping cost? Heck no they tried scamming me on that as well! You see Amazon charges around $14.99 give or take a dollar or two they tried to charge me $67 S&H yes I said $67!! I contacted FEDEX and they said, and I quote it’s not us/FedEx that’s charging these fees Goodwill sets their own shipping and handling costs! I contacted them and showed them evidence of their little con job! How did they respond they canceled my account! 2 weeks later they emailed me and said if I didn’t pay they’d take legal action! I replied and said don’t contact me again anything you have to say can be sent to my attorney! I’m not seeking profit except attorney, fees, etc! But the government needs to crack down on Goodwill, and the news media needs to be get this out there and crack down on Goodwill!
Amy Fleck
Posted at 03:35h, 11 MarchI worked at the Goodwill for a couple of years and never got a raise. I worked with a lady who worked there over 20 years and still made minimum wage. They don’t even give their employees COLAs. The only way you get a raise at Goodwill is if minimum wage goes up. This was about 10 years ago but back then it was notably one of the worst companies to work for. Everybody I worked with hated it. It was like a slave shop for the production crew in the back.
As for their pricing, it’s at the production crews’ discretion what to price items at but we were encouraged (more forced) to price everything “as high as possible” and even had quotas we had to make at each store. Our manager would come around checking on us and our pricing and would always tell us we’re pricing too low.
Sara Walls
Posted at 14:29h, 25 JulyI have donated to Goodwill as well as other stores in my city for years. It is very discouraging to see that a pair of DONATED Nike’s, that has obviously been, worn, are being sold for 60.00. I do not agree or understand. Some stores are even charging for bags now. They are not paying the workers more money due to the result of this ridicules price hike. I would rather just give my items to individuals in need verses donating to Goodwill ever again!!!
Brian Sheldon
Posted at 21:39h, 03 FebruaryAnd you’re a liar too because either you’re an employee of GW a reseller or a straight out idiot! GW doesn’t help people like you or they claim to do! GW is nothing but a bunch of Scammers! They are a 100% for profit organization! They DO NOT HELP ANYONE!!! And they are as crooked as crooked could be, especially when they use their own employees to bid against you to drive the prices even further up so that you will have to pay more to get that item, and it most likely doesn’t even work! I’ll give you an example. There was a HP computer that I was trying to bid on that didn’t even have a hard drive but I do work on them and I was going to fix it up for someone in need I know for a fact, a computer was worth no more than $50, but someone outbid me at the last few seconds by bidding over $300 for it! Seriously Goodwill do you think we’re that stupid! You can tell your CEO that her Goodwill stores day’s are numbered! She might as well get in that unemployment line, especially when the government cracks down and find out how shady and crooked Goodwill is! I for one will never shop,bid or buy from there ever again!
Amy
Posted at 04:11h, 11 MarchI’m not defending Goodwill in any way, but I do buy from shopgoodwill and resell and I don’t see how you bid $50 on a pc and at the last minute it went up to $300 because even if they bid $300 the price would still only go up a dollar from your highest bid to $51. You (or someone else) would have to bid $299 before the price would go up to $300.
All Goodwills are different in their starting prices too. I buy and sell a specific brand of jeans and MOST Goodwills start them at $9.99. A couple start as low as $5.99, but one Goodwill, the one in my region actually, Goodwill of Olympics and Rainier region from the Seattle area starts their bidding price for the same jeans at $29.99!. You can’t even resell most of them for that so it’s ridiculous. I usually get most of mine for $9.99-$15 and I’m often the only bidder so I’ve never had an experience where I’m being outbid by employees or bots to gouge prices.
Again, I’m not defending them, I don’t go into the store because everything is way overpriced and I used to work there and I hated it. We were micromanaged and always told to price everything higher, higher, higher!! We even had quotas we had to make for each stores profits. They are scammers. They are bs. But I do get stuff on shopgoodwill for decent prices.
Hando comaliziks
Posted at 23:38h, 15 FebruaryDo you know how much their “philanthropic” CEO makes a year?
Connie Sorrell
Posted at 10:48h, 10 NovemberGoodwill is profiting like box stores. TAX FREE of course. Consumers are paying taxes on things that we have already been taxed on several times. We shouldn’t be taxed at Goodwill stores. I know that’s a government issue. Goodwill is in my opinion also taking
advantage of the poor and those who need help. I now give to charities that doesn’t charge a penny to consumers. They do exist, look them up.
pntszdinFluence
Posted at 11:21h, 29 JuneI’m torn! As a budding mini-philanthropist, I’m all about supporting orgs and causes that help people live better lives. That being said, I’m NOT spending $20 on an item at the thrift store with a Forever 21 tag. I’ve seen items like that too many times. I think pricing should ALWAYS remain as low as possible. The clothes were donated, so it’s pure profit.
Happy to learn that 92 cents of every supports someone in need. That is awesome!
ThrifterMiranda
Posted at 23:20h, 11 SeptemberThere is no way that 92 cents of every dollar made at Goodwill goes to someone in need, unfortunately, even if this article is 2 years old. With the amount of money going toward store maintenance, advertising, employee pay (I’ll get to that in a moment), and CEO pay, they claim that 83% goes to charity. However, according to the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1938, workplaces are allowed to pay their disabled workers lower than minimum wage. There have been some cases in Pennsylvania of disabled workers making 22, 38, and 41 cents PER HOUR! All the while, top managers at 150 Goodwill locations across the country are raking in over $30 million, collectively. Not to mention that the company’s CEO, Jim Gibbins, earns a base salary of $434,252 as of 2013. You would think that a “nonprofit” like Goodwill who can pay their CEOs & managers six figures could spare their 117,000 workers a fair minimum wage pay. Is what they’re doing illegal? No, but that does not mean that they are not exploiting these workers. It seems as if the company is in the mindset that the disabled workers should appreciate whatever crumbs they are thrown because they often do not have job opportunities. But regardless of their state, they are working and deserve a decent pay that will be able to help them support themselves. It is sad that a company who says it’s their mission to support their workers and the people in their community are so willing to exploit a group of people who typically do not have any other choice of jobs. They get tax deductions for hiring those who are disabled AND pay some of them unfathomably low salaries? It’s disgusting and horrifying.
I have been a shopper of Goodwill for years, and I will occasionally stop in. I now want to focus on shopping at local resale shops to not contribute to the disgusting corporate greed that has plagued Goodwill Inc. Goodwill’s creator must be rolling over in his grave.
rj
Posted at 23:03h, 23 SeptemberAmen!!!!
maria andujar
Posted at 18:48h, 02 FebruaryI applaued everything you stated, I am highly upset with Good Will no more donations, our nations will go to charity thank you for your post MA
Seckols1
Posted at 12:05h, 29 JuneLet me ask a question of Tom: Where do you think the people you are helping have to go to buy clothes? If they are like me, the only option is the thrift stores. Once you start pricing used clothing that is as expensive as the new clothing stores, we are left without any options. So if you are saying ‘we are pricing our clothes for fashion shoppers to support our programs’, that is one thing. But you can’t also say ‘we are here so low income people have a place to buy affordable clothes’. It’s one or the other.
Tina
Posted at 23:44h, 28 MarchFinally some truth. I stopped in this afternoon and found a pair of 5 year old boots that smelled like attic priced at $129.99 (goodwill tag). Original price tag $229.99 and a tag marked ‘reduced to $124.99’. Someone probably purchased them for 1/t2 off the reduced and put them in the attic for years and just gave them to goodwill cause they smelled. The prices have gone to what I believe is the greedy corporation side. Instead of helping the less fortunate have, goodwill decided to help themselves to what little the less fortunate do have. Thanks you all for sharing your thoughts and comments, reading that others have similar thoughts regarding Goodwill’s price gouging makes me feel no so alone in my observations.
myblackfriendsays
Posted at 12:55h, 29 JuneThis is basic economics. If something at GW is more than you are willing to pay–then don’t buy it!! That is the only way that prices will come down. If someone else is willing to pay the higher price, don’t blame Goodwill for trying to maximize their profits. Especially when the money goes to fund such worthwhile programs.
Typhanie Stewart
Posted at 11:02h, 02 JulyI agree! And to be honest, considering thrift prices are going up across the board, I think Goodwill is still the cheapest!
Typhanie
http://www.mygarmentsofpraise.com
Jonathan
Posted at 15:13h, 08 OctoberI don’t think Goodwill is still the cheapest! I bought the other day a nerf gun for my son for $4.99 I though it was a good price but guess what? same day I saw the same gun but New with darts and everything for the same price $4.99 so I don’t buy anymore at Goodwill.
Thorn1k
Posted at 09:01h, 05 JulyI agree as well. With many other products and services increasing in costs, I am sure Goodwill isn’t pocketing the extra profits as much as they are just trying to offer the same amount of additional services to those in need, and those services may be costing them more to provide.
Tina
Posted at 00:11h, 29 MarchI don’t think people are complaining about paying a fair price. People here are saying ‘hay Goodwill, you promised to cater to the disadvantaged, which you did for a little while…now you are praying on the disadvantaged and now we all know you are using this platform for a different purpose’. I have a suspicion their new target audience is ‘people with money’, o yes, and if anyone says something call them cheap and try to embarrass them into not calling us out. You know what they say…one mans garbage is another mans treasure. Perhaps Goodwill thinks all their stuff is treasure! Haha
Alechia3
Posted at 20:13h, 30 JulyOh please!
Pink noodle hair
Posted at 01:25h, 15 AugustWhile I agree that this is how it works for normal people who can choose not to buy clothes it doesn’t account for people who have nowhere else to go. The only solution beyond going to Goodwill is a different thrift store, which in many smaller areas there are no other thrift stores available, or hope for charity at churches/shelters. Sure, I can choose not to buy stuff for myself but many simply don’t have that option. Maybe they could work out a deal where people under a certain earning bracket can get a special card that gives them extra deals on stuff compared to more middle class people like myself. I don’t really know what the solution is but it definitely is a problem and when disadvantaged people can no longer afford clothes fro ma store supposedly catered toward them I feel something is wrong and no simple “price and demand” is going to work for their situation.
myblackfriendsays
Posted at 12:58h, 29 JuneAnd another point about the fact that something was donated. If you donated a valuable item (say something worth 100 bucks) wouldn’t you rather see it sell for 30 bucks instead of $10? If you’re donating to help an organization, it would make sense that you would want them to get the most money for your donated goods as they could.
Dana Hohman
Posted at 15:59h, 04 Februaryno….I would actually sell my high dollar item then give the money to charity; not by having Goodwill take their slice first!!!
myblackfriendsays
Posted at 19:46h, 04 FebruaryThe big part of the reason people donate things is so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of selling them. It is a lot easier to drop something off at a store than write an ad, put it on craigslist, answer emails, set up a time to meet, etc, etc, etc.
pamela
Posted at 11:27h, 11 Mayi agree. I guess Im Goodwill addicted. If you a frequent Goodwill shopper you can FIND.. quality stuff way… Triple worth the value..
Antique goods and pictures… Some people buy and resale… These online shops have profited tremendously off of Goodwill finds.
Tina
Posted at 00:23h, 29 MarchNo that’s stupid. Your deprecated garbage is still garbage just like everyone else’s garbage. The beauty of second hand used to be helping out someone who is disadvantaged. Some people are just greedy.
Kristal
Posted at 23:10h, 09 OctoberAMEN!!!!
Good Cooker
Posted at 15:29h, 02 JulyI like to shop at thrift stores to find a bargain! If I choose to give my money to a charity, that’s my decision. It’s great that they donate to charity, but Goodwill is a business!! I prefer to shop at thrift stores where their staff are volunteers and the profits go to a local homeless shelter.
Renea Henry
Posted at 08:58h, 05 JulyI wait for sale days.But I find it absolutely valid that these stores are raising prices while they have such a high visibility. The stores are meant to raise money for programs and if demand is up, then prices go up too with the ultimate benefactor being the people who take advantage of their programs. Still the best deal in town- got a cashmere sweater two days ago for $4!
Eat.Style.Play
Posted at 11:37h, 05 JulyI mean i think people should remember this is a non-profit organization, and I have a aunt who benefits from their work as well. So i get it, and yes, they are one of the fewr organizations that give more of a percentage to their programs instead of Admin cost, and working for a non-profit in the past i get it, they have more people coming and took it as a chance to mark up prices, but I also remember when Goodwill didn’t even have tags in the clothes and everything was equal. I don’t know I still don’t like that the prices are jacked up, but at the same time, it’s still ALL very Cheap, especially when i just saw a full on Dior vintage suit in there for 10 bucks. I guess it depends. For those who really depend on this to clothe their kids, and themselves when they are really doing bad it sucks, for us who might just be looking to add to our closet, and aren’t sruggling then it’s probably not as bad as it could be.
Tam_Bo
Posted at 12:43h, 05 JulyI’m all for supporting non-profit organizations. BUT, the bottom line is Goodwill is getting their merchandise for FREE. If their prices are equal to or close to store prices such as Walmart, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc it defeats the purpose of “thrifting” in the first place. There are other non-profit organizations who do work in my community just like Goodwill and they have not increased their prices. When I feel Goodwill’s prices are too much for my budget I will just simply take my money elsewhere. To each their own.
The Curvy Girl
Posted at 16:19h, 08 JulyI love shopping at Goodwill but I don’t feel that their explanation really answers what you asked. It just sounded like a regurgitated rah-rah mission statement. I agree with the comment below that says if the prices are too high, don’t shop there. As much as I love to shop at a few local Goodwill stores, I have put merchandise down because it was more than if I bought it new. Another one to watch? Plato’s Closet…
Lilith_smith
Posted at 15:17h, 09 JulyAt least at Goodwill, there are willing to help out if you can t afford their merchandise, and they give back to the local community.
This is not the case of Value Village that has outrageous high-price, is clearly a for-profit organization – that is why you will never have a referal from a social worker to have free goods from Value Village. Prices are not to be changed, or discussed, wether you can afford them or not, and that is shocking given that they had them for free in the first place.
That is why I would encourage people to give items to charities like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or WINS (Women In Need Society) first before Value Village.
Ignatius
Posted at 13:05h, 25 AugustI do most of my thrift shopping at Value Village and Goodwill. Both are businesses, although GW is classified as a non-profit. VV’s salaries and wages are higher and their benefits packages are better. I have received consistently excellent service at both stores. I have found items at very low prices at both as well but I have found VV to be the consistently better deal in my area. Probably due to pricing, the merchandise on the shelves at GW doesn’t move as quickly; over time, I find the selection at VV far better.
I consider thrift shopping like any other kind: the primary beneficiary is me. It’s nice to know that the money I’m paying is supporting the community (and this is true with both stores) but if I’m getting the better deal at VV with better selection and better-paid employees who offer great service, I’ll continue to shop there. I don’t shop as an act of charity. I write checks to several local organizations each year — that’s my form of charity. And I donate to both VV and GW frequently.
Lilith_smith
Posted at 15:19h, 09 Julyoh, and Value Village doesn t state clearly how much out of your dollar goes to charity, nor to which charity. Basically it is their own pocket first, and for sure they don t seem to care much about the people in need in their own community.
Midnight
Posted at 19:13h, 12 JulyI shop a the thrift stores for a work outfit or dress. The Goodwill in my town the prices are pretty cheap. I also donate things too. BUT only things that I cannot sell myself rather it be a yard sell or Ebay. I have seen the store workers go through my things and it put to the side not to even make the floor. So I make my own money by selling things myself. It helps me make money and I know exactly wear my money goes which is in my pocket. Sometimes you can find things cheaper at Ross or Marshall’s rather it be regular price or clearance. And it is clean. Why not help yourself in the tough economy.
Zenzele Bell
Posted at 11:56h, 13 JulyThey didn’t answer the question – they just issued the same statement they would give to anybody, for any reason. Goodwill may be responding to the market, but keep in mind that they get all their merchandise FREE OF CHARGE. People donate, and Goodwill makes money. I wish I could run that kind of business.
sarah
Posted at 16:51h, 14 JulyThey didn’t answer the question or concern
Madeline
Posted at 05:02h, 23 AugustGlad I’m not the only one who feels this way! I’ve gotten amazing steals at GW, but I’ve noticed lately that prices are on the rise. Salvation army is a lot worse in my area though. I’ve seen stores for both organizations charging outrageous prices for designer knockoffs lately. I visited a GW out of town and they had all of their “designer” bags in a locked display case. I know certain brands pretty well, and as soon as I picked up a “Coach” bag I was able to tell it was fake. I asked the associate if he was aware that it was counterfeit, and he said that he knew. I ended up getting a (genuine) Dooney and Bourke crossbody that was the exact same price! I also asked to see a Coach at SA the other day, which also turned out to be fake. They were asking $80 for it! Maybe I’ve been spoiled by spending $1 for Dior and finding similar bargains in stores that don’t price things according to brands, but I feel like things are getting a little out of hand.
Summer N Pridemore
Posted at 11:52h, 15 NovemberGoodwill CEO makes over 2 million dollars/ year. And doing a price comparison on a particular mens shirt, Kohl’s was cheaper. I’m not saying Goodwill doesn’t do a lot of “goodwill,” but other such thrift stores exist that are NON-profit, some even giving 100% of what they make away. I’d rather support a place that I can really trust is doing my community good.
Jarlath Healy
Posted at 11:24h, 18 NovemberGoodwill is ripping people off, period. These thrift stores were once the hot-spot for hidden treasures and really reached out in our communities for those who couldn’t afford to go to commercial stores. Greed, like anything had ripped that notion to shreds. If you were getting free stuff and paid your workers as low as you could by federal/state law. Wouldn’t you want to sit high and dry while paying someone else to handle the e-mails? Goodwill’s got it made, free stuff, people have to get rid of the old and in with the new. People who donate have no time to care about the poor or thrifter’s who shop there. They just wanna get it GONE. It will continue to get worse as folks now-a-days just want to sit back and watch someone else handle the problem.
Tina
Posted at 20:06h, 29 MarchHow true.
Myemail Fromhell
Posted at 09:25h, 27 NovemberI would really like to see their financials before I could make a judgment on whether their prices are fair. While it is true that I have seen items priced in their stores equivalent to or more than retail “new”, I wonder what it costs them to do business. Keep in mind that there is probably a high percentage of garbage that gets dumped on them as opposed to items they can actually sell and it costs money/manpower to get rid of all that garbage. So to keep Goodwill in ”check” as far as my budget goes, I just buy those items that I KNOW are a bargain and leave all the high priced items for someone else to buy. I am glad I have that choice.
JeNeff
Posted at 19:21h, 28 NovemberA couple years ago, a new GW store opened here (Northeast Ohio) and the manager was interviewed in the media. He said GW as a company is trying to lose the “thrift” image and trying to position itself as a competitor to Walmart or Penney’s. This is pretty bold talk from a company that gets its inventory for free. Penney’s and Walmart sell NEW items. And they have to pay their suppliers. Goodwill is still a bargain hunter’s haunt, but much less than it used to be. I saw a Longeberger basket at a GW a few days ago for $90. I used to buy Longeberger baskets–that basket wasn’t that much when it was new and I saw similar Longeberger baskets at a consignment store for one-third that price. GW sells its used shower curtains for $5-$6 yet you can buy brand new ones for $2 less at a closeout store down the street.
I have a feeling the administration at GW setting the prices caught on to flea market mavens and Ebay buyers who were shopping GW and then reselling the stuff at a profit. I suspect some manager decided that GW may as well cut that middleman right out and make that profit themselves. Unfortunately, that hurts the shopper who uses GW as a way to clothe her family.
My daughters work and, like lots of teenagers, shop the mall. I no longer donate their nice clothes to GW–I give it to the Salvation ARmy.
Keltickaren in Baltimore
Posted at 18:08h, 10 DecemberI bought One scarf and Two belts..$16.00! I can do that good or better at Macy’s.
Yes, I know the goods are donated and they have overhead, salaries, electric bills, etc.. but this is absurd.
Really?1
Posted at 12:34h, 30 DecemberI know this thread is old But I have something to say.Being that the goodwill is suppose to help families in need they should set their prices accordingly.I saw a family in the goodwill shopping for Christmas her son saw a shirt that he wanted he begged his mother to buy the shirt but she couldn’t afford it.That was heart breaking to me. I was told by an employee the workers set their own prices after she was in disbelief over them setting a price of 49.99 for a used pair of heels. Basically the goodwill is suppose to be a store where family who cant afford retail prices shop.If they want to act like Walmart they shouldn’t receive the tax exemption
annie
Posted at 19:04h, 06 Februaryi would like to emphasize a very important point here…this is not a thrift shop, its a front for a supposed “non profit” organization that helps people. There upper management get 6 figures income, I know this because I know personally and upper manager in California and he drives a freaking 80K BMW.
Oh yeah like today, a woman standing outside the goodwill in Lancaster California, with swollen legs and feet, her feet were swollen she had taken off her shoes and couldnt get them back on. SO she was desperate, I saw her enter the store and learned about her story later. But what was horrendous was the fact that GOODWILL would not sell her a pair of shoes for $5 that she had been able to collect from patrons prior to entering the store. The only pair of shoes that would fit her were a pair of mens tennis shoes but they were asking $29.99 for them. A pair of used free donated NIKES! It broke my heart listening to her try to explain to the cashier she had to begin her walk back home but couldnt without shoes. The manager appeared and refused her as well. I was dumbfounded, I will never donate to this store again in my life, they are nothing but heartless, gouging and greedy in every way. They treat their employees like slaves too! Please for the love of Pete , next time you go in the GOODWILL make a complaint about their ridiculous pricing and lack of empathy to their community. All they care about is profit.
Swen.Ardere
Posted at 01:03h, 25 FebruaryThe Mormon equivalent (Deseret Industries) isn’t much different.
Yelena Regeza
Posted at 05:41h, 12 December+++++++++
naut
Posted at 13:19h, 27 February92 cent per? yeah right. At $719,147, Goodwill chief Michael Miller is the highest-paid nonprofit CEO in Oregon. Goodwill of the Columbia Willamette booked $106.4 million in 2010 revenue. So much for non-profit.
Mike hawk
Posted at 19:03h, 14 MarchWhy do your CEO make millions?
Melissa Olson
Posted at 11:07h, 17 MarchActually this article isn’t even factual. They do not support people with disabilities, at least in my county and the next they do not. They will not hire them or help them get jobs. The owner is a billionaire and the CEO makes almost $600,000 a year salary. They get their merchandise for free and then price it close to retail. They are out to make money and that is the bottom line! It should be a place where a family can go and be able to clothe themselves for a decent price. However, I am middle class and I can’t afford their items. They want $12.99 for a blouse and I can go to Ross or watch sales and do better getting a new one. They are asking $100 for used throw rug when the store downtown has the same size new for only $59.99. When I need a good laugh, I stroll through there, shake my head and then leave! If everyone stood up and refused to shop there maybe they would get a hint and lower their prices?
LookingFly
Posted at 13:41h, 17 MarchThe article is definitely factual and they do support those with disabilities. Maybe you haven’t seen it in your area, but it’s true.
jack copeland
Posted at 13:30h, 29 MarchIt’s funny too, all of a sudden brands like Tommy Bahama jump to more than triple in price, even if the shirt is tattered…
goodwilly
Posted at 22:19h, 02 MayI have “Goodwilled” for years watching the business morph into a nearly new item like retail outlet store. They search eBay and the Web, etc then prices accordingly. This is an acceptable practice except for one glaring issue, (and it is not because they get it for free, though this is a valid point, cost versus mark-up retail price). No, it is the fact most of the items are VERY used, often have something wrong requiring repair or are just broken junk someone dumped on Goodwill rather than tossed in the trash. Wasn’t the idea to price items at a point to reflect this risk? This is how it used to be but not anymore. Now they ship items off to be listed online, stuff you’ll never see, if they think it is worth it. For instance, you need an old computer for parts or maybe a person in need. Not anymore! You don’t get them at Goodwill. Non-profit my butt, just another way of twisting words. The old gray mare, she ain’t what she used to be.
Brooke
Posted at 13:06h, 11 Mayno its def BS…what about single mothers like myself SHOPPING there?!?! trying to find affordable clothing and are better off going to walmart or similar stores because its basically the same price if not CHEAPER!!!! i saw a lamp for $25 at good will (lamp shade not included btw) and bathing suit top and bottom $4 each..then went to walmart and saw lamps WAY cheaper (BRAND NEW) for $12 and it came with the shade..and never before worn bathingsuits for $8..same frikkin price!!!! ps i also got my flipflops at walmart for $1 when i saw flipflops at goodwill for $5
oreo
Posted at 22:18h, 12 MayGoodwill where we live is so dumpy. Never has soap or papertowels in the ancient bathrooms. Still has the retail prices for used junk though. Went to a new goodwill by my sister-in-laws and the bathrooms have automatic everything and the new building was beautiful. I basicly will not go back to our dump after seeing that.
Pr3ttylilmonsta
Posted at 20:52h, 09 JuneI just bought used heels there for ten dollars more then new online… Tell me how that’s ok? I’m a single mother to… Thanks goodwill. Lets see if they care when I call them tomarro. I feel like I’ve been robbed and we used to love that store…. Crooks.
Tina
Posted at 20:33h, 29 MarchHow true, past few times I purchased trinkets for gifting from Goodwill & had to throw them away. The items were torn and broken. I did try to return damaged/ broken item and GW manager said, “What am I supposed to do with it, we don’t sell damaged items…no refund”. So I looked into GW’s return policy and was informed Goodwill does not have to take back items, it’s up to managers discretion. I used to shop there constantly, I have kids, years ago Goodwill was the place to go. Now I’m just too embarrassed to gift anything to anyone from Goodwill; anyway Goodwill does no cash refunds even if item is defective . I suppose we shop at our own risk when it comes to Goodwill stores. If Goodwill went back to being an honest bargen I wouldn’t shop any where else. I suppose that’s what bothers me so much, I used to love shopping GW and taking my children to pick out anything they wanted…no more, now I shop online and get much better deals.
Matt
Posted at 12:46h, 25 JulyOnce in a great while I will find a killer deal but more often than not I leave empty handed due to their prices. When they can’t mark something down two dollars to make it the same price as an identical item (two of the same pair and size of jeans) to make a sale then forget it. It makes me just leave the item at the counter and leave. I’ve shopped at 5 stores in the Eugene Or area and they all treat their customers the same. They have even adopted the rule of no backpacks in the store. Even though I was on my motorcycle and had to carry in my helmet, jacket, bag and gloves. The lady tells me you have to leave that at the counter. My response was “will you take responsibility for it if someone take my stuff”? Of course she said no, so I said fine I’ll leave then. Oh and my “bag” was a Camel pack smaller than the size of a large purse but they never ask any woman carrying purses in to leave them at the counter.
holliwoodky
Posted at 21:52h, 25 JulyThe goodwill in my town (Gaylord, Michigan) is a joke. A family friend’s home burned and the local dept. of human services gave them a referal to Goodwill to get $50 woth of free clothing/items that they could use, and the manager refused to honor the voucher, and told them, “Goodwill was not in the charity department.” Correct me if I am wrong but Goodwill’s mission is to help those in need. I will never shop at Goodwill agin after that, it is for profit not to help those who really need it.
consignment from a small town
Posted at 02:36h, 27 AugustMy husband and I own a consignment store in a small town. We are not a non-profit organization but, we have helped many people and families in need. Whether it be fire victims, someone who just had a spouse walk out and leave them with the children and all the bills, or someone on a fixed income that could really use an updated sofa or some clothes. We have had churches come in asking if we would be willing to help a family they knew and we did. We try to keep our prices fair and offer nice items to our customers. Many times, people have not had quite enough money to pay for their items and we have just told them to have a great day as we handed them the items that were partially paid for. As much as we would love to say that we are making good money off of our store, we are not. We sometimes struggle to pay the rent on the building, let alone the other bills that accompany the business. However, knowing that we are able to help those that really need it, makes every minute worth it for us. We considered becoming non-profit for a few reasons but instead decided that we would help people as they came in and as we could in any way that we could. Some people just assume that if you have a business like ours that you are making a killing. I guess for some, that is true. I have had people come into the store in need of furniture that is on consignment but could not afford the asking price. I have reduced it to the point that we do not make anything off of the item but, the consignor gets their share. We have seen families come in to shop for clothes for their children and overhear them telling the children that they can only get some clothes but not all that the child picked out and that they could not have any toys because that is all they can afford. I like to find what they were wanting and put it in a bag for them as a gift from me, as long as I ask permission from the parents first. I am a person that has to be thrifty when it comes to shopping for clothes and things, especially since we are raising a grandchild. I know how tight money can be. I once was a single Mom and learned what tough times really were. I gave up my last year or nursing school so that my husband and I could take custody of and raise our grandchild. We opened the consignment store in hopes to make a little money and to offer flexibility for raising a child. It has given us the flexibility for attending school functions and doctor appointments and family time. It has not made us a bunch of money but, it makes us happy to be able to help people. We may be the people that need help one day and I hope there is someone out there like us. Too many times, I have been in thrift stores such as Goodwill and overheard people talking about how “much” things were and how could they price things so high when they are donated to them. I just went into a Goodwill today with a few others. I happened to see a metal dog crate in the store. I asked how much and the employee told me $45.99. She looked at the other employee and said, “What?!?!? Why did they put such a high price on this???” I asked if the manager could come out since they told me that is who priced it. Manager came out and I asked him why such a high price. He told me that they sell for $120.00 and up. I asked him where and he told me online. I asked where online and he said Walmart.com. Well, I have been in search of one for a while now for our little dogs. I did not recall that particular one being anywhere close to that price. So, I came home and looked them up again. The prices started about 51.00 and went up but they went up as the size of the cage went up. Not to mention that the manager came out, did not smile or greet us…just simply walked up to us and looked at the employee and said, “Who called for a manager?” He was rude and actually provided humor to all the others in line near us with his response to the pricing. Some people put their items down and walked out after that. They too, were wondering why such a high price on something that is donated to them. It saddens me to read the post from holliwoodky about the family that they would not help. I just hope that there are plenty of other stores out there like ours with people like us that really do care to help. If you know of any, please share so we can be supportive of them. Thanks a bunch 🙂
Cody
Posted at 11:39h, 28 JanuaryLove your story on how you and your husband put help out like this to people in need. I love that about people who do these kind of things it shows love from one human to another. I just went into GW yesterday to check some items since I am low income. I been thrift shopping since I was a baby with my mom, But my story is I walk into goodwill and see some items like wow that would look nice in my kitchen, A Ninja Ultima Blender, decided I might buy that then I looked at the price and come to see $119.00 for this blender, My mind was boggled and I was thinking why so high. I decided to get on my smartphone and google the same exact item it brings one up from walmart for 139.99 with everything included, mind you this blender at GW is used and had none of the extra parts or anything just the blender and one container. I believe i’m going to talk to the store manager and request a price reduction on items in there. I looked at a buzz light year which my daughter loves thinking 5 bucks tops for this item because the box was crushed and opened and buzz was exposed. 24.99 WHAT! so if they don’t comply with a reduction for ones who are in needs or want to buy things on a low income basis for my children to make them happy. I will contact the news and see if we can get something done about GW being next to Retail prices on items that are used, missing parts, or damaged. God Bless You and your husband and i hope the best for you guys and your grandchild.
Tina
Posted at 20:55h, 29 MarchO my goodness, how did Goodwill get so crappy?!? I don’t think the Dept of Human Svcs made up false vouchers. I seems as though agreements were made between the two businesses to help people in need and looks as though Goodwill wanted no part of that.
JohnElligott
Posted at 21:26h, 09 SeptemberGoodwill is a thief and more expensive than discount stores like Target/Walmart. Many in my neighborhood go to a new store and I had to look into this. The CEO gets over $700,000/year while they pay some disabled folks $0.22/hour. Something is definitely wrong here. Support decent retailers like Costco which pays a living wage and has decent prices. Goodwill is out of control. No one in my family will ever donate to Goodwill again. We donate to the mom and pop resale shop or give our clothing to real charities. Even a garage sale is better than donating to Goodwill.
Efraim Kristal
Posted at 20:57h, 30 AprilJohn, thanks for that info. We didn’t know that about Goodwill’s CEO. We never donate to charities that pay their CEO corporate salaries. Just not where we want our money going. Thanks for the heads up.
Shannon W
Posted at 16:10h, 26 JanuaryJohn, what’s even worse I have been to several Goodwill stores in different states and I have not even ONE TIME seen a disabled employee working there, NEVER! They also get free work out of people who have to do community service as part of their parole/probation and I just watched a woman on YouTube the other day and she was actually on the so called “job training ” program and you get training alright, by training yourself and just getting thrown into different positions and figuring it out on your own and being promised for months and months on end that they will start paying you as an employee and for it not to happen until sometimes up to a year or so later! She said that happened to several people in their program!
I just read an article that showed the tax returns for a Goodwill store about a half hour from me. These returns were from 2001-2022 and just from 2012 to 2022 their profits went UP 46% going from $2770000] to 62100000 in 10 years time on FREE DONATED inventory! Makes ya sick huh?
Well, it is sad because all of these people who say they are boycotting Goodwill, their hearts are in the right place and it should matter to the execs of that company, but sadly they could care less!
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Posted at 03:01h, 07 October[…] appeal? This post isn’t meant to single out or bash Payless {remember my two part series on Are Thrift Stores Becoming Too Expensive?}. I still occasionally find some great shoes there, including my faux croc pumps that lasted […]
Smorfnimda
Posted at 06:46h, 22 NovemberThey all check Ebay and see what others are paying for the item or they create their own auction site (shopgoodwill.com) and soak as much as they can out of people. Instead of donating the items to Goodwill we should go elsewhere. The Rescue Mission or Salvation Army seem to be a good place to go. Face it we gotta admit, we either go to goodwill to resell on Ebay or we more legitimately we need cheap clothes. No darn way are we going to pay Ebay prices for stuff!!
Efraim Kristal
Posted at 20:56h, 30 AprilSmorf–that’s a great idea. Our family moves a lot for work & we used to donate our goods to Goodwill. We stopped doing that a few years ago out of a sense of resentment over the mushrooming prices–and now we feel vindicated in making that decision. You’re also right about high Ebay prices. And we’ve even found Craig’s List owners’ used for-sale items’ prices have drastically increased over the last 5 years. The economy has been tough for a lot, but we’re with you–we refuse to pay exorbitant prices, especially for “stuff.” Time to stick with the stuff we already have.
Smorfnimda
Posted at 21:50h, 30 AprilI just reread my post. Those last two sentences didn’t make sense to me. Boy what was I smoking? Anyways, your right, it’s just stuff! We should sell our stuff or give to the needy ourselves instead of letting Goodwill get our stuff for free and then turn around and sell it ridiculous prices. An old computer that runs windows 98 is not worth more than 10 bucks! Are you listening Goodwill?? An old couch with cat hair all over it is not worth 75 dollars!! Seems Goodwill also sells the good stuff online then sells broken stuff in the actual store as far as gadgets go. Idiots. We should be selling our our own stuff.
Shannon W
Posted at 16:12h, 26 JanuaryYard sales and Estate sales too have jacked up their prices tremendously!
Christine Hudak Akers
Posted at 09:24h, 10 DecemberI’m not sure how to verify that the number (92 cents of every dollar) is accurate. I saw this recently, and it says “82 cents of every dollar on programs and services for people in need” (5th paragraph) http://www.goodwill.org/?p=17257
I realize this article is over a year old, but a ten percent drop off is dramatic. I would assume they do an annual report?
John
Posted at 00:25h, 13 JanuaryAll new item prices have been raised to retail or above. In the Albany location, notebook was priced at $7.99…the listed retail price on the back cover. The same one was priced at a reduced $5.99 at Sears, right up the street. This “Charity” has lost its way. Give and buy from Salvation Army. They are absolutely non profit…and a good organization.
RosemaryPeppercorn
Posted at 09:24h, 31 JanuaryGoodwill is a racket. (See the story in the link below…the management are crooks.) The Salvation Army is anti-gay. Garage sales, Craigslist, and eBay are better options. There is a thrift shop near us that benefits spay/neuter programs; that is the only one worth going to.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/02/09/2667175/goodwill-husband-wife-team-earns.html
Elena Avlasko
Posted at 03:06h, 13 MarchI walked into a goodwill store today… they had a very simple 14K gold thin flat chain bracelet on display. I looked at the price-tag and it said $350 on it. I realise that it’s gold, but for $350 I can buy a better new one at a department store. I looked around some more and found a sterling silver chain necklace in pretty beat up shape… The tag was for $30 which is what it would cost brand new at a department store. On that note I walked out. I think I won’t be returning to goodwill any time soon…
thrift shoopper
Posted at 01:43h, 23 MarchI would never shop or donate to goodwill!! After how I saw them treat a worker there I have no longer shopped st any goodwill!! And all the above is bull !! Just go to Ross and get the same deals for new stuff!!
Efraim Kristal
Posted at 20:43h, 30 AprilThrift Shopper–exactly. We also find we can beat Goodwill’s prices for brand new items that are far, far higher quality. Goodwill is pricing itself out of the market.
pitbullgirl65
Posted at 19:02h, 09 AprilI’ve heard they pay their workers below minimum wage. And frankly? Let’s see their so called good works they are claiming to support.
What about us who shop there? None of us are exactly rich, and I don’t care what it is selling for online either.
William
Posted at 08:21h, 23 AprilFirst, the prices have gone up at Goodwill to pay for their shiny new buildings. Second, they look up anything they think is worth a buck on eBay. Third, If you donate something with a retail price sticker on it they will usually mark the item half of the retail price. Goodwill has become a joke in the Houston TX area.
Efraim Kristal
Posted at 20:41h, 30 AprilRegardless Goodwill’s official reply, our family no longer “shops” there since noting exploding prices beginning years ago. We shop thrift stores for value. But when used, banged up, often incomplete (missing key components) items cost a significant percentage of new items–and in many case more (Target…), we have no incentive to shop at Goodwill or other thrift stores. An example: whenever we need kitchen supplies we used to check Goodwill first. Dismayed at scratched, chipped, badly discolored articles (Bellevue, WA) costing upwards of $20 each, we started looking in Marshall’s just up the street. Now we find FAR superior quality, brand new, for HALF or less of what Goodwill charges for others’ throw-aways.
My first priority has to be my family’s financial well-being, which means we’ll either find other paths to bargains OR we’ll buy new, high quality and keep for as long as possible. Either way, Goodwill is off our shopping list.
August
Posted at 01:19h, 26 JulyEveryone shops there even though it’s so expensive. I really really love Salvation Army.
tom of md
Posted at 19:48h, 03 AugustGOODWILL
CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business.
You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy.
$0.00 goes to help anyone! Stop giving to this horse’s ass, again the american public good nature getting rooked!
shopper1
Posted at 13:01h, 10 AugustI have never once seen a disabled person working at a Goodwill store in Oregon.
Yes, their prices have gone way up. Their clothes are getting close to Marshalls and Ross NEW clothes prices and most of them look like they have been closeted a long, long time. I am all in support of charities. But, has anyone asked how much of this charity money goes to the CEO of the company. Seems to me that he probably is earning his salary because he is smart enough to have the stores charge a lot for stuff that comes in free and call it a non profit. You hear people grumbling about the prices when you walk through the store and putting stuff back. It’s only a matter of time because profits fall and they get a clue. Seriously, when you see a left on price tag from the store it came from, and the goodwill price also on it that is larger ….. makes you think.
Chris W James
Posted at 22:13h, 13 September92 cents per dollar goes to help WHO? I guess their CEO’s that are making 500-750k per year are included in that estimation.
Michael Miller is back up to $850,000 a year! Can you get greedwill to answer these allegations? Being a nonprofit their tax records are public record.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/print-edition/2013/11/15/goodwill-ceos-salary-rises-again.html
Jim Gibbons get $over 400k a year, PLUS bonuses. It’s sickening.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/07/30/does-goodwill-industries-exploit-disabled-workers/
jon
Posted at 18:09h, 15 DecemberHere in Colorado the stores have gone up 200% in just 1.5 yrs. I don’t shop there anymore because of their prices. Yard sales are more fun anyways, especially when you hit a jackpot sale!
corinda kuntz
Posted at 23:50h, 23 JanuaryI have been shopping thrift shops for years and i get this sinking feeling that these shops especially good will, Salvation Army, community aid plus many more are not trustworthy. I am sure some money goes to help but i bet more money goes in other people’s pockets one way or the other. The people that run these should be auditied. I know for a fact that there are groups of antique dealers that heads of good will’s etc hold back so dealers can get things for cheap while they help price the mediocre stuff expensive. There are payouts for this and i know it goes on all the time. That is why you will you don’t see that much good stuff as it never hits shelfs nd then then good will has an auction site too. I want to know where the government is on these places. Why don’t they have audits, finding out how much money these places are taking in. Quite a few years ago I was in Florida and was in Salvation Army, clerk said they just spent a million dollars in cash for the building. My beef this stuff is given to them free of charge and they are getting away with what I think is criminal. Thanks for listening I could go on and on.
GMG
Posted at 14:24h, 07 MarchI’ve been shopping Goodwill and other thrift stores for years (like, decades). I also have used their online site a great deal (for at least 10 years).
I believe that, during the 2000s, Goodwill as an organization got tired of being a wholesale source for people who resell on Ebay, and for people who, in general, act as pickers for vintage clothing and collectibles stores and sites. Note also that as “vintage chic” and recycling and upcycling and thinking green came into being as fashionable concepts, people no longer scorned used clothes they way they did just a couple of decades ago. People with deeper pockets were now willing to go to the thrifts to find “cool stuff”, and blogs flourished online with what to look for and what the bloggers had found. Social media celebrated the new, fun thing! A treasure hunt through junkland!
A treasure hunt, yeah. But only for the well-to-do. The effects of all this aggressive thrifting have been felt: no more bargains at Goodwill Stores.
I seldom shop at Goodwill stores any more for the very reason others have pointed out—if you are going there to clothe yourself and your family in good quality items at lower cost, you are out of luck. Used shoes are priced very high, fake handbags the same. Polyester scarves for $7. Junk jewelry if any jewelry at all. Decent quality ceramics and glassware items have become ridiculous. The good stuff we used to trawl for (for ourselves, not for resale!) is going online, leaving us with in-store stuff we wouldn’t buy new if we had the money to do so, because the quality is inadequate.
Goodwill has positioned itself to catch the money that people were making on Ebay and in the vintage clothing stores. The trouble is, at those prices, resellers don’t want to buy as much, because they can’t make the money on it. And the best goods are no longer in the stores, so…the cagey resellers go to estate sales and yard sales and Craig’s List instead. And Goodwill is mostly left with the people who just want inexpensive clothing to wear and serviceable Pyrex to use in their kitchens, and they are being gouged for them. You would think if only the junk was left in the stores and the good stuff was online, they might lower the prices in-store to reflect what they actually have to sell now. Well, no. That higher price legacy has apparently come to stay—the market has grown used to it.
So GW stores are selling overpriced used crap (and sometimes junky new stuff donated by Walmart and other discount stores for a tax writeoff) to people who are forced to pay higher prices to lock out Ebay resellers, but many of the people who shop at Goodwill Stores and don’t go elsewhere, don’t really have many elsewheres to go to shop. They don’t have the money for it. Some of them can’t afford cars to drive somewhere else. So they shop where they live.
I say go to church thrift stores if you can and forget about Goodwill. They are greedy people, and they use their employees badly for tiny paychecks. They really don’t care about their customers, I have sadly concluded.
In regard to the online site:
Watch out for that shipping, folks, before you bid; they are notoriously high at many of the online GW stores. Sift through carefully. Reject any item that has a blurry photo, also. As for the total end price, figure it in advance with the shipping before you do your maximum bid and don’t fox yourself into overpaying. Always consider what you are getting! Don’t assume you can find a bargain; that’s not likely (although it’s occasionally possible). Better to think of it as a site for unique collectibles. I still shop there for some things, but remember: for what you overpay for many things on that site, you would be better off paying that price or often less at Ebay, where you have genuine buyer protection. The Goodwill site has none of that. And for heaven’s sake, don’t buy any consumer electronics on there. Unless you are a geek who is looking to repair things, you will most likely lose your money; Goodwill guarantees nothing whatsoever.
Be a savvy shopper.
Shandel
Posted at 14:05h, 17 AprilI hate goodwill. They are over priced! Everything they get is free and they should not sell anything over $5.00 . I am pretty and young and I would like nice clothes but I can’t even afford to shop at thrift stores. That’s sad.
Ddpoipoi
Posted at 15:40h, 06 AugustThe Goodwill is a scam. I know it in my gut. I know greed when I see it. And I know corporate cold calculating regimes when I see them. I am too old to fool. When you confront a manager with questions about where the money is going and how you can sense bean counters in the air you get that vacant spokeshole response. It is the face of corporate greed. The souless stare of a predator. And apparently it will have to run its course because people are generally asleep at the wheel and wander thru life in a half concious stupor wanting to believe that they live in a nice warm womb and everything is on the up and up.
April
Posted at 13:35h, 10 SeptemberI just walked out of a GW and I feel violated. I only went to see what I could get for 1/2 off. I recently moved to Illinois from Indiana and the prices were so different. Illinois kids clothes prices were $3.99 a piece but had a slash through that and marked at $2.99…shocking right? Indiana kids clothes are $1.99…that’s a fair price…and they have a rewards program. None of the GW’s around here have that. As I was looking for clothes for my kiddos I seen a NWT’s Bonnie Jean dress. $30. Seriously? $30? A hat for $15, a pair of shoes for $25, a kid’s fleece zip up jacket for $20, and an old broken down chair for $20. What the hell is going on? This stuff is donated! Furniture….mark it between $5-$10. Clothes…..mark everything a damn $1. Guarantee they wouldn’t have anything left and people would feel better about donating. That they are helping not only those in the “supposed” programs but those in need coming in to clothe their families. I refuse to donate to them. The only way I can afford anything in there is when they have their 1/2 off tags….which of about 90% mysteriously seem to disappear. They are con artists plain and simple. They are out to help themselves. It’s ridiculous. And on a side note…if they put a coach purse in their glass case and mark it as such and it’s a fake….they could get in big trouble for that.
jonf
Posted at 17:31h, 20 SeptemberI don’t like the keyboard I got, it hurts when I write my books. I noticed that since I look in GW a lot to see if there is anything that I would pay their price for, I noticed that they always have these keyboards for sale. Usually at around 2.99. When I looked in Wal-mart and other retail stores I found that the low line keyboards go for around 10.0. Well I thought I would just go over to Goodwill and pick up a keyboard that is more comfortable for me to use, and I also thought it would cost me around 2.99 but guess what, they started pricing higher now and there was this Logitec that I liked but one leg was broke.
They wanted 9.99 for the old used broken leg keyboard. I said loudly: “No Way! I can get a nice brand new one for that, what happened to 2.99? Goodwill sells mostly junk on those electronic shelves and I only find a deal that I know is a deal when they don’t know what something is worth.
The only time you will get any real savings on an item is if either they don’t actually know what it is and they price it low or if it is clothing that is half off or less. There furniture is mostly trash but some people will buy it…imagine that! I will admit to buying a desk for 20.0 that I thought was a fair deal but then I see stuff that isn’t worth 5 bucks and they want 55. for it.
One example was an HDMI wire that was in the package which was opened. The store that it came from had a price tag on it at 8.99 and so I went to the counter and asked them if there was a Goodwill price for the item and they said it is the 8.99. I then told them that this price was put there at the Best Buy, so why would I buy it here for the same price? And they just looked at me like a dog with his head turned sideways.
Goodwill is growing into a major enterprise but they hide that and you and I keep allowing it by not only going there to shop or just look around but bring our trash there to get rid of it and let them sell the trash to people that pay it without caring that it is trash.
Lyn
Posted at 22:34h, 01 OctoberGoodwill’s price gouging continues to escalate especially in the past two years. Talk to a store manager and they blame it on corporate and tell you to complain to them but pricing many items is at the individual store’s discretion especially wares. Many of the little knick knacks and porcelain plates etc that they were selling for less than $1 last year are now being jacked up to $2.99 – 5.99. Much of what they sell is garbage ready its sad the people donate it and even sadder that they put it on their shelves and then slap on high price labels. I told a store manager today I no longer donate anything good to their stores. Are the jacked prices really going to job training and pay of employees or is to to pay for the expensive HDTV Advertising set ups they added to front of stores running a loop of Goodwill TV? It’s time to Occupy Goodwill and Boycott their overinflated prices.
Rachel
Posted at 09:05h, 22 OctoberI’ve become very upset with Good Will.
As a mother of 2 young children, one who is chronically ill and medically complex, I need to find cheap clothes for them.
When I started shopping there 2 years ago, kids clothes was usually $0.79 a piece. I went in yesterday, the TODDLER clothes went up to $3 a piece at the CHEAPEST!! $3 for stained, old and frayed clothes and for the decent clothes, it’s over $5. Anything with a well known tag or new tags is priced over $10.
This is insane. It’s FREE CLOTHING, everything the get is pure profit.
And to add insult to injury, you go to check out and they ask you if you want to donate your change to their employee training program. So not only are they raising their prices, but they want you to donate to cover training their OWN employee training.
And most of the Good Will’s in our area have stopped the 50% off color tags.
It’s just insane. This has made it so much harder on us, but I really can’t stand Good Will anymore.
It used to be about offering decent, quality clothes for cheap so that disadvantaged families could afford clothes, but now they’re just about profit.
boocat
Posted at 22:05h, 25 OctoberIf you’re broke and living on beans and rice, It would be crazy to spend $6.99 for a used sweater just because you don’t happen to have a blue one. Doesn’t matter how pretty that shade of peacock is. The Goodwill is supposed to serve the needs of the financially strapped as well as the employment needs of the challenged. I am disappointed by the place and have cut ‘way back on trips there.
Also, our Goodwill store has stopped carrying sewing patterns. What is that about?
Dave
Posted at 13:16h, 03 JanuaryWhile browsing in our local Goodwill store in Concord I overheard the manager telling an employee to make sure they check on line before pricing and item. It all made sense now. This is why I see a Coffee Cup with a crack in it selling for $2.99 or a Barbie doll all torn apart for $19.99. If we can all just wake up and take our hard earned money somewhere else maybe they will get the hint when sales drop.
Phil
Posted at 15:08h, 08 JanuaryI have a thrift store and I have a sign on Display that reads “some prices may be high and some may be low but I’m trying to be as fair as possible. Remember Ialso have rent and utilities to pay for.
Kathy
Posted at 19:06h, 20 MarchMy daughter and I went to 3 different Goodwell in 1 week. The prices are crazy…$129.99 for a infant car seat? $99.00 for a comfort set??? 6 piece dish set $79 ??? I could go on and on…If a mother was in need of a car seat would they give them the $129.99 or find one for $19.99? I was there it sure wasn’t the one she asked for.Never again will my family give them anymore items.. They should be investigated….
RBS
Posted at 02:00h, 22 MayGood Lord! You all actually believe that Goodwill helps people and are a not-for-profit charity?! Goodwill gives NOTHING to anyone! If you take training classes from Goodwill–you pay money for said classes. Donate your car to Goodwill so I can BUY it from them. Goodwill buys shipment lots of goods–just like Big Lots, The Dollar Tree, etc.— but sells the items for retail prices. I have seen Goodwill employees throwing merchandise in the dumpster that they can’t sell—instead of giving the items away. Round up your change? Ha ha–NO! As much money as Goodwill makes from their THOUSANDS of stores, they should have more room for 2 buggies to pass each other, have enough shelves to place items instead of piling items up, and throw out the torn, stained, stinky items. Everything I touch in Goodwill is filthy. Salvation Army has gotten just as bad, but at least they help without charging for the help.
Sherman
Posted at 14:58h, 23 MayI agree that Goodwill has made a complete change in providing the less fortunate a place to buy clothes, furniture , books etc etc.. at a reasonable price! I also see desperate folks buying used clothes that are not clean and stink to high heaven! Most electronics priced way high without remote controls to work them. I was in a store in Lakewood, CO that was charging two hundred dollars for a dinning room table and chairs ..looked like it came out of a dump? But I guess there are folks that are willing to buy that stuff thinking they got a great bargain. Also I thought they hire the disabled? Not so in this store …they all look pretty healthy to me? They have really taken advantage of poor people who really need to provide essentials for themselves and their family’s. I will never go into another store again!!! I will also ask the local news broadcasters and advocates to really look into the so called charity stores to help the disabled and provide training for the deprived.
Arlene Rivera
Posted at 14:45h, 08 JuneI went to buy infant tiny clothing through size 2t and couldn’t believe I was better off shopping clearance online and applying coupons and earning rewards was far cheaper.
Brand new in cheaper.
Cheryl Thomas
Posted at 15:13h, 19 AugustI went to good will to find a sofa and chair, i did i loved it but i couldn’t believe what they were asking for it sofa 299.00 and chair 250.00 a futon set, really i priced the same items at a furniture store and theirs was cheaper.
Adela Garcia
Posted at 12:32h, 10 DecemberThe prices are to high here in Fort Worth tx. That’s why it’s better is this donation goes to churches, because they give the staff to real poor people.
Amy T
Posted at 13:43h, 20 JanuaryI have seen items from the 99 cent store (Momentum Brands) marked up to several dollars. I pointed out to employees that something originally sold for 99 cents, now in used condition and priced at $4 is unreasonable. They shrugged and said they were unable to adjust prices.
Fred
Posted at 13:11h, 23 Marchused to be a good place to find a rare hidden gem now what the employees dont steal or put aside for themselves has been marked up to nearly retail.
if i was a politician I would lower to boom on Goodwill and clean house.
Goodwill is a racket. They get free stuff then they mark it up to make a profit.
I am done with Goodwill
T
Posted at 04:57h, 15 Novemberwhy don’t goodwill ship the items they sell to disaster relief areas where all these families have lost EVERYTHING THEY OWN!! THEY DONT !! THEY CRUSH IT AND TRASH IT!!
Alice Ray-Graham
Posted at 12:58h, 01 JanuaryThe problem we have is how they sort the donations and route them to different venues for sale. So when I go down to my local Keizer Oregon Goodwill Retail Store, I am left with all items that didn’t make the cut to be sold on On-Line Auctions (very expensive) and the markup is out of this world. I can now go to my local big box store and get brand new clothes cheaper than at the Goodwill…sad. I went to buy my boxed Christmas cards a few weeks ago at Goodwill and the ones I picked were marked $6.99, I flipped the box over and they were marked with a Bimart price sticker of “6.99”!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!
Mchenry Dude
Posted at 00:09h, 25 JanuaryI think Goodwill should be investigated by the irs and congress
I would like to see the results they come up with
I believe that goodwill is taking money out of resellers hands that pay full taxes on there profits
At the same time decreasing these people profits are competing with these resellers online causing even less profit for those resellers
What this causes is less money collected in taxes due to the fact Goodwill is considered a non profit
At what point does a non profit get taxed as a corporate entity
There should be a clear answer to this
I have some suggestions for when they should be taxed as a corporate entity
When they create or use a online site to sale goods of any kind
There online activity should be limited to advertising and collecting donations with no gods exchanged
Set a max on the amount they can charge on all categories of goods they sale
Another words electronics , a pair of pants, a shirt or top, a pair of shoes, a toy, a book etc.. can not be sold for more then the max price set for that category in order to retain a non profit status.
Goodwill, the Salvation Army, many churches, religious organizations, community organizations and others are now using the non profit stays to move into corporate entities that are improperly taxed as such.
The problem caused by these entities using this non profit status is they are acting in a way that decreases taxable income from individuals.
This non profit status and the way in which they are using it are causing a loss in income tax.
Perhaps there should be a limit on gross sales receipts Nationwide for any and all nonprofits activity before fully being taxed as afir profit organization
Something needs to give with those so called non profits that are taking actions that decrease the total income tax being collected and total income being earned by those in there communities
We as individuals have been abused by the corporate giants for a very long time and now our nonprofits are moving into the same direction as the corporate giants
It is that time in history for all non profits to be invaded by irs accountants, financial investigators and questioned by congress when taking advantage of or flat out abusing the not for profit status is found.
Felicity
Posted at 09:36h, 27 FebruaryIt’s 2017 now, and Goodwill’s prices have only gotten more ridiculous where I shop in Connecticut. They seem not to understand that they’re selling used items and that the buyer knows nothing about where that item’s been. I’ve literally burst out laughing at some of their prices on tatty secondhand items — sometimes more than the original price on the price tag still stuck to the item!! I refuse to buy those items on principal and wish everyone else would, too. I only buy the few things that somehow have been priced by a sensible person or that are a passably decent price when they’re half price.
Felicity
Posted at 09:40h, 27 FebruaryCorrection: It’s now 2018.
Earnnot
Posted at 20:33h, 15 Augustthe message is – you don’t really need all the junk stuff – stop wasting your money – shirts pants dresses the essentials – people who live in crappy little towns or cities — save up your coin and go to the bigger cities once every 4 months or so — buy from goodwill when they are having 10 for 10 sales – if they are jacking prices then get some wisdom and plan it out — Tuesday is vet day wed is senior day – play their game – you can still fine a treasure once in awhile – not all their employees give a crap and prices get put on stuff without much due diligence – quit you belly aching people – goodwill and the greed ain’t no different than the rest of corporate America.. its all dog eat dog — all I can say Is when your donating take the extra time to take it to the peoples city mission == ya sure they have people playing the system there too but the thing is – its what in your own heart that counts – and if you intent was good – why worry about the outcome of your charity.
David Pryor
Posted at 00:00h, 31 AugustJust took my daughter and you are 100% correct! They have jacked the prices up to ridiculous for tattered, worn, stained, clothing that is not worth 50 cents nevertheless 14.99 for an old worn hoodie. Anyone can go to Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross etc. and get NEW clothing for the same or less than Goodwill is now charging. You just need to know when to shop. When summer is over buy your summer clothes marked down to a quarter or less than full price and same at the end of winter for winter clothing. Send GOODWILL a big message back and STOP shopping there. Period.
Jamy Parworth
Posted at 12:50h, 04 SeptemberWow! I mean just WOW!! Nonprofits have just become a complete SCAM!!! While hiding under the blanket of “charity” (because who in their right mind would complain about helping the less fortunate?) greed has overtaken the mission! Not 1 reason that GW gave for increased prices was a service they weren’t ALREADY providing. Not 1!!! The problem is GW is not in the fashion industry. A lot of what they’re up pricing is the same asking price point as what us resellers would get. They don’t have the where withal to maintain what the trends are. Example: I can’t give LuLaRoe away on Poshmark and every single GW I’ve been in in the last 6 mos, in 4 states (because believe me I’m trying to find even 1 retail store that’s not doing this) has them at $8-15. They’re selling for $5-10. Wth? I don’t even care that the need to increase prices. Really, and truly not. Just quit trying to be a “fashion reseller “!!! The reselling market will crash, malls will close and THEN who will they be able to help? Thank you for providing a platform to vent about this! Lol! It felt good!!!
Julie
Posted at 15:24h, 12 OctoberFirst off, the point is to help those who may be unable to buy at retail. Not anymore! Corporate GREED is abundant at goodwill and I will go elsewhere such as local resale and Salvation Army. The items GW sells are donations that public gives free to help others. GW in NWIndiana has 2/3 less customers since the lowest tagged shirts are 7$ . The only have busy flow in half off days. GW is greedy and I hope the founder isn’t surprised when he is rotting in hell with burning rags on.
Colleen
Posted at 19:29h, 22 Octoberi used to work at Goodwill. There was a problem with corporate greediness and lack of real services back when prices were low. I can’t bring myself to pay their prices now, because I know it’s a scam. Things I witnessed were Goodwill’s destruction of home-goods like smashing hundreds of plates in the dumpster when they didn’t sell. Their refusal to donate those items to refugee services where I volunteered when I asked. My boss thought it was a great idea–corporate said “no.” The jobs provided for disabled people often involved being given someone with a disability to work with for the day with no training in how to do that and continued pressure to meet quotas. I remember being pressured to meet my quotas while a a woman with down syndrome asked if I would hold her hand while she walked to the toys section to straighten shelves. There was no actual job training for the people with disabilities and they were able to be paid significantly less than minimum wage for some reason. That response from Goodwill was so disingenuous. I encourage people not to donate to over-priced thrifts stores anymore and instead choose a place that gives items away directly (refugee services, domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, etc) or to thrift stores that are reasonably priced. if you can.
Lis. Kaminsky
Posted at 16:36h, 12 NovemberIf you’re going to shop Goodwill, id strongly suggest going to their Outlet Stores where everything is priced by the pound. Ironically, the prices did just go up this week but it is still an amazing deal. Yes, lots of junk but also some amazing finds.
Susan Parker Graham
Posted at 15:59h, 28 DecemberMy view is Goodwill was almost like the first link in the retail chain for used items. People with antique stores, used shops, second hand stores were able to pick up wonderful items at Goodwill on the cheap enabling them to put the mark up which still made the item a bargain, but now the mark up is at Goodwill. I know other people’s income is not their concern but it cuts off a huge link for those retailers to have to pay full near full or over price for second hand goods. I’m sure they still have auctions and estate/yard sales to obtain merchandise but Goodwill was a convenient one stop shopping spot but I feel that no longer is the case. The pricing appears random and in many cases me re. Than you would pay for the item new! I do not have a shop,I keep what I buy but it’s no longer fun for me to go shopping at Goodwill because the bargain was a huge part of the thrill.
Nicole Saldana
Posted at 11:17h, 14 JanuaryThere are poor people, the people whose houses have burned down and first time home buyers who can’t afford to furnish a home or buy clothes at even walmart prices. these people need a place to get things that they feel good about themselves,,, lower your prices! Simple as that!!!
william ziarnko
Posted at 20:05h, 27 JanuaryUnfortunately the prices in second hand stores have soared…the local Churches are donating free labor for some reason…I haven’t taken the time to investigate further but whenever you have many denominations involved…. search for a clothes pin…just today I have seen a rocking chair (100.00) broken…even if it was not broke I question the price…some of the excuses are…people will buy the item..take it home and resell it….so what…now you gave them a job…isn’t it better to give than to receive????? Work is good for a person…but rather let them labor..working with their hands the thing which is good..so that they may have to GIVE to them that needeth…not charge them beyond reason.. that’s just one item I looked at ..there was more..all of it >>>overpriced a lot….seems like to local churches claiming to be helping people out..are wallet diving…. the question is ..Why? some of the answer is on your local religious TV station…your planting a seed…what is failed to be said… is what kind of a seed are you planting…?? Just give 100.00 and your going to reap prosperity..a seed offering….straight from Church..give them nothing…when people learn that the word Church doesn’t mean a building on a corner…but the believing people (Romans 10:9,10) who make up that church…with Jesus Christ himself being the true head..they will have learned something…until that time…the place where people live is named SCAM CITY or the local second hand store…does this sound familiar at a place called ..see you in church next Sunday
william ziarnko
Posted at 20:22h, 27 JanuaryThings are not going to change in the second hand stores ..to quickly ..if at all …be aware of over priced items and putting labels over the things >>made in China….and electrical products that do not work…will the second hand stores give you a refund??? Yes if you save the receipt….but people go home..they get tired and they don’t always want to take the item back…or other things enter the picture…or how about the clerks asking if you want to donate or round off to the nearest dollar …(give me your change) why would I go into the store to get something at a lower price and turn around and give more money for it…if I was panhandling on the local corner…I might get arrested …the managers of these stores are telling their work force to beg money…peace on earth…GOODWILL toward men…the thing that really sets me off is>>>the local churches are involved
Nikolay Sabbatovskiy
Posted at 17:24h, 23 MayPrices on gold jewelry goes up and up every day. Some of them have bad quality. It’s ridiculous, you can buy new gold jewelry for the same price or even chipper in online stores. I am surprised, it started when tragedy happened in our country. Shouldn’t people be more considered in this situation?
Sirry Kitty
Posted at 04:57h, 03 NovemberHere’s my issue with Goodwill’s recent increases in pricing: their costs haven’t gone up, they aren’t offering any sort of new service that costs them more to help people find jobs, and they’re still paying exactly ZERO CENTS for everything they sell, yet their costs have become a joke in many instances.
Goodwill is supposed to be a thrift shop, yet the Goodwill in Elmhurst Illinois seems to think it’s Neiman Marcus. Some examples of things I’ve seen there recently include a dirty beat up space heater, the kind that would be used at a construction site or in a garage. It was covered in paint and drywall mud, and was filthy as I said. This space heater sells for $250 brand new at the Home Depot, Menards, Lowe’s, etc (I looked it up), and they wanted $200.00. They were selling a used mountain bike (albeit in fantastic shape, it almost looked new) without pedals for $150, but the bike sells for $150 BRAND NEW WITH PEDALS! They were selling a set of used rims for a truck, aftermarket rims, not factory OEM rims for $1000.00!!! Who goes into a thrift store with $1000.00 to burn?!? They had old Nintendo games for $150.00 to $199.00 each. No, not the game SYSTEMS, I’m talking about the games that you put in the systems to play. Games like Mario and Zelda that you’d buy at a garage sale for 50¢ to a dollar. No, it wasn’t a typo, they wanted TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS for each game (I asked). I have pics to prove it. They wanted $59.99 for a used graphing calculator, the SAME EXACT CALCULATOR I bought at another goodwill 2 days earlier for $1.99, and the same exact calculator I saw at a yard sale for $4.00. Their Electronics are getting out of control as well. Receivers and DVD/Blu-Ray players are 5-10x as much as they used to be, and they’ve started taking the power cords off so that they can’t be tested. There will be 5 receivers, 10 DVD players, and 10 TVs and/or monitors on the floor and there won’t be a single power cord available to test them with. This wouldn’t be such a big deal, except for the fact that THEY STOPPED ACCEPTING RETURNS AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020!!! THIS is one of the main reasons I have such a huge issue with their pricing. Look, I like supporting a charity that’s going to help my community, I just don’t want to get screwed in the process. I can buy the same items from eBay for less money and get a 30 money back guarantee in the process, and in many cases I can buy the same things brand new for less money and get a full manufacturer’s warranty.
Not all Goodwills in my area are acting super greedy (and shady) like this, but many are. I think a lot of it has to do with them seeing the same people come in every day buying up tons of great stuff and flipping it for a profit on eBay (or Etsy, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace, etc) and whoever’s in charge is getting jealous for some reason These managers need to realize that those flippers spend a ton of money there, and are their bread and butter. They show up 7 days a week, lining up outside the store before it opens to find some great deals and then resell them to earn a living. If anything it’s actually furthering Goodwill’s mission statement, many of these “flippers” are retirees or disabled people who can’t work a “normal” job and this provides income for them.
I understand that Goodwill wants to get as much as they can, or at least make as much as they can, but when they jack the prices up like that it just hurts everyone. It’s not like they were running out of things to sell when their prices were reasonable!! Today I saw a crappy Samsung “Receiver” that was marked up to $79.99. It sells on eBay for $20.00 (mostly because it’s junk, eBay is a pretty good indicator of what the used market will bear), and because of their greed it’s just going to sit there. Eventually either someone will come along and buy it, not knowing it’s a piece of junk, and get duped into spending 4x what it’s really worth, or it will get shipped off to a clearance outlet where the people there will quickly realize what it is and mark it down to $5 for a quick sale. If it’s purchased by a poor unsuspecting customer who thinks they’re buying something that’s very high quality, they’re going to quickly realize that they were duped, and be reluctant to shop at goodwill again. Just so you understand why this “receiver” isn’t worth anything near what Goodwill is asking, it was originally sold as a package with the “receiver”, a Blu-ray player, 5 speakers, and a subwoofer for $400 back in 2014. It received a rating of 4 stars on a scale of 1-10. The receiver itself only accounted for MAYBE $80 of the system back when it was brand new, and it got a very poor review even when brand new. If they were asking $80 for the entire package (2 front main speakers, a center channel speaker, 2 rear surround speakers, a powered subwoofer, the receiver, and a Blu-ray player), I’d STILL think it was overpriced, but at least it would be much more acceptable. If for some reason it doesn’t work properly that person is out $80 on junk that isn’t worth repairing.
Goodwill’s response hasn’t done a single thing in my opinion to justify their jacking up the prices. They got a new president last year and that person is doing a horrible job and is alienating long time customers, people who shop there every day and spend tens of thousands of dollars there a year, myself included. The goodwill stores near me used to be packed, now id say there is probably easily a 50% reduction is customers in the stores right now, and not because of covid, it’s because of the pricing.
You can make the same amount of money by pricing things the way you used to, you’ll sell a much higher volume and possibly even make more money, and at the same time keep your customers happy. Reading the comments section I think it’s blatantly obvious that people aren’t happy with your current operations. Please go back to making us happy. Thanks!
Louis Reed
Posted at 11:13h, 18 AugustThat was Goodwill’s mission statement nothing less nothing more. Please tell me how you answered pricing? Explain to me why they have basically become a Target can’t sell rack. Why items that once cost 5 bucks are now 10? You offered nothing Goodwill’s, Salvation Army have basically become a stop by to see if something slipped by them while they canvased Ebay for pricing. I’ve seen worst ever been to a ReStore their worst a lot worst. Just last week they wanted $42 bucks for old computer speakers. Truth is their trying to cut us out find I get it it’s just sent us in different directions for stock
Katie Lawley
Posted at 09:18h, 22 AugustI just went to goodwill just yesterday and I was shocked by the prices. $6.99 for a USED pair if Jean’s that had fraying and were warn. They recieve their items for FREE. I understand they have to pay employees and the stores Bill’s, however if they would lower their prices down to what they used to be, more people would be more inclined to purchase items there and still have more than enough to pay employees, fund, etc.
Yesterday was the last time I purchase anything from goodwill. I’d rather shop yard sells than go to goodwill again. I’d get a better deal and there is a place right where I live that I can donate my clothes to that gives them away to those who need it.
Phil
Posted at 02:46h, 31 AugustA budding philanthropist????
Rebekah
Posted at 02:12h, 28 SeptemberI have been shopping at Goodwill stores since the 1970’s and in the last few years I’ve noticed a horrible change there. In the past myself and most everyone I knew appreciated Goodwill Stores as a place where families could find gently used items at reasonable prices. Helpful to people and parents in offering items at a lower prices and helping American’s to make ends meet. This is not the case today. For years now myself and ALL I know, and even chit chatting with other shoppers whom are dumb founded as to why Goodwill will charge $3.00 to $5.00 AND more for used toddler to teen clothing that Walmart sells for less brand new. And I am not mistaken on this, what I see is not designer labels but Walmart also some Target brands ALWAYS priced more at Goodwill than what these retail store charge yet for used and donated items. We’ve also found that many assorted Goodwill Stores charge higher prices for the same items or the like at other and neighboring Goodwill Stores and all are priced 10% to 30% MORE used, than what retailers charge for the same item new.
For example I have found used Walmart kitchen and bath towels which Walmart charges $1.97 for are priced at Goodwill for $2.39! Bath towels found at Goodwill which new at Walmart cost the consumer $2.97 are priced at Goodwill Stores at $3.50 for this very same item.
Today this is the norm for most every item found at Goodwill Stores. And even if as a Senior Citizen with 10% off your purchase the final cost is in no way a bargain or sold at a good price for used and donated items.
As I mentioned we are dumb founded as to why Goodwill Stores have made this change and increase in cost for its items in aisle after aisle and what advantage does this have except turning customers many in need away from shopping there.
As of late only very seldom will you find items priced at any bargain. Finding used items at a bargain price was something you once could depend on at Goodwill Stores but not today.
But just like anything and everything today what can we do about it? Nothing. Many I know and myself have stopped shopping at Goodwill Stores but as I mentioned once depended on finding good prices for items there.
I and many I know make it a point to visit our local and even any Goodwill Stores will travel upon at least 6 or more times a year just to see if they’ve lowered their pricing, in fact they are charging more and more as the years go by and find this to be outlandish price gouging and it truly is a shame.
Also Goodwill claims ….. “92 cents of every dollar supports a direct service, whether to single mothers, people with disabilities, veterans, kids, or others in hard circumstances looking for an opportunity to create a better life.” Yet in combing the web AND our communities we have not found any of these services locally using the Goodwill name.
Julie Wartluft
Posted at 16:40h, 02 NovemberI shop at thrift stores because I am one who is in a situation similar to those they help. Goodwill is on the bottom of the list for shopping and donations as my money is limited and I must choose wisely..
Sirry Kitty
Posted at 04:35h, 09 OctoberI went into a goodwill in Elmhurst Illinois and they were selling a set of wheels and tires for $1000. Yes, that’s correct, ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Because everyone who walks into goodwill A) has $1000 dollars in their pocket to spend, and B) would pay $1000 dollars for used wheels and tires. The same goodwill was charging $200.00 (not $2.00) for used video games. Not the video game system with games, just the games themselves, and these are old crappy games, not anything new. Like Super Nintendo old. They also had a Texas Instruments TI-84 calculator for $49.99 which is funny because I bought the same exact calculator at another nearby goodwill (not 5 miles away) the previous day for $1.99. They had a TV you could buy from Craigslist or eBay for $50.00 for $150.00 and they were selling a space heater for $200 that was clearly used at a construction site for many years as it was beat up and covered with paint and other debris for $199.99. I looked the model up and it was being sold brand new at Home Depot for…you guessed it…$200.00. Another Goodwill in Carol Stream Illinois (who’s store is always a dump, messy as hell and looks like a garbage dump most of the time) was selling an old sewing machine for $199.99. The same exact sewing machine (in better condition) was being solid for $12.99.
There is a very disturbing trend going on at all goodwill stores though, and that’s that not only did they ditch their return policy this year (they no longer accept returns if you buy something that doesn’t work), but their prices are now 3-5x higher than they were just a year ago on many categories of items, especially electronics which they conveniently remove the power cord from so you can’t test it in the store (I’ve started bringing my own power cords so I can test things before I buy them). They also like to disassemble things and make you pay for each piece individually. For instance a home theater system was donated, a HTIB (or home theater in a box for those of you who don’t know the abbreviation), which consisted of the receiver, the speakers (5), the subwoofer, the remote, and an additional speaker which could be played remotely and wirelessly. That’s 9 separate items, and while when you added it all up the price wasn’t THAT bad (although more than it should have been), it was stupid because if just one person bought one thing from that system for another purpose, the system would be pretty much useless as you could never assemble it as it was meant to be.
I also used to be able to find some nicer, higher end goods at Goodwill, especially the location in Lombard Illinois, but now most of those end up on Goodwill’s version of eBay which is Shopgoodwill.com which is smart on their part, but knowing that the only really NICE things you’ll be able to find there are the things they were too stupid to recognize as nice things kind of takes away from the excitement of going there and hoping to find something really nice for cheap. Sure, things will slip through their greedy little hands, as they can’t possibly know the value of everything they’re pricing, but by and large it seems that goodwill has gotten pissed off at the people who go there every day and spend hundreds of not thousands of dollars there every week and have online resale shops, and are now charging what you’d pay for the item on eBay, and in many cases more, sometimes charging as much as what a brand new item would cost at the store.
I still shop there, but their price increases has cost them money, as not only have I been spending less there, but my friends have too. The stores around here used to be packed, now they seem like ghost towns. I was probably spending $4-500 a week, now if I spend $100 it’s surprising. Their greed is going to cost them in the long run, they get these things FOR FREE. They don’t pay ONE PENNY for them, and in the long run it’s their “mission” that’s going to suffer.
Julie Wartluft
Posted at 17:07h, 02 NovemberI shop at thrift stores because I am one who is in a situation similar to those they help. Goodwill is on the bottom of the list for shopping and donations as my money is limited and I must choose wisely..
Terrie Linn Fetters
Posted at 12:48h, 07 DecemberIm thrifty gal i love to shop @ many thifts stores which i do cone across nice items and affordable but what im seeing @goodwill is that the prices sky rocketed ok i get it but hears the thing when u put some Steve Madden shoes out and proce them 28.00 for used mind you the heal was broken on the left shoe and the right one scuffed n at the top. They were loose where the heel begins
Now i call b.s . some of there items are way over price and for some quality is porous like 4.99 shirt pink vs ok yup vs is expensive good price u think but holy cow it had stains on it n a lil bleach spot..i dont think they look through items well .. They think just bc its a brand name its good to sell wrong answer . now if it was marked 1..50 or even 2 for a stain or a s.nag maybe someone can fix.. I found lots of items were damaged. Possibly can be treated like stains.. I don’t understand why sell things high if there damaged at 4.99 should be marked down.. But jeans 6.99 on up .. Check this i scored miss me n day trip jeans @ 10 bucks a pair..now those were a bargain other shops like Platos or other resale will sell them close around 25 or even up to 50 i saw even 70 at some local resale shops.. They have gone up but you still get some bargains there…
I even scored chi products hair dryer curling wands n straight iron at st vincents 2.99 each now thats2 a bargain chi are very high end and the ones i got were new looking n in boxes..
As for furniture at goodwill i do believe very over priced like st Vincent’s ..
So i do think they have
Benevolent Sam
Posted at 16:30h, 30 JanuaryHere’s how Goodwill works. You donate. The good stuff goes into a trailer and sold by the pallet load to auction houses by the pallet. You never see this stuff inside a store. Also they work with the Home Depot type big box stores to destroy or crush any usable items to remove them from the thrift or resale markets causing people to purchase new instead. You never see any of these items in a store. Some clothing goes onto floor for retail sales, but most clothing is sold to fabric recyclers who in turn sell to China to make your new shirt that you just gave away.
Where are the $billions of items that people buy and give away each year??. Never sold in a Goodwill. The stores are a front to keep the owners in big salary and re-usable items off the secondary sales markets.. Their idea of helping people is like a thief telling you they can help you get rid of any extra money you have. And for free! Such benevolence!
Jennifer
Posted at 03:52h, 05 FebruaryGoodwill needs to be stopped honestly…its gotten way out of hand. I. Like to buy jewelry and I the prices are straight ridiculous…no way I would make my money back trying to flip it…i watched a behind the scenes goodwill sorting their jewelry….did u realize they have a jewelry xray. Xrf machine that costs $40,000 . isn’t that money supposed to go to charity…that was only one store how many of these $40,000 do they own? I understand wanting to make money for charities but I haven’t heard of any charities around here helped by good will..atleast salvation army I see homeless shelters and other things they help with but I have not seen any help by goodwill….
We all Love thrifting at least I know I do …finding a good bargin is exhilarating and fun but let’s be honest goodwill has no bargins anymore. What can be done about this corporation ROBBING people… I’m done shopping their but I know I alone can’t make a difference and unless their sales and donations take a huge hit they won’t stop…it is sickening to me how badly they take advantage of people
Brenda
Posted at 13:32h, 06 FebruaryI have noticed the Goodwill stores in southern Indiana have started pricing there shoes with tags so they can put higher prices on some of them. They eliminated the glass cases so they could auction the nicer items online. A lot of people shopped in Goodwill hoping for a good find, now you know you won’t find those bargains. It’s not the same enjoyment going in there, knowing there are no treasures to be found. They also put a lot of low income people in an awkward position when they are asked to round up everytime. Just set a donation box on the counter so people can drop their change it it if they want. I’m to the point that it irritates me. I don’t know how much the CEO makes but one of the clerks locally told me she has been working there for 17 years and only makes $10 an hour. I also agree with what someone else said, I rarely see a disabled person working there. I have also quit donating to Goodwill and take it to a church that doesn’t charge people for it.
Ray
Posted at 16:45h, 14 MarchThey use a legal loophole so that they don’t have to pay their disabled employees minimum wage. Given that fact, any claims they make to being a charitable organization are clearly BS. They’re in this for profit.
amy c hernandez
Posted at 08:13h, 27 MarchFunny how many people say Goodwill helps the disabled, the poor, single moms, blah blah blah I BLATANTLY disagree. I think they are milking billions out of free stuff from donations and do little to help unfortunate. I have contacted Goodwill on various times asking for help, to only get ignored or turned away. What exactly have they done, they dont even have chairs in the stores so that the disabled can shop there, Food Lion has them, Walmart does too, just about all the bigger stores do but Goodwill must think people with disabilities or back problems dont want to shop in their stores and isnt that exactly their claim? TO HELP DISABLED PEOPLE. I have asked many times for help, all types, NOTHING AT ALL but getting my email ignored, sit waiting on the phone while one employee tries to find someone to help or answer my question, and NO ONE EVER DOES. I have begged them for a clothing voucher before as we lost all we had and 2 of us are plus size and NO CLOTHING while one attended high school nearly suicidal and every day was more of the same bullying constantly same tshirt and old sweat pants sometimes having to wear them 4 times in same week, due to lack of clothes. Having needs they CAN VERY well fill and NOPE, they would not help my daughter pay her GED fees, would not let us get a free RECYCLED very old computer, nor any help WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel they are taking the money and funding top management who live in nice big huge mansions driving their new LEXUS or BMW all while they could give shits about the poor really. I used to love Goodwill until I saw first person they are liars and do very little for anyone. Yeah I have seen some mentally ill working for them but that probably is slave labor knowing how Goodwill slides by using their free ride with huge tax exempt status claiming this and that and doing SQUAT
D Herminez
Posted at 08:24h, 27 MarchGoodwill is a mockery of what is good and it may have never had any real true intentions of helping anyone. I personally KNOW they will not help you not even with a stupid 3o year old computer, unless you have 200 to pay for it. Yes they recycle alright, well all their top management lay back and get more and more damn greedy. They could operate on a hell of a lot less and could really reach the poor if they, was really what they wanted to do. They dont care about anyone except making more and more and more money. They need to be closed down. We should sue them and ban buying from them, anyway by now they have a store in every k nook and cranny there is a reason the management dries better cars than bank presidents. Its sickening how they are getting by with the shit they are. I would love to see them go down. All them need to live like me and my girls have, no car, no clothes, barely have food, living on the poor poor very poor side of life versus living in their big ass fine homes, having vacations homes, beach homes, Christmas that would just make Jesus shed tears for the poor go without GOOD WILL DOES NOT GIVE A SHIt
D up yours
Posted at 08:32h, 27 MarchFreaking management and tops at the Goodwill make more freaking money than the GD USA president what the fuck???
Thrifty Magee
Posted at 05:28h, 30 AprilIf I donated a bag full of R. Lauren Polo shirts and Vintage Nautica which I used to collect it will NEVER make it to a Goodwill shelf. GW became hip to the resellers market. Buddies of mine collect vintage toys. Not for resell. For a hobby. He said he hasn’t seen Toys made prior to 2005 in over 3 years. He said GW used to be that SPOT for old Transformers, Old Barbies, old 1970s Board games. He said in the event a Designer label or vintage toys/suits happen to make it to a sales location from the warehouse they will immediately look on Ebay to see what the last 10 sold for. Not really fair imo. Salvation Army doesn’t do that bc they still take clothes and goods at their locations and they have standard pricing based off Condition vs labels. A decent sports team coat in Ok condition $10. In excellent condition $15-$17. GW looks at the label or year it was made instead of condition. Its BS
Kimberly sacco
Posted at 01:34h, 20 JuneI would like to add what is up with goodwill taking there jewlery, and sports cards to there goodwill autions page! They r so greedy now its ridiculous they get the shit for free now they need to get top dollar for everything! Today they had a diamond bracelet on there for over $47,000 starting bid come on now what the f___! I’m a reseller I go and look for Lululemon and resell. Now every goodwill I go in Lululemon shorts r $35 I don’t even resell them for that much a tank top $20 what is going on here its suppose to be a thirft store not a high end retail store which they r trying to be. Salvation army every tee shirt is 1.99 no matter what it is that’s how it should be thrifty prices that everyone can afford! I’m no longer donating to them until their prices come down! But I’m just floored by there auction site that’s just spitting in our faces! They take all the good shit out of the stores to put on there auction site so they can make the most money on it and we get stuck w all the shit!
Eddie Van Halen
Posted at 05:47h, 21 JuneWanna round up? I’ll pass, but thanks for asking. LOL. Have you seen all the record albums they have marked for $3.99 that sit for months on end? You know, the Polka family from Poland, the Violinists from Vienna, the Xylophone group from Alabama, etc. Just a bunch of garbage.
I hope Goodwill does something to keep the stuff they get for free from going into our landfills. Would be helpful if they priced things accordingly.
Cheyney Carter
Posted at 09:15h, 09 JulyI have stopped going to Goodwill’s is the Atlanta Metro. There are other stores with local missions and more ethical behavior. I will shop SVDP, Childrens Hospital, Animal Thrifts and such now. The last straw was goint into the location in Powder Springs, GA and seeing a vintage cedar chest on the floor. It was in bad condition with veneer loss and was overpriced at 149.99. That was not my issue though. I pulled the tag on the chest and asked to speak to the manager. I informed her that all pre-1987 Lane and Virginia Made cedar chests are on a safety recall for suffocating children The lock without hte key and cannot be opened from inside. I explained that there was a repair online with Lane but that the Consumer Product Safety Administration asks folks to remove the latch until a repair can be made. The manager showed concern and said the item would be removed from the floor. Well, she was being dishonest because I went back a few days later and the same chest was on the floor with no alterations for safety and tagged for sale. It is not illegal to sell recalled items UNKNOWINGLY in Ga. It is illegal to KNOWINGLY sell recalled items in Ga. THe manager knew and put profits over the lives of children. Let that sink in folks. Seriously, let that sink in.
S. Earls
Posted at 16:58h, 09 JulyGoodwill Prices are way better than KARM’s prices. KARM is outrageous.
Lori Andrews
Posted at 11:45h, 01 SeptemberWhen I donate to GW I expect the items to go to a local store so people in my community can purchase them. GW picks things out and places them online to sell at what I think are high prices. By the time you purchase and pay the expensive shipping you have invested alot of money. These things were given for free and they should stay in the local stores. To me it’s says that the people who shop there because they can’t afford the big stores are not worthy of what GW considers high end merchandise. They barely pay the employees minimum wage. It’s not a easy job. You are digging thru mountains of clothing not knowing where they come from. It’s also a store quota. You have to put out many racks a day. It’s the CEO getting most of the money. Yes I do believe in their programs just not GW hiding behind said programs to raise prices and put items on their “boutique “
Crystal Gail
Posted at 18:34h, 30 SeptemberI was in a goodwill today and I was disgusted. A used pair of boots I was going to get for my son “Lord behold. They were $50”
And they have new stuff all over. I was told Goodwell Is wanting to change the way they are look that they do not want to be look at like a Thrift store. They want to be looked at like a retail store
Daisy
Posted at 20:57h, 08 OctoberGoodwill price increase really took me by surprise. I’m speechless. It’s certainly a game changer…my shopping preferences just changed.
Mark Johnson
Posted at 19:42h, 26 NovemberI have had similar conversations with my regional Goodwill director, noting that the focus is no longer local. Any “treasures” you might have found in the past donated at a local Goodwill store are culled for internet sales, and their pricing in the store is what they deem the market will bear. Different business model entirely now than the original, “Friends of Goodwill, be dissatisfied with your work until every handicapped and unfortunate person in your community has an opportunity to develop to his fullest usefulness and enjoy a maximum of abundant living.” — Dr. Edgar J. Helms, 1941.
Extract maximum profit from the donations and the stores, regionally, to fund training programs; rather than train locally in-store and offer bargain prices to cover overhead, is now their model.
Take it or leave it. I left, and I donate elsewhere, sometimes to other people’s yard sales. They destroyed the fun of shopping at Goodwill for one demographic, and the thought of getting some cheap clothes for a job interview from another pne (which I was once a part of..) No mas.
Anne McMahon
Posted at 09:33h, 28 NovemberMy Goodwill was charging 3.99 for a Dollar Store plastic holiday bucket. I’ve heard other shoppers making comments that “Walmart brand clothing are priced higher than Walmart and it’s used!” Household items are not rotated and stay on the shelf for months, ultimately becoming damaged and unsellable with no price adjustments. Not that Goodwill would adjust an over inflated price tag but one can dream. I also think that their pricing is inconsistent and unreflective of the true value of an item. For example they had a price on a contemporary wood bar stool for $4 that was in perfect condition but a $12 price tag on a non-antique/vintage damaged planter. I could find a comparable planter at Marshall’s for 7.99. I have shopped at Goodwill for years and yes, in the past couple years I’ve noticed a unreasonable price increase. Also, when watching YouTube “come thrift with me” videos, I often wonder why some Goodwills have lower prices than in my area. I also just found out that 2nd Ave will buy Goodwill and Sal Army unsold items but here’s the kicker, 2Nd Ave have better prices and much nicer quality items. Go figure. So I am calling BS on Goodwill’s response. Just my two cents. With that said, I continue to shop Goodwill for unique items that are fairly priced (there are deals to be found still) and do appreciate the senior discount.
Janet M Yandle
Posted at 03:10h, 05 DecemberGoodwill’s in my area of VA have a minimum price point of $2.75. That means that if something was purchased for a dollar, used, and donated, it will be priced at the minimum price point. Our Goodwill’s have become ridiculously overpriced! They are certainly running off their customer base. Luckily, there are other thrift stores in my area that aren’t as greedy and a bargain can still be found. I no longer donate to Goodwill and it seems like a number of folks are following suit. Customers will ultimately dictate what they are willing to pay for used goods. Goodwill better be paying attention.
Tim Weibel
Posted at 00:03h, 02 FebruaryI can’t even walk into a Goodwill these days without getting sick to my stomach. They get donations for free. They take all of the quality items out and send them to be auctioned and put the rest of it in the stores. What they keep in the stores is usually over priced yard sale leftovers that were cheaper at the yard sale. They used to have dollar Sunday in my area for the color of the week which was great. Now that don’t even do that. Everything has a set price. It’s not about giving back to the community anymore. It’s about lining the pockets of the ceo’s. They are treating Goodwill stores like eBay. A worker told me they look almost every item up and price things 25% less than ebay prices. I feel bad for the people who rely on Goodwill and I feel bad for the workers who continue to support and enforce the thievery.
Joe Viterbo
Posted at 10:00h, 08 FebruaryI thought places like Goodwill were supposed to be a place people could buy inexpensive, used items. It was the kind of place I could go to when I was young and didn’t have a lot of money when I needed things for my home. The prices now are ridiculous. I just saw a used cast iron pan, which was a cheap Lodge that you can buy from Walmart, The used pan was marked $15.99 at Goodwill. You can buy brand new at Walmart for $19.92. How is that a significant savings? How does that help anything other than the bottom line for the stores? Non-profit, pffft.
DeAnne Burbax
Posted at 08:26h, 10 AprilPeople keep forgetting as they compare near identical retail prices to goodwill’s pricing, that retail outlets pay for their products, & pay taxes, whereas goodwill gets their items free & pay no taxes, so a used item at $16, & new at $19, the new may only profit $9 where goodwill profit is 100% of the sale price.
And as for compassion, in the dead of winter in WA state, on a snowy freezing evening I watched 2 goodwill employees jump in front of a man and begin tugging a blanket out of his arms. He pleaded, “I have no blanket and my coat was stolen last night, I am freezing. Please. I have no way to keep warm.”
Needless to say he was tossed into the snow without the blanket, and no coat on. I am currently 1st time homeless or I would have bought him the blanket.
That blanket was donated FREE in the expectation that goodwill wld see to it, that someone in need, perhaps life or death need of it be linked up with recieving it.
Goodwill prosecutes more shoplifters in Seattle than any other store, down to under $7 of infant clothing. Greed has brainwashed them that they are so adored & entitled that the public donates to the Goodwill Corporation, and not THROUGH Goodwill to the needy.
The programs they pretend to fund with store profits (what they fund, they recieve government grants as a 501.c.3 not for profit, to fund) wld be all well and good, but NOT at the expense of the in need now having nowhere they can shop. Goodwill donates nothing to needy, homeless, cold… Not even after it does not sell & they ship it overseas or destroy it before throwing it away, so that noone can dig it out of the garbage, & slink away getting over by actually procurring a goodwill item for free.
At some point a TRUE compassionate thrift store will throw open the Goodwill Big Book of Bad Secrets, & take the place as donation collector for those in pain, turmoil, and in need, & so they shall finally recieve.
Marissa Hicks
Posted at 13:22h, 10 FebruaryI see Goodwill customers are three kinds of people: Lower income people trying to thrift to save money, re-sellers, & people who are not lower income and just like to shop for a good deal! I know I am generalizing, but just hear me out.
All I’ve heard is that because they know resellers come in to make a profit (which to some is their livelihood) Goodwills have been raising their prices trying to get more out of them. Now when resellers stop coming because of the insane prices, especially the furniture, who loses? You’ve raised prices so high that lower income customers can’t shop there, & you’ve now caused resellers to not frequent your stores. So, you are essentially causing 2/3 of your customers to not want to shop there. Sounds like a great business plan.
I laugh at items that the employees think is super high value, but really is not and will just sit there for months. So ridiculous.
Shelly Smith
Posted at 17:52h, 12 FebruaryWell, they completely dodged the question. I know the Goodwill prices in Michigan are ridiculous!! How are people supposed to afford the high prices, you might as well spend a little more and just go to Walmart. It doesn’t matter who is buying the items at the thrift stores, it does matter that people with little income can still have a place to go buy items at affordable prices. Goodwill’s profit is HUGE, so constantly raising prices is complete crap. I do not agree with any thrift store pricing their items at such an extreme high cost; I saw a shirt for $8.00 recently at Salvation Army; it was not brand new and it wasn’t it that good of condition. Where did the humanity go??
Jennifer Harris
Posted at 14:06h, 23 FebruaryPart of your request wasn’t even answered:
“. . . . and how they determine prices.”
There is no consistency to the answers I’ve received
on this very subject.
Tom Hansen
Posted at 20:22h, 06 AprilThey were selling dollar tree items for 300% mark up. I got an alarm clock that was only 50% less than brand new. This has got to stop. They are really just bridging the gap on people making profit off of buying and reselling. They want some of that cut so you can get less. I hate this. I am poor and always have been, I need places I can get stuff without breaking the bank. The distance between having nothing to having anything is becoming bigger. You only needed a 1.07 to get something at dollar tree. Now you need 1.33$
These increases add up to more than a dollar more an hour. 1 dollar more an hour is only 40 bucks at the end of a week and that’s not including taxes being taken out. I am sickened to be alive.
Swim
Posted at 10:41h, 10 AprilI did some research on this Good Will business. Turns out their CEOs get paid fat checks. Employees make minimum wage or LESS.
To be fair here, some of their employees (they argue) may not be able to work a regular job due to various circumstances (e.g. antisocial, some abnormal psychology disorder, Disabled etc).. But IMHO they still deserve at least minimum wage and often those ppl aren’t even paid it!
The only reason government looks the other way with much of the sketchy business they’re into (from what I’ve read), is this simple fact:
They keep stuff out of landfills that otherwise would cause billions to ship, incinerate or otherwise junk. For that reason alone they’re thought to be of the utmost importance in preventing a lot of waist…
Interesting thing I learned is that they often refurbish computers and other electronic equipment (phones, tablets etc) which requires licenses and permissions fromm the manufacturers. Hence they’re hiring some technicians to wipe the data, test or at least power on the equipment AND they need to know how to handle that stuff proper.. many people don’t even know how a cell phone turns off now a days.. pretty rare it ever needs to be.
Jane
Posted at 18:23h, 10 AprilGiven how ghetto most goodwills are, I find this idiotic. The only one I’ve been to that was managed like a mid-high department store was in northern Seattle. I’d even find Express and Nordstrom (not NordstromS) clothing there. Everywhere else has been as nice as a Waffle House bathroom on a good day. The most I’ll do is use their auction. And we all know that employees get first pick, so customers are left with scraps at best. Support the small business thruft shoos, not these jokers.
Dan
Posted at 21:03h, 20 AprilHere’s my last four years of shopping in the small-town of Reidsville, NC Goodwill. The first year and a half was average price ect., then about the time of the Pandemic, the prices went up like crazy. I already purchased their discount card, so it saved me an additional bit of money, but that never offset the price of the increases, so I’m still paying more than I did before. Then I started finding out about the shopgoodwill online and saw they were raking in hundreds of thousands a week (maybe much more)!!!! They are selling diamond and ruby rings, gold, silver, all free to them (which is fine), but they ARE raking in money. But here I am at their store and I pay for my items and it never fails that they ask me if I want me to “round up” to the next dollar. When you hand them a paid for discount card, it’s kind of insulting that they ask if you want to round up….wow – you lose money on the card, and then they want to screw you by asking for even more money!!! Then I find out that they are firing employees who don’t get a quota filled on those “round-ups”….you really need to comment on that crap. I just met an ex employee working elsewhere now (more money, better environment) who said the new manager got mad because the backroom “pricers” weren’t marking the items high enough…just saying! And I rarely see anyone using the “employment training” side of their rather expensive building here. So yes, never try to sell us that are some sort of Godsend, beause they ARE in this for the money. Salvation Army isn’t like this – why? Because they are a Christian outfit…Goodwill is doing this for themselves first, and charity second – there’s your answer.
Mandakay
Posted at 10:26h, 25 AprilI know this is an old thread but I’d like add my opinion about goodwill. Used to love them. Could walk out with a cart full of cute clothes and shoes for 100 dollars. Many years ago. Never had a problem with merchandise breaking. So, the last 10 pairs of high heels I’ve bought, yes 10, all broke the very first time I put them on, literally as if they were rotted and fell apart. I should have learned with the first pair but I kept seeing cute shoes and not thinking they ALL would break. I don’t buy shoes anymore. Not only are they severely overpriced but they apparently glue the shoes together just long enough to sell them, and then they break. One day I was in the store and an employee was rotating out the shoes, putting newer ones out and I heard him tell a customer he was taking down the shoes that have been on the shelf a year! Jeans used to be 5 dollars. Not anymore, they want 11.99 for jeans, 7.99 for shirts, and if it’s name brand? Ha. Just buy new. I went to goodwill because they were cheap and I could afford them, not anymore.
Shane alexander
Posted at 07:36h, 26 AprilI do not advocate nor agree with Goodwills intentions of funding every group of charitable causes they can think of at the expense of Increasing prices even more! Shame on you trying to shame us! Thrift stores are supposed to be just that – a place for those who work hard but don’t have much money, to be able to afford clothing that’s been used and turn given away by someone else.
Furthermore, you try and further gouge us at your registers by asking if we want to “round up” the price of a $4.99 shirt to $6.00! Here’s what I suggest other Goodwill shoppers consider doing. Have a “clothing exchange”! In your neighborhood. Those are fun, FREE and will help to boycott places like Goodwill forcing them to lower prices again. Also, look for the cheaper Goodwills owned by more honest, less greedy proprietors. I’ve found several in the Los Angeles area that still keep their prices low and fair. On the other hand, one of the biggest and nicest Goodwills in Santa Clarita has priced every item at $15.99! You read that correctly! Whether it’s a nice pair of ladies shoes or a babies pair of shorts; they have one price for everything. Instead of long checkout lines that they used to have, there’s no one buying anything in there now. Serves them right!
Elizabeth Manson
Posted at 16:49h, 23 MayThey are getting expensive it is cheaper to go to the flee market. I understand they have to pay their employees but was has changed? Its outrageous.
Brad Williams
Posted at 10:09h, 18 JulyHow much did they pay you to post this load of lying 💩! Goodwill does not help no one anymore except themselves! And I’ll give you an example I was looking to buy a PS4 for parts and they had a as is broken PS4 On shopGoodwill they had it posted for $100 and $60 for shipping and handling and it was donated to them so don’t hand me that line of BS that they help people! Thrift stores are supposed to be for people who don’t have a lot of money and also goodwill is putting all of their good merchandise online that’s the reason why you can’t find it in the store ! And I know the shady stuff that Goodwill does especially e-commerce! Because my son used to work for them and all they would pay him after he worked for them for a few years was $7.50 an hour and they claim they help their employees know more like they help the big boss man and big boss woman because last I checked a woman was running it and she is stuck up and got deep pockets!
KatieGoodwill
Posted at 14:34h, 13 AugustMy personal opinion is that workers with disabilities are exploited and paid too low. I do not feel “good” supporting such an industry. Until they pay workers at least the going minimum wage (which is NOT hard to do) I won’t be purchasing from them.
Esther B.
Posted at 07:41h, 04 SeptemberI wish that more churches would have thrift stores or a place to give away clothing and household goods to people who truly need second-hand. I would rather donate my clothes to a place like that, where the goods are going back into the hands of people who need them, rather than making money for a corporation.
Eliz H
Posted at 01:01h, 10 SeptemberI donate to women shelters, foster homes now, I quit donating to Goodwill since they no longer care about individuals that are on a tight budget that can longer afford to shop there. Ross and Walmart are cheaper than Goodwill. In AZ Goodwill stayed open during the pandemic because the governor deemed it a necessity😂
Charlene Corbin
Posted at 14:09h, 15 SeptemberI used to go to spend $400-$500 a month at goodwill. For myself, for others and for resell. I haven’t been in there since Mothers day due to the increase in prices. If I found something good, I would wear it at least once and then donate it back to them being it was such a good price. I donated a bunch of stuff around Christmas time, when I was in shopping one day saw one of my items and it was marked for more than what I paid for it on clearance at Macy’s. It used to be fun to go in there and see what you would find but not anymore. I understand they have a cause but you would sell more and make more money if the prices stayed low for items that are 100% donation and if they don’t sell at the higher prices they are sent to the bins which is then sold for very cheap. Makes no sense. Bad marketing move on their part. Lost my business and some others that I know.
Dorian Gray
Posted at 01:56h, 16 SeptemberWhat is the Goodwill CEO’s salary? Goodwill industries recently filed a Form 990 and revealed that CEO James Gibbons earned $598,300 in 2017. This figure includes $118,927 in additional compensation. Regardless of how you slice it, Gibbons’ compensation is high.
All this information can be looked up by any one who actually cares to know it , but as they say ignorance is bliss ,
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Posted at 16:54h, 05 October[…] course, some critics have pointed out that the rising popularity of thrift stores means that item prices are going up, […]
Sharon Shields
Posted at 15:24h, 06 OctoberNow you can find Goodwill having an ‘online’ store; Reclaimed Fashion by Goodwill. When I see cherry picked items offered for several hundred dollars, it takes away the purpose of the ‘hunt’ and ‘thrill’. Finding items at a reasonable price was the sole purpose of shopping at thrift stores for myself, and my mother MANY years ago. I quit the habit over 10 years ago. Mainly, I was tired of finding holes or other issues on overpriced items. Tags also left holes on once perfect items, once they were removed. Many people shop for reasonable items, because they have to. I was one of those people. When rare, and cool finds are cherry picked to be sold online (at exorbitant prices), you have taken away the fun. Those items are no longer available to ‘find’.
LaDonna Rae Arney
Posted at 06:41h, 09 OctoberGoodwill is beyond over priced it’s ridiculous I mean all of the stuff they get is donated so the goodwill industries are billionaires how does a corporation become billionaires if they was legit at helping the less fortunate? Goodwill prices on their cloths alone is by far so over priced that I may as well go and buy it brand new from JC Penneys because I have gone and bought cloths brand new that was cheaper than a lot of the used cloths from goodwill
Ya maybe the prices on their vacuums are pretty cheap but all and all the only thing that goodwill does to help the community is maybe employ felond. Goodwill takes advantage of handy capped employes by paying some of them a whole 30 cents a hour like wow really. Read the news about goodwill the news about a few of their employees being hurt or killed by their negligence I use to shop at goodwill but honestly with the dressing rooms closed still and their way over priced clothing I refuse 2 step foot in any of the locations.
Right now is the time where the less fortunate really need help prices have gone up on gas and food to where you would think goodwill would be lowering their prices not raising them.
I mean how many billions of dollars do the CEOs have to make before they truly feel like they can stand to what they say they are you know NON PROFIT REALLY HOW IS IT NON FROFIT IF YOU BECOME BILLIONAIRES
Maryam
Posted at 11:31h, 11 OctoberBefore anyone defends Goodwill, why don’t you do research as to how much the CEOs are making- not to mention because they are a “non-profit”, they get out of many taxes. The doubling of prices does not account for inflation because its all donated to them- they are not buying it. Also, they don’t donate to programs as much as they say they do. The facts are out there- do the research….Goodwill is a scam now.
Rhonda Groves
Posted at 07:51h, 21 OctoberAll valid points and another reason I won’t be going to Goodwill any longer.
Rhonda Groves
Posted at 07:50h, 21 OctoberLast night was my last time going into a Goodwill store. I live in Richmond, VA and the store I went to last night had jackets at $9.25 each. Some were in good shape and others were just okay. But, if it were a good name brand, they had those marked at $19.99 or higher. I know they have a “mission” but what about allowing people who NEED clothing, but can’t afford it, a place to go and purchase it inexpensively? Less than a year ago all coats/jackets were $6.25.
It should not matter if some people buy and resell items, it should matter that people need clothes to wear. I had a young couple in front of me in line who had around ten items that they wished to purchase. Their total was $65. I could tell by the look on their faces that they were going to have a problem paying that much, so they started asking the cashier to take off a sweater and a skirt. I told the cashier to put whatever they were taking off on my tab and I’d pay for it. They NEEDED these clothes to wear, probably for their jobs.
People who need a good winter coat, but can’t afford a new one, now can’t afford a used one either. Goodwill’s mission helps give children dance lessons? Not necessary…nice, but not necessary. These clothes are GIVEN to Goodwill free of charge. Their mission should be to provide gently used clothing at an affordable price to those that need them.
Lorena
Posted at 12:27h, 05 NovemberNo it is always their same copy paste response for everything. If they want to be fair in prices, stop paying those extremely high salaries to those CEO’s . After all aren’t you a non profit organization? Those positions should be paid at a reasonable amount then.
Sonny lewis
Posted at 16:33h, 13 NovemberI have been shopping goodwill for years but not as much anymore because their prices for an item is more than what it was when it was brand new. And it’s just not right
Flo Carl
Posted at 21:31h, 28 NovemberGoodwill continues to changes that were once good deals,,Now they are greedily trying to convince the regular shoppers and donations that they have a new true blue points systems,and taken away things that used to be good deals,,also they are only giving senior discounts out on wednesdays,,Does that sound like a good deal for people with fixed incomes..My sister and I are consistent shoppers and donaters,,A bout 2months ago I pulled up and as a young man working there to help me unload a few boxes,,he we don’t do that anymore,you have to unload everything your self,,I said your kidding ,,someone trying to donate good merchandise to you and you guys are so obnoxious you want even help in exchange of appreciation.??He said that’s right we stoped a few months ago..I am 64 yrs old,,,I can or shouldn’t unload myself so my sister and I have quit goodwill alltogather.if management want to know what store this is you have my email.
F.C
Matt Chu
Posted at 22:11h, 19 DecemberYes, I understand it is a charity, and the money goes to help others, but also realize that I am shopping at thrift stores because I cannot afford retail prices. When the prices keep rising, then I can’t even afford thrift store merchandise any,ore.
Shay braswell
Posted at 10:32h, 02 MarchFirst, that reply is theee biggest crock of sh*t, I am friends with an ex employee and a manager or one of 4 managers at a goodwill here in AZ, Goodwill does not donate any of its profits to any organization, that’s why they ask at checkout if you’d like to round up to the nearest dollar, and as always I reply NO because I am already donating by just being there and spending money on overpriced goods. Not to mention all the goodwills in the east valley of az are scratching off or covering up Ross price tags and then marking them for the same or higher prices along with many other stores like targets and Walmarts $3/$5 isle goods, they will also cover those up as well, at which point I always pull the tag they placed over it off and move it next to the actual store bought price they tried to hide.. so I ask myself.. what in the world are these idiots getting out of this? And the answer is, only people receiving from this deal are the main manager of the whole store in that location. All the little guys are making minimum wage that they can’t fully live off of… that’s not helping anyone in need, that’s criminal in itself. I am an avid thrifter, I travel the valley thrifting furniture and other miscellaneous items and these price increases just started about 2 years ago and have only gotten worse. It’s a scam they are pulling and I’ve been taking pictures for the last year of all the tags of old clothing with what they thing is a brand name but I can get for less brand new at Ross.. we need to stop supporting this place. The only thrift store that actually gives back some of their products is Savers. Not goodwill, they only help by giving ex felons and homeless jobs at a minimum wage or less.
Shay
Posted at 10:46h, 02 MarchEveryone start ripping tags and switching prices, this place is not only swindling it’s workers but their shoppers as well, only we know the value of things and the value they are trying to price is always wrong,, then the dumb ass incompetent main manager will say, well we looked it up on eBay and that’s what it was priced at, and we reply, yeah that’s one that works and is in mint condition and at a different year.. they are stealing and pocketing the extra because this place being Goodwill DOESNT need to mark up cost of USED goods as they are still making millions a year at their locations and thousands a day at just their old low prices. This is about corporate and the main store manager in that location, each store has 3 or 4 shift managers but they aren’t the ones in charge m, ultimately it’s the top manager for that city or town who is pushing the prices to be raised because they are the only ones who get a wage increase and bonus for how much their locations make end of quarter. They as in the employees working the back and pricing items actually have a quota they have to meet every shift before they clock out now, so at the end of their shift they will just start marking things super high to meet it so that their job isn’t threatened when the greedy bitch in management looks back and sees who was working the shift who priced fairly and not overly
Shay
Posted at 10:49h, 02 MarchAlso, I’d love to share my photos with you that I’ve taken over this past year in regards to the prices and the objects or clothing they are pricing, because some of these things are just gross, but to mention a brand new crockpot at Walmart is just $26 and they are asking $24 for a used one with shit burned at the bottoms of them all!
Ray Conwrite
Posted at 17:33h, 19 MarchWent to Goodwill after ~1 year absence. Prices were substantially higher. Asked an employee, got standard reply: things cost more like employee pay, electricity. Asked about her pay increase. It was clear she did not receive an increase commensurate with the percentage in item increases. Same with electricity. I live nearby and know.
I also donated a lot. Now we will destroy all donation items and drop them in the donation box.
Brian S
Posted at 13:41h, 19 AprilROCHE GROENENBERG, Spoken like true higher up @ Badwill! What you think we’re stupid? Why else would you be defending Goodwill? Oh are you afraid we’re gonna protest and take away your $$$ money? Oh poor baby! Guess what tell your Da*n company to stop trying to deceive the public! We’ve had enough of Goodwill’s F’ing lies! From getting ripped off on S&H to Shill bidding & Goodwill allowing all of the Da*n resellers who are using bid bots on its website because Goodwill makes most of its money from resellers! So Goodwill won’t ban them! And your stores are nothing more than fronts for your scams and money laundering!
Sara Jenson
Posted at 02:17h, 21 MayYes, I think they will lose a lot of business due to this gouging of prices on used free donations and some of the stuff is not gently used as they say. I won’t shop there or donate anymore. Its not a good deal. And I am not interested in making some fat cat at the top richer.
Terri Johnting
Posted at 18:03h, 05 JuneMy husband and I used to shop at Goodwill almost every week and have spent thousands of dollars. That has definitely changed. In Indiana and maybe elsewhere, almost all discounts have been discontinued. The color of the week, military, senior, and the last Saturday of the month are all gone. We are military retired and seniors so we used to get a great discount. They stated that it was so you did not have to remember certain days and other lame excuses.
I agree with everyone stating the prices are out of control. When they first started pushing up the price of shoes, I did not notice until I had put about 5 pair in my cart. Needless to say, I put them all back.
I will check the store every once in a while now, if I am looking for something specific. I have noticed that donations are definitely down. I will not donate either. They have sure left a bad taste in my mouth. They are definitely have lost most all resellers and shoppers alike. Corporate greed has really hit GOODwiil. They need to rename it.
RM
Posted at 04:58h, 20 JuneGOODWILL is out of Control with their prices!! They have a site GoodwillFinds.com where the prices are set so there is no bidding like the other sites they have. Tonight while browsing I somehow ran across the watches and OMG at the prices mainly from GW in Southeastern Wisconsin and Chicago e-commerce and GW in Northwest Washington e-commerce that are UNBELIEVABLE!!! They get in these items FREE and turn around and price the item as if it were new from department store! They have watches listen in the $100+ range. It’s Greed! Plain downright GREED! I’m disgusted and will take my donations elsewhere from here on out? Goodwill has gotten out of control! It’s horrible!! I have sent numerous complaints to GW just venting about how much they’ve changed their pricing. I honestly used to really enjoy GW it was a fairly cheap treasure hunt. Then I began noticing as I checked out my tail was $70, $90, $100+ if I wanted to spend that much I’d buy it new from the mall!
Examples:
Designer Breil Milano BW0307 Water Resistant Stainless Steel Wristwatch
The price is $300.00
Vintage 14K Gold Longines Automatic 17 Jewel Wristwatch
The price is $899.
Designer Citizen Classic Silver Tone Stainless Steel Quartz Wristwatch
The price is $119.
MR Marked Multi-Stone Inlay On Sterling Silver Band
The price is $249.98
Vintage Avance Retard 14K Yellow Gold Case Pocket Watch 29.8g
The price is $1,375.
CH2564 Black Blue Chronograph Analog Dress Watch
Sale -The price is $114.85
I do understand these are quality items but they RECEIVED THEM AS DONATIONS and then Price them like new!! GW has always been a place with decent prices until recently! I’m not sure if it’s executives in high dollar offices, inflation, or just plain Greed!!! I googled to check the pay for the store employees and it’s pathetic! I don’t even know how they survive on pay that low ! So where exactly does this money go? I’m not sure where or for what but I’m extremely disappointed in this Company! I am only one person and my purchases won’t have much of an effect regardless I will be doing my treasure hunting days elsewhere! I donate and purchase items from companies that actually benefit those in need!! Not grease the palm of people so high up on the company ladder they forgot what it’s like to be a good, honest, caring, compassionate human being!!
Mary Smith
Posted at 10:59h, 29 JuneI find it absurd that everything you receive it free and to have the items so marked up that you can hardly afford to shop there is absurd. I’ve seen the prices increased to the point that you really can’t afford to buy clothes for your family like you could at one point. Then they have they have the nerve to try and squeeze more out of you by asking if you want to round up? If .92¢ goes to programs how is the CEO making so much money? If they lower their prices to a reasonable amount I’m sure people would buy more easier which should be a win win for both parties. They want to help people so much let start with the buyers.
William James Beck
Posted at 21:12h, 09 JulyGoodwill is awful. I belong to a Facebook group called “Goodwill Shaming” (I recommend you join). On that page you will see examples of their horrendous pricing and some of the awful, disgusting, and illegal things people find on their shelves.
The letter that they sent you did not address their pricing, it was simply an advertisement.
Goodwill is not a “thrift” store anymore. It has become a “trendy” place for wealthy people to shop and spend more money for a used item, with the idea that the money they spend there goes to community programs. The reality is, you will find used dollar store items for over $5. It’s a scam that takes advantage of undereducated people struggling, thinking they are getting a better deal by buying used, when more often than not, the same items can be shipped to them brand new for less.
Look up online just how much money the CEO of Goodwill makes each year. Then look up how many different CEO’s there are at Goodwill.
Do not donate to Goodwill or patronize their establishment. Shop at your local mom & pop thrift stores.
Lynn Redford
Posted at 08:33h, 12 JulyGoodwill doesn’t help the community. They hire people with disabilities at below minimum wage. 1.44$ an hour last I saw. They’re treated poorly managers and some have even been SA by supervisors. At the register if they don’t like the way something was priced they not let you buy the item. Example; lady finds a tablet in a case priced at 2.99$. At the register the cashier looks at it and says the tablet isn’t included. How so? It was in the case and priced. Customer didn’t put the tablet in the case. It was put out that way on the sale floor. We’ve seen multiple plastic and glass food jars on the shelves priced at 3-4$. I don’t donate to them and only go to shop there in desperation. Donate to charities shops that have food pantries. They use the money to buy food for the community.
Alan Malnofski
Posted at 16:16h, 31 JulyI’m always amazed on what little research is done by the vast majority of statements made above.. Most come from ignorance or just the way you feel or what you heard.
Robert E. Fallona
Posted at 10:59h, 16 AugustI agree that GW has lost its way & most of the story and excuses are just that. I not only spent 50+ years at all levels of retail but spend a lot of time at thrift stores along with a ton of money. I spent $60 yesterday at Arc ( Colorado chain) which is way better. Here are some key points. 1. The annual report is way to weak on details like the CEO & other exec pay 2. In Colorado – Denver area the stores are not only overpriced, but unstoppable. The new DM had all the stores move stuff around like reducing the electronics aisle along with removing the power test strips. The aisles are so tight you can’t have 2 cars in an aisle along with staff trying to stock the shelves. 3. I used to buy a ton of books, but then they jumped the prices to $1.99 4. I found out that mgt removed the lower price stickers from stores so employees can’t price under $2.00 5. I have never seen a single piece of computer equipment at a store how is that possible? 6. They spend just as much time dumping items that didn’t sell as they do stocking shelves. 7. As to the excuses like cost of rent etc how is that Dollar Tree & Dollar General can afford new stores with staff and at $1.25 still make large profits?? Knowing retail like I do why not make a little on a ton of items vs a giant profit on a few items? Why not allow stores to maximize their profits? I don’t know the numbers, but GW in Colorado used to be packed, now they are empty yet Arc is the opposite. They are always packed especially when on Tue & Sat for Seniors it’s 50% off most items. GW’s senior discount – 15 PER CENT – LOL.
Lynn gordon
Posted at 13:56h, 24 AugustCEO Salary and how he lives from your purchases. We went to one that a box store was next to it. We bought from the box store as it was a $1 cheaper on shirts and pants.
Sarah Fitz
Posted at 11:24h, 03 SeptemberYesterday I went to a local GW and they had shoes for sale that were marked at $60, $125, $90- I couldnt believe it! Getting free name brand shoes and then charging NEW RETAIL PRICE to people who are shopping there to make ends meet.
Vicky Harbison
Posted at 07:58h, 27 SeptemberI will not go to Goodwill anymore because of their ridiculous prices.
Yes, there are a few other thrift stores that can be just as bad, but I’ve found those are the locally owned stores, which I’d rather support first.
Goodwill has become way too greedy the last few years and I will not contribute anymore.
Pink MF Panther
Posted at 14:33h, 25 OctoberI make sure I get my moneys worth from the greedy asshats (from the top top to the scum that hold the pricing gun in the stores)
And here’s how you do it:
1: find a few things you want
2: make sure it is atleast 25-30 dollars total
3. Use the 20% coupon (or 25% if a student or senior certain days)
4: carefully remove the tag from each item and attach it to an unwanted item from home
5: return to a store within 7 days
6: receive store credit merchandise card
7: repeat (2-3 times or as many times as you can make it back within the 7day return window)
Another genius hack to get them at their own game is to start saving all the tags of things you have bought (I currently have an array of colors and a variety of store numbers to choose from) depending on the color of the week round up the matching tags for the color and bring them with you. Tag the items half priced as you find them with the tags you already have.
Yep fluppp scamwill and what’s that old saying.. if you can’t beat ‘em join em? Yeah I’ll join em and rip them off right back.
Check & Mate MFs
Pink MF Panther
Posted at 14:35h, 25 OctoberI make sure I get my moneys worth from the greedy asshats (from the top top to the scum that hold the pricing gun in the stores)
And here’s how you do it:
1: find a few things you want
2: make sure it is atleast 25-30 dollars total
3. Use the 20% coupon (or 25% if a student or senior certain days)
4: carefully remove the tag from each item and attach it to an unwanted item from home
5: return to a store within 7 days
6: receive store credit merchandise card
7: repeat (2-3 times or as many times as you can make it back within the 7day return window)
Another genius hack to get them at their own game is to start saving all the tags of things you have bought (I currently have an array of colors and a variety of store numbers to choose from) depending on the color of the week round up the matching tags for the color and bring them with you. Tag the items half priced as you find them with the tags you already have.
Yep fluppp scamwill and what’s that old saying.. if you can’t beat ‘em join em? Yeah I’ll join em and rip them off right back.
Nate Combs
Posted at 00:04h, 01 NovemberTheir rep who responded to comments is an absolute tool. The profits go to the ceo and board members. NOT the community.
jose conceco
Posted at 02:35h, 11 NovemberWe have had 3 Goodwill close in my area because people just stop buying from them. They have raised prices because recently more and more stores are closing. No one wants to pay 10.00 for a trashcan when its dirty , cracked and Target next door sells it for $3.00. They will not last another 5 years.
Janice Ross
Posted at 17:34h, 21 NovemberI have been thrifting most of my life and love it. I noticed an increase in shoppers at the thrift stores and said to my husband, the prices are now going to go up because of the increase. Low and behold they have certainly gone up. Greed, greed and more greed. They have joined the club. They have taken all the fun out of it. The points system is crazy and I have had many arguments with trying to get my points which I deserve. If an item doesn’t have a colored tag, forget it, it is not being sold. How much money you lose by doing that is unbelievable. Some of the staff is very rude. Items are not being put out on a regular basis. I will not be donating there anymore either. It’s a shame, but money talks and that seems to be what is more important to them now. Very, very disappointed. They have lost a regular customer in me!
Janice Ross
Posted at 17:34h, 21 NovemberI have been thrifting most of my life and love it. I noticed an increase in shoppers at the thrift stores and said to my husband, the prices are now going to go up because of the increase. Low and behold they have certainly gone up. Greed, greed and more greed. They have joined the club. They have taken all the fun out of it. The points system is crazy and I have had many arguments with trying to get my points which I deserve. If an item doesn’t have a colored tag, forget it, it is not being sold. How much money you lose by doing that is unbelievable. Some of the staff is very rude. Items are not being put out on a regular basis. I will not be donating there anymore either. It’s a shame, but money talks and that seems to be what is more important to them now. Very, very disappointed. They have lost a regular customer in me!
Told TTFN u I
Posted at 01:02h, 27 December$458,708: Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO
$342,195: Craig Levra, COO
$253,355: Elizabeth Schwalbach, VP, Human Resources*
$247,542: Gari Ann Douglas, CFO
$205,111: Patrick Roche, VP, Development
$200,742: Raymond L Tellez, VP, Retail Operations
This is one of a bunch of wages I came across. I there are hundreds more just like this. Seem the community their helping….is their own.
Sm
Posted at 12:54h, 11 JanuaryAnd all thanks to the youtubers that goes with cameras inside goodwill and talk about how much they can sell that item/s
Anony Mouse
Posted at 21:19h, 24 JanuaryGood will, habitat for humanity and salvation army, while doing some good are just as greedy as any other business out there.
Just take a look at there auction websites and you will see. These stores are supposed to help the community by providing goods donated to them for those of lesser means to have a chance at buying them. Instead they auction them off for to the highest bidder on sites like eBay. Or good wills own auction site. Check them out.. designer brands, 10k dollar rolex watches.. diamond rings. Ask while posting pathetic wages to the store employees.
Vanette Macke
Posted at 23:31h, 29 JanuaryGoodwill should be ashamed of itself….they have donations spilling out into the street practically and yet the prices are making me gasp….I say every time I pick something up that is overpriced they have lost their mind they rarely haves sales and yet the racks are packed someone is getting rich and I’m not poor but neither rich and I have to watch what I spend in there because it adds up quick I can go to ROSS and buy new clothes on clearance cheaper it’s really a shame because the world is so bad right now goodwill should be helping by lowering their prices or if not change their name…..
Steven Morris
Posted at 17:59h, 08 FebruaryThe whole thing is a racket, I mean besides utilities, rent and trash theres no overhead and all their labor is paid for by rounding up your change. They pay their employees the lowest wages they can while upper management, specifically some regional mangers salaries are over 900k. t’s like a slap in the face to those who donate I literally seen an item with a tag of 4.99 placed right next to the original tag of 2.99 so we give them our stuff and they turn around and sell it back to us at a 40% increase of what we paid for it and thats for the leftovers that wasn’t good enough to sell online where they take anything they think has value and post it online but what I don’t understand is something like used 3 ring binders for 3.99 more than new so they sit on the shelves, why not just sell them for 99 cents? wouldn’t you rather just get rid of all of them than none? especially since it’s 100% profit and less going to the landfill. Not to mention their so called programs are practically non existent, theres no literature about them readily available except some little signs saying
‘ that your donation help these programs” and the descriptions are vague to begin with. What they do is just the bare minimum to keep the facade up and the charade going. I admit I still go there but I hardly buy anything I mainly go cause I always see some random product or tool I never knew existed or find something I can repurpose.
CJ
Posted at 13:15h, 26 FebruaryI used to for a goodwill retail store so I have some insight into how this works.
First off, All goodwill’s are not the same . Every region has its own separate goodwill entity that exist on its own and is not connected in any way to other ones . They have a certain amount of stores that they manage and run .
Some really do a great job of being faithful to the mission which is job training and education as well as community involvement in many areas. Some, however are greedy money grubbing business that just give the mission lip service, pay their employees as little as possible while having them operate with usually not enough staff It really depends. They are all different.
As far a prices go I can tell you that legitimately those prices are often necessary just to keep the doors open. They are still a business and with that there are a lot costs involved .
If you look at the resale market like eBay , Poshmark etc the stuff you buy at goodwiill is much cheaper in fact many people make money by buying at goodwill and reselling online. The fact is things have a value, weather it’s at goodwiill or somewhere else.
The thing to look for is are they really supporting what the goodwill mission is supposed to be . If they are putting the money into those programs then they are doing what they are supposed to do. If not there is probably and executive team making good money and a bunch of people working at the retail sites making as little as possible while getting overworked and overwhelmed due to not enough staff
Edith L Wine
Posted at 20:02h, 15 MarchI question how they come up with their prices. I see Dollar Tree stuff selling for $5.. I saw a badly scratched up 4 quart Farberware 4 quart dutch oven style pot selling for $19.99. I looked it up and several department stores sold the same pot for $24.99. $10 would have been more appropriate considering how badly marred and scratched it was. No one is telling the truth about where the money goes.
Tee
Posted at 14:41h, 25 MarchJust my two cents, but I believe Goodwill HQ should have a better quality management director that checks individual stores for pricing. Saw a pair of brand new pants in a Goodwill store the other day, stiil with the tags on them. Tag price: $12.99. Goodwill price: $14.99! That’s outrageous. Not to mention the amount of Dollar Tree items I’ve seen in their stores that are priced anywhere from $2.00 to $5.00. While that may be a compliment to the Dollar Tree–it’s outrageous for consumers.
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Stacie Vengrouskie
Posted at 10:37h, 08 MayThe first mistake all of you are making is that you are shopping big box thrift stores. Seek out the smaller locally owned thrift stores in your community. They generally do a better job of helping in the LOCAL community where they are located through much smaller nonprofits. Their prices are generally lower and you are also supporting a small business in your area that is owned by a person in your area that is just trying to make a living while helping others. Not get rich.
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Teri V
Posted at 01:01h, 25 MayI.I’m pretty disgusted right now by GW. They should be ashamed of themselves and definitely should be embarrassed. I tried hard to believe that there’s finally a CEO with a heart. I was wrong. I was just at GW today. Prices for some items were way too high. After the reply up there, I’m definitely never going again. Plus, I was on the GW online shopping website just a bit ago. Someone tell me who they think they are charging $20 for shipping a little purse. It weighs 2 pounds, they tell FEDEX 8 pounds so they can charge people more for shipping. Straight up lying. GOODBYE GOODWILL!!!
Pete
Posted at 00:40h, 11 JulyInteresting comments here- I went to GW today and pants had gone up a dollar in the last 3. weeks since my last visit. Pants are up $3 from last year. I found the GW International executive salary list for 2020 tonight-
($650,989: Steven C Preston, CEO
$365,823: David Eagles, COO
$364,344: Onney Crawley, Chief Marketing Officer
$339,,951: Martin Scaglione, Chief Mission Officer
$304,970: Wendi Copeland, Chief Mission and Partnership Officer
$276,195: Deborah Betsch, Chief Learning and Talent Officer
$275,149: Ceri Danheux, Chief Information and Technology Officer
$262,978: Regina Nelson, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
$261,159: James Hill, VP, Donated Goods Retail
$242,772: Marla Jackson, VP, Quality Fooundations
$206,123: William Parrish, Sr Consulting, DGR
$202,194: Laura Walling, VP, Government Affairs
$160,471: Catalina Serna-Valencia, CFO………………..
and this is just the international group, not all the face huggers at the state level- these figures also don’t include bonuses received by them. In a time when wealth inequality is at its craziest- naw- I’m not going to shop there anymore. This is just gross. Awful lot of people getting very wealthy on selling products being given to their company. If the reality of their charitable giving is as they say- how on earth could they pay so many exorbitant salaries? Logical conclusion- it’s a scam.
Laura Maniskas
Posted at 17:28h, 08 AugustGoodwill is a FOR PROFIT thrift store. They are only accountable to their stockholders.
They try to pass themselves off like a nonprofit organization. They pay minum wage, have impossible work quotas regarding sorting and sales. Horrible cramped working conditions in warehouse area. Some of their donation areas are outside where employees are in cold, heat and rain for 2 hour increments. They state they have a offender/felon hiring program. They state they help the communities where their stores are located. That’s all BS.
It’s 100 percent corporate greed and profit.
I find discarded clothing near dumpsters. I personally pick up clothing from from any individual at the home, apartment to keep decent clothes from filling landfill. Many still have tags on them. I wash them, I sort them, mend them, upcycle them and I personally distribute them to a variety of Real local nonprofit agencies like the local VA Hospital homeless veteran clinic. They also accept furniture and small household items to give to veterans and their families when they obtain permanent housing.
YWCA “Your Sister’s Closet is an amazing charity to donate to. They help poor,, homeless men and women get free work and interview clothing.. they do it by appointment only and you give them a full list of your size from head to toe and they give that person concierge one on one service and include everything needed like accessories, wallets, belts and more. Free.
Child protective services has a charity where you cam donate kids clothes for kids in emergency foster care, group homes, recently adopted.
In my town, Gospel Rescue Mission takes care of the needs of currently 350 homeless men, women, and children.
Donate to nonprofit organizations who really make a positive impact in your community. that is visible.
I also take unusable, non-donatable clothing and I upcycle. I make quilts, placemats, reusable shopping bags out of tee shirts, Easter baskets out of denim,, hioliday door decorations, and more.
I sell some items at flea market. I give my family, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, in need a specific clothing item they desire like a coat, hoodie, robe free.
I am a 100 percent disabled veteran who experienced homelessness three times due to job loss., illness.
Goodwill never gives anything to help the needy. I stopped donating to them years ago.
Best way to buy affordable, decent quality used clothes, is garage sales, flea markets, swap meets, farmer’s markets..
I sell infant clothes 50 cents ea, toddler $1 wach, kids $3 ea, adult, $4 each, Jackets, hoodies, robes, jeans $5 ea. I intentionally sell for less than any thrift store to ensure the working poor or low income folks with or without kids. I am not a business or a nonprofit organization.. I give back to my community regularly.
Do what your heart tells you.. As for me, I will NEVER donate or buy from Goodwill EVER.
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Posted at 06:53h, 24 SeptemberHi
Treasure Your Time
Posted at 22:53h, 17 NovemberGoodwill did NOT answer the question though, not really.