posted on September 27, 2000 04:49:05 PM
What drives me nuts at the Salvation Army store I sometimes shop at, is when you find something you want (I was always looking for cool retro fabric for my art quilts) and the price tag has fallen off, they take it away from you and won't let you buy it for any price. According to them it gets sent back to 'headquarters' to be repriced and will most likely sent out to a different store.
posted on September 28, 2000 06:13:46 AM
I would like to comment on this because I need to clear up a few things...I work for goodwill, I am not a recovering drug addict or alcoholic, nor do I have a mental condition..well I do tend to get twitchy when people come into the store and assume that I do. We do fold things...constantly, after all we are just a thrift store its just someone's unwanted junk why should customers bother to put things back on a rack when there is a perfectly good floor...Dealers are not our most "valued" customers...well at least not the ones who try to tell you that because they are dealers they should be given "first choice" or better yet "aloud to shop from the back room"(over my dead body, if an employee can't they sure can't either.)A man the other day advised me that because he bought 5 Avon perfume bottles that were in "mint" condition boxes (2.00 each)he should be given the empty Avon bottle...maybe next week when its colder and the auction down the street has closed for the season. Give me a nice old lady, on a fixed income, buying sweaters to keep herself warm this winter because she is going to have to cut way back on her heat....a nice lady buying gym clothes for the little boy next store because his mother can't afford to...or the lady who buys books for the nursing home her sister is in...those are my best customers. Goodwill sell more clothing than "housewares". We have maybe 5 regular customers who are dealers, they don't spend much, most of the time they leave empty handed. Don't get me wrong we have lots of dealers come into our store who are the nicest people you ever want to meet..some even tell us if things are priced to low...I was even taught a few ways to test Bakelite(sp?)by one of my regulars. One even appraised my mothers "doggie doorstop" for me.
We do use "markers" on some things because people will wipe the price off of pull the sticker off so they can bring it to the register to get a better price. We use stickers on collectibles, and do our best not to "deface" anything. Purses get price tags stapled inside because there really isn't anyplace else to put them. The girls who work production in the back, do just that, work production, they have to inspect, sort, hang and price 1,200 pieces of clothing a day, tags are put on the ends of sleeves and waistbands of pants because Goodwill says that is the fastest and easiest way to tag and price clothing. its not the managers fault the girls are doing what they're told to do by the head office.
I'm sorry you feel that the manager at that Goodwill store resents people who re-sell items. Maybe she does, I don't know. I sometimes get the feeling that dealers(even regular run of the mill customers)resent the employees and management that work there, after all we should be giving the stuff away since its donated to us for free. We are given a price sheet to go by, don't think the upper management doesn't come in and check our prices. I hate when them "just stop by" because I am always pricing ware and of course I'm pricing them "too low" We use stickers on those. I'm not crazy about were we put the price tags either, but until the big cheese says different they go on the cuffs of silk Evan-Picone blouses and the waistbands of a nice pair of Valiarie Stevens pants.
I sell on ebay...so I suppose I am a "dealer" too...I am also a Goodwill employee, our stores employ a lot of good people who don't deserve "assumptions"
posted on September 28, 2000 06:52:11 AM
Hi blipp65, Thanks for telling your side of the story. Your Goodwill sounds a thousand times better than my local one.
I have never assumed the employees were drug addicts or alcoholics. In fact, my Goodwill had a sign up that they were hiring recently, so I guess anyone can apply for a job there.
I have never asked for any special favors either. I pay whatever is marked on the item. I actually buy hardly anything there for resale. I do buy clothes there for myself, my Aunt who is in a nursing home, and my niece who likes fancy brand names (American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch) but can't afford them new. I am very happy with the price structure for clothes and our Goodwill does not staple prices on the items.
I was just very disappointed that I finally found a vintage item I would have loved to have, for myself not for resale, and it's been defaced with magic marker. It doesn't sound like the Goodwill you work at would have done something like that. They obviously realized this purse was special because purses are not priced - they are ALL $2.99. I certainly can understand their desire to price it a little higher, but why ruin it with marker? I also understand about people switching price tags or removing price tags. They have a locked glass counter for small items, so why not put it in there?
I'm certainly not asking you to explain my Goodwill's actions. Your Goodwill sounds like it is run in a much more professional manner - thanks again for telling us about it. And thanks for mentioning the person who buys books for a nursing home. My Goodwill is loaded with paperbacks, especially romance stuff, and I'm going to check to see if my Aunt's nursing home could use them.
[ edited by mapledr1216 on Sep 28, 2000 06:55 AM ]
posted on September 28, 2000 07:39:27 AMblipp65 ~ You say "Dealers are not our most valued customers." Do you know every dealer who comes into your store or do you know the ones who tell you they are dealers and ask for special favors? If I came into your store you would have no idea I was a dealer. I went into thrifts all the time and bought things many years before I started selling.
You say that you make most of your money from clothing. Dealers buy clothing also. In my store lots of the clothing was priced too high and wasn't selling. Now they have it priced lower. Each district is run a little differently as far as I know.
I live in a relatively small town and I know lots of the sellers and see them in all the stores I go to. We have a huge flea market here every Sunday and lots of people sell there. Around here at least, if dealers stopped shopping, the thrifts would definitely notice a big drop in sales.
posted on September 28, 2000 09:10:45 AM
Hi, nowwhat. Going by my register tape alone I can tell you that I sell a greater number of clothing than wares. I'm certain that we have people buying clothing to re-sell, not many. Its been pretty easy to figure out who the dealers are, they have "shopping patterns".
We are in a large town, about 15 miles from Balitmore. We are the only thrift store in a 15 mile radias. We are also in a low to middle class area. It's not that hard to tell who the dealers, shopowners are. For the most part dealers are like any other customer looking for a good deal. Its the other ones who believe that because they are a "dealer" and knows way more about collectables, vintage items and antiques than a "goodwill" employee they should be treated better than anyone else. No by me they won't.
I'm sorry if I come off bad on this, but its a touchy subject for me. Of all the retail jobs I have had this on is the worst when it comes to how cutomers treat employees. I need to grow a thicker skin I guess.
posted on September 28, 2000 09:22:31 AM
Blipp65, I think you'll agree that most retail jobs stink! I'm sorry you have to put up with a lot of 'attitude'. I think it's because of all my years as a USPS window clerk, that I try to never give any kind of sales clerks a hard time.
I can't really complain about the sales people at my Goodwill. They are not overly-friendly, nor are they rude, which is OK with me. The manager is the only one who appears to have problems with any one she suspects is a dealer.
posted on September 28, 2000 08:25:57 PM
I thought my 6 months working at McDonalds would toughen me up...that was far worse than any retail job I ever had. The absolute worse thing about this "retail" job is that I can't purchase anything until its been on the sales floor for 24 hours...Its painful to put something you wanted in someone elses bag.
We spoke about this thread tonight at work. My managers biggest gripe is when dealers try to "pull a number on him". Ex. yesterday a man (he's a dealer, seen him at the flea market) brought two "boas" (not sure if I spelled that right..the things a cowboy wears for a tie) neither one had a price, the first one was nothing special, $2.00, the second, "sterling" stamped on the back turquoise on the front, $15. My manger said he called him name and said he was ripping him off..not pretty. He must not have been to far off because I sold that piece the next day and the guy who bought it said it was a "steal at that price". Go figure. I can't blame him for having a attitude.
posted on September 28, 2000 08:40:48 PM
Is it the standard operating procedure to wait 24 hours at EVERY Goodwill? I know a gal that works at the main distributing center and she takes ALL the designer things she can carry that come in, as well as ethnic things that are unique. And she doesnt wait for 24 hours either. How do I know? When I had MauiMoods in a physical location, she brought the stuff in for consignment,and every 2 weeks I paid her close to 300 bucks for what she brought that sold during that time. She still works out there too...and still does the same thing,but with another store, since I closed my shop.
posted on September 28, 2000 09:49:03 PMmauimoods ~ I think Goodwill policies are dictated according to district. In my district Goodwill employees cannot buy anything unless it has been on the floor for 7 days. They use a different color tag every week so they can tell how long something has been on the floor. They do that for the very reason you stated.
posted on September 28, 2000 11:35:08 PM
Does anyone else try to keep the fact they are buying at Goodwill to re-sell "under their hat"? I'd gotten to the point where I feel a little uncomfortable, if not downright guilty, about shopping the thrifts to sell on Ebay. Especially when I've had "friends" right out ask me if I don't feel like I'm stealing from the poor who "have" to shop at the thrifts......
BUT don't think the employees don't know who you are! I recently bought a large item (for personal use) and after it was rung up, I asked if I needed a tag or something since it wouldn't fit in a bag. The clerk smiled and said, "Oh, no, we all know you, and it's okay!" After that, I've tried to be super nice to the clerks, not that I wasn't polite before, but now that I know they know me....gosh darn it, I just want people to like me!
In any case, I wouldn't dream of asking any retail store with prices marked to come down on the price. For goodness sake! Don't we call that bottom-feeding on Ebay....getting an e-mail after an auction ends asking if you'd sell something at a lower price. Just wait for the colored tag sales.
All in all, I'm pleased with Goodwill. Today, at least. And I like peanut butter and jelly also.
posted on September 29, 2000 04:24:24 AM
I must say, our local Goodwill Stores are great about the way they mark items. Actually, they mark very little, as they have a system of pricing that is uniform. All hard bound books are .50 cents, paper backs are .25, purses are $3.00, and so on. They have signs on the walls with the prices.
Nick Nack items are priced with small white stickers, as are most toys etc.
Now, the local Salvation Army store is another story. They mark EVERYTHING with Sharpie permenent markers. I stopped going there.
They also just put a Goodwill in about a mile up the road from me. Yipee!
As far as feeling guilty for buying stuff that is intended for "the poor", 85% of the people who shop our thrift shops are not "poor" by any means. You can take a look at the cars in the parking lot and tell a great deal. My '85 Astro is usually the oldest vehicles there.
posted on September 29, 2000 09:40:09 AM
I don't know about our distubuion center, I know you don't have to wait at what they call the "pound store". That is were they sell salvage clothing and clothing that the stores do not sell. Stores you have to wait 24 hours. That is both clothing and collectables. And shopping from sorting room is a no no. I've bought clothing I know hasn't been on the floor for 24 hours, we put so much out in a day that none of us remember when it was put out. But that unique Indiana Glass Vase that I wanted was to unique to even try...of course it went at the very last minute. It was going out the door as I was going in.
I know most of the people who shop at our store aren't poor....everyone likes to save a buck and its fun to watch customers get so excited over finding a really good buy.
I gave up on the Salvation Army years ago..the one in our area is dark and gloomy and priced WAY to high. And nothing is returnable...our Goodwill stores have a return policy.
posted on September 29, 2000 01:21:13 PMblipp65:
Could you share your tip on how to test for bakelite??
Also, any tips on how to clean off that grease pencil mark from plastic would be greatly appreciated. I just found this really cute toy vacuum for my tot at the local thrift store, but haven't been able to get out that grease pencil mark.
ohadrea said "I've had "friends" right out ask me if I don't feel like I'm stealing from the poor who "have" to shop at the thrifts...... "
I'd like to comment on this. If your thrift store is supporting a charitable effort, how can your purchase be doing anything but helping that charity? I have NEVER come across a thrift store which has been short on necessities which a struggling family might need, like clothes or kitchenware. I also doubt that any reseller is competing for the same items that they would be looking for. These "friends" need to be more informed about the benefits of recycling .
posted on September 29, 2000 03:33:06 PM
Hi, the easiest way to get the grease pencil off of a plastic item is to use Hair spray, just spray a little on to cover the mark and wipe it right off. Also, if you don't get it wet, you can use a dry clean cloth. That's how we do at my store when we need to take a price off.
From reading the boards the last few weeks, I have instructed all of my employees in the miscellaneous department not to put grease pencil on unglazed ceramics, this was one I had overlooked.
posted on September 29, 2000 04:26:10 PM
>>"Does anyone else try to keep the fact they are buying at Goodwill to re-sell "under their hat"?"<<
We don't go out of our way to let people know we buy to resell. We used to sell beanies and really got tired of people's attitudes. We've been slandered by shop owners and customers alike. I even confronted a few of them about talking behind our backs.
I thought that getting out of the beanie business and selling designer clothing would be different but it's not. Some people (mostly thrift shop employees) still treat us like drug "dealers". The thing that really gets me is that we are always pleasant and never ask for special favors. We don't sell at flea markets, only online.
The only reason the trift shop employees would have to think we are dealers is because we purchase in bulk, usually spending $50-$150 at a time as much as twice a week.
We were even accused by one Thrift shop employee of "trashing the store". All we do is take maybe 15 or so items off the rack then we look the items over carefully and put away the ones that we don't purchase. Most people just leave them hanging on the return racks. We put them back where we get them. Unfortunately this used to be our favorite store. It's a small quiet shop with good prices and without a lot of competition from other shoppers. We did speak with the manager and he said he would give that employee a lesson in customer service.
posted on September 29, 2000 04:38:13 PM
My biggest complaint against the major thrift store chains is pricing. Many thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army and Value Village) think they are consignment shops.
They price items sometimes 2-4 times what the item is worth. I have seen $100+ price tags on items that would sell for less than $20 on Ebay. Sometimes these items are in great condition but sometimes they have rips and stains. It doesn't seem to matter.
I've also seen, at Value Village, 2 identical sweaters sitting side by side. 1 was $14.99 and the other was $7.99. What is the logic in that?
posted on September 29, 2000 05:47:02 PM
it there anyway to get the permanent marker off the bottom of shoes help!! I sold beanies too but love clothing now. the people who buy it are much nicer than the beanie people I feel
I'm not sure if I am correct on this but you might try lacquer thinner. I know it will remove permanent marker from some surfaces, such as counter tops.
I used to build office furnature and we would use lacquer thinner to clean all non-stained/lacquered surfaces.
