posted on January 5, 2001 02:18:23 PM
Boy, I am so spittin mad right now I could scream. My favorite Goodwill has raised it prices drastically. For example: hardcover books are now $5.00. Sweaters that last week were $8.00 are now $22.00. Jackets that I would buy at a cost of anywhere from $8.00 to $20.00 are now priced from $30.00 to $75.00! And regular old blue jeans are now $20.00! So anyway, I go over to the register and ask the lady behind the counter what the heck is going on. She tells me that they are now called the "Boutique Goodwill" so they had to raise their prices! This started the 1st of the year.
Geez, is this necessary. Granted this is a very wealthy community. You dont see any no name brands in there, only top of the line. I could easily spend $75.00 in there a week on clothes (before they raised the prices)! But, even all of the rich folks who pull up in their Jaquars and Rolls were in their moaning and groaning about the prices.
I find this interesting. I think the stuff is just going to sit there until they lower the prices. If I wanted to pay retail, I would go to the mall. And, the way everyone in there was *itching and moaning, I think they feel the same way.
Anyway, done griping. Anyone else have this happen to their local GW?
posted on January 5, 2001 02:38:07 PM
$22 for a sweater at Goodwill? Wow! I don't think I've seen a sweater for over $6 at any of the Goodwill stores around here.
Hmm, in a way I think it's good if they're successful with the higher prices since they're a non-profit, but in another way... bummer!
posted on January 5, 2001 02:47:50 PM
Our Goodwill is still one of the best places for me to find bargains. OTOH, the Salvation Army stores around here have become absolutely laughable--their stuff is WAY overpriced in good condition, and the standing joke is that they must pay someone to walk around with a hammer and whack the pottery and glass, as it's uniformly chipped and cracked.
posted on January 5, 2001 03:40:47 PM
We have about 5 goodwills locally. Two of these stores have a "boutique" area within the store, with its own cash registers (you have to purchase boutique items at the specific boutique cash register and they have a different type of bag, which they staple shut). The ordinary stuff is right outside in the regular store. So far I have found very little good stuff in the boutiques----IMO they do not really know valuable stuff from ordinary. So they do stuff like, for instance, put an tacky sequinned prom dress from Sears, circa 1982 in the boutique for $100 and leave a beautiful (but understated)$500-at-retail designer garment on the regular shop's rack for 4.50, where I bought it (for myself!). They catch the really obvious goodies (like cache of old Fiesta which went right into the boutique for $300) but miss a heck of a lot of the things which do not jump right out as "obvious moneymakers" to their pickers. So the boutiques haven't hurt me---but then, I live in an area with tons of thrift stores, so if one goes sour I am not up the creek. I know not everyone has access to a lot of sources.
I really hate it when these places price books sky high. One Salvation Army here charges 65 cents for hardcovers. Another charges 1.00, but if it's a hardcover cookbook they are 2.50!! I can't understand that particular quirk. FWIW, the cashiers never charge 2.50 for the cookbooks because they think it is ridiculous too. They will ring it up for me at 1.75 or 1.25 saying "Oh, it's not in that good of condition." Heh.
posted on January 5, 2001 04:02:49 PM
I don't begrudge Goodwill trying to get top dollar for some of its items. And yes, I think they are fairly unsophisticated when it comes to figuring out what's valuable and what's not.
I've stopped shopping at Goodwill and the Salvation Army, though, because of the higher prices, and for the fact that most of the "good stuff" ends up going to the employees before the public even sees it. If I'm gonna pay an antique store price for an item, I'm gonna go to an antique store, where I don't have to sift through a bunch of crap just to find something good.
The store did have (up until last week) a boutique area. Which was fine and dandy with me. Once in a while I would find something that was worth the higher price. But, what I was trying to get at, is that the whole store is now boutique! The same things that they have had in there for months are now at crazy prices.
I dont have any problem paying a fair price for something. Heck, I spend a good amount of money in there. But, all of their prices are high now. All sweaters are $22.00 or thereabouts. The same ones that were in there last week for $8.00. Ties are even $8.00! It is crazy.........
Anyway, at those prices, they can keep it. I have plenty of other places to shop at. I do remember a couple of years ago, their prices went skyhigh for awhile. Then, reality set back in and they realized that they werent making anymore money that way and items were just taking up space. So, maybe the same thing will happen again.
posted on January 5, 2001 04:20:28 PM
Do you ever do that, go to an antique store I mean? I shopped at one in my community for Xmas presents and got an amythest depression glass candy dish for my hubby's office. The stall was marked 50% off. I felt I got a good price, but I spent 20 minutes with the shop owners poring through glass books trying to find the pattern, and during that time they remarked the price I paid was basically the book value.
So, does that mean before the sale the stall owner was trying to get double the book value?
Obviously, you have to know values and ebay rates in order to buy anything for resale, but as a rule of thumb, I've assumed that shopping an antique store for ebayables would be pointless, because they'd already charge what people would pay, right?
posted on January 5, 2001 04:27:31 PM
It is the same reason that eBay wants to distance themselves from the flea market seller and Yahoo wants to improve the "quality" of their listings by charging fees. It is the same reason the Realtors in our area tried to equate themselves with doctors and lawyers, as "professional" people
and require some degree to be a Realtor even if it was in Oceanography or some other unrelated field. My Grandmother would call it "putting on airs".
posted on January 5, 2001 04:39:51 PM
I've noticed raised prices in all thrift stores. The worst one is one of the Salvation Army stores around here. I live in the center of 3 different Salvation Army's. The 2 are prices pretty reasonable. But this ONE! She has dresses with stains and tears marked at $28.99! And it's not even a name brand! Heaven forbid it was a name brand - it would go in the front of her store with special "pink tickets" (which mean NO SALE - EVER). We call that section the "Lord & Taylor" section. I refuse to even shop there anymore. I swear the manager of that store is on drugs or something. EVERYONE complains about that store - but nothing is ever done about it. Not only are the prices outrageous, but the staff there is very unfriendly.
I think all thrift stores should have a set price for all items. (Example: Skirts are all $3, Dresses are all $5, etc). I like how Goodwill prices their items - but I've noticed that even they have raised their "set prices" and I've noticed a lot of special tagged items marked at $19.99 for a dress or $24.99 for a skirt suit, etc. I mean - this stuff is all donated - they shouldn't be so greedy.
posted on January 5, 2001 04:53:45 PM
Totally agree about the Salvation Army. I was scouting around one recently (the estate/garage sales have dried up with the cold weather) and found a piece of McCoy that books at $40-50. Had no price. Asked at the register who, of course, had to ask the manager, who took one look at me and figured I wasn't a charity case and said the price was $75! For a McCoy candy dish from the 70s!? It's right in the book for $45! (I'll bet she knew it too). I think what a lot of them do is scout out the good stuff for themselves ... buy it at the price they set, then re-sell it.
There used to be a "thrift" (not the S.A. or GW ... would rather not say which one) near our old shop where the person who ran it marked everything up very high. Got away with it because this was a wealthy area. She bought everything that was passed over for herself and resold it at NYC's infamous 26th Street market!
posted on January 5, 2001 05:05:30 PM
I'm of two minds about this. First of all, the thrift shops don't exist to feed cheap goodies to eBay sellers, and why shouldn't they make as much as they can for their true clients (the charities they support, and/or the people who really NEED cheap clothing, kitchen equipment, etc.)?
OTOH, it saddens me to see a thrift shop suddenly jump from reasonable prices for everyone to a "boutique" arrangement that cannot really make money for the charity OR provide clothing for the poor.
I don't patronize the local Goodwill much, but there is a UVS thrift store in town that has brought me some of my best bargains ever. Most blouses and jackets are $2 ($4 for lined ones, and they can't seem to tell the difference between a Sears lined jacket and a Jones New York lined jacket), and dresses are $3-$4. Almost every time I go, I find real designer prizes for next to nothing, many with the dry cleaner's tags still on them. I asked the lady in charge once why this was, and she said that they had a number of well-to-do women who supported their charities and regularly brought in their "used" clothing or emptied out their rented storage lockers when it was time to change wardrobes. I should be so lucky as to have that many clothes!
Anyway, I've occasionally picked up a mismarked item there and I insist on paying the posted price anyway...it's already so cheap as to be ridiculous. I also bring extra hangers and all the plastic and paper shopping bags I have around (they run short of both), whenever I go. They deserve my support...both as a charity and as a happy hunting ground.
posted on January 5, 2001 05:14:41 PM
Here is a twist to the story. Ebay has become such a market for antiques and collectables that I can find bargains in most antique stores...better bargains than my Goodwill or any other Thrift store..the dealers will bargain where as Goodwill will not.
posted on January 5, 2001 05:22:17 PM
OUR Goodwill has been expensive for about 5 years now.
AND they are very selective about donations as well.
They AND the Salvation Army are no longer affordable to the poor in our region.
Lucky for them I still have 25 cents garage sales.
Greed is Bad.
posted on January 5, 2001 06:09:52 PMI think all thrift stores should have a set price for all items. (
Interesting concept. Please explain why you think a high-end designer jacket should have the same price as one of poly gabardine, or why a Melmac bowl should cost the same as one in Bauer ringware.
posted on January 5, 2001 06:20:54 PM
The point at which we stopped giving anything to the Goodwill was when we took 9 big garbage bags full of really nice business clothing - Pendalton wool and other good names. We watched and none of it ever made it out to the racks.
Now it goes to a local charity that does not sell anything to the public. They supply clothing and household items only on referal from an agency. Items that do not fit their clients they give to other charities or sell for export or rags.
posted on January 5, 2001 10:11:11 PM
The Goodwill in my area got really bad press, because the employees were stealing the designer and namebrand clothes.
posted on January 5, 2001 10:30:46 PM
I think it is crazy for them to rage their prices that high.One reason is that some of them throw away more than they will ever sale such as the ones in Orlando Florida.Not only that it seems to me they would help more people by selling at prices they could afford.So what if E-Bayers buy up alot of it,at least its being sold and not dumped!
posted on January 5, 2001 11:03:45 PM
I can still do really good at the thrift stores where I live. The items I buy are not top priority to them so they price them cheap but to me I can get about $20.00 to $30.00 more for them. Last week I went to the thrift store and found a Coogi sweater for $4.99 but when I got to the register it was half price. Not a bad deal. Then I went to another one and found a sweater like Coogi for $2.99 so I guess I had a good week. Every Saturday our Value Village has 50% off the entire stores merchandise and I really get good deals there. Soon Garage sales will start again. Thanks goodness. I really envy the people in the south with their garage sales all year. Came back from Phoenix in November and there were garage sales and estate sales every weekend. Great stuff there. There was one whole shopping mall of thrift stores.
posted on January 5, 2001 11:19:04 PMInteresting concept. Please explain why you think a high-end designer jacket should have the same price as one of poly gabardine, or why a Melmac bowl should cost the same as one in Bauer ringware.
One of our local thrift shops DOES use this method and it's very successful. A Wal-Mart brand dress costs the store $0 just like a Liz Claiborne dress costs the store $0. Therefore, in this store all dresses are $6, regardless of brand name, etc.
Say a poor person goes to the store and the only thing they find that fits them is the Claiborne dress. Should they have to pay more because of the brand name? I think not.
Another reason, I feel everything should have set prices is because these managers are going over-and-beyond reasonable prices. $28.99 for a Wal-Mart brand dress that's stained and torn and missing buttons?? That's outrageous! It was DONATED to the store! They are all just getting greedy.
Like I said, one of the thrift stores near me DOES use this method and it has proven to be very successful. The other stores when you walk in all you hear is "look at this price!" - "is she crazy???" - "Who prices this stuff?". Nothing but a joke.
posted on January 5, 2001 11:39:17 PM
When I was young we were poor and my clothing came from Goodwill. I know it was very cheap - but we always looked good. I can remember when each neighborhood had their own Goodwill.
I always thought they were there to help the poor buy things inexpensively and give the handicapped a job. I guess times do change!
Are you aware that Goodwill sells bundles of clothing as land fill? Just thought you might find that interesting .....
posted on January 5, 2001 11:50:09 PM
I just have to add that the goodwill I go to, here in NY is super.......prices are very reasonable. Sometimes with collectibles they will be a little high but if it doesn't sell, they lower it. I have gotten some great buys, for resale and for myself and the people there are very friendly.
They put up with some incredible members of the public also.....nasty and unpleasant!
They also sort through tons of junk......I have been there when people have brought in dirty dishes, soiled sheets and the like....they get dumped on enough, so cheers for the goodwill workers.....in my area anyway!
posted on January 6, 2001 12:16:29 AM
WOW God forbid if the Goodwill stores where I live go boutique!!!
I think it such a funny crazy thought!
You do get such great deals there. Its one of my main sources of merchandise nowadays as its winter & all the great garage sales/ estates sales are almost non existent around here..So I love goodwill hunting!!!Its one of the reasons why I love seling on ebay so much..you get to treasure hunt for cheap then watch people worldwide buy it...Not bad.
posted on January 6, 2001 02:44:34 AM
I think one thing that people keep forgetting here, is that the items mybe donated, the employess there work for a wage and the building has expenses.
I personally hate to see them raise prices, but nothing stays cheap forever....
Ain't Life Grand...
posted on January 6, 2001 03:33:07 AM
Not Goodwill, but because the Salvation Army is considered a "religious" organization, they get certain breaks. I know when I worked there (and it is still the same), if things slow down and they let you go, you CAN'T collect unemployment.
posted on January 6, 2001 04:32:28 AM
I called the local Salvation Army Citadel on Friday to ask about the policy on employee purchase of donated items. At first, the woman really didn't know what it was. I said you must have some kind of idea what the policy is. She said she thinks if it's been on the sale floor 24 hours, then the employee can buy it. So if a person is handicapped, or poor and can't get to the thrift store every day then there is a great potential that you will miss out on some of the nicer things.
Wouldn't this be similar to Walmart midnight employees stocking a popular item, such as the Playstation 2 on the shelf at 6:30 in the morning and then buying them for themselves or thier friends before they leave at 7:00 when the doors open?
posted on January 6, 2001 05:41:25 AM
Boy you should see what thrift stores look like when you live off the beaten track.
Junk. Dirty. Broken or missing parts. They have bag days all the time just to keep the clothing from piling up so much.
I miss Virginia for the quality of thrifts and yard sales.
posted on January 6, 2001 05:51:08 AMsome of them throw away more than they will ever sale such as the ones in Orlando Florida.
The stuff you think they're "throwing away" is SOLD to rag dealers, a/k/a textile recyclers.
This stuff is all donated - they shouldn't be so greedy
And the point of selliing those donations is to MAKE MONEY for the programs e.g. Goodwill runs. Yeah, I'd call that "greedy".
OTOH, it saddens me to see a thrift shop suddenly jump from reasonable prices for everyone to a "boutique" arrangement that cannot really make money for the charity OR provide clothing for the poor.
If the "boutique" concept doesn't work, it'll be abandoned (was at one shop here).
Please folks, try to understand. "Thrift shops" run by charities such as the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul are not set up to be low-cost "discount stores" where "the poor" can buy clothing. Virtually ALL the organizations I'm (very) familiar with provide such articles to the poor FREE. What you see in the shops is there to generate funds for additional programs such as fuel assistance.
Goodwill and organizations like it aren't there for "the poor" at all. Goodwill runs sheltered workshops where disabled people receive work training and employment in everything from repair to packing to merchandising to bookkeeping. The donated goods are their materials and inventory. The revenue from the store pays everybody back in the shop. It also pays for additional training and outreach programs for disabled people.
In either case, the more $$ the shop generates, the more funding for those people the organization is set up to help.
Not Goodwill, but because the Salvation Army is considered a "religious" organization, they get certain breaks. I know when I worked there (and it is still the same), if things slow down and they let you go, you CAN'T collect unemployment
You may have worked there, but somebody seriously misinformed you. My uncle was the Northeast Division Commander of the SA for decades (he is third-generation SA); my cousin is a SA officer. My mother, although not an officer, had a mid-level position in local SA administration, among other things overseeing payroll and taxes. The SA is indeed required to pay Social Security and unemployment taxes for its regular employees. (Weren't we through this already in a thread a couple months ago?)
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Jan 6, 2001 05:53 AM ]
