posted on January 21, 2003 06:07:18 PM
Oh yeah ~ my Goodwill gets a truck load from Target every week from what I am told and what I see for sale there!
Most is damaged but sometimes just to the box or package, so I have gotten some great deals!!
They seem to be getting more & more new stuff and junk donations, hardly ever find vintage dishes or household items like I used to
posted on January 22, 2003 04:32:26 AM
>>>> asked at our local Goodwill and the employees make $6.25 an hour. What can you expect? $6.25 an hour is not near enough to hire devoted employees who spend all day listening to customers gripe about paying 20 bucks for an item that is worth well over $100.00.<<<<<
BWHAHAHAHA. I am laughing tears of sadness because I work at a Salvation Army Thrift Store for $5.95 an hour. And my employer actually threatens daily to fire us because we don't work up to their standards. Not to mention how they actually made us sign a piece of paper saying that we must live our lives OUTSIDE the store in a way that reflects positive to their image. Guess I'd better quit my part-time evening hooker job
Why do I stay? Why do I put up with complaining customers? Why do I work for a pittance? Because I have great co-workers, several of whom are very good friends and I can't complain about the hours (no weekends nor evenings). Thank goodness I don't rely on my income to make ends meet.
BTW, for anyone who thinks the employees get first dibs on items, think again. Everything must go on the sales floor for a full day and we don't get discounts either.
Nice company, huh?
**Mental note to remind myself of the reasons I stay.....**
posted on January 22, 2003 07:11:26 AM
ThriftStoreQueen
I know, you are right
When I was up in Erie Pa shopping at The Salvation Army, I saw a beautiful wig and bought it. The girl that was working the counter said she wanted to buy it but it was just put out that day and she wasn't allowed to purchase first day on the floor merchandise
At my local Goodwill, the girls that work there are so nice. They aren't allowed to shop when working or pull something to stash away until off work.
A lot of times when I walk in, they know what style of clohting I tend to buy so they'll show me items that I might like, now that's service
Our Goodwill is about the busiest store in town and I joke with them, that maybe they should have a coffee bar
I sell mostly clothing, so I make out great on that end. Just the household, dishes, etc that I can't find anymore for my antique booth.
posted on January 22, 2003 11:03:20 AM
Ya'll have hit the mark on GW but may I add here in Denver the BIG KAHUNA of greed in the thriftstore market is the DAV! They have gotten so greedy and absurd and RUDE!!!! that they now do not have 1 pair of childrens shoes (no matter condition) for less than $8.95 get a grip! I had a "chat" with the manager, Shirley and she claims that it's a "corporate" decision if it has a "known label" Eddie Bauer ect they want BIG $$$$ for it. I pulled one E Bauer sweater off the rack for $29.95 and told her I could buy 10 E Bauer sweaters at another store in town for the same price. I also said so which store do you think gets MOST of my money and time. They have a Dooney and Burke purse new with tags right now for a whopping (HOLD ON KIDS) $499.99 !!!!! They sell the same bag on the D+B website for $249.99 NEW from the maker. I told them at the DAV now 2 months later they have marked it down to $359.99. Is this legal theft or what? The other store I mentioned would have sold the same bag for $79.00 200 times by now... so who is the winner. I have told Shirley in my business experience of 25 years the motto is "fast nickel, slow dime"
But the fact that I have sat in my truck and watched Shirley carry bags out to her car #'s of times tells me she is making enough $ to not care! SCREW ebay maybe I need Shirley's job!
posted on January 22, 2003 02:10:27 PM
I spent years going to Goodwills. I have been to GW's all up and down the Eastern seaboard. I do not go anymore. There are 4 of them in my town and 2 more in adjacent towns. At everyone of them, I have seen employees and managers walk out with items. G/W has a policy that their employees are not supposed to buy any of the items, yet they do it blatently. When I try to call G/W and complain, I get an answering machine. The worst one, was the day that I saw a man literally taking items right out of the truck and giving them to his family waiting by their car. He was in plain view of the manager of the store. So, now my items go to the Salvation Army who has been rated one of the highest charities for giving back to the people that need it.
posted on January 22, 2003 06:33:58 PM
THOSE DAV'S HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY VETERANS GROUPS. THEY PAY ROYALTIES TO USE THE NAME ON THE FRONT DOOR. I CALLED THE HEADQAURTERS IN SAN DIEGO MANY YEARS AGO AND FOUD THIS OUT. WHEN FOR MANY OF THE REASONS AS LISTED ABOVE SURFACED, ESPECIALLY ,,,THE ARROGANCE OF THE EMPLOYEES...DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS....I AM ONE AND WHEN I NEEDED SOME ASSITANCE FROM THEM I WAS SET BACK BY WHAT I SAW SO I GOT ON THE HOOK AND FOUND ANSWERS...THEY ARE NOTHING BUT PRIVATE ENTERPISE,,,"NOTHING" TO DO WITH VETS. PERIOD! THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE TOO ,,,,VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA! I FOLLOWED THE TRUCK ONE DAY,,,,RIGHT TO A PRIVATE THRIFT STORE....JOES THRIFT...HMMMMMMM,,,NOT A BAD IDEA,,FEW SHEETS OF PLYWOOD,,,,COUPLE OF BUCKS TO THE CORNER SPOT LAND LORD. FANCY HEARTSTRING WORDS,,POW AND AMERICAN FLAGS WAVING,,,,,INSTANT E BAY STUFF.....NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!!!! BUT,,,,,THEY ARE DOING IT..
posted on January 22, 2003 07:34:04 PM
You'd better believe that happens, because in my town two GW managers were arrested and found to have MILLIONS of dollars worth of goods in their homes.
I complained once about employees leaving piles of bags of stuff behind the counter. All the good stuff is bagged up behind the counter (right where you can see it) and the employees take it home with them. I've seen the manager pricing it for them: $5 bucks for a grocery bag full of stuff.
Anyway I called their main office and told them I didn't like to see the employees "reserved" stuff behind the counter. 'Don't know if they did anything about it 'cause I don't shop there much any more.
posted on January 22, 2003 08:36:38 PM
I think that everyone that reads this post regarding Goodwill should make copies of this discussion and leave a copy at each GW store in their area. Maybe they will get the picture.
I know that the local GW stores (2) in my immediate area are overpriced, dirty and disorganized. Who buys that stuff, and how do they get them to buy it?
posted on January 22, 2003 09:07:11 PMYou'd better believe that happens, because in my town two GW managers were arrested and found to have MILLIONS of dollars worth of goods in their homes
I live a couple of towns north of you, up the Peninsula.
It was three GW managers and they are sisters. They had other family members in on the fraud. If I recall correctly, police found $400,000 in CASH that was embezzled from Goodwill, as well as numerous barrels full of goods in storage units.
Supposedly, Goodwill management had no idea any of this was going on.
posted on January 22, 2003 09:15:19 PM
I'D RATHER DRAG A CHRISTMAS TREE TO THE FOLKS WHERE I SEE HAVE NOT,,,,, THAN GIVE ONE PENNY TO THOSE CROOKS,,,,,WANNA TALK ABOUT THE RED CROSS ? REMEMBER THOSE FOLKS?
Goodwill Industries International CEO Kessinger says that the Santa Clara episode was an isolated incident. “When we found out what happened in Santa Clara, we stopped it,” he says, adding that Goodwill stores now have anti-theft devices comparable to those found in for-profit stores.
posted on January 24, 2003 05:13:11 AM
my sister in law had to do community service at the local goodwill about 2 years ago. she used to come home with brand name clothing and jewelry and electronics. shed tell us how the managers would just take the good items straight of the truch to their cars. i found this apalling but when i call the authorites on it they did nothing. just kind of makes you wonder.
posted on January 24, 2003 06:32:25 PM
I often find it interesting that I can buy new items at walmart or kmart for less or nearly the same price as goodwill. I have tried going in a few times for fun and couldnt believe the horribly high prices for what is suppose to be thrift store items. I am not sure what purpose goodwill serves. Are they raising money for lower income folks or are they suppose to be selling to lower income folks? If raising money by selling than ok, if they are trying to get these things to them for low cost than forget it! I am not an unreasonable shopper, I promise they charge way to much. I saw an entertainment center a bit worn for 150.00. Found the same one new for 75.00. I dont get it.
posted on January 24, 2003 10:25:25 PM
GINA,,,BLEEDING HEARTS,,,,,,,SAVE THE WORLD,,,,,YEAH, LIKE THE RED CROSS????? AND THEY ARE BACK IN ACTION,,,,,,,DUMPING BLOOD,,,,,,,YES BLOOD,,,DOWN THE DRAIN,,,,,,,,
