posted on January 18, 2003 10:58:43 PM
I found an obscure electonric game system at Goodwill today, marked for $25. Next to it was a bag that included the plugs, insruction book, and 4 additional games. The bag had no price on it, so I natually assumed it went with the game system, which was marked for $25 (this was a good deal) - Well, went to checkout, and they charged me the $24.99 for the game system, but wanted to charge me $9.99 for the bag - I told them there must be a mistake, because there was no price on the bag, and it included parts that were required for the game system to work. They wouldn't budge! They said that items come in seperately (which was unbelievably stupid because the extra bag included the instructions and plugs)
Well, I told them to put back the game system, and that I would take the bag for $9.99, which they of course did because they were trying to sell them seperately. It turned out to be a better deal for me, because the games are really what I wanted, and after looking them up I saw I could probably make about $70 on them alone. I again pointed out how stupid this was though, and that they were going to try to sell a system for $25 WITHOUT any way for the person to plug it in, and without instructions. Basically, it was unsellable because of that. The clerk could care less, just told me it was not returnable...
Anyway, what idiots! Certainly does not make me want to donate anything to such an inept organization.
posted on January 19, 2003 01:05:24 AM
I agree with your thought on the GW being an inept organization. The local GW dosplays furniture this way.
Place a piece of furniture in the display area. Then out another one on top of it. Too bad of the second one scratches the frist one. Then put a third one leaning on the first one. Gouging nicks?, they could care less. I would rather put my stuff out to the trash. At least a junk picker would appreciate it!
They also must have about 50 lamps that NEVER SELL. The reason, they have them on an upper shelf that no one can see, and that you must use a ladder to get to. After they get an "associate" to help you, you loose interest.
The thing that really gets me is when they get all this garage sale leftovers that have tags the say .25c, they simply stick one their 1.00 tags over that. If the item doesn't sell for .25, then why do they think it should sell for 1.00?????
spelling and additions edit
[ edited by yeager on Jan 19, 2003 01:09 AM ]
posted on January 19, 2003 06:37:14 AM
I 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. I shop at Goodwill for my items to sell but I try to be as kind to the employees as possible, keeping in mind, they make "peanuts" for wages. I do not try to ask them to mark items down further as it makes me feel "cheap". No one forces anyone to shop at Goodwill so I wonder why people that consider them "inept" would even shop there. Makes no sense.
posted on January 19, 2003 06:43:52 AM
"Inept" would be a kind way of describing Goodwill staff.
As far as peanuts for wages go, I suspect a great many eBay sellers make less than $6.25 an hour by the time all is said and done. I don't notice anyone going out of their way to be kind to them, though.
posted on January 19, 2003 08:39:00 AM
If Ebay sellers, especially the ones with high sell through rates, are making less than $6.25 an hour, then maybe they should take a look at there selling practices and products. If that does not help, go down to the Goodwill and ask for a job applicatiion, and make the "big money". Lets try to set our goals higher.
posted on January 19, 2003 08:44:40 AM
We've got a new Goodwill store in town. It's a good-sized store, they've got to be paying a lot of rent. I went in hoping to find some eBay bargains to make a few bucks on. Well, no way Jose that was going to happen. Everything was way over-priced for what it was...basically garage sale leftovers, of course. A whole back shelf of broken-looking toasters, electronics, etc at near-full retail, etc. I expected junk, but this was JUNK! I won't go back, either.
I had a friend that used to work at a similar establishment on a voluntary basis.
She said most of the GOOD STUFF (and people donate some great items) doesn't make it to the shelves. It gets put in the trunks of the managers and employees (and then probably on eBay!) I know they've had exposes on TV about this before...
[ edited by bones21 on Jan 19, 2003 10:57 AM ]
posted on January 19, 2003 09:36:13 AM
I actually don't expect much, and I shop there because I can find things for $2 to sell for $30 on ebay. Do the math...
I guess I expect most functioning adults (and one who has a job falls into that category) to see the stupidity in selling an electronic device and the parts that are required for it to work seperately. If their goal is to help people, they are failing in that they sold me something for $10 that makes it impossible for a higher priced item to work, rendering it not sellable. I wasn't asking for a discount, if the extra bag contained games to play on the system only, I wouldn't have argued the point. I purchased the $10 item and now they are left with a $25 item nobody will buy because it can't work without the plugs....And the person who explained this was the manager, who I expect a little more from than the clerks, because the manager had to come over to void the transaction.
To the person who thinks Goodwill is for poor people, you haven't been inside a store for many years. Items at Goodwill are priced sometimes MORE than retail. When I donate items, they go to other organizations, where people who need them get them for FREE. I think Goodwill has decided if people can sell on ebay, they are going to overprice stuff for online sellers. That's fine, I pass on that stuff and pick up stuff that I know is going to make a decent profit, and since I have been doing it, I've done pretty well.
posted on January 19, 2003 10:07:32 AM
If you think they charge alot in the stores, check out the prices they get on their auction website.
http://www.shopgoodwill.com
posted on January 19, 2003 10:30:23 AM
our local Goodwill store is manned by 2 managers and the clerks and stockers are developmentally disabled adults that do the best they can to give the customer polite and quick service. they do not have the authorization to change any prices and must always call a manager for any customer problems.
they, the same as many goodwill stores now, list the best stuff on shopgoodwill.com.
I have purchased quite a few items from our local store through the website auction....you can go into the store to look at items listed that you are interested in...you can pick up your purchase so there is no shipping charge.
it is amazing, some of the fantastic things that are given to goodwill...check out the auction site.
Forgot to mention, you can search just for items listed by your local Goodwill store.
[ edited by rarriffle on Jan 19, 2003 10:31 AM ]
posted on January 19, 2003 10:49:44 AMIf Ebay sellers, especially the ones with high sell through rates, are making less than $6.25 an hour, then maybe they should take a look at there selling practices and products.
Oh dear no, I wasn't referring to moi. I get $25 an hour plus benefits.
But certainly there are people flogging their 99 cent items and being pleased when one turns into a $5 sale.
posted on January 19, 2003 12:23:38 PM
ahc3
posted on January 19, 2003 09:36:13 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually don't expect much, and I shop there because I can find things for $2 to sell for $30 on ebay. Do the math...
////////////////////////////////////
ARENT YOU CROWDING OUT THE FOLKS WHO CAN ONLY AFFORD 2.00 FOR THEIR OWN USE,AS THEY CANT AFFORD TO GO ELSEHWHERE??
posted on January 19, 2003 12:33:30 PM
stopwhining- in a word- no.
Just like on ebay, there's more than enough cast-off trash to go around. And around and around and around.
My next-door neighbor gives me bags of shi- I mean. stuff, to drop off for her. One time, she said "I bought this on ebay..."
IT's REALLY funny, too, how, in the times when we can't afford more than $2.00 for my shirts- we always have plenty of time to go searching at the thruft stores!
hours and hours of no-job time.
"And All Shall be Well, and All Shall be Well, and All Manner of Things Shall be Well"
posted on January 19, 2003 01:19:27 PM
Goodwill doesn't give a dzxn who buys there stuff. I have bought sets of chinafor peanuts & got discount because I have a resale license. Bought a London Fog jacket for $2.95, paid $5.00 to have it cleaned, easily worth $50.00, looks like new. Our Goodwill has a lot of competition, at least 4 other thrift stores in town. I check them weekly for china.
posted on January 19, 2003 03:05:41 PM
"ARENT YOU CROWDING OUT THE FOLKS WHO CAN ONLY AFFORD 2.00 FOR THEIR OWN USE,AS THEY CANT AFFORD TO GO ELSEHWHERE??"
Not at all. These are NOT items that someone who is really poor would be buying anyway. The only people who buy these things are like me, wanting to resell on ebay (or perhaps want for themselves) - I feel no guilt, I give a lot, just not to a place like Goodwill. I go right to the source, shelters, food pantries, etc. That is they way to REALLY help people, not staying away from Goodwill so someone on Welfare can buy an obsolete game system for $35.
posted on January 19, 2003 03:30:01 PM
On the topic of pushing out the needy you also have to understand that more than just a place for low income individuals to purchase low ticket items., Goodwill / Salvation Army etc stores are a fund raising location for the organizations. Profits from these stores go to fund community relief efforts. Low income fmailies may miss out on the opportunity to purchase antique china but they benefit from community centers, meals, etc that are funded with those purchases.
posted on January 19, 2003 07:24:28 PMarent goodwill,salvation army etc meant for poor people who cant afford to shop at dept stores??
Usually, the most freuquent customer from the thrifts is the person with lesser income.
Actually, there are for anyone who is in the store at the time the item is there, and has the cash to pay for it. Your question implies that these stores were specifically designed for only the poor.
In today's thrift store marketplace, the poor are usualy the ones who are hardest hit. When a person goes into the store to buy something, and the management seems to think the person is buying to resell, they raise the price beyond the buying power of the poor. This is ineptitude.
The GW here has a store dispaly case full of the "good Stuff". Some of these items might include a piece of depression glass with a nice chip in it, a pottery vase with so much crazing it looks like a road map, and anything with chrome on it. It could be a Walmart salt and pepper set. As long as it has chrome on it, it goes into the case. With a high price on it too.
Most of the junk, and I meant junk in the local GW is priced at about 50 percent and somtimes more of the original retail. Why would anyone buy such junk when you could buy it new in the box from Walmat or Kamrt for a few bucks more? There you also get an item that will work, and have a return policy too.
This last summer, we had a garage sale and priced things at 25 percent of the original retail. We sold loads and loads of stuff. 856.00 in two days. A lot of work getting ready, but a lot of fun meeting people too. The other things we gave to family and friends, the rest went to the womens shelter 30 miles away, in the northern Detroit suburbs. Two boxes of household items, and 2 bags of woman's and boys clothing. NOT to the local GW! EVER!
posted on January 19, 2003 08:37:38 PM
Ok, I've been lurking in this thread and thought I'd share my thoughts on the matter.
I am an active volunteer with The Salvation Army. NO, not in the thrift store, but in with their community youth programs. A few quick things to know about The Salvation Army thrift stores:
1. Thrift stores in most large metro areas are run by what is called an A.R.C (Adult Rehabilatation Center). The ARC is dual purpose. It is a central processing facility that handles all the pick-ups and sorts the items donated, as well as a thrift store. But the main purpose is to provide men with alcohol & drug addictions a place to get help with addiction counseling, a place to live (yes, they have dorm like housing at the ARC) a job, and spiritual guidance. It is a huge program, usually with 100 or more residents at a given time. It's a chance for them to get their lives back, and it works for many.
2.The smaller area thrift stores are run by the local Salvation Army Center. Staff and management consists of regular folk, but the local Salvation Army Commanding Officer is the "CEO" so to speak.
3. The truly needy always gets help. I have seen the Army give away clothes, furniture, and yes, even cars to those in desperate need. That's the real reason most of the items were donated for in the first place. Ever see the Goodwill try any of that?
My donated items always get sent to the Army. Keep in mind every store is different, but for the most part, The Salvation Army does a heck of a lot more with donations than the local Goodwill. Just my two cents worth.
posted on January 19, 2003 08:55:53 PM
I don't think that Salvation Army is like Goodwill at all. Goodwill is a scam, Salvation Army's mission is to help those in need...
posted on January 19, 2003 09:25:22 PM
I hate Goodwill. The one in my town has prices that are just plain nuts and shady employees.
A few weeks ago they had:
A used desk with crayon marking all over it for $75.00. The Wal-Mart 1/4 mile away had it new for $67.00
A 70's couch that reeked of cat piss and baby poop. It also had a broken leg. They wanted $275. A similar one, in NEW condition was at a local used furniture store for $65. It had the store tags underneath. I bought it.
A FAKE Gucci purse that smelled like stinky feet for $200. A customer pointed out that it was fake illegal to sell it as authentic. The cashier and manager got so nasty with her they should have been fired. They wanted to know what made her an "expert". She replied "the 30 something GENUINE Gucci bags I own". They were aware that it was fake anyway, because one of the worker b*tches said: "it looks real and that is what is important". It didn't even look close to genuine. Anyway if it were the real thing, it would have never made it to the floor...an employee would have kept it.
posted on January 19, 2003 09:28:23 PM
My experience with St. VdeP and Salvation Army is that one (perhaps both) gives out vouchers to those who need household goods so they end up paying little or nothing.
If Goodwill has such a program I have never heard of it.
Locally, if you go into a St. VdeP, there is always a bin full of day-old bakery goods, free for the taking.
That's where my donations go. NOT to the Goodwill, NOT to the American Cancer Society Discovery Shops (which are run here like upscale gift shops with attitude) and NOT to any of the privately-owned thrifts like Savers.
posted on January 19, 2003 10:21:32 PM
Does anyone know exactly what alleged charity the proceeds from the Goodwill stores go to? Even their auction web site is a little vague on that point. I don't recall ever meeting a person who has been helped in time of need by Goodwill (except for a few sharp eyed Ebay sellers).OTOH, I know of several who have been helped immensly by the Salvation Army and St. Vincent De Paul.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on January 19, 2003 11:08:04 PM
In my area of Michiagn, I hold the thrifts in this order of ranking on a scale of 1 - 10.
# 1. The Salvation Army. For all the reasons the others have cited here. Even though I sometimes don't agree with some of their ways, I always give to their bell ringers in Chrismastime. I also find their store to win the "Stink Free Award".
# 2. St. Vincent De Paul. For the many same reasons found here. Although locally, the store needs a good airing out!
# 3.
# 4.
# 5.
# 6.
# 7.
# 8.
# 9.
# 10. The Goodwill Store. For the same reasons found here and many, many more.
posted on January 20, 2003 03:39:18 AM....there is always a bin full of day-old bakery goods, free for the taking
Same here with the Salvation Army. I was having a hissy fit, because my local bakery was out of the bread I wanted. When I asked if they had any leftovers from the day before, they told me they donated it to the Salvation Army.
I thought that was a really nice thing to do, so I didn't give them the evil eye.
posted on January 20, 2003 08:20:26 PM
THE G/W IN LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA WAS SOOOOOO GREEDY THEY CHARGED $5.00 TO GET INTO THE AS IS LOT. OH, WE KNOCK IT OFF YOUR PURCHASE PRICE,,,,,,HAHAHA,,,,WHAT IF YOU FOUND ,,,NOTHING! AND THAT WAS PER DAY. THEY WERE ALSO EMBEZZLING FUNDS...THE EMPLOYEES WERE SIMPLY TRANSFERED AND SPLIT UP AS THEY KNEW THE SYSTEM TOO WELL AS A TEAM.....HAHAHA..IN THE NAME OF CHARITY,,,,THEIRS!!!!! AND YUP....THAT LOUIE....NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS, A REAL! ONE! NO WAY,,,,,RIGHT HOME WITH THE WORKER....SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY HIRE ARE ,,PICKERS,,,ONE FOR THE GOODWILL AND TWO FOR THEM.....GOTTA RUN.
posted on January 20, 2003 11:37:00 PM
I used to shop GW a lot, even before eBay. Now, not so much. They've gotten totally greedy. One reason, IMO: eBay.
Last time I was there I was waiting in line next to a nice lady. She had a stuffed bear and a bunch of kids clothes to dress it in.
The lady explained to me that the bear was for her class of autistic children. The clothes were to help the kids learn to use buttons and zippers. The bear was soft fabric, but hairless. She said the fuzzy kind of bears scare the kids.
Anyway, the lady got to the front of the line and asked the manager how much for the bear. (There was no price tag.) The manager looks at the manufacturer's label and says, $9.99. "Oh, that's a [something or other] and they're collectible."
Believe me this was just some ratty old stuffed doll. So the lady explains the doll is for a bunch of autistic kids. And also points out that she's got at least $20 worth of clothes to go with it. And the manager gives her a stupid, vacant stare and repeats, "it's a collectible." Yeah, collectible my ass.
The lady was very disappointed, and left the whole bunch there, including the clothes. I just wanted to grab that manager and beat some sense into her. I couldn't stop thinking about those autistic kids, and the pretentiousness of GW to think that they are a "collectibles" store.
I've seen it before. Old, scratched records for $20. Overpriced crap. Meanwhile, the good stuff is going out the back door to the manager's truck.
posted on January 21, 2003 02:29:19 PM
I agree on the old scratched records at GW. Many of them look like someone ice skated on them. Whenever a popular singer dies, the record goes in the "collectable" case and the price goes up. In their mind, it instantly becomes worth lots of money. I really wonder if they know that these records are stamped out in the thousands per day. What a bunch of boobs!
posted on January 21, 2003 03:53:30 PM
Have any of the Goodwill stores in your area started selling the store returns. The stores in my area have. I asked the manager about it (since it seems to be the same stuff that I pick up when the mood hits) and she confirmed the source and said they are now in the store return resale business as well as donations. The thing is, they are trying to get close to the same price Target was selling it for.
[ edited by reddfoxx on Jan 21, 2003 03:56 PM ]
