posted on March 19, 2001 05:10:57 AM new
In the FreePress this morning all 5 stores closing. They have not made money for 3 years. It is not surprising. I drop stuff off there but it is shabby and high prices on stuff I would not take for free.
So instead of charging high prices for goods and then feeding that income into supportive programmes, they have made NOTHING? A whole CITY of potential buyers, and they have made NOTHING?
And if they had acted as a conduit for goods, charging a reasonable sum, they might have made some money off of Ebay sellers, AND low-income buyers?
I know these stores have programmes to feed the money into, but I always thought that a secondary purpose to them was to supply low-cost goods to low-income buyers.
posted on March 19, 2001 06:52:36 AM new
according to what they say their aim is to help mostly through training the handicapped and disadvantaged workers and the stores are just a way to raise funds for that and don't have a very big role in training.
The trouble is the people running the stores
act as if their business model should be different than a store that buys their goods at wholesale.
They do not make changes when needed to move things that have been sitting too long. They are now selling all clothing items for 25 cents just to get them out and gone. They should have done that at the end of every month to make room for new things.
I also suspect that they cherry picked all the good stuff before it came out. They had signs telling people the prices were set and not to try haggling. Hey - If I want a discount at any store I ask for the manager and tell them - I'll buy this if you mark it down 20%. I asked that for a pair of air cusion NIKES last month and the manager asked why should I do that? I said because I will buy them today for 20% off but otherwise I will wait until we drive to the discount mall downriver and get them 50% off. She said sounds good to me and marked them down with her felt pen.
posted on March 19, 2001 08:41:39 AM new
. Through its services, the network helps people overcome barriers to employment and become independent, tax-paying members of their communities.
In 1999, Goodwill served over 373,000 individuals and reported $1.65 (b) billion in revenue.
posted on March 19, 2001 11:46:25 AM new
I know they can be rough characters in these type stores. We have a Salvation Army store here in town and one worker stabbed another last week. The paper said there was long standing friction. Hope they break him of that habit before he tries to hire out to a regular job.
posted on March 20, 2001 08:53:11 AM new
Very interesting reading here. Two different Goodwill stores in my area moved into big, bright, and new buildings. The pricers at these stores think everything is something and the prices reflect it. I was then FLOORED when I was asked to "donate" to the job training program at the check out register! I was very turned off and replied that "I donate, every time I shop at any Goodwill store, and I get panhandled enough when I walk down the street. The last thing I want is to get panhandled from a store that I am shopping at!" Most thrift stores in my area of California arent for the underprivledged anymore. The prices on most everything is off the map because they want to squeeze the last dollar out of everything that they get for free. Goodwill is still down the list compared to others but the absolut WORST is Purple Heart. They have broken crap that not only should be landfill, but often I could get the same thing at Target for cheaper. Twelve dollars for a plastic laundry basket?! LOL! The pricers must be on drugs! But they have accomplished one thing. There is NEVER a parking problem at the store now!
posted on March 20, 2001 09:26:19 AM new
jollylad,
Actually, I question all charitable organizations. My question is why are
they needed? Shouldn't the government of
this democracy cover the services that
organizations such as Goodwill "claim" that they provide.
In 1999, Goodwill served over 373,000 individuals and reported $1.65 billion in revenue. Did they send these poor people to Harvard for training.
posted on March 20, 2001 10:17:23 AM new
Before Ebay, the local goodwill store had employees that had downs syndrome; some lightly physically handicapped; some that couldnt see very well or hear very well but still were wonderful to talk to and be around ebcause they were nice as well as helpful, and the prices were decent. Now, they have professionals (or wannabee professionals) who take all the "good stuff" before it hits the shelves and have bad attitudes, "boutique" sections and junk that needs to be in the local dump instead of priced the way they have it.
For those stores to go out of business because they say they made nothing is a crock. They meant to say they made nothing for themselves on the side.
