Goodwill, Badwill, Questionable-will
by Katy on October 29, 2025 · 11 comments
I haven’t thrifted much lately, but thought I should stop into the S.E. 82nd Avenue location, as it’s directly next door to the Dented Vegetable Store.™ I wasn’t looking for anything specific, but you never know what you’ll find.
Like this craft project. I kind of liked the heavy metal-esque font choice.
Or this $1.99 studio made Bigfoot mug, which I almost bought, but chose not to, as I don’t need another mug and the resale prices on eBay weren’t high enough. I know they sell this specific mug for at least $20 at Powell’s Books.
I like to make at least $40-$50 on my eBay sales.
I was intrigued by this collection of like-new backpacks, but none were priced and my experience has been that they price high once they know a specific customer is interested. Note that they’re all locked in place as an anti-theft measure.
I was drawn to this set of vintage mirrored tables, I could totally see how cool they’d look in the right space. The coffee table was priced at just $29.99, which isn’t too shabby. I was getting a Scarface vibe from them, very 1980s Michelle Pfeiffer.
“Say hello to my little friend!” Except “my friend” is a set of mirrored tables instead of a machine gun.
I looked up this Frigidaire silverware basket, as these can be a category of things that sell surprisingly well on eBay. You’d pay up for it should you happen to have this era of dishwasher.
I was wrong and it wouldn’t be worth holding onto while I waited for the right customer. I would’ve bought it were the eBay sold prices around $5o.
I almost bought this IKEA storage bin, as I use them in the fridge and like to keep things cohesive. However, they sell brand new at IKEA for $4!
My eye was then drawn to this M.C. Escher puzzle, but imagine my surprise when I saw the price.
Excuse me?! Ten bucks for an opened thrift store puzzle that’s very likely to be missing key pieces? Make it make sense.
Still thinking I should’ve bought the tables to transform my living room into a cocaine chic aesthetic.
Again, you never know what you’ll find at Goodwill!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Ok join in with me when I say, Goodwill prices have really gone up!!! Plus I really hate when they ask if you want to round up. Round up??? With your prices? You get this stuff for free!?!!! Sheez.
I want to joke that you must’ve been at my goodwill here in the Midwest but it’s not funny some of the prices. Even books here are priced higher than sticker price on quite a few. Ours dropped the rooms to try clothes on so while I donate, I buy from them so infrequently now.
But those Goodwill bin stores – I wish we’d get one here!
As for the puzzle, you’re paying for the name (M. C. Escher). Although many people have seen his work, many have no idea who he is. Only an art enthusiast would appreciate that puzzle.
(I took an Art Appreciation class in college. If I had to look into the art world for a puzzle, it would be Jackson Pollock – my kind of guy! Messy!)
Cocaine chic
it didn’t add the hilarious laughing emoji… 🙂
As for the puzzle, you’re paying for the name (M. C. Escher). Although many people have seen his work, many have no idea who he is. Only an art enthusiast would appreciate that puzzle.
(I took an Art Appreciation class in college. If I had to look into the art world for a puzzle, it would be Jackson Pollock – my kind of guy! Abstract, messy, throw caution to the wind!)
Goodwill is higher than several thrift stores around here, but as of this writing, it’s not the highest. The local thrift that supports the food bank has jacked up its prices so that they are almost as high as the stores at the mall. That food bank suddenly popped up here a few years ago, started by one man from out of state, and IMO, he appears rather shifty. I’m sticking with donating to the food banks I know and trust (Caritas, once known as St. Vincent de Paul, and Salvation Army), which have been operating here for decades and are overseen by established ministries and local boards of directors. They’re accountable to others — so I KNOW my donations are going to the right places and people.
Lately, though, I haven’t been shopping for anything except food, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. (Oh, and protest signs….)
My Goodwill here in the midwest has obscene prices and I don’t know how they can justify it.
1. I simmered a can of black beans with some water and a tablespoon of taco seasoning. I ate some with some cheese and sour cream for lunch. The rest got mixed into a pan of turkey taco meat to stretch it for tomorrow.
2. My tooth was hurting me all morning and rather than go into the dentist right away I remembered that some times my allergies aggravate a nerve that causes teeth pain. I took an allergy pill and 2 hours later the pain was gone!
3. My husband is at a work event tonight so my daughter and I are on our own. I’ll take her to swim team practice while I walk outside the building. Then for dinner, we will scrounge up some odds and ends from the fridge and freezer.
4. I bought 3 clearance Minecraft Lego sets for a total of $32.60 for a toys for tots event I’m going to at the beginning of December. Their website said they would really be in need of toys for 10-12 year old boys in my area.
5. I’m not building an obscenely large ballroom while millions of American’s are about to lose food assistance.
Cocaine chic is hilarious. The honey dew list is a head scratcher. Crafted by a melon head? Maybe I dew not get the joke. Goodwill would have to pay me to throw it away, but only after I saved the clip.
It looks like you left empty-handed. It takes talent to do that!
Cocaine chic is nice enough, but cocaine isn’t frugal, so it isn’t “you”.
Yes, Goodwill is a mixed bag. I’ve found some unbelievable deals, but I’ve found a lot more duds.
Thrift Grift! Griftwill.
Katy, a year or two ago you said that you liked to make at least $30 on a sale, but now you are up to $50. Impressive!! Once I hit a thrift store, I tend to buy something for resell. Sometimes I do that math while I am packing up a sale that he been in my inventory for some time and I figured I only made $2-5. Argh!! So dumb, but once in awhile I have a big win, so I guess it is all worth it as a side gig. Will try to keep your number in my head. Now I need to go list some things-a gift to my future self!