Goodwill, Badwill, Questionable-will
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.
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.
Where does the round up money go to?
Hopefully not to Goodwill industries
They claim to Goodwill’s causes. I don’t because their prices are too high, on donated items they got for free!
I never round up at Goodwill as they are a "FOR profit".....
Goodwill Industries are a nonprofit.
@Katy , then I have been misinformed. I had read and article about a very high paid CEO and some shenanigans. But, maybe it wasn't true.
Nonprofit organization still pay their employees.
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!
I feel like there needs to be something between the regular stores and the bins.
I agree! There's Goodwill Boutique in my area, where all the best stuff goes....some of the prices are bananas!
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!)
I wrote a research paper on Pollock in middle school and have felt connected with him ever since.
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....)
I live on Central Arizona in a mid size city. The area is rural, but the population is around 65,000. Our Goodwill has been outrageous since before the pandemic. Now our Salvation Army is just as bad
Their lowest price for anything is 2.99. So something that was bought at the dollar store when it was still a dollar is now 3 dollars. There are a few small independent shops but I have never found anything worth buying. The only one still decent and resonable is the St. Vincent de Paul. The also run the best food bank IMHO
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.
Perfect gifts for a tween!
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.
I dew appreciate your feedback.
Maybe the projects are fueled by Mountain Dew? Doin’ the honey dew?
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.
So not frugal!
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!
Mind you, many sales are less than $50 as they're from my stale inventory.
The GW stores in Texas have gone up on their prices too. I tend to shop at the Habitat stores. I have moved to a small town & they have some thrift stores I will check out (not GW or Habitat). Last month I got 2 sacks of weed & feed for 40$ at the Habitat store. My husband said fertilizer has gone up a lot & that this was a good price. He said it could run 50$ a sack. Who knew fertilizer was expensive?
Well … that s!?t show in DC is certainly becoming costly!
Goodwill here in Central Oklahoma are marginal at best. The prices are insane.
Sold some St John’s pieces for a friend. $$$ for her
I mainly sell free things. I don't have as good an eye as you, so I like no up front investment on my part.
I've listed a few things today. My mother gives me things that no longer fit her and I've listed North Face, Marmot and Toad & Co recently.
@Katy - remember the lyrics to Cocaine. And if you'd bought the table, you'd have to grow your pinky fingernail very long in case you were out and about,
Sometimes you just have to pass on items.
There are 2 Goodwill stores in our town. The newest is closer to the affluent part of town and has ALWAYS had high prices. The other store has more reasonable prices but is, quite honestly, a dump. Don’t go to either much anymore. I try to support a local thrift store as it consistently has better quality merchandise that usually isn’t outrageously price.
Next town over has a Goodwill, but they sell lots of Target clothing for a lot of money.
Our little town has a charity store that benefits the local food bank. Always reasonable. And a private thrift store, I don't know how she makes any money, as she gives away to needy people. I bought a artificial Christmas tree last year, and she kept saying it was half off. I ended up leaving extra at her counter. Not that I'm a Rockefeller, but we'd agreed on $25, then she said $10
1. I’ve been lurking rather than writing because we’ve moved twice since Feb. Down-sized like crazy before the first move and found we still had some stuff we didn’t need after the move. Moved on soap-making materials and have sold my pressure canner, a mid-century chair and coffee table.
2. Alas, I got rid of basement shelving before the first move and found we needed it for our new garage. Picked up a buttload of utility shelving via a buy nothing curb alert last Sunday. We spent this morning hosing it down outside. We gave up built-in bookshelves when we left our home of twenty years—replaced them via buy nothing. Picking up a desk via Free cycle tomorrow. It might not seem frugal to get rid of things and then replace them, but it made the move easier and gave us time to figure out what we actually need.
3. I picked up five big pumpkins at the end of a fall festival. Roasted one so far that gave us about twenty meals. I see that another one needs to be baked soon.
4. Bought fabric for a friend’s quilt (see 5.) at my guild show yard sale. $4/yd rather than $10+. Also restocked my cat and dog fabric for my most popular pot holders—sold out of pet pot holders at the fall festival.
5. Still getting weekly massages as part of the hour for hour trade when I made a quilt for a masseuse’s grandchild. Now she wants one for another grand child. (children in their thirties).
Mary, two moves in eight months! I've been there and it's not easy. Glad you're back.
Here in the Rocky Mountain region, Goodwill has high pricing and doesn't accomodate trying on clothes, so I rarley go there. But we do have ARC thrift stores which benefit disabled people. Prices can be high there also, but on Saturdays most items are half price AND they have changing rooms to try on clothes!
Jennifer, I stopped going to Goodwill when they removed their dressing rooms. We have a local thrift store that has lower prices and a dressing room.
I made it to Oregon (northeast, however!) My airport experience was not stellar. Mainly I was gobsmacked by the price of food. Since I was stuck with only my purse to carry on, I didn't pack any food. I was expecting expensive, but this was crazy!
I do have to say I enjoyed sitting on the deck at sunset at the Denver airport.
My son drove me to the airport and my other son picked me up, so I at least avoided ground transportation.
I found some receipts and a quarter.
I entertained myself with a book instead of in-flight video.
I bought nothing in the airport shops.
In Chicago and in Denver I took lengthy walks in the airports.
Still pondering what to do upon coming home. My flight will arrive around midnight. I can impose on my son, Uber home, or Uber to a reasonable hotel and take the bus the next morning.
Beth W - we have found the price of the shuttle from the airport (we live an hour from the airport, so Uber is not reasonable and hard to do as there would be no return fare available) comparable to a hotel room and we get a better night’s sleep at home in our own bed. Plus, we’re there in the morning, which always feels good after traveling.
I ride the Tri-Rail train when I go to South FL. It picks up at FLL airport. It takes me to the station near my condo. Then I Uber to my home or get someone to pick me up. Train station only 3 miles from my condo. Riding the train is around 3$. Tri-Rail is also doing a promotion. You can get an Uber voucher to help defray the cost on the Uber ride to and from the train station. It's a bit complex but I have figured out how to make it work. If you want to save $ then you may be inconvenienced.
Clothes at the Goodwill around here are up to $6.99/$7.99, and for that price I can get new at Marshall's or TJ Maxx! So, that a NO for me. Also, when see Dollar Tree items (clearly labeled with "Greebrier" sticker in bottom), for $3-$4!!! NOPE.
1. A neighbor gave away a can of opened coffee that was 95% full. Thank you!
2. A neighbor gave away three meals from Hello Fresh. We made one last night. It was great!
3. Someone at work left an open but mostly full bag of beef jerky on the freebie table in the kitchen. Tastes great.
4. There's enough snack food and candy in my workplace to support a small village. Trying not to eat from every candy dish I see. It's a hard life.
5. After not being driven for four weeks my car started up and charged itself back into good health without needing to be jumped.
Oh my those tables are butt ugly Katie! So glad you left them behind!!!!!!!
The GW near me has 50% off everything every other Saturday. It's the only time I darken their door.
My dad gave me two small cans of unopened coffee (he has decided to quit drinking coffee). I pulled out my thanksgiving decor and it’s made me happy. I deep cleaned my room and found a charging block that was missing. So no need to buy a new one. I will mend some clothes this afternoon. I always feel accomplished when I mend items.
We had a very non-frugal get away to a neighboring state for a wedding this past weekend. We did all the touristy things and then I spied a GOODWILL OUTLET! I keep seeing your hauls from the bins.... I was so excited! My office is moving locations and I'm going to have two walls of windows for my plants to enjoy. My office mates and I have been swapping cuttings and it's been so nice to gift a plant in a pretty pot. The pay by the pound thing, & these pots were heavy,,, Came home with 7 pots and 6 puzzles.... all for the low price of $12.49. Highlight of my trip! 🙂
Sorry, but Goodwill does not pay their disabled workers much money, Katie. They have what is called a special minimum wage certificate, which allows them to pay below the minimum wage to employees who are disabled. Need proof? It's on their own website. Go to Goodwill's website. Some workers make as little as 2 dollars an hour working there. Goodwill is not helping the community, in fact they are contributing to poverty in the communities they supposedly serve. Shame on anyone who supports that.
I'd love to know what you connection to Goodwill is, since you have promoted this business endlessly for many years, supposedly in the name of "anti consumer" but oddly never mentioning other thrift store businesses (Salvation Army, Saint Vincent De Paul, etc). Why not just be honest?
You caught me . . . being "dishonest." By shopping at Goodwill.
My Goodwill system does not pay a single employee less than minimum wage, which in Portland, Oregon is $16.30/hour.