You used to find fairly decent stuff at Goodwill stores in my area.

[raccoon]

My last few visits, I couldn't find anything, even something to wear casually, at home.
I used to find casual clothes there, usually.

My theory is that more people are shopping there, and therefore the stuff is more picked over,
unless you hit it lucky and get there right after they got in a new batch of stuff before
everybody else gets to it.

Your experience?

[FSogol]

1. Also, the people who donate stuff are wearing it a little longer to avoid

purchasing new stuff or selling it at yard sales instead of donating it.

[brer cat]

7. Yard Sales

There are lots more yard sales than usual...folks willing to do one and get a few bucks instead of the easy way out and donating.

[Avalux]

2. I haven't been to Goodwill in awhile.....

what you say is probably true, and on the flipside, the quality and amount of donations has probably declined. Most likely, people aren't donating stuff like they did before because they need it themselves.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. When I beg at the cashier they turn me away.

Is this a Goodwill poll?

[sufrommich]

4. Ebay and reselling has a lot to do with it too. More people

are supplementing their income by selling used stuff.

[JTFrog]

8. Craigslist. n/t

[William769]

5. My Mother-in-law works for Goodwill (the busiest one in our county)

They just are not getting the donations like they use to get. That's what she told me.

[PA Democrat]

6. Same experience looking for used furniture with my son.

He needed a chest of drawers and a desk. There was not one in either of the 2 Goodwill stores we checked.

[PRETZEL]

9. Suggestion for this

look for an estate auction.

I had the unfortunate displeasure of liquidation my in laws estate last weekend. They're house was in great shape and the furniture was either antique or relatively new. Everything was in fantastic shape.

We could barely give it away.

So, if you're looking, look on line for estate auctions and go through the open house previews.

[aquart]

11. Really good idea.

[aquart]

10. It's always a matter of hitting it at the right time.

Picked up two cashmere sweaters at the Salvation Army last week. Of course, NYC's thrifts might be different from elsewhere. I've seen French tourists shopping in ours.

[Codeine]

12. ebay.

People realized donating small items made no sense when, for very little effort, money could be made on them. For example, yard sales and Goodwill used to be loaded with old boardgames and wargames (personal interests of mine), and I happily purchased both to build a vast collection. Now both items are rare as hen's teeth because a used market online exists and is easily tapped.

[grasswire]

13. goodwill has its own auction site -- the best stuff goes there

www.shopgoodwill.com

I have seen lots of clothes in thrift shops for very little money. The one near my church has fifty cent sales on clothing cuz they get overstocked. Any item fifty cents.

Of course it takes time and energy to haunt thrift stores.

[girl gone mad]

14. Goodwill sells online now.

I think the more valuable stuff is kept off the shelves and listed on ebay.

[MrsBrady]

15. I find the clothes to not be very good the one near me...however

I go to look through their dishes and glassware.

Sometimes I find something useful.

I found some arc/french made glassware that matched some stuff I already had that I could
not find replacements for on-line.
Sometimes you get lucky.

[dembotoz]

16. shop there on occasion i have not noticed a major change.

but i was looking more for summer casual

[dembotoz]

17. shop there on occasion i have not noticed a major change.

but i was looking more for summer casual

[chaska]

18. Goodwill has their own auction site now....

It's bad enough that they're getting rich off of stuff they get for free, but now they're getting greedy. And the auction prices go higher than ebay! People think "ah, it's for charity, I'll bid a little higher". And you take a total risk about the quality (they don't know how to evaluate items and wouldn't care anyway, and no feedback ratings to keep them careful, unlike ebay). What's more, by reserving the best stuff for the auctions, there's nothing left in the stores. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned, there's no reason to go there.

All the above, plus they throw out much of the more interesting stuff. I dumpster dived them a couple times and came home with a bunch of stuff I would have paid for. Crazy!

[BeHereNow]

19. As a Goodwill shopper since the age of 14-

It has been a down hill slide from my perspective.
I think there are various reasons, but primarily I
think it is largely because of the huge influx of crap from
China flooding our markets.
The Goodwill stores used to have such wonderful and
unique items, now much of what I see is racks and shelves
of unwanted crap from Walmart and Target.

Now and then, I get lucky- I think it's all about timing.
I recently hit my recent Goodwill as they were stocking their
jewelry case.

I bought several vintage pieces for around ten dollars,
among them , two trifari pins, worth far more than I paid for them.
I just had the luck of being there when they were put out.

Most of what I have bought at the GW lately has
been merchandise that is just being unloaded.
And it goes quickly- you sort of have to have a combination
of patience and luck I think.

BHN

[raccoon]

20. BHN ???? nt

[BeHereNow]

21. Yes? What be your question?

Not sure what you are asking about- my user name?
BHN

[raccoon]

22. Oh. Duh! I thought it was another Internet abbrev, like AFAIK. nt

[BeHereNow]

25. Oh- I see.

I couldn't figure out what you were asking.
I get it now...
LOL.
:hi:
BeHereNow

[elleng]

23. Large store, large amount of decent stuff. Got jacket couple weeks ago,

from among several options.

[iris27]

24. The Goodwill stores around here are so expensive! (Austin, TX)

Prices are literally doubled compared to the Goodwills in St. Louis (just moved down this summer).

All jeans, $8? Really? The Walmart next door sells new jeans at that price! Granted, it's Walmart and they're evil, but still. Eight dollars?