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Goodwill Industries

Goodwill Industries review: bait and switch outrageous prices and not for profit org 4

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4:37 pm EST
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Goodwill is not a Not for profit organization Where does it help people? The color of the week and the prices of these stores have become ridiculous. I myself have donated items that didn't sell at my yard sale. I went into the Smyrna DE store and found the item I donated with my marked tag of 25 cents and they had it marked for $4. Didn't even bother to take my orig tag off of it. They didn't know it was the item I donated. It was a small food storage container. I asked them about it and the employee ripped my tag off and then I told her I was the one who donated it and how can they justify selling a small under one dollar item for 4? Another thing that happened on their 50% sale on Jan 1. An employee gave her husband a brand new in the box Royal Daulton China set. She marked it. $2.00 so he paid $1.00 I witnessed this with my own eyes. She made no bones to hide the fact that the man was her husband. I was in the store when they opened at 9am and no where on the shelf or in the glass case was this set. I saw her go in the back office and bring it to him. I was standing behind him in line. I was also told that the night before these sales, the employees let their families and friends in and fill their carts with the items that aren't put out for the general public. Then let's talk about the color of the week. No where in the store will you find anything that is marked with that color. All items they are putting out will be marked in red. When red wk comes around, you got it, blue marked items come out. Goodwill isn't a not for profit organization. They don't help any one in need. They make up prices as they go along. I can buy new clothes at discounted prices with tags still on them at reg dept stores. The CEO of Goodwill collects a salary and a bonus. This can all be proved. I would rather give to those that truly need the items than to give them to Goodwill. Oh another thing, you have to know someone to get this. For the past few wks of Jan 2016 if you donate items, not only are u supposed to get the receipt for taxes if you want, BUT they have 50% off coupons that are valid until Feb 2016. How did I find this out? Well, I went into a goodwill in Dover, DE and got to talking to an employee who told me about it. I had just dropped off some stuff for my boyfriend and I wasn't doffed this coupon. When I confronted Smyrna about it, the woman said she never heard of it and would ask her mgr. 5mins later she said oh it doesn't start til the following week. I seen employees make up prices and the price list on the signs don't make any sense at all. Why are bridal gowns that are used and dirty and in bad shape marked $150? You could go to David Bridals and get a brand new one for that and less. Now, I see why you can't find nice things at Goodwill any more. I just stumbled upon their auction site. I'm not the only one who was clueless about this site and it's a frigging scam. Every item has a handling fee of 5 or mor bucks? Seriously and then the shipping. Fed ex only? I'm done with them. I was a good customer till I witnessed all this stuff at this and other DE location stores.

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4 comments
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JohnDoughBoy
, US
Feb 01, 2016 3:11 pm EST

@Common Sense: How much do they pay your child? How many free items do they give you to post such things? When you need dire help with a bill or other item, are they willing to help?

Goodwill is SUPPOSED to be for the poor! That's what a "charity" is all about. Goodwill is not a charity but just a big chain retail store like Walmart. There are so many folks out there needing this or that and yet Greedwill does not help them. They have an online auction site where they make thousands of dollars. They also sell on eBay. Items that were donated to them are given such ridiculous price tags. Real thrift stores/charities make it so that the poor can have access to items they cannot afford at the department stores. Greedwill does not do this unless your lucky enough to find a tagged item for their stupid "color of the week" sales. But even then, the item usually has holes or stains. I personally know that they throw out a lot of items. Instead of giving those items to the poor and needy, they throw them out! They call this "recycling". They have also lied to me about what items they accept. I wanted to donate a perfectly good used bassinet and some baby toys. They claimed they couldn't accept it due to potential recalls. Oh really? But they have a $25 car seat in their store and selling vintage wicker bassinets for $50+ on their auction site!

I also went to a "goodwill" so they could help me get a job and train me if needed as per their advertisements. That was a joke. No different than going to the local unemployment center! Their "job" center consisted of computers for you to search online and folders with job listings. Again, no different than an unemployment center or library. The guy running the place acted like a crackhead. He was weird, said weird things and overall made me feel very uncomfortable. I had a relative that went to a "goodwill" because she really needed some help. They said "no".

And do you honestly believe them when they claim that they "found" thousands of dollars in a bag?!?! I personally believe they do this so they can skip the red tape...

Goodwill is the biggest scam I've ever seen. Taking advantage of those who are pure in heart just so they can lift up those who are dark hearted. Only recently did the one around here change their sign outside their door to "retail shop", which is more suitable then "resale" or "thrift" shop.

I encourage all of you who donate to check on the independent thrift stores in your area. See if they are truly non profit and inquire where their money goes. Also, if you go to church, you could always set up a donation center there. Or you could even advertise your items for free in the local newspapers. These are the things that I do. I no longer donate nor shop at Greedwill.

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million
, US
Jan 17, 2016 4:09 pm EST

I would like to see Common sense show evidence of Goodwill's money going out to help "helping developmental disabilibies", Your statement does not hold true and insulting because I am a mother of a child who has been in special needs programs all his life, The state of Maine paid for my son;s education and going to college and the expenses for his tools and interpretor. My son is 35 yo know and is on SSI due to not being equipped educationally to attend college level classes and as a mother I knew it would only make him feel worse about himself and feeling like a failure but Maine Education for disabled used this idea that he could succed and be independent.
He ended up in low income housing and his SSI check and he could barely make it financially with having to pay phone or what ever utilities that were in his lease. I shop at Goodwill because I believe we should recycle and Goodwill get brand new items from stores and the statement about employees getting things at a discount or just out right taken when they come in is TRUE! I knew someone a relative that had a friend that would give her boxes of brand new in the package expensive brand mens dress shirts and commercial cookware, my relative was being given so much stuff by her 5 finger Goodwill employee that she would ask me if I wanted this or that.
One day my son needed some things to furnish his apartment and I asked the lady at Goodwill if my son could get a discount as he was disabled and on SSI, she said "No! Unless you have a paper stating a list of needs and it will be only on the list that he can get and what discount he is eligible" I was floored with her statement and she could see my son had disabilties, she made me feel like I was taking food or money from her.
I also have donated to Goodwill when my father died I brought over his belongings that could be used and there was a lot nice high end stuff . Goodwill;s prices are overpriced for such a business and the millions they bring in with there online stores up and running, well those millions are not going to all the disabled people. Greed is the story of goodwill who goodwill themselves.
I also worked for Red Cross and the $4 they spent on stupid stuff for employees was outrageous.

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dolly1235
, US
Jan 10, 2016 4:51 pm EST

GOODWILL CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.
Goodwill is a very catchy name for his business.
You donate to his business and then he sells the items for PROFIT.
He pays nothing for his products and pays his workers minimum wage! Nice Guy.
$0.00 goes to help anyone! Stop giving to this man.

HOW'S THAT GRAB YOU! WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY WE DONATE GO? TO MR. CURRAN THAT'S WHO

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dolly1235
, US
Jan 10, 2016 4:45 pm EST

I totally agree with you. I've seen and been told the same thing by former employees. I used to buy nice formal dresses for $10 and under for my daughter for her proms. I couldn't otherwise afford to buy her an expensive dress to use once and we're struggling for food money. I myself would re donate the dress I bought and she wore and saw how it went from $10 that I pd to $50. Why? Greed that's all I can say. Someone is greasing their pockets.