Author Topic: Goodwill bargain! (Read 22540 times)

Nickyd£g · « **on:** August 19, 2015, 06:03:37 AM »

Well, a Shelter charity shop, rather than Goodwill, as I'm in Scotland!

I popped in to my local charity shop at the weekend to mooch for any work wear as I've just started a new job and need slightly smarter workwear. I saw two really lovely raincoats, with a brand name I had never heard of, both in excellent condition, one would fit me now, another when I drop a dress size ;)

The one that would fit me was £2.50, I happened to have £3 in my purse so I took it to the counter to buy it. Was advised they were having a special day, 2 items for £1! So, I bought both raincoats. Took them home and out of curiosity googled the designer...these coats go for £70!! And I got two for 50 PENCE EACH! So happy! I now plan to sell the one which doesn't fit me right now, make a huge profit hopefully.

fitfrugalfab · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2015, 11:27:27 AM »

Nice find! I'm a huge fan of Goodwill or other thrift shopping. You never know what you can find. My last trip I found a seersucker button down for $4.

ClassyCat · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2015, 11:57:26 AM »

That sounds like a fantastic deal. I also love looking in shops like Goodwill because it can be fun to put more effort into searching for clothes. Our Goodwill frequently has wedding dresses in the front windows, so they must sell fairly well.

Cassie · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2015, 11:05:41 AM »

A few years ago I was at the local Goodwill & saw 2 oak dining room chairs that were antique reproductions for $10.00 each so I bought them both. Then a few weeks later saw 2 more that were an exact match so bought those. We have an antique dining set but only 4 chairs. So when we have company always had to get out folding chairs. Now I have 8 chairs that really compliment each other since I have 4 of each & all are similar color of oak.

eyePod · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2015, 12:36:45 PM »

Yep! I do this ALL THE TIME! It's so fun. I started out with video games, have branched out to collectibles and clothing. We just paid for new doors using only eBay re-selling money!

Kitsunegari · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:51:20 PM »

Oh I could write in this thread for days!
My favourite find is a Icebreaker merino dress, which retails for about 140$ - I paid it 6$, the fabric is fantastic, and is sooooo comfy and adaptable to temperatures that I wear it literally every day at home.
I especially look for quality natural fibres (merino, cashmere, linen, silk) because there is no point in buying 2nd hand cheap clothing - they look crappy to begin with.
Further upside: you get a better idea of which brands age well, in case one day you'll enter in a retail store :)

Kitsunegari · « **Reply #6 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:14:18 PM »

Quote from: serpentstooth on August 24, 2015, 01:41:32 PM

BabyGap now goes straight back into the donation box; it holds up so badly. Ditto Gerber. Carter's is worth keeping. Hanna Andersson is to be jealously hoarded, even if it doesn't fit right now or is the wrong sex, because it lasts forever, has a high resale value and the sleepers have zippers.

Thanx for the tips!

eyePod · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2015, 06:27:24 AM »

Quote from: serpentstooth on August 24, 2015, 01:41:32 PM

Quote from: Kitsunegari on August 24, 2015, 12:51:20 PM
Further upside: you get a better idea of which brands age well, in case one day you'll enter in a retail store :)

When I started getting bags and bags of secondhand baby clothes, the quality difference becomes apparent. BabyGap now goes straight back into the donation box; it holds up so badly. Ditto Gerber. Carter's is worth keeping. Hanna Andersson is to be jealously hoarded, even if it doesn't fit right now or is the wrong sex, because it lasts forever, has a high resale value and the sleepers have zippers.

We love the carter stuff. I'd never heard of Hanna Andersson before. For kids, I find that the best option is to do garage sale bulk buys. We got 3 huge tubs (1 was all 3T and two were 4T) of kids clothing for $40. I counted it out and found over 100 pieces of 3T. So we were paying pennies for the outfits. All seasons too. And it's even better since we're having a 2nd girl in the next few weeks. Kids eat through clothes so there's no point in putting them in the super nice stuff!

KCM5 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2015, 08:29:15 AM »

Quote from: Kitsunegari on August 25, 2015, 01:14:18 PM

Quote from: serpentstooth on August 24, 2015, 01:41:32 PM
BabyGap now goes straight back into the donation box; it holds up so badly. Ditto Gerber. Carter's is worth keeping. Hanna Andersson is to be jealously hoarded, even if it doesn't fit right now or is the wrong sex, because it lasts forever, has a high resale value and the sleepers have zippers.

Thanx for the tips!

Second data point: I love BabyGap stuff! I always buy it used in good condition. Caveat: we only have one child. And she's a girl and the cute little BabyGap dresses kill me every time. Usually the clothes are good to go for another so they get passed on, but sometimes not. Hanna Andersson is to be jealously hoarded, though, second that! I snatch that stuff up immediately. Even if it doesn't fit my kid, I give it to friends.

Kitsunegari · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2015, 07:46:50 AM »

This w-e I found 3 silk shirts in very good state for 4$ each :-D (I bought 2 of them, I resisted the 3rd because I don't need that many)
Incidentally, my stylish friends remarked yesterday how my wardrobe improved in the last years, since I moved close to my favourite thrift store....

2ndTimer · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2015, 09:16:31 AM »

I adore thrift stores and visit them regularly looking for upgrades for my yard sale audio system. So far I have replaced the speakers with Pioneer Four Ways and the CD player with a decent but not super Kenwood.

Sibley · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2015, 09:25:54 AM »

Just recently I got a new dress from Goodwill. Probably never worn or only worn a few times based on condition. It fits perfectly, looks beautiful. And was $9.

chaskavitch · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:48:50 AM »

I've been wanting some new sandals for hiking, and my family all swears by their Keens. Now, my parents both got theirs secondhand at Goodwill, but my husband asked for his for his birthday, and his mom got them for him (and paid $90!)

I was at the ARC on Saturday, because it is 50% off of 4 different tag colors, and I found some Keens that fit PERFECTLY, are a nice orange that I love, and they were $13 :)

The sad part is that for like 2 seconds, I thought "man, too bad those aren't half off!", until I realized that if they had been, I never would have found them at 5:30 pm on a Saturday.

mittenslol · « **Reply #13 on:** September 21, 2015, 12:32:45 PM »

First day in the town I currently live in I scoured the thrift and consignment shops..

A very clean, knitted wool coach purse (authentic) $5.00

A NWT diesel duffel bag. $5.00

Sold the Coach for $75.00, Sold the Diesel for $90.00!!

I should pick this hobby up again..

Us2bCool · « **Reply #14 on:** September 21, 2015, 12:37:02 PM »

We have a thrift superstore* called Savers near my work. I buy almost all my work clothes there, and I've found some super cute outfits for next to nothing. It's been an added bonus since I'm losing weight right now, and when things get too big I just donate them back and pick up some new stuff. Those are happy days :-)

My big find was when my husband asked me to look for a long-sleeve polo for him. That day it turned out a major airline had donated a full rack of them in charcoal grey...they must have changed their logo or decided they don't need them any more, because there must have been 200 shirts. I picked three in his size for seven bucks, and they are niiiiice.

*Savers is actually a thrift store, not a consignment store. The one near me supports the Epilepsy Foundation, but I guess different ones support different charities.

Kaspian · « **Reply #15 on:** September 21, 2015, 12:48:28 PM »

Very fancypants toaster oven, never used before, valued at $80-110 bought it at a thrift store for $10. My guess is that it was probably given to a senior and the digital controls were so complicated, they just got rid of it. I work in IT and it took me awhile (without the manual) to figure out how it worked. :D

Rosy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2015, 01:06:07 PM »

My favorite goodwill find was a 25 cent brand new still in the box coffee grinder. That baby worked for 15 years of twice daily use.

AmandaS1989 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2015, 10:45:08 AM »

My mom has gotten so many good finds at Goodwill. Most of my brother's dress clothes have come from Goodwill and they are not some cheap brand either. This one shirt she got for him retailed for $75 and she got it for $3.50! I think I might need to take a look around in there for some nice winter-appropriate dress shoes. These slip-ons leave my feet cold in the mornings!

elaine amj · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2015, 01:15:59 PM »

I LOVE thrift store shopping. Thankfully my kids have no objections even though they are now in their early teens. My 14 yr old daughter has gotten very good at trying on clothes while hiding between racks of men's clothes (men's area is usually much less busy) because one of our fave stores doesn't have fitting rooms (grr..really hate that part about it!). She just makes sure she wears tank tops and bike shorts underneath her other clothes when we head to the thrift stores ;)

Unfortunately, we have mostly quit buying shoes from thrift stores. In our region, prices have gone up to $5-$10 a pair. I have no issues paying $3-5 a pair but once they started asking $10 that's just too much when I can sometimes get them on sale for $10. Now if I found a pair of Keens for $10, I might be very, very tempted :) That said, I got my Teva sandals from an outlet spot for $10 :)

carozy · « **Reply #19 on:** October 17, 2015, 11:38:44 AM »

I found 4 cute shirts, 3 nice ones for work and a cute plaid for regular life, a scarf, and a checkbook holder all for under $30. Not bad compared to retail. The Goodwill in my area is a bit more expensive than the Salvation Army, but both can have cute items at very reasonable prices. I remember back when I lived in the city (SF) the Goodwills would have $2 weekends. You could find some great deals on those days.

elaine amj · « **Reply #20 on:** October 17, 2015, 10:05:09 PM »

My son was in need of clothes so we hit the thrift stores hard today. After spending $50, I feel like a huge spendypants! The hardest part about great deals is buying stuff you don't REALLY need. I found a gorgeous red softshell jacket. Didn't recognize the brand, but it felt like great quality. I have other jackets that work just fine and don't really "need" it. But really liked it! Ended up paying $8 for it...very comparable to my Columbia softshell I picked up on sale for $50.

Other scores:
- Underarmour Hoodie for my son (in a wild color he absolutely loves so even though I only wanted to pay $5...we bought it) $7
- long sleeve t-shirts for my son $0.99 each
- Thinsulate Isotoner gloves, new with tags, for me $0.99
- evening purse for me $0.99

I made out great :)

Bearded Man · « **Reply #21 on:** October 18, 2015, 08:59:36 AM »

I buy a lot if my jeans, dress shirts and jackets at Goodwill. I've bought 6 like new Helly Hansen, Patagonia, etc. Rain jackets or fleece for $15 a piece. These retail for $200+ each. They were all so new they might as well have had tags attached.

meadow lark · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2015, 09:51:45 AM »

90% of my clothes (excluding underclothes) are from thrift stores. I buy my sneakers new, but all of my dress shoes are used. It allows me to have multiple pairs of Merrills, Bjorns (my fav), Tevas, and several other similar brands. To the point I am not allowed to buy any more shoes. Seriously, I said no to 2 pairs of Bjorns last week because at some point it becomes ridiculous. Also, my purse now include 4 Coach's. Each was between $10-20. 1 is definitely authentic, not sure about the rest, but I only buy things I like, so does it matter? And a Laura Burch tote. None of this is necessary, but I do enjoy it, so I allow myself to spend a little bit of money on it.

Nickyd£g · « **Reply #23 on:** October 19, 2015, 05:55:50 AM »

I scored a really pretty top last weekend, it's a Boden, purple, wrap top, really heavy fabric, well made and flattering. It's great for work and I think it's now my favourite top! £3.50! Boden is a pretty expensive make, so I am very pleased.

AmandaS1989 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2015, 10:01:34 AM »

I wanted to go to my local goodwill this past weekend, but my mom had an eyelid infection that prompted an emergency room visit so I'll just wait until this Saturday when her eye is no longer swollen shut. She loves goodwill and wants to see if she can find a new purse for under $5.

Bob W · « **Reply #25 on:** October 19, 2015, 06:24:34 PM »

Dog shelter thrift store 5 pairs pants, 3 pair shoes, one hat. Like new name brand quality. $30

jengod · « **Reply #26 on:** October 19, 2015, 07:40:40 PM »

I will never top finding a vintage Griswold cast-iron skillet at Goodwill for $0.99. (Forgive them Lord, they know not what they do.) We are in SoCal and there aren't too many bargains, but that was a good one.

That said, I am so pleased with a $40 brand-new stainless bread machine I found last week. The kids keep asking for the "real bread," and it is so easy to use.

Small appliances are a sweet spot: Rice cooker, generic crock-pot, iron, immersion blender, etc.

I filled out my grandmother's collection of Revereware with thrifted pieces.

We also have thousands of thrifted children's books and records.

elaine amj · « **Reply #27 on:** October 20, 2015, 08:02:34 AM »

I will have to keep an eye out for small appliances. I usually only focus on clothes/shoes and ignore all those other sections.

I did double the size of my "formal dishes" when I found a set of china that was a very close match to my wedding china at a yard sale. I was thrilled because I had found 6 settings to be too few for "formal dishes" since I only pulled out the nice china when I have company. Now I have enough for 12. On the other hand, maybe I should sell my entire set since nowadays, we pretty much use paper plates when we entertain. I hate having to handwash the nice china. I might use them more if I could toss them in the dishwasher.

pbkmaine · « **Reply #28 on:** October 20, 2015, 08:25:39 AM »

I have found great deals on small appliances, not at Goodwill, but at a small, church-run thrift shop in our area. The last time I was there I saw 4 bread machines in like-new condition for $5 each.

JAYSLOL · « **Reply #29 on:** October 20, 2015, 08:42:38 PM »

We don't have Goodwill here, and the thrift stores we do have are WAY overpriced. Went into one a while back and saw they had a disgusting used bathmat for sale for $9.99. WTF? We bought a Brand New one at the supermarket for $8.99! They also had a glass display case for presumably expensive items, but everything in it was cheap costume jewelry and ugly broken watches priced at like $5.99 each and up. I've been in loads of times and never found anything at a fair price for used.

Garage sales are where the deals are in my area, i've bought loads of amazing things by getting up early on the weekend.

elaine amj · « **Reply #30 on:** October 21, 2015, 09:56:52 AM »

Quote from: JAYSLOL on October 20, 2015, 08:42:38 PM

We don't have Goodwill here, and the thrift stores we do have are WAY overpriced. Went into one a while back and saw they had a disgusting used bathmat for sale for $9.99. WTF? We bought a Brand New one at the supermarket for $8.99! They also had a glass display case for presumably expensive items, but everything in it was cheap costume jewelry and ugly broken watches priced at like $5.99 each and up. I've been in loads of times and never found anything at a fair price for used.

Garage sales are where the deals are in my area, i've bought loads of amazing things by getting up early on the weekend.

Where I live in Ontario, our thrift stores are overpriced - just like yours. I go to the US to go thrift shopping. It's actually worth the 40 minute drive & toll charges to a 5 mile stretch of road with about 6-7 thrift stores. I just can't pay my local thrift store prices. Plus the merchandise is rarely as nice as what I can find in the US.

It is interesting how I've noticed certain thrift shops are better for certain items than others. One shop, I rarely find stuff for the rest of us, but mixed up with the junk are clothes my son loves. We always walk out with stylish Underarmour/Nike hoodies. Another thrift store has stuff my daughter loves - we got her grade 8 Grad dress that suited her perfectly for $4 and they have a really, really good selection of athletic wear. Funnily enough, we rarely find stuff for my son there. Another store has stuff I like. I rarely find stuff for the kids, but I always get out with fab stuff for me.

Kitsunegari · « **Reply #31 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:37:00 AM »

Quote from: elaine amj on October 21, 2015, 09:56:52 AM

Quote from: JAYSLOL on October 20, 2015, 08:42:38 PM
We don't have Goodwill here, and the thrift stores we do have are WAY overpriced. Went into one a while back and saw they had a disgusting used bathmat for sale for $9.99. WTF? We bought a Brand New one at the supermarket for $8.99! They also had a glass display case for presumably expensive items, but everything in it was cheap costume jewelry and ugly broken watches priced at like $5.99 each and up. I've been in loads of times and never found anything at a fair price for used.

Garage sales are where the deals are in my area, i've bought loads of amazing things by getting up early on the weekend.

Where I live in Ontario, our thrift stores are overpriced - just like yours. I go to the US to go thrift shopping. It's actually worth the 40 minute drive & toll charges to a 5 mile stretch of road with about 6-7 thrift stores. I just can't pay my local thrift store prices. Plus the merchandise is rarely as nice as what I can find in the US.

It is interesting how I've noticed certain thrift shops are better for certain items than others. One shop, I rarely find stuff for the rest of us, but mixed up with the junk are clothes my son loves. We always walk out with stylish Underarmour/Nike hoodies. Another thrift store has stuff my daughter loves - we got her grade 8 Grad dress that suited her perfectly for $4 and they have a really, really good selection of athletic wear. Funnily enough, we rarely find stuff for my son there. Another store has stuff I like. I rarely find stuff for the kids, but I always get out with fab stuff for me.

I guess it's about the demographics of the neighbourhood. The GW next to my house has beautiful stuff for middle age people, but close to nothing for kids. The GW close to my work, in a more family-friendly neighbourhood, it's the opposite.

Kitsunegari · « **Reply #32 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:37:54 AM »

I'm having a moral conundrum with Goodwill.
I've been a faithful shopper for years, and I especially searched for good quality fabric - especially wool.
But Sunday I went on the busiest time, and as I was watching the people around me looking for new clothes, looking more destitute that I do, it suddenly occurred to me that that pretty cashmere sweater I had in my basket might be the difference between someone being warm or not, getting a job or not. I felt as if, by looking for bargains, I was stealing from poor people the only nice clothes they could afford.
So yeah, I'm taking a break form Goodwill. I have enough clothes anyway.

Chranstronaut · « **Reply #33 on:** October 21, 2015, 10:42:20 AM »

Quote from: Kitsunegari on October 21, 2015, 10:37:54 AM

I'm having a moral conundrum with Goodwill.
I've been a faithful shopper for years, and I especially searched for good quality fabric - especially wool.
But Sunday I went on the busiest time, and as I was watching the people around me looking for new clothes, looking more destitute that I do, it suddenly occurred to me that that pretty cashmere sweater I had in my basket might be the difference between someone being warm or not, getting a job or not. I felt as if, by looking for bargains, I was stealing from poor people the only nice clothes they could afford.
So yeah, I'm taking a break form Goodwill. I have enough clothes anyway.

I've had this thought as well, but I haven't found a perfect resolution. As with anything, my motto is take only what you need and use what you take.

By donating to and buying from Goodwill specifically, you are supporting their jobs programs. And unless you are buying out a ton of product to re-sell, I don't think it's unethical to buy clothes for yourself at a thrift store. There will be plenty more good items you don't buy that other people will.

CALL 911 · « **Reply #34 on:** October 21, 2015, 11:01:56 AM »

I (rarely) go to the Goodwill clearance shop near me. Everything is thrown into wheeled carts, like you might see on an airport tarmac. Prices are by the pound.

It was back to school time, and while my son loved his backpack, I wasn't impressed with it (falling apart, cheaply made, hand me down). I saw a Jansport Right Pack that looked brand new. $0.35

He loves his new backpack even more.

carozy · « **Reply #35 on:** October 21, 2015, 01:59:15 PM »

I found a sturdy laptop bag for $2.50 at Goodwill the other day. Great deal. It was the perfect size and good quality. They had a lot to choose from too. I picked the one that fit best and offered the most protection. I feel much more confident biking with my laptop now (I also have a cushiony sleek sleeve from Apple that encloses the laptop within the Goodwill laptop bag -- the Apple one was $44! But worth it for the extra protection.)

Thrift stores will always have a place in my heart.

Miss Prim · « **Reply #36 on:** October 21, 2015, 06:15:34 PM »

When we were on our camping trip out west for a month, we stopped at a lot of thrift stores. I found a dressy black dress for my daughter that still had the original tags on it. It was an Evan-Picone dress and it was originally $100.00 and I got it for $10.00. I gave it to her and told her that if for some reason she didn't like it or it didn't fit right, she could probably sell it on consignment for more that the $10.00 and she could just keep the money.

I love thrift stores! Miss Prim

jaye_p · « **Reply #37 on:** October 21, 2015, 08:04:34 PM »

I LOVE thrifting! I buy about 99% of the clothes for the three of us there, plus most of our kitchen items (dishes, cookware, etc.) and linens. Just today I found a pair of snowboarding pants for my son, in perfect condition, for $2.99! And a pair of lightweight trail hikers for me, also in like-new condition, for $6.99. I'm so spoiled by thrift store prices that I refuse to pay retail prices for most things. I find that if I wait long enough, whatever we need will show up at the thrift at some point.

elaine amj · « **Reply #38 on:** October 22, 2015, 09:45:55 AM »

Quote from: Kitsunegari on October 21, 2015, 10:37:00 AM

Quote from: elaine amj on October 21, 2015, 09:56:52 AM
It is interesting how I've noticed certain thrift shops are better for certain items than others. One shop, I rarely find stuff for the rest of us, but mixed up with the junk are clothes my son loves. We always walk out with stylish Underarmour/Nike hoodies. Another thrift store has stuff my daughter loves - we got her grade 8 Grad dress that suited her perfectly for $4 and they have a really, really good selection of athletic wear. Funnily enough, we rarely find stuff for my son there. Another store has stuff I like. I rarely find stuff for the kids, but I always get out with fab stuff for me.

I guess it's about the demographics of the neighbourhood. The GW next to my house has beautiful stuff for middle age people, but close to nothing for kids. The GW close to my work, in a more family-friendly neighbourhood, it's the opposite.

It's particularly interesting that this is the difference between 6-7 thrift stores that are congregated on a 4-5 mile stretch of road (so same demographics?). I rather think it has a bit to do with the quality of merchandise they buy and where they get it from.

Helvegen · « **Reply #39 on:** October 22, 2015, 10:22:32 AM »

I love Goodwill. I buy a lot of clothes there. I get a lot of compliments at work on my tops. They are just floored when I tell them I bought them at Goodwill. I bought a nice sized cat carrier there for $5 bucks and that is funny because we had just come back from the rotary club auction (more like a huge, huge garage sale with a few items actually for auction) and they wanted $20-$50 for the same kind of very used small animal carrier! But on the upside, I bought a large, working standing fan at the auction for five bucks. My husband googled it when we got home and found out it was still selling new for $130! Heh.

partgypsy · « **Reply #40 on:** October 22, 2015, 02:05:29 PM »

We like to go because it is a cheap way to spend an hour or so with the family, but there are less and less bargains to be had. I feel like it used to be better, but not anymore, and the kids section is a joke. I was looking for an office chair. They had a whole bunch but there were issues with all of them and the cheapest was around $20. What?
There are a couple consignment shops that take clothes, and also these semi annual kid clothes events, so I think the nicer pieces are being diverted there.

zephyr911 · « **Reply #41 on:** October 22, 2015, 02:06:40 PM »

I generally wear full business attire and I can't even remember the last time I bought new clothes for work. Thrift stores FTW +++

tallen · « **Reply #42 on:** October 23, 2015, 09:29:05 PM »

I bought myself 2 shirts new last year along with 2 or 3 blouses for my wife (Meijer grand opening sale), and bought my daughter a coat new 2 or 3 years ago when she left hers at school and it came up missing. Other than that I can't think of any clothes we own that haven't come from the thrift store (besides socks and underwear, those we always buy new), and we have lots of nice name brand stuff. I love thrift store shopping!

tomita · « **Reply #43 on:** October 24, 2015, 05:10:37 PM »

Just scored a slightly used
Tilley: dress shirt 3.99 CAD and a
Tristan of America:dress shirt 5.99 CAD

Elle 8 · « **Reply #44 on:** October 25, 2015, 08:37:43 AM »

Shopped at Savers yesterday. Picked up a scarf. I could tell right away it was nice. The label confirmed it was cashmere. It still had the store tags on it but the price was ripped off so I don't know how much it was new. Since it matches my winter coat I bought it, even though it was $9.99, more than I usually spend on a single item at Savers. When I got home I looked it up online; the name is Loro Piana. OMG. The most similar scarf currently on their website is $450! I didn't find the exact same scarf so it's probably from a few years ago. I looked on eBay and found similar used ones (still haven't seen the exact one) going for $50 - $140. Now I have a dilemma. Do I keep it or resell it on eBay?

eyePod · « **Reply #45 on:** October 26, 2015, 10:45:47 AM »

Quote from: Kitsunegari on October 21, 2015, 10:37:54 AM

I'm having a moral conundrum with Goodwill.
I've been a faithful shopper for years, and I especially searched for good quality fabric - especially wool.
But Sunday I went on the busiest time, and as I was watching the people around me looking for new clothes, looking more destitute that I do, it suddenly occurred to me that that pretty cashmere sweater I had in my basket might be the difference between someone being warm or not, getting a job or not. I felt as if, by looking for bargains, I was stealing from poor people the only nice clothes they could afford.
So yeah, I'm taking a break form Goodwill. I have enough clothes anyway.

You could also help someone out instead of sitting at home drinking wine and watching Netflix. David over at Raptitude had a great post about how we're all selfish on some level. http://www.raptitude.com/2015/10/are-you-good-enough/

elaine amj · « **Reply #46 on:** October 26, 2015, 07:05:01 PM »

Quote from: Elle 8 on October 25, 2015, 08:37:43 AM

Shopped at Savers yesterday. Picked up a scarf. I could tell right away it was nice. The label confirmed it was cashmere. It still had the store tags on it but the price was ripped off so I don't know how much it was new. Since it matches my winter coat I bought it, even though it was $9.99, more than I usually spend on a single item at Savers. When I got home I looked it up online; the name is Loro Piana. OMG. The most similar scarf currently on their website is $450! I didn't find the exact same scarf so it's probably from a few years ago. I looked on eBay and found similar used ones (still haven't seen the exact one) going for $50 - $140. Now I have a dilemma. Do I keep it or resell it on eBay?

In a similar boat. Was on a weekend camping getaway with my husband on the weekend and wandered into a small town where we found 3 thrift stores AND library book sale on the main street. Bonanza! Among my finds were TWO Briggs and Riley garment covers in new condition. I paid just $4 each. They go for $50-$80 on eBay with a MSRP of $179. They appear to be brand new and never used although they no longer have tags, etc. I can't decide if I should keep it (they r beautiful but not "needed") or sell it or give one to my father for Christmas.

Also scored a bunch of like new books that I am going to give as Christmas presents :)

bigalsmith101 · « **Reply #47 on:** October 31, 2015, 12:00:22 PM »

Our local goodwill is my sisters favorite store. Literally. She goes there for fun to find deals to keep her kids happy. I'd be surprised if she spent $30/mo, and she buys a lot of stuff. Kids toys for $1 etc. (I bought my nephew a massive stuffed frog toy animal, it's legs velcro together and he wears it around his neck all damn day... $1.50)

A couple weeks ago, wifey came home with 4 pairs of shoes, loudly proclaiming, "I just bought FOUR pairs of shoes, (all heels), for work". Immediately I asked "How much!?" fearing the worst. "Twenty bucks for all four!". She wears a size 10.5 in women, so her size is increasingly hard to find at thrift stores. Some woman must have donated all 4 at the same time, (two each of two different brands). The shoes retail for $70-$90/pair. So $20 for $280 worth of shoes. She's happy as a clam, and gets to wear new shoes to work.

2ndTimer · « **Reply #48 on:** November 01, 2015, 08:01:08 AM »

Just went on a sheet music buying spree at the local Goodwill. Six books at just the right level to challenge me for $8.00. I would have paid that much for one if I had bought them new. Won't need any new sheet music for years.

chasingthegoodlife · « **Reply #49 on:** November 13, 2015, 06:12:54 PM »

I just started a new job that requires a uniform with black dress pants or skirt.

Only had the one black skirt in my wardrobe (I'm used to wearing jeans for work!) but thankfully the thrift gods provided like-new Cue and Witchery pants for $5 each, and the perfect knee length business skirt for $3.

While I was buying the pants, the shop assistant was discussing the line of 30+ people that had been camped outside the shop next door for THREE DAYS to buy KANYE WEST SNEAKERS. Some of them had sleeping bags. The mind boggles.

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Author Topic: Goodwill bargain! (Read 22540 times)