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MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:05 PM Tuesday

I know retail clothing prices are up. How about you folks that still shop at Goodwill?

I haven't been there in years. When I went, I would go to what we called the Bins. It is the warehouse clearance, where Goodwill sends their items that didn't sell. You grab a shopping cart, go through huge bins and tables of junk. At the end of "shopping", your cart is weighed, and you pay. I would had for the tables of linens, because I would score beautiful new towels for my clients, other linens they needed. Found a purple London Fog rain coat for myself once, my sis can always find me at the store when I am wearing that, lol. Anyway, a whole cart can sometimes be like 10bucks!

Goodwill store prices at the time were $5 per nice towel. So, just curious if they have raised prices again.

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I know retail clothing prices are up. How about you folks that still shop at Goodwill? (Original Post) MerryBlooms Tuesday OP
Go find out! n/t splat Tuesday #1
Well yeah, I can, would like to know form some where besides Oregon. OK with you? MerryBlooms Tuesday #2
Oh yeah, the bins on Ochoco Street, been there many times. Permanut Tuesday #5
For donated items, Goodwill gonna make a killing during the tariff administration 🤬 MerryBlooms Tuesday #7
Are you still in my beloved Portland? MerryBlooms Tuesday #10
Out in the Portland burbs now.. Permanut Tuesday #17
I lived in Beaverton mostly, but we spent a lot of time in downtown 🥰 MerryBlooms Tuesday #21
Found a local Lions Club resale store. multigraincracker Tuesday #3
Oh, I will see if one is in my area. 😘 MerryBlooms Tuesday #4
Peter Max did a series of T-shirts of the Beatles back in the 70s tavernier Tuesday #6
Score! 🙌🙌🙌 MerryBlooms Tuesday #8
I mystery shop Goodwill. usedtobedemgurl Tuesday #9
Yeah, saw some a that too! Good luck finding matching shoes! 😂 MerryBlooms Tuesday #12
😂😂😂 usedtobedemgurl Tuesday #13
Apparently they have. haele Tuesday #11
Our local cancer store lost their lease, so no more. Very sad. MerryBlooms Tuesday #14
We don't have anything like your bins KT2000 Tuesday #15
Curious. If you don't mind naming names? Never heard of rounding up for training. How odd MerryBlooms Tuesday #16
When you check out they do it. KT2000 Tuesday #19
Wow. Wasn't aware that sorta thing went on, thanks for letting us know MerryBlooms Tuesday #22
Every time I mystery shop them, usedtobedemgurl Wednesday #30
Goodwill prices are insane! I prefer the... QueerDuck Tuesday #18
Omgosh, i just listened to Oregon Experience, Vietnam episode MerryBlooms Tuesday #23
was there this morning rampartd Tuesday #20
Oh, you got some screaming deals! Nice!! MerryBlooms Tuesday #24
I shop the racks at macy's bedazzled Tuesday #25
I heard the not so great to employee stuff too. MerryBlooms Tuesday #27
I love the bins! Phoenix61 Tuesday #26
Awesome! Continued good hunting 💕 MerryBlooms Tuesday #28
Up. All the local thrift stores have raised their prices, as if they had to pay tariffs on that donated stuff. mucholderthandirt Wednesday #29
WE shop at Salvation Army sometimes and got super deals on mens' clothing earlier this summer. lark Wednesday #31
Don't go to Goodwill, their head honchos get paid way raccoon Wednesday #32

Permanut

(7,641 posts)
5. Oh yeah, the bins on Ochoco Street, been there many times.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:33 PM
Tuesday

As for the regular stores, we are seeing some increases, but hard to pinpoint. That $4.99 towel would be $5.99 now, but still a lot of good values.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
10. Are you still in my beloved Portland?
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:43 PM
Tuesday

Been loving the protest videos. Classic Portland 🥰🥰🥰

Permanut

(7,641 posts)
17. Out in the Portland burbs now..
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 07:21 PM
Tuesday

I hear ya about the videos, hilarious, makes me proud of our citizens.

Got signs all ready for October 18th, hoping for a big crowd.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
21. I lived in Beaverton mostly, but we spent a lot of time in downtown 🥰
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 08:49 PM
Tuesday

Good luck and I know you will be in good company 🥰🤨

tavernier

(14,011 posts)
6. Peter Max did a series of T-shirts of the Beatles back in the 70s
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:34 PM
Tuesday

I found one at Goodwill last year and did a little research. Found that it is now selling for $240. I bought a sweater this spring, a very expensive designer sweater that sells new for $270. I bought both items for four bucks.
I have found a few gems like that and not just clothing. It’s a fun way to kill an hour or two just to see what treasures I can come up with.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
8. Score! 🙌🙌🙌
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:40 PM
Tuesday

You're in The Keys. Lovely folks, amazing lifestyle, scenery. Sigh
Man, I miss that area so much. I lived on Big Coppitt. Was there during Dennis and Wilma.

usedtobedemgurl

(1,861 posts)
9. I mystery shop Goodwill.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:43 PM
Tuesday

I did an outlet just last week. They charge $1.99/lb. The floor was dirty. The bins had a bad smell. Items had holes and stains. So much worse than another outlet I shopped in Florida maybe eight years ago.

Their regular stores charge way too much for what the items are. I habe seen price tags still on some things and they discounted it a $1!!!

haele

(14,730 posts)
11. Apparently they have.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:45 PM
Tuesday

I hit the various Veterans Thrift stores, American Cancer Society, local church thrifts and consignment stores. They're more likely to give a fair price to be able to keep the store going and serve their charity.

Goodwill and Salvation Army stores have their intake folks scouring eBay and collector sites for price points on name brand/designer clothing and collectables.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
14. Our local cancer store lost their lease, so no more. Very sad.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:50 PM
Tuesday

Us 3 sisters shopped there every week. Wonderful ladies volunteered, and visit with. Really miss them and the store.

KT2000

(21,765 posts)
15. We don't have anything like your bins
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:50 PM
Tuesday

just regular merchandise. They are getting a lot of merchandise that is new, under their own name, such as household goods. The clothing is really high. There will be used Walmart clothes, priced more than Walmart new clothes.

They also ask you to round up for training and if you say no, not very nice about it.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
16. Curious. If you don't mind naming names? Never heard of rounding up for training. How odd
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:54 PM
Tuesday

High pressure and weird! How awful for you

KT2000

(21,765 posts)
19. When you check out they do it.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 07:59 PM
Tuesday

That is just at the Goodwill though. Area Goodwills have CEOs who decide things like that.

usedtobedemgurl

(1,861 posts)
30. Every time I mystery shop them,
Wed Oct 15, 2025, 06:47 AM
Wednesday

Part of the question is if you were asked to round up, and did they explain about the program. Most of the time, (maybe 90%) I say they did not, or they asked about rounding up to the nearest dollar, but did not explain it goes to training folks. I have never felt pressured in any way. Maybe because I know they are being graded and it is a part of their job duties. I have never donated and never felt the way the other poster did. This doesn't mean they are wrong about what is happening. They simply go to a different store.

QueerDuck

(217 posts)
18. Goodwill prices are insane! I prefer the...
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 07:25 PM
Tuesday

Children's hospital thrift shop or the Vietnam vets thrift shop

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
23. Omgosh, i just listened to Oregon Experience, Vietnam episode
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 08:56 PM
Tuesday

While getting supper together. Highly recommend. At the beginning of Vietnam War, about 10% men going over were from Oregon. I had no idea. My oldest brother was there. I was so little though. My biggest memories are when he came home to visit.

rampartd

(2,665 posts)
20. was there this morning
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 08:07 PM
Tuesday

nought 2 jeans 4.99 and a 3/4 fiddle for $25 (1/2 price blue tag)

senior citizens 1/2 price on wednesday

try their web site for the good stuff.

bedazzled

(1,879 posts)
25. I shop the racks at macy's
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 08:57 PM
Tuesday

New stuff for 5 or 10 bucks. I lost weight and got beautiful jeans and khakis and shirts for cheap!

Never shop at goodwill. Had to work there for many years and they are very abusive to their employees.

MerryBlooms

(12,071 posts)
27. I heard the not so great to employee stuff too.
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 09:25 PM
Tuesday

Congratulations on the weight loss 🫶 😽

Phoenix61

(18,591 posts)
26. I love the bins!
Tue Oct 14, 2025, 09:01 PM
Tuesday

I scored a vintage Brahmin purse there. So far my best find. It’s great for holiday decor.

mucholderthandirt

(1,690 posts)
29. Up. All the local thrift stores have raised their prices, as if they had to pay tariffs on that donated stuff.
Wed Oct 15, 2025, 05:50 AM
Wednesday

It's gotten crazy to even go look, they charge double what you can get cheap Dollar Tree stuff for, though they usually always have. I told my mother that if it goes any higher, I'll just go to Walmart, because at least the stuff is new.

lark

(25,562 posts)
31. WE shop at Salvation Army sometimes and got super deals on mens' clothing earlier this summer.
Wed Oct 15, 2025, 12:13 PM
Wednesday

Salvation Army saved our son with their Adult Rehab Program - literally! He's one year clean now and living in a "Clean Living" really nice residence, and has a full time job - such a wonderful thing!

We shop at Salvation Army on the half price day and get some really good things for next to nothing.

raccoon

(32,082 posts)
32. Don't go to Goodwill, their head honchos get paid way
Wed Oct 15, 2025, 12:17 PM
Wednesday

Too much. Find other thrift stores in your area.

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