Goodwill Outlet Stores
Does thrift store shopping give you a rush? Then, you're going to want to sit down for this one . . . I've just discovered that there are Goodwill outlet stores! Can you believe it? Outlet thrift stores!
I visited the Nashville location this past weekend, and man was it fun. Clothes were .99 a piece or $1.99 a pound (even cheaper for purchases over 20 pounds). Linens were .99 a pound. Sofas were $15-20 a piece. Purses were $1.49 each. Talk about some deals!
I've since done some research (because you know I want to check out more of these stores), and it looks like the outlet concept is still pretty new. I was able to locate one in Seattle, one in Portland, three in Indianapolis, and of course, the one that I visited in Nashville. So, if you happen to live near one, be sure to check it out; and if you don't live near one . . . well . . . it may be time for a road trip.
Update: After some more digging, I've been able to locate a total of 25 Goodwill Outlet Store locations. Do you know of others that I've missed? If so, share the details; and I'll add them to the list.
We have a couple of good will stores within a couple of hours from me. I was very disappointed with the ones in Springfield IL because they raised their prices so high that it isn’t a good deal. You can buy new stuff cheaper. The other one is in Bloomington IL and they are still a bargain. The prices vary and they have special sale days. I have always enjoyed a good bargain.
The Harrisburg,PA. store has a Bin Store which is like a giant rummage sale. Clothes are now 75 cents each and shoes a dollar a pair.I’m spoiled. Everything used to be 50 cents.I get much nicer things in the bin store than I do out front at the regular store.It varies from day to day, but a couple of times a week and I’m good for the season.
Boise has one,
1465 S Vinnell Way
Boise, ID 83709
(208) 321-9172
Goodwill stores are the fastest growing business in the St Louis area!! I am not really sure what to think about that. Does it mean we are gettin so poor that we can not afford to shop mainstream reatil any longer? Or does it mean that we are so well off that we can be extremely generous to the needy!! or does it mean we are so very confused that we think we have too much junk so we give it away and then turn around and buy it back from all of these newly opened stores!!!
Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul are also great thrift stores, check your yellow pages and I bet you’ll find more than you knew
I used to think that Good Will is a charity. Then I found out that they are just another ‘big business’. They take things that are donated to them and then sell them for a “profit”. However, since they are a “not for profit organization” they must spend their profit at the end of the year. So at the end of the year they spend on stuff that normal people cannot possibly afford such as lavish vehicles, raises that are not evenly distributed and have their conventions at Las Vegas casinos–all thanks to us, the generous donors.
My stuff goes to the church backed thrift store that sends kids to camp each summer. I am sure you can find one that is more needy than GoodWill.
There is one in San Luis Obispo, CA on Industrial Way.
THANK you Sue—One of the very few people who know the truth about not-for-profit. A loophole in an otherwise good law that allows these businesses hospitals charities to hide behind a front and become millionaires at the expense of donors. You are selected to move to the head of the class and start a campaign to get the next pres to put a cap on what anyone can get out of a charit. Why not start with getting published what each and everyone has paid their top brass in salaries bonuses and perks. I think we will be appaled.
yeah thanks sue
We have several Goodwill stores in the area, two of them have something called “As is”-Lots. only open a few days a week. They used to sell clothes by the pound there, used to be a dollar per pound. Now they are up to 75 cent for Childrens clothes and $ 1.25 for adult clothes. Other stuff is priced as the staff things its appropriate. Still supercheap. I go there once a week, and pretty much all of my kids and my clothes come from there. Better deals than at Yardsales, the gas prices screwed that one up for me..lol
Columbia, SC has one. I have been there twice and will probably not go back. I found that most of the items there were so damaged that they couldn’t be sold at the regular Goodwill. lol-that’s probably where they send MY donations!
PLEASE don’t judge all not-for-profit organizations on the basis of a few mis-managed ones! I do not know anything about the Goodwill organization itself, but I have spent my whole life working for various not-for-profit organizations. Trust me, no one is getting rich or driving fancy cars on our salaries. Why do you think I check out Frugal Living? Not-for-profits do have the right to make money: it’s what they do with the money that makes it a non-profit. Right now I work for a church-related facility. The money that we take in above and beyond our meager salaries is reinvested in improving our facilities. We have to re-roof leaky buildings and replace leaky pipes and even build new buildings to expand the services we offer. I do advise checking out any organization before donating to it: just don’t trash all not-for-profits out of hand. Thanks!
The Goodwill store in our town provides rehabilitation services, training, and employment for the handicapped, disabled and the disadvantaged who cannot be readily absorbed by the competitive labor market. They are not just “selling items for a profit”. I agree with Margie.
Medford, OR has one off Fir St.
Yes, we have a GoodWill Store in Parma Heights (suburb of Cleveland, OH), but it is not as outstanding as the huge Salvation Army Family Thrift Center in Strongsville, OH on Pearl Road near Sprague Rd. I was in line one day, when a woman said that her doctor told her to shop there. Why? — Because his wife shops there. I have been going there this my layoff in 2002.
Wednesday is one half off day on certain tagged clothes. The last two Saturdays have been half off on everything in the store. The clothes are great looking. I got a .99 cent t-shirt this summer. This store brings in great merchandise from upper crust Strongsville and surrounding communities. You can find furniture, toys, books and puzzles there.
We donated my mother-in-law’s clothing there and some of their household items. I think of donations as being eco-friendly to the environment. Why let good clothing and household items go to the landfills when somebody else could enjoy them?
Also, with the high cost of gasoline and resulting rising prices in the grocery stores, it is a matter of common sense NOT to spend big money in department stores. I wish I had done more thrift store shopping in my younger years.
Ohhh that sounds so neat – and so much fun! I can imagine the possibilities! To bad there aren’t any around where I live – maybe they will be opening more soon.
I do have a regular Good Will store but I hate it. It’s always dirty and cluttered and they charge $3.99 for adult shirts and $2.99 for kids clothes – uhhh that’s per piece. For that price I might as well scrounge the clearance racks at Walmart – I would do better.
I am suprised that you don’t know the mission of Goodwill, which is to put people to work,
people who are difficult to employ. The Goodwill stores take the “profit” they make from their stores and use it to train people who are difficult to employ like people with mental and physical disabilities. Many of the people are employeed part-time in their stores. The so called “profits” are used to cover all of the expenses of running a business like rent, utilities, and yes even salaries for their employees. Employees of Goodwill can also be eligible for healthcare benefits. Many people with college degrees in vocational rehabilitation are employed as case managers and vocational coaches for these people. I love Goodwill and support them wholeheartedly. As a 501c3 tax-exempt organization they are required by law to have their finances professionally audited, have a board of directors (unpaid I believe) that guide the direction of the organization. My Goodwill employees people with mental disabilities, people who are on dialysis and cannot work fulltime, refugees who are here legally, etc. Please ask and investigage before making assumptions about this great organization.
#13 by Lynette mentioned Medford, Oregon as an ‘as is’ on Fir St., the address is: 515 N. Fir St., Medford, phone 541-772-3300, 9am-3pm Mon-Sat
Pat
We have one in Delaware as well. It’s at 300 East Lea Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
I’ve worked with many disabled youths transitioning into adulthood and they’ve received first jobs/training at Goodwill. I will say they do an excellent job teaching these kids, and adults, job skills, (I’m a special ed teacher.) I was surprised and disappointed to find the profit margin Goodwill makes, especially when you donate, you are given a charity slip for tax purposes.
I’ve been to two outlet stores. Some things about them are okay, but I must say wear gloves. Both times I got my hands cut on broken glass or sharp metal. I’m not a very good frugal shopper because I can’t make treasures (just don’t have that flair) but it’s fun to go with people who can see beyond the funky lamp or scarf.
my wife shops good will bangor,brewer me
I live near Seattle and go to the Seattle Outlet every few months. All area Goodwills send their stuff here once it has been in the store about 5 weeks and has been on the floor at 50% for a week but still not sold. So there is alot of junk (stained, dirty, torn, and smelly). I ALWAYS wear gloves and bring hand sanitizer and I NEVER bring anything into my house without sorting, shaking and sometimes even washing it. I found roaches in the bag the first time I got home with my “treasures”. I also found a bin that had been urinated in and evrything was nasty! Some of my finds: a silk scarf: hand painted by a local artist. Paid pennies (as it is by the pound and silk is so light) sold it for 45.00. the messenger style book bag my daughter has carried for over 3 years for less then 2 dollars. and lot of typical thrift store finds. I have a friend who grabs electronics by the arm load…old calculators, outdated video game parts etc. One of his finds: A case (48) of ancient printer cables for 4.00. to most they looked like outdated trash. but, because they are not made anymore, those that still need them paid an average of 20.00 each…he made almost 1000 with a 4.00 investment! the only thing I rarely by at the outlet are jeans. Because of the weight of the denium it is usually cheaper for me to by them at the store when they are half price (or the magical Mondays when one color tag clothing is .99 or 1.29 each.
I shop at these store and have been for a number of years. I was a single mother and wanted my child to dress like the other kids. So he wouldn’t feel different. This is a way that I could afford & give him what he wanted. I also dressed myself for work and people kept asking me where I got my beautiful clothing. But I also know that these stores do alot of Good for the people in their area. Now I try to shop at a thrift store any & every chance I get. Because I know what the money I spend is doing to help others in need of help. In fact when we were flooded Salvation Army paid for our room as well as others for a week at a local hotel. Making sure we were ok and had what we needed. In my town we have a local thrift shop any & all money from the selling of items go to help the town’s Fire Dept, & Ambulance Service to have the BEST EQUIPMENT needed to safe lives. So I believe in these thrift shops. I have seen the money at work first hand
I just went to the new outlet in L.I.C. New York. It was so much fun..I wasn’t in the mood for going thru the bins of clothing, but the purses caught my eye. I have so many purse…I found a few Vera Bradley satchel types and a great Maxx purse…I was able to buy 6 great bags for $8.00..They sold them buy the pound.What a rush….go have some fun. 06/25/09