Monday, March 19, 2012

Why Goodwill hisses me off!!!!


Monday Schmunday friends. 

Yep. Monday is always back to work for me. YUK! But what must be done must be done! 

Had a fun weekend this weekend. Friday night I tinkered around the house and worked on Spring decor. Saturday morning I woke up and went to Zumba Class! So much fun! Then I came home and Jamie and I decided to take a drive up to Amish Country in Berlin, Ohio. We got a very late start so we aren't there long... but I managed to pick up a few fun things at decent prices. Saw lots of things that I would never pay that much for either! Yikes. Man they like to jack things up just because it's sitting in a store in Amish Country. 

Speaking of jacking things up... I wanna complain a little this morning. 

My Goodwill expanded to double it's size a few months back. Which is great... but whenever they do that... they jack up the prices. 

And that is my complaint. 

Goodwill is NOT a retail outlet. It's a store that sells used  items. But it seems they have forgotten this lately. 

#1. They take everything of value and list it on the goodwill auction site. I refuse to shop this site. Refuse. You are a used item store and you should be selling as such. If I wanted to pay retail I would buy stuff brand new. I don't want to. And I won't. That also means that most of the good stuff never ends up in the store... and that does not make me happy at all. 

#2. If something nice does make it in to the store... they go online and find the highest listed price and price it as such. To justify this they like to put up the internet page the price came from. Like this... 

 IMAG3720IMAG3718 IMAG3719

$159.00 for 31 pieces? Um... No! 

This is bs in my world. I will not buy anything priced like this. I don't care how much replacements LTD is selling this set for... Goodwill is a used store. And they should be selling things well below what retail would be. Not for $5.13 a piece of china. 

I have also seen them use an ebay price of something that did not sell to justify a price many many times. It's out of control! 

So that's my rant for the day. Knock it off goodwill. You have gotten to big for your britches. I remember when I was looked down upon for shopping at goodwill and now that it's the "in" thing to do they think they can price gouge. It burns my britches. 

Anyway... back to my weekend. Sunday, even though we had major storms in Ohio, hubby and I took off on the bike for a few hours. We got soaked... but at least we went out! 

Zumba class tonight! Woohoo! I did my Zumba every day this weekend and twice on Saturday. Though it did not save my Friday weigh in of 135 til today. I was so stoked to hit 135. That's huge. That means I hit 15 pounds down. Woot! Woot! Hello?!?!  Of course it didn't stick til today because I was a bad girl eating this weekend (Mexican and green margarita's Saturday night may have busted my bubble. HA!) but I know it's in there. I will be good through the week this week, eating right and doing Zumba everyday and hopefully it will stick by next weekend. :) 

The point is... I hit 135 on Friday and that's awesome! Booyah! 

Until next time... 

Carmen and the Primcats

29 comments:

Rock River Stitches said...

Carmen, I've never seen my goodwill do what yours has done! I would be steaming too! I do know that the people working there keep the good stuff for themselves too. Congrats on the weight loss!!!

Tammy

Lois Christensen said...

Congratulations on your 15 pound loss! I have to agree with you on the prices! I belong to a Facebook Garage Sale site and sometimes the people put prices so high on items that are USED! Your trip sounds lovely. I love Amish Country and haven't been to Lancaster PA in way too long! Enjoy!

Raymond Homestead said...

I agree! The last time I was in a goodwill store their prices were a joke. Like you said, it's supposed to be a goodwill store. I kept telling myself it's pretty bad when a person can't afford to even shop at a goodwill store!!

Simple Pleasures said...

Hi carmen,
My Gw is always high, its crazy. I see people saying they paid .25 for something & we dont have anything lower than .99. Congrats on the weight loss!
Xo
Michelle

Deppen homestead 1862 said...

Carmen
Way to go on the weight loss~ Beautiful weekend~ thought about you as I heard many bikes this weekend~ just perfect spring weather~
smiles
Teresa

Carmen S. said...

You are SOOOO lucky to be close to Amish country and I LOVE Berlin! It's an almost 3 hour drive for us but we've been over there 4 times and plan on going again:) Don't get me started on GW and the thrift stores, I don't even go in them anymore they are so overpriced and alot of the stuff is junk! Have a great day!

Lee Hill Primitives said...

Hi Carmen, Congratulations in your weight loss. I agree with you, when I moved to VA I founded nice and beautiful items including antiques at awesome prices. I posted about this in the past, in the last two years our GW's and Salvation Army have higher prices, sometimes I need to check if I entered in a Antique store instead a GW. I founded amazing pieces in antique stores that have better prices than a thrift store. If I want to buy something used with high prices, I prefer something new instead of used. Hugs

Audrey said...

I do not have a good will in my area but I agree with you!
Glad you had a good weekend and keep up the great job with your diet and excercise!

BumbleBeeLane said...

Carmen~ That's exactly why I don't shop goodwill.They are donations sell them as such if I wanted to buy it online I would shop online.At ours the manager and her mom set all the good stuff for themselves.Congrats on the continued weight loss.Warm Blessings!~Amy

Karen~The Barely There Primitive Bear said...

I never see anything like that in Goodwill! I did see a rug hooking on ebay and they wanted $15 or more for it. I think the stuff they sell online is way too high as are those dishes! I never find much of anything there, anyway, I find most of my good stuff at antique malls or the flea market. Keep up the good work, you'll lose more.

Blessings~Karen

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

There are 10 Goodwill stores in a 100 mile radius of us. They are in a group called Goodwill of the Heartland. Prices start at 38 cents and go much higher from there, always ending in 38 or 88. Things have gotten progressively higher lately. I pick up a few things and set them back down. The cool things are rare and the cheap things---non-existent. I refuse to pay their high prices. I did go on their auction site but after winning a bid and discovering the postage? Never again!I mail things out regularly and I know what the actual cost is. I'm not paying someone to pack something up using newspapers! You are right. Their national advertisements have made them too big for their britches. Poor people are supposed to be able to get clothes for their kids, blankets to keep warm, shoes, toys for their kids! Everything there is donated--given freely by generous people wanting to help. If they knew the extreme mark up on their cast-offs, they would stop donating!
I am going to be concentrating on garage sales and auctions!
Enjoy that bike and WooHoo on the weight loss. You go, girl!

The Moonlit Stitch said...

Oh Carmen, you are not alone. I had this conversation with a friend recently. Our local Habitat Restore used to be a great place to find things and now they have a new building and young store manager who thinks she is running an upscale antique shop. It really is madness - sad thing is they would bring more $ in for the good cause by moving product by pricing low. Congrats on your 135! ~*~Lisa

Karen said...

I love Berlin, Ohio! We went several years ago, and talk about going back all the time! I wish I lived closer than 8 hours away!!

Boo on the Goodwill Store :( I agree--they are selling USED stuff!!

Cheryl said...

Congrats on the weight loss.
Our GW is way over priced, too!
Love going to Berlin but am finding that the shops are way too pricey for me!
Hugs,
Cheryl

Unknown said...

I thought I was following your blog and somehow I found out I wasn't. I fixed the problem now. I too enjoy my weekends and do not enjoy the return to work on Monday, blah! I can't believe the prices on the goodwill items! I would never have thought they would have those kinds of prices on used items. Congrats on the weight as well!

prims by olde lady morgan said...

Carmen, I don't even go into my Goodwill anymore, it's awful and so over priced! OLM

PrimHearted said...

Hi Carmen, congrats on your weight loss! I don't have a goodwill nearby but we do have a Salvation Army. I noticed the same thing with them. The stuff is way over priced lately. They have half price sales on certain things on certain days. That brings the price to a "normal" range. But otherwise forget it.
Nadine

Pamela@ The Sampler Makers Farmhouse said...

Yes!! I have noticed THE SAME THING here in Chateauguay, just outside of Montreal. They make pure profit off those donated items. Hisses me off too !!!!!!!!!!!

dee begg said...

Carmen,

Congrats on the weight loss! That's terrific and zumba is a great workout! Keep up the good work.

I don't shop at my Goodwill due to their price gouging. Everything is donated and they ask huge prices for it. I'd rather go to the flea market and shop. At least there I can find a bargain and not just one but lots of them...oh, I'm feeling like I need a junque fix soon!

D

jennifer768 said...

Congrats Carmen on the weight loss! Yep our goodwill is way over priced to and I have to travel 20-30 miles just to get to it.Hugs,Jen

cynthia lee designs said...

Carmen,
My GW has been like that for over a year of more. All the stuff that I used to get there is now being sold on eBay. There is never any old country prim type stuff at all anymore. I've been thinking about just going to garage sales and the Spfld Flea Market every month to look for goodies.
Congrats on the weight loss!! I lost another pound, but am still doing that up a pound, down a pound thing.
I'm going to Holly Hills Primitives on Saturday. It's a trip for my birthday from hubby.
hugs,
Cindy

Theresa said...

Too funny! I always am amazed at the deals you get at Goodwill. The stuff you have shown on Thrifty Thursdays would go for triple the price in the Goodwills near me.

I have even found that the Salvation Army thrift stores are starting to do this. It is ridiculous but I guess they have caught on to people buying low and selling high.

I remember once when I complained about the prices of Goodwill to my sister. She laughed at me and called me cheap. I was dead serious, the prices are outrageous.

A Primitive Homestead said...

I visited a new used store & really good stuff in the windows is not for sale. Just a way to get you in there. It worked. Also a locked glass case with really good stuff. A notebook on top where you record your name address & number with your offer. Not even closed bids. I left with 2 used train magazines for my son & have not returned. Blessings!
Lara

Trace4J said...

Congrats Carmen!
GW is way over priced anymore. I hate seeing those internet pages taped. Crazy they are not a antique store.
I normally only go to neighborhood thrift stores now, but sometimes their prices are high too.
Happy Spring
Trace

www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Congratulations on hitting 135 lbs.!!
I don't know where I am on the scale and haven't looked. I'm going to the doctor today for a follow up and they always weigh me every visit, so I shall see today if I've lost any.
I'm trying to eat small portions and stay away from the sweets and treats, rather than keep weighing myself. I'm afraid if I am disappointed I'll eat cookies!
Hugs,
Susan

Angela said...

Goodwill is NOT a retail outlet. It's a store that sells used items. But it seems they have forgotten this lately. ...amen girl. I've stopped shopping at our Goodwill for many years. I call it the 'rich store'..LOL.

Just last night I went to another benefit shop..clothes are priced awesome, one dollar, but all their knick knacks..my goodness girl..milk glass vase 10 dollars.Well I will be doing all that kind of 'shopping' these days now at yard sales...I was just blown away yesterday when I saw the prices. They have tripled!

CRAFTY STITCHERS said...

Thank goodness our Goodwill doesn't do that yet! The prices are a little high, but not to bad. Glad you are having fun Zumbaing. Have a great rest of the week.

Roberta said...

Big congrats on the weight loss and the lifestyle change. Changing your exercise and eating habits is hard, but so worth it when you see and feel the results. I haven't checked out our Goodwill lately. Our thrift stores get so much donated that I would think they would tend to keep prices low to keep stuff going out the door. ~Roberta

Valerie the Pumpkin Patch Quilter said...

Love your blog, I have to say that first! Just visiting in from another blog but noticed you were a fellow Ohio-an so I had to poke around a bit. I'm a Goodwill/Thrift Store addict myself. This is a big complaint of the Husand and I as well at our Goodwill. Everything is donated, and sometimes the prices just go too high. Even the clothes are high in our area - you can buy NEW jeans for darn near the price of what they want at GW for what are often very worn or even stained jeans. I try to buy only what's on sale unless I just have to have it. Alright off to read some more old posts... ;)