Ahhh The Goodwill Outlet Store. Have you been to one? Have you been to one right when the doors opened? Ya. Well, it was quite the experience let me tell you.
One word comes to mind. AGGRESSIVE. As in a bunch of people grabbing two carts and running to the back of the store with them and THROWING everything they could into their carts as fast as possible. The people we saw didn’t even stop to look at what they were throwing in their carts. The name of the game was just fill the carts and sort through them later. Which is you are an everyday average shopper just there looking for a deal… was kind of lame.
The most popular sections: DVD, Books, Shoes and Handbags.
And in each one of those sections there were multiple people with multiple carts, tossing stuff in them as fast as they could. So clearly, these people were there for the re-sale angle. 
And that’s totally fine, I get it. Buying stuff cheap and turning around and selling it online, there is nothing wrong with that. Used DVD’s sell for $1.99 at the Goodwill Outlet, and so it made me wonder how much of a profit people these people are actually making on re-selling them? Aren’t most people using Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Instant Video these days?
Now textbooks, are a totally different story. I saw people with carts full of textbooks off to the side scanning barcodes and checking their current selling prices on Amazon. Now that, I could see being a big money maker. If you found the right book.
The prices were WAY better than you’d find at your local {non black friday shopping atmosphere} Goodwill. Clothing especially. 0-25 pounds $1.49 a pound, 25-49 pounds $1.09 a pound and over 50 pounds $0.99.
I took a couple of shoots of the back of the store where giant sacks of clothes were getting filled {with presumably unsold outlet items}.
I wonder how many days they let a bin sit out on the floor before they declare the items unsaleable? Anyone know?
This was a typical “household” type bin. It was filled with everything from stuffed animals to cake pans and hangers to athletic equipment, outdated exercise equipment and knickknacks.
Now what the heck is this? The only thing we could come up with was that maybe it was some sort of leather shoulder football pads {obviously vintage}? Whatever they were, the relic was stuffed with HAIR.
If you had time to dig through troughs of clothes, there were some nice things to be found. But again, you REALLY had to know your brands and inspect each item for stains and holes.
Awesome. A used leopard print thong with red lace trim, just what I was hoping to find. BRING GLOVES people, bring gloves if you go.
Now I wouldn’t wear this, but for less than $0.50 I’m sure someone would love to have an almost new Jones New York top. I bet someone could sell this on eBay and make some money, don’t you think?
Anyway, here’s what I came home with. A like new warm dress for winter {which I will pair with wool tights} and a new with tags shirt for the men’s shelter.
Would I make this particular Goodwill Outlet a regular stop? Probably not. The aggressive behavior of some of the shoppers was a total turn off. Do I think there are deals to be had there? Yes. If you don’t mind scouring through bins of used items that could probably all be found at a garage sale.
Have you ever been to a Goodwill Outlet store? If so, were you there for yourself, or for re-sell reasons?
Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
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Kirsten says
I didn’t even know that Goodwill had outlet stores. The aggressive shoppers you described make the whole experience not worth it. I would much rather sit and home and shop Amazon if I needed something.
Mavis Butterfield says
My thoughts exactly. Or a garage sale. It totally wasn’t worth it to me but I wanted to check out the store.
Lacy says
There is one just south of Memphis that I frequented quite often when we lived there earlier this year. I’m a fan of second hand (cheap) clothes and I loved the thrill of the find! Also, with clothing an infant it made sense to shop here…there was some good stuff! Plus, if I don’t end up liking the items I bought I don’t feel like I’m out any money when I donate them.
Christine says
Thanks for posting! I was really curious about what it was like because I love what Crispina Ffrench does with wool and cashmere sweaters she buys by the pound and wondered if you could find that at the outlet. Can you buy sweaters or t-shirts by the pound there?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, they all sorts of clothing. 🙂
Christine says
Thank you! Now for a place in my house to store clothing by the pound until I can make it into cool stuff…
Sandra says
I go occasionally. Yes, gloves are a must!
Usually I am looking for items to repurpose. Some finds include a leather skirt that I used for a Girl Scout leader workshop on making braided bracelets, and an Ultrasuede garment that is fabric for a tote bag.
Yes, it’s aggressive in there. I don’t go in the morning, as it seems to be less aggressive in the afternoon. My biggest objection is that it is dark in there.
Tami says
I used to shop there all the time. It has become so aggressive that I won’t do it. Those are resellers and they are violent and fights can break out there at that specific location. Those bins are only out for a matter of an hour or two at the most. And when the new Bins come out they fight over them. And yes, definitely gloves.
Sarah B says
Yes, gloves are a must!
A few years ago I happened to stop into the Kent outlet. My first visit. I was SHOCKED to find wooden Thomas train stuff and some random Lego pieces. They must have a donation bin there too, because there’s no way that stuff wouldn’t sell at the store.
But I rarely go. Not worth it. My best find was at a regular store in Tukwila. Someone must have been new, because they put a Lego set (like a $60 set) in the puzzle/game section with no price tag. So I got it for $0.99. It contained 7 of 8 bags NEW, sealed and all. They must have wanted the minifigures and didn’t want to put together the rest of the Star Wars ship. Thankfully I had enough Legos to make do and build it.
Cheri says
There is something slightly insane about what you describe, and it makes me wonder whether there is a better way to acquire goods than at shops like this. I do go to Goodwill and other thrift stores on occasion and believe very much in recycling. However, the weirdness of the way people shop–grabbing things they wouldn’t buy at all if it was new–deeply turns me off. I wonder if it would be better to buy new, choosing exactly what you need at the highest quality you can afford, and caring for the earth by minimizing your possessions. It would still reduce landwill waste but in a less crazy way. I don’t know; just speculating, but I do know I’ve bought a lot of things at thrift stores that were poor choices just because they were cheap. I would have done better buying the right thing new and having it last.
Holly says
Thank you for that!! I thought it was just me that was very weirded out by the whole thing.
Kallie says
I love the outlet when I’m up for the challenge of people who are slightly nuts! The first time I went I couldn’t figure out what they kept saying over the loudspeaker and why groups of people kept popping up in the open space on the sales floor. I thought maybe they were volunteers waiting for I instructions or something. Turns out they were waiting for the arrival of the newest big blue bin to be rolled into place. It was worth the experience just to stand back and watch! Our outlet is continually rolling out the picked over bins and rolling new ones into their place. You are supposed to not touch the bin or anything inside until the two or three bins that make up a row have been put in place, and then it’s like a feeding frenzy! I like to find a golf club or some such to help move items aside to see toward the bottom. You have to be careful because there can be plenty of grossness and broken bits, so gloves are a good idea.
It is worth the effort if I’m in the mood. I’ve come home with a high end European brand coat for one of my kiddos, brand new mikasa martini glasses with the stickers still on, a North Face fleece for my niece, a super nice CPU (my Hubby knows this stuff!), an entire set of Geo Trax, and plenty of other random treasures. Ours is also sold by the pound with the exception of books, movies, Cd’s, and video games. Based upon the Geo Trax and some other items I have found, I’m fairly certain that the donations dropped at the donation center located outside the outlet go straight to the outlet sales floor. My Hubby and I love to go together, but prefer to leave our kiddos home!
Lisa MTB says
Hm, here’s hard evidence for thinking through purchases carefully. So many things people buy end up in landfills or, I guess, in super-bargain warehouses for people to fight over. After this stop, does the remainder get donated overseas or …? It might be fun to interview some “regulars” to see if anyone has made big bucks (or found treasures) from their mass hauls.
Julie K says
I would watch those interviews! Much more entertaining to me than being there myself!
Lisa MTB says
And there’s always the potential for a bin brawl to break out in the background! It has entertainment potential!
Rita says
Glad to see you were wearing gloves. Do you think there are aggressive shoppers that line up before it opens everyday or was this a special sale day? It would be a giant turn off to see people hoarding items in their cart and then weeding through it after they fill it up.
Mavis Butterfield says
It was just a regular day.
Jfred says
Some people make their livings selling at flea markets, on ebay, on craigslist, etc, and they load up on cheap items at these goodwill outlets. They are looking for name brand items that will sell for good $. But everything I’ve read and seen….they can be very aggressive.
Others search for clothes and shoes for their families. I saw a family with 5/6/7 kids, and the mama was holding clothes up to the different kids, seeing if they might fit. It’s an inexpensive way to clothe your children.
A friend took me to one near where she lives. I found a couple books for the kids, and a vintage white chenille bedspread in great condition. It was all a bit haphazard for me, but it was fun to treasure hunt. Oh, and by the front door was a gorgeous antique sofa w the carved wood along the back, in great condition….all of $25! If only we weren’t 8 hrs from home…I would’ve snagged it!
Deborah says
I’ve never been to a Goodwill Outlet but in Madison, WI they have the Dig and Save. It is the outlet for the St. Vincent DePaul thrift stores.And I’ve never see or heard of another one. It is very similar to that setup. It has big bins of clothes that you “dig” through. They also have furniture, linens, toys, etc. I have never experienced aggressive people there. It does get very crowded. In the fall they have coat sales for $1 each. My son in law and I call it “the dig”. Most of my grandkids toys come from there. We find the best stuff for next to nothing! Good brands. Takes time though. It’s one of my favorite things to do when I take a trip up to visit them. I have found multiple crocks, vintage toys, rei brand clothes, LLBean clothes, and I love to dig through the linens. I do know they put out new bins of linens on Sunday morning. I think I would like a GW Outlet. Will have to look for one.
Joe says
Down here in Sarasota, our store you take your life in your hands. Beyond aggressive people, total turn off and management dosen’ t care. I rather search the standard goodwill for the lost bargain. But even the regular stores by me are becoming a true retail store and very rarely a bargain. I had gone back the route of garage sales and flea markets. Keep up the work Mavis, your beautiful inside and out. I look forward to getting your latest posts, it is a great read with a cup of coffee.
Julie K says
Growing up on the east coast, I was used to crowds and enjoyed shopping. Having lived in the Midwest for the last ten plus years, crowds intimidate me and aggression sends me right back home. I’d much rather shop Amazon from my recliner!
Rust says
I visited a goodwill-aholic friend in Nashville a few weeks ago. She ranted and raved about this store, the deals, the deals! Looks just like your pictures. She calls it the Box Store.
I’d never been to an outlet store, just the *normal* goodwills. Well, I was hooked! It was not at all like what you described, just a bunch of older men who were obviously resellers. Very friendly all the way around.
My big scores? Two king size white down comforters in great shape, a Woolrich king size blanket with satin binding, like new, and a really nice pair of long burlap curtains with the original tag on them. Everything there is 99 cents!!
Deborah from Texas says
This sounds crazy to me. People cramming everything in buggys? I thought Goodwill was there to help people, not for people to take advantage of. Am I totally wrong?
mdoe37 says
I think it used to be. Its now just another store selling second hand goods. I don’t have an outlet near me….but a couple of pretty good regular Goodwills. If you are choosy, prices are still better than retail.
I was near a local Salvation Army store the other day, 30 people in line before they opened. Apparently once a month they have a 99 cent day. I wouldn’t bother. The goods in there are usually pretty marginal.
(I wonder….if they are reselling as an income…..if they get injured in a brawl……is that workmen’s comp? lol)
Mel says
I believe that Goodwill’s mission is to help people with their job readiness programs, which are supported by the sales in the stores. So the aggressive shoppers are contributing to the income that fuels the mission, not taking advantage. The re-sellers are trying to make a living by finding goods and reselling them online, which helps their customers, who may not be able to get out or find the things they want except online. So while it looks negative on the surface, they’re just trying to make a living and providing a service (used goods online) to people who want or need it. And it sounds like if the stuff doesn’t get purchased at the outlets, it’s going to get trashed, so the resellers provide a market that casual shoppers don’t. I guess if you want extreme deals you have to put up with less than fun shopping environment.
grammy goodwill says
Hubby and I will go occasionally. He likes to look for books. I mainly focus on toys for the grandkids. People where I live don’t seem as aggressive as you described.
Tracy says
I’d rather wear the same tshirt and jeans every day for the rest of my life than spend five minutes pawing through stuff that disgusting!
Deborah McGeary says
You haven’t anything till you go to the one in Tucson, AZ. Everybody from Mexico (or at least a bunch) is there to take clothing etc. back to Mexico and sell down there. It’s dirty and a bunch of pushing a shoving. I don’t go very often because it no where near my house.
Julia says
We have one near us. I’ve been a few times. You have to be in the right mood. Ours isn’t as crazy as what you experienced but you defiantly need gloves. My son loves it and usually scores some classic nerf guns to modify. I liked our old Goodwill bin store better as we paid by the piece which was much cheaper for heavier items like blankets and linens and household items. But it is fun.
Kristina says
I’ve been to the one in Santa Cruz, CA where my daughter lives. I went midday, and it was pretty chill, nothing like you describe. My daughter has bought some nice stuff there, some new with tags for almost nothing. I would say gloves are a must, though.
Lisa says
I recently scored what I thought was a knock off Kate Spade garment bag at the Seattle outlet. A nice shopper asked if I was interested in it. When I got home I found a Nordstrom tag in a pocket with luggage printed for the dept. and $615 written on it. Who knows, but it looks great. I also picked up two IKEA ottomans with removable covers (washed them right away) for $1.99 each. The base was clean with no smell. I definitely have to be in the mood to shop there!
patty says
I went to one in Sacramento, CA, I too was just checking it out. I thought the people in the clothes were crazy, I had never seen anything quite like it before. When they rolled out a bin of clothes the people flooded to it like bees on meat. I was looking at a table of books when they came and took it away. 5 min later they brought out new table of books. I asked the girl working there about the books they took away, she said they get thrown out. I did score a cute small thirty-one bag for 50 cents that day!
Chris says
I went once to the local one in Colorado Springs, more than 1/2 the ppl were there packing trucks to resell in Mexico. If you managed to get something they wanted and didn’t watch they would snatch it from your cart! It was an experience but very overwhelming.
Jillbert says
Goodwill Outlet is definitely an experience! I saw two women get into a hair pulling, screaming, on-the-floor fight over a crocheted scarf. BUT, weirdly, I have found some treasures including glassware (how it managed to be unbroken was beyond me….) and a perfect condition Royal Dalton platter. Not a place I go often (too intense) but will pop into once or twice/year.
Gale says
Have been to the outlet a few times. I go to “people watch”. Don’t participate in the frenzy. Most of the people at my store (TX) are buying clothes and shoes to send back to family in Mexico. If you are patient and dig thru the clothes you will find surprises. In the regular stores, clothes get put in the wrong size section and never get picked. After 6 weeks, it’s off to the outlet. At .39 lb it’s worth the dig. My friends and I have found high end housewares, clothing, toys and great Xmas stuff. We pool it all into one buggy and split cost 3 ways.
Lisa Millar says
The ‘grabby-snatchy’ approach to shopping is a real put off to me.
I feel the same way watching Black Friday footage or the Boxing Day Sales here in Aust. Quite repellent to see people frantically grabbing for stuff to the point of fighting!
We have great local op shops (Thrift) around my area…. its all very calm and quiet. I enjoy going in and looking either for something specific – or just going for a look!
Darlene says
That sounds horrid The hair stuffed thingy made me gag! I do love a Goodwill trip, but lawd!
Lauren says
You know, I hit up the outlet store only when I need something like a moving blanket or trash blanket(say, for covering precious veggies from frost!), rugs for my shed and garage, plastic bins, or milk crates for shed or garage stuff. I found four milk crates for less than 2$!
I’ve also bought stuffed animals for dogs there… you know, so that they can destroy them!
Although They did start covering the carts with a sheet until the workers place them, they were being jumped before the bins stopped rolling!!
Lynn says
I go to the bargain barn in Sarasota, as well. You have to be in the right frame of mind, accept that you are going to see a lot of bad behavior and see what happens. I have found some amazing deals, 2 functional Nespresso machines for $1, an amazing vintage singer sewing machine that works perfectly for $3, lots of designer clothes and lululemon, frye boots for 1.50. There are some very nice people that go regularly, so I just go on a rainy or exceptionally hot day and go with the flow. I never look at shoe bins when they first come out – that is the most aggressive place in the store. I keep my expectations low and usually find some very cool things.
Athina Hart says
I shop all the time at Portland’s outlet store. so far it’s cleaner and people aren’t as many or aggressive. I have had a couple of aggressive shopper stories to tell from the older Milwaukee location. But out of the many times I’ve been those were the only 2 times it has happened to me. I love to find treasures there, but I do recommend keep an eye on your things like a hawk! As well as wash your hands if you forget gloves. I have found $80 sweaters for around a dollar or two with new tags!
Vickie Lee says
Mavis, I went to this Goodwill outlet in Tacoma for my first time today. I found the staff very pleasant and helpful ( as I was new). I am thankful that this place exists! I do work with the homeless, so finding clothes , shoes, etc at a BARGAIN is a good thing! I worked at he Bon for many years, back then we had End of Month Clearance sales….Let me tell you, Now those people were viscous! I had a guy that lived in Bellevue that was a regular, he would run in GRAB like Crazy put his stuff behind the register and go to the next Dept! So that Push and Shove shopping is not just limited to a Bin Type Store! I have been to the Seattle store, that was a bit crazier than this Goodwill outlet. I was happy to see visible security staff, stationed well, many employees and no real chaos. I will be making this a REGULAR STOP for me, i found 2 boxes full of treasures for only $20. CHEERS to the Management Staff for running such a great store, for those that have made negative comments, maybe you should revisit and not try and compare this to any other place as it truly is One of a KIND! It is not a Nordstroms, it is a great place to recycle affordably
Mushy says
I shop the store you were at regularly, and I agree there are some aggressive people. But I don’t show up first thing in the morning either, so most of the hungry people have come and gone by the time I get there. I follow the “if it’s meant to be, I will find it” theory rather than digging hard and fast, and i do find some great stuff. Like the time I got an unopened Cards Against Humanity expansion set, which I bought for a quarter (guessing on weight) and sold online for $25. Or the Banana Republic messenger bag, which I’ve kept but haven’t used yet.
One thing to know is that not every Outlet is the same. Since you went to Tacoma, I will tell you about all the neigbors…
Tacoma – half clothes, lots of random household junk, store is a bit of a mess.
Seattle – 4/5 clothes, great place to find baskets in the 4 bins of non-clothes items, store kinda dark.
Olympia – they have a lot of toys, very clean store, casual atmosphere.
Kent/Des Moines – surprising finds including vintage, 2/5 clothes, nicely organized, bins not crammed full.
And at the Kent store, I found a 1957 Zenith tube clock-radio that worked. Best Outlet store I’ve been to though is one in Portland OR, which is huge and very very clean and even rather organized.
Jeane says
Just went to the store in Tacoma. At 2 weeks before Christmas and after reading comments I expected some kind of MMA fights. What I got was maybe 15 people in line in front of me and about the same behind and…. nothing. I walked in at 9 and left at 10:30 with over 50 pounds of clothes, 2 blankets, and some silk fabric all for $45. No one pushed, shoved, yelled or gave a stink-eye. Beginners luck maybe?
I spilled my coffee and they had someone clean it up. The guy was nice and without judgment. I was an old lady who spilled her coffee, what of it? The lady at the register pointed out that if I had just a little more the price would be the same because I could take advantage of the price reduction for my weight. Pretty nice of her.
I brought gloves, the surgical kind, and it was fine. Some people had big thick ones and others had none. A guy across from me asked about it and the response was if you got em, wear em, if you don’t, don’t touch your face until you wash your hands. I happened to be digging through the bins and picked up underwear a few times which made me very happy I had on gloves.
It’s a bit dark, but I only needed enough to check for stains. The books and shoes were on opposite ends of the clothes so there was no interference there. It was weird for me because I had never done it, but overall it was a smashing success. I had to stop at an actual goodwill store for some things that were missing. I spent $28 there. With those price tags and the ones that were on items from the bins, I estimate that it was worth a little over $400. In my pile, I had a black real leather jacket, and a real leather pair of paints Once I sell those, the whole thing paid for itself.