Goodwill Store Reviews

I have respected Goodwill’s mission and its purpose of non-profit organization and I have donated many things to Goodwill stores since I lived in Los Angeles County from 1990. I am operating a small family business, a mini convenient store. The rent and local business taxes in this area are high, and so I set the prices reasonably under this circumstance. I and my husband work very hard from 8 am to 9 pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends to pay the high rent.

Recently, I had to adjust the price because of the inflation especially on the wholesale prices of my store items and the gas price. After then, one of the Goodwill manager and few workers started to hassle me and my business together, continuously asking the reason for raising the price and comparing the price with the other stores’ that are able to provide things in low prices, such as Wal-Mart, big supermarkets, and stores in the low rent area. When she, the manager, complained about the recent adjusted prices repeatedly, I explained the situation to her, expecting her to understand it as a business manager in the same area but she responded to me very rudely and even threatened me, saying that my business will be down and my store will be closed. Several days later, I found out the Goodwill store brought soda coolers and chips, the main items of my store, displaying toward the door/ windows, and sold them with much cheaper prices than any retail stores in this area. I don't think the boss at Goodwill headquarter permitted this action. I don’t believe the manager brought those items for their business purposes either. Instead, I found myself being threatened and verbally attacked about my own store just because I adjusted the price and she didn’t get her favorite items with the price she wants to pay.

I sincerely wish the Goodwill Company to consider and resolve this issue at hand.

Today 3-24-2012, I went to the store with my daughter the manager saw me approximately 4pm. The lady got right in my face upsetting me saying, “I owe her money for the couch.” After my daughter heard her say the day we got the couch saying “Don’t worry about it,” then she let me take the couch home. (There was no talk on paying her back.)

I did not promise anything. She upset me and threatens to call the law if I did not pay. I cried in front of customers as well. Then my husband saw I was upset and he went in and ** at her back. Now I want her fired or I am filing a lawsuit against Goodwill ASAP. She also swore in front of my daughter.

Another incident with this same person (Latisia), not sure of the spelling. I had purchased a heater. She was ringing me up, then all of a sudden, she shouted "oh no". I had no idea what the problem was. I stood there as she called the manager on the speaker system. When he arrived, she said, "this was marked wrong". He agreed and they actually changed the price on the item while I stood there. I was in shock and upset. I enjoy shopping at this local Goodwill. I donate and shop often here. But I refuse to be treated badly and rudely by someone who is supposed to be an example. I wanted to confront her today, but I thought it would invite bad attention seeing that the store was very busy. However, before another incident occur, I wanted to express my concerns and disappointment with this rude individual.

Today was no exception. I dropped off a box full of ceramic mugs and glasses. The attendant girl dropped it, smashing many glasses and didn't even say anything. She just started tossing the things into another box.

We have continued donating to Goodwill only because it was the most convenient place to do so. We will find another organization to donate our items to in the future - one who actually appreciates the items and treats us with respect.

At that point, I was in such pain that I left. When I got home, I called the store and asked for someone in charge. The employee who answered the phone identified herself as Mary and said she was in charge. I began telling my story and she cut me off. She said the woman I described was the manager and I would have to talk to her. If that is true, then why did Mary say she was in charge? I said I didn't want to talk to the manager and that I would no longer donate anything to Goodwill.

My family is working with me to clear out my late father's personal effects from his home. We will have many more items to donate, only it won't be to Goodwill. I have never in my life been treated so rudely when dropping off items. The employees I have dealt with in the past were courteous and always thanked me. This one glared at me as if I had inconvenienced her. I am outraged at this treatment. In the past, whatever I dropped off was taken inside by an employee. I would rather throw future donations in the trash than take them to Goodwill again.

From the start at Goodwill, I started to see how really rigid they are about their rules and regulations, including something called Kaizon, which kind of reminds me of Feng Shui's twisted sister. It has to do with a workstations organization. Not having my coffee or any kind of drink at my station except water was a bummer, but I could handle it. They also only let employees in and out of one of its three doors to keep down on employee thefts, which I did not see any of. They also run inspections of lunch bags of employees twice, while I was there, for possible theft. I have no problem with any of this, but they do run a tight ship. There are more but I'm not getting into all of them. Training from my predecessor went very good, I thought, and after about 2 weeks, he left for another job and I was by myself.

After a couple of weeks more, I was starting to get the hang of my station but my numbers were low on my production goals, which were into the low to mid 170s to as high as into the 300s, which at the beginning I thought I could handle easily but proved to be much more difficult than I imagined. I could only do mid-80s to around 140s on a good day, depending on what went on during the day. Well below Goodwill standards. Let me explain a little of what entails of electronics testing, I'll be brief. I have 4 main areas:

1. Display areas - 4 isles including TVs, VHSs, DVDs, CDs, Receivers and Misc., which is set up at the beginning of the day and TVs are plugged in (up to 8 TVs) and set up with a VCR to play throughout the day. Then I go to the back and run my price tags for the day before going back to my station. 2, 3 & 4 are at my work station.

2. Large electronics are in their own area and are supposed to be done first, consisting of TVs, lamps, microwaves, vacuums, small refrigerators, chilled water dispensers, sewing machines with attached table, speakers and any other large electronics, no computers or laptops.

3. Blue carts 2 levels, top and bottom to a blue cart. They hold any electronics that do not fit into totes, but are too small for the large area.

4. Totes hold smaller electronics and are stacked 5 high by 4 rows by 5 deep and are done last.

Problems that might slow me down vary and are many and make it hard to judge my price tag count. I'll try to be brief again and may not get all of them. I have never put pen to paper on these problems, so to speak, but Lisa has said on several occasions they factor these in. So here we go! Setting up at the beginning, I go to the display area and plug in the power strip and all of the TVs and VCR, grab a cassette making sure it's family-friendly of course and play video for display. I have to fix any problems like missing or loose cables in back of TVs, crossed splitter cables, adjust video settings such as TVs need to be on channel 3 not video 1 for example, adjust volumes etc. Then I go down the aisles looking for items that need replenishing, looking for misplaced merchandise, open or empty packages, broken items and anything wrong in the area as quickly as I can. Then go back and run my tags for the day.

It usually takes about 20-30 minutes. After that, I do my 5-minute drill, part of the Kaizon procedure and make sure I have everything and stocked up, get my time and tally sheets filled out, then on to the large electronics. I try to do TVs first so I can replenish any for display. The problem is if the TV does not work, I have to take the TV at the back and get it on a pallet for TVs that are to be recycled. I cannot always tell if the picture works until I hook it up to the display and if it does not, I have to take it back and try again. It only happened a couple of times, but I used to try to test them in back on every TV and that took longer, so I have to go and chance it to try and save time and just plug in the TV in the back to see if the picture tube works and hope picture comes on when hooked up to display VCR. I used to take out large rear projection TVs and hook up a separate VCR to them, but I either priced them too high or they were just too old to sell and pretty much quit trying to sell those unless they were exceptionally good and the additional setup was too long.

Towards the end of the job, I feel I was starting to get a good balance of TVs out on display in both size and features at a good price, which I was told to reduce after Christmas because of the perceived influx of TVs after Christmas. Vacuums and carpet cleaners where checked to see if hoses did not leak and brush rollers worked, emptied collected residue on bagless vacuums, did not sell bagged vacuums if bags were full. Floor lamps were checked if lights sockets worked and not broken, shades were in good order, pole and base were in OK condition. Absolutely no Halogen lamps were allowed unless they had a protected wire mesh around the bulb.

Small refrigerators had to be plugged in long enough to chill and verify they work, usually 5 to 10 minutes. I checked out other items during that time. A very light cleaning, admittedly, I might have taken a little too much time with this type of item since it handled food. Then I moved on to the other different large electronics to finish that section. After large items, which usually takes a minimum of 60 to 90 minutes for me on a good day. Pretty much the same thing with the blue bins but with medium sized electronics such as table lamps, printers, DVD players, VCR players, CD and tape players, recorders, TV converter boxes, stereo and digital receivers, microwave and convection ovens, fans, sewing machines etc. Another 90 minutes at least.

Totes hold smaller electronics and could either be real easy or rather difficult and hold one item or dozens. If it had a cord or took a battery, it lands here. Cordless telephones were time consuming matching base and handsets and taping them so they do not separate. Same with coffeemakers and carafes. Tangled cords, power and patch cords, AC adapters, anything with a battery (it got to the point I wouldn't check out stuff with batteries to save time, just put them out and hope for the best), electronic games, controllers and adapters, etc. and that would finish my day out. Except for I worked in one of the few areas that had to put out their own merchandise. All of the large and most of the medium electronics are put out late morning and the shiny cart (shiny cart holds 3 totes per level, 3 levels high for 9 total totes) needs to be started at least 45 minutes before my shift ends to make sure I have enough time to stock and take care of any customer related issues at least in my case. Then I go back to my area and clean up if I have enough time. I have only 7 minutes past my end of shift because Goodwill absolutely does not want employees to get overtime!

Since I was hired 10/15/2011 through 1/12/2012, I have had a chance to experience Goodwill donations at its busiest and most hectic time. Thankfully, only Halloween and Christmas had the most electronic decorations and not the whole trifecta along with Thanksgiving. Along with testing holiday electronics, they had to have their own seasonal price tag which involves going over to the POS printer, changing that week's colored price tag to the seasonal brown price tag and then back. I try to guesstimate how many tags of both electronics and seasonal I need for the day, but that's a hit or miss deal and hard to judge what may come in. I admit I was having trouble figuring out how many to print but was always trying to get close as possible. Then there was the customers. I like helping them, but they have questions that need answering. They mess with the cables, take knobs off of equipment, open packages, break things, let kids run around screaming etc and these things need to be dealt with. Again, this is not all of the things that can slow me down, but a good sample of some of them.

I was taken out of electronic production 6 times. Three for help at donations, were donated goods are dropped off, to help with the overflow of donations we were getting, sorting, moving large items, consolidating, customer service, etc. It took several hours to complete those tasks. Three times I was transferred out of electronics to work in the Wares production area (the production area that generally produces the most items per day to see if I could produce more there) and I was even interrupted once there to go and help out at donations. But I guess I could not produce enough there because shortly after the third time in wares, I was called up to the office from my electronics station around 3PM, 1/13/2012, and was told that I did not meet the standards of Goodwill and then was escorted out of the Goodwill store by Lisa after handing her my Goodwill ID card.

I was called up to the office 3 times. First in November, to tell me they like my pricing but to try and get my production numbers up. Second in December, to tell me to watch how many price tags I am printing and sign a paper as the first form of disciplinary action for running too many pricing tags, but they still liked my pricing and to get my production numbers up. Third in January 12, 2012, to tell me that while I meet some goals, I still do not meet Goodwill standards and am being let go and then escorted out the front door by Lisa.

As far as my production numbers go, I have known that I am not the fastest person in the workforce but I always thought that if I did the best job I could with the fewest mistakes as possible, that I would be OK. Not with Goodwill in Renton. I did the best I could, even cut many of my breaks short to try to get my numbers up. Goodwill wants me to just glance at a product, slap a price on it, get another and so on, which is what I was trying to do but between the visual, electrical (lights work in lamp, DVDs, CDs eject, displays light up, vacuum rollers move, TVs work, refrigerators chill, Christmas trees light up, etc.) they all just added up and cut into my numbers. My disability came into play banding electrical cords as I could just not do it as fast as other people and I was doing well over a hundred a day. When I was not producing, I was stocking items I produced, helping customers, changing TVs around, routing TV and VCR cables, cleaning up messes, attending daily production meeting, doing assignments from production meeting, etc. But one thing I never did was stand around doing nothing. I feel I did the best of my capabilities along with my problems as I could and am not ashamed with anything I accomplished at Renton Goodwill.

The main manager, Keith, I always felt talked down to and when he asked for my help, it was like he had to tell me what to do like I have never worked before. He even told me I had to line up the hole in a panel rack to the screw hole in the base like I could not figure it out or to watch out for the bright orange extension cord on the floor on my way out to break as if I was not observant of my surroundings (there were several other people around at the time there also, but he only pointed it out to me), which is the only time I could go out the donations door that's not work related. Yet I always heard Keith talking and laughing with the other workers away from me. He never really smiled, had a conversation, always business, not really complaining but it is an observation.

Assistant manager, Lisa, the one who hired me. I always felt a little intimidated by. She was very direct and ran things very strict, by the book with no deviation of the rules whatsoever. The my way or the highway attitude kept me on my toes and I felt if I crossed her at all, she could hold a grudge and make the job even worse. She was always telling me I had to get my production numbers up, like I was not constantly trying my best and to not leave so many price tags at the end of the day. Trust me, I do not want to add to anyone's workload and was trying to get my tag numbers down. I had a couple of ideas about improving my area, but since they were not in the Kaizon handbook, she would not even consider them.

My final thoughts about Renton Goodwill. There was one lady that could not stand all day due to age and disability. She was given the choice to quit or get fired. A rat or maybe a couple scared the heck out of two women who were working at their stations just days apart from one another. Renton Goodwill does not take used mattresses because of the risk of lice or bedbugs. My question I ask is: Is the ultra-fast pace they want us to work at for our production numbers hurting our chances at spotting any little creatures in the shoes, bedding, clothes or the linens we receive especially since they are not washed or sanitized before they go out on the floor? As a person with a disability, why was I not offered any help from Goodwill as to maybe furthering my job skills so I could become a more productive member of society? I feel that if I can't hold down a job at Goodwill, then who else will hire me?

Thank you Goodwill, I already know I'm a disposable human being in this new society. But to know a non-profit company (by the way, all of the Renton Goodwill Manager are ever so proud that the Seattle Goodwill stores, of which they are members of, made over $9 million last year, best in the nation) who advertises helping people with disabilities let me go just so they can get their numbers up and not even try to help one of their own workers who has a disability is so wrong (no offer of a different position or even an offer of possible job training to help with my disability). Gotta go, see ya. I might as well sign up with D.S.H.S. while I'm at it. If I'm so **, how can I, even with a disability, support a family of four (wife, me, pre-teen and teen daughters) on minimum wage, not easily, but doable thanks to God, family and friends?

My last words are that I hope to get back to work soon because I am almost out of options and am seriously worried about being put out on the street. All this for the price of minimum wage.

Goodwill is suppose to help people in need. What happened to that?

Why would you put an item outside if it's already sold? And we were assured that everything is okay. The manager handled the situation so bad and told my husband that it is not his concern whether we paid to rent a truck and delivery man and there's nothing he can do. No apologies. All he knows is that we were refunded. If you check my name, I have spent almost $7,000 in two years that I have been supporting Goodwill Store. All the stuff that I buy is being donated to charities and churches especially those in the poor area. Almost all the staff knows me in that location. I would like to hear from you ASAP. I deserve to be treated with respect.

I don't want to get detailed as I do fear retaliation. First of all, GW doesn't get 99% of things from manufacturers in shiny wrappers. Second, common sense is definitely missing in that particular cashier (Kathy). She always neat picks on everything that can be a source of an argument, trying to squeeze the last buck out. This is plain disgusting practice.

Managers always resolve these issues without any problems but she obviously likes all the drama of being important. She obviously made some connections with other shoppers there, as I saw one particular guy doesn't even take out items from his cart and just names prices to her and she accepts! I know that shopper was lying when he told her his prices. I just hate entering that store when she is behind the checkout.

I waited until the senior citizen day but the ticket was already removed, which means someone is buying it. Upon returning to the store a week later the rug was still there and now priced at $99.99.The manager pointed out that the price at Target was $199.99 and they were to price them at 50%. The rug online at Target is for $159.99. I believe the box stores are marking this damaged merchandise up to the original price and getting tax deductions for it. Then the Goodwill is selling it for outrageous prices. I am going to stop shopping at the Goodwill.

I went to look and see if there were in other bags like those in the toy area and there were bags but they had not so nice toys in them. the toys looked broken so I went and talked to a lady named Angie who works there and asked if there were any other bags like the ones with the dolls and cars. She said no, that Victoria had set those bags to the side to buy. I got mad and put the things I was going to buy back and left. I feel it is wrong of the employees to be able to pick through the donations and get what they want out and put it to the side. I will not be returning to the Goodwill in Williamsburg Ky ever again. The people are rude.

I will no longer shop at any of their stores again. I also am spreading the news to all friends, family and neighbors about my experience. Do not shop at the pathetic store on 90th and Powell in Portland. What a waste of time and money.

There have been times when I have noticed that some items are still new, with their original tags on and displaying it's original price. Still Goodwill overprices these items above their original price not only at the clothing department but all departments. From what I understand, it's based on "donations", but now it's just seems that Goodwill is focused on making actual profits.

Costumer Service is very poor at most Goodwill stores. We recently experienced it at a Goodwill located on 1600 Colorado Blvd Eagle Rock just next to Glendale, CA . I've noticed that the managers in that store keep the jewelry for other 'preferred' customers. It's always around the same time that an specific customer comes in, to which the manager says, "I have what your looking for", and so the manager brings a tray of jewelry just for that person to browse.

On December 13, 2011, to be more specific, that is what happened just like other days. Only this time the "preferred" customer put back the items that she did not want. So my mother, Patricia, decided to get them. As she was ready to pay for that jewelry and some other items, the manager interrupts the transaction and demands the jewelry back from Patricia. So Patricia says, "No, I am paying for it." As she was holding the bracelets in her hand, the manager tried to pull the bracelets off Patricia's hand forcefully. The manager even threatened not to give Patricia her debit card back if she didn't give the jewelry back. To all this the other "preferred-customer" never said a thing about wanting the jewelry, which made it obvious that the manager was mishandling the sales.

I spoke with the supervisor of the store, Jason **, and he said that he was aware but that incident like that happened all the time. I agreed with him, but also explained to him that it wasn't so much about the type of incident, it was about the way the manager had handled the situation. He mentioned the video and tried to convince me that the manager's actions were okay. However, I told him that he couldn't make any assumptions about the situation based on the video and the manager's story, specially because there was no audio on all his recordings. At the end of our little discussion, Jason said, "Unfortunately, this things happen all the time." I said, "Of course, they do,it is just unfortunate to see how your store manager was not able to resolve this conflict properly." I also mentioned to him about the way they handled their jewelry.

To all this, we just learned that this "manager's" name is Maria. She wasn't wearing a name tag at the time of the incident.

I just returned from the Clement store in SF. I don't visit this store that often because every time I go in there is some kind of incident. Today was no different. There was a sign in the front window that read All Christmas Mugs $0.99. It was on a table with all the Christmas mugs. I chose 2 mugs and got to the register and mentioned that although the mugs were marked $1.99, the sign said "All mugs" were $0.99. The manager at the register literally started an argument with me that the sign was only for mugs already marked at $0.99. Huh? Apparently all doesn't mean all anymore and large posted signs for a sale don't mean anything. There was a line but she wouldn't ring me up for the mugs, instead continued to argue her point with sarcasm. She even criticized me and when hearing this, a few other people in line, put down their items and left the store. This kind of behavior should be considered unacceptable. Who's watching over the management?

I will find every way I can to report this and avoid shopping at Goodwill stores in general. They obviously don't care about the poor people they claim to be helping.In addition, the staff there bumped me out of the way several times as I was browsing and a little girl accidentally dropped a juice glass and literally a staff member just walked by, saw what happened and walked off, not helping the mother to clean it up. What?

My wife and I arrived at the store just after 10am on November 10, 2011 and began grazing the bins. After about 10 minutes or so we noticed an employee rolling out a new bin of shoes from the back. The young man, no sooner wheeled out the cart when, a group of 3 men rushed the cart, pushing the ladies getting ready to look into the cart, out of the way. The men then frantically scooped up armloads of the shoes and put them in their carts. These men then sorted through these shoes, selecting the best and throwing unwanted shoes back in the bin.

These men then pushed the cart over against the wall, covered it with a sheet and waited for the next bin of shoes to come out, where they repeated the whole process.

We left the store about 12 noon to attend a play and returned to the store at about 5pm. These men by this time had nearly 10 carts full of shoes pushed up in the corner covered up, unattended, and were still bulldogging and pushing others out of the way when the new bins of shoes came out on the floor.

We remained shopping for about an hour. As we checked out, we complained to the cashier about what these men were doing because this should have been unacceptable behavior in a "Goodwill" store. She explained that these men were there almost daily do this and had been for months. She too was appalled but the manager has never said anything to these men or attempted to stop this behavior.

These men could potentially start a fight with their actions and/or someone could be hurt by their physical aggression. Hoarding incredibly large numbers of shoes, covering them and leaving them basically unattended is denying others the opportunity to shop for shoes they may need.

By the manager not confronting the behavior, it shows other patrons that this type of thing is acceptable. This sets the store up for possible liability, should someone get hurt by this type of behavior when the management is fully aware its going on and doing nothing to stop it.

When something like this happens, a person should be warned that it's not acceptable. If they are pushing and being physical with other patrons, they should be immediately put out of the store and barred form shopping there.

Allowing this to continue is an incident waiting to happen. I have put you on notice that this is going on and do not expect to see this men doing this the next time we shop there. We thank you for your prompt attention on this matter.

After their screw up, how could I trust that they send the right package back or even reimburse me for sending their property back? Ben ** should do the right thing and send my stuff to me along with postage to send his stuff back. I have my own policies as a business owner and I am losing my patience with this incompetent manager to make nice to a customer that buys a lot of things on line from good will. The St. Louis store doesn't want to right their screw-up by trusting a customer who trusted them enough to buy auction merchandise from them. Ben **, the St. Louis manager ** wont get any business from me or many of my associates. I guess they are a scam. I am not able to sell jewelry to make ends meet, they're holding my payment for property hostage.

A nice, black sweater-no name brand: $7.99 same thing, different no-name brand $18.99. Ridiculous and what a slap in the face when you see the Goodwill price tag of $12.99 stamped over the red Target clearance price tag, still visible, of $3.98. Talk about some serious mark-up. No "goodwill" there, that's for sure. Glad I wasted my gas money hoping I could get a deal from all those generous people who donated. Instead, Goodwill employees stuff the good stuff in their purses at the end of their shift, sell the other good stuff on "goodwill's eBay page", and we're left paying for it in the end. Unbelievable, I will never go there again. I will tell all 7 of my siblings to never shop there again. And I will donate my clothes to an organization that actual finds value in giving back, not in hording things for themselves. ** on you, Goodwill. (Brunswick Goodwill, by the way).

When he called the manager over, she was a high school girl who acted like we were bothering her with our complaint. She did nothing to help but just walked away. The cashier was not even wearing a name tag, so we could not get his name. They might be used items but we spent a lot of money for them. We are contacting the Better Business Bureau and our local TV station. We will definitely never shop there again. You have lost consumers for your lack of good judgment on hiring your employees. Maybe you should double check who you have working in your stores.

Tonight October 11, 2011, two Goodwill cashiers/employees agreed the vase I selected had a legible double coded tag of $4.99. Lucy then snatched it away and said, "No, if she wants to buy, it's $49.99l. If this vase was so spendy, why wasn't it in their case? We're talking about a 4" vase that I or anyone else could steal. She doesn't care to abide by the rules of respecting my right to live free and with the expectation that I won't be persecuted or harassed by anyone, let alone a store manager. Moreover, she is breaking their law by violating my rights. Just because Goodwill is a 501 charity, their personnel is not exempted from following the law. I'm sick of her outrageous and criminal behavior. I am contacting the ALCU and the Washington State Attorney General/Department of Justice Consumer Affairs Division.

I went into the Goodwill store in Kennesaw, GA to look at children's and men's clothes. Imagine my suprise when there was not a single green tag in the children's clothing or the men's sweaters and shirts. Green tags were available on men's suits but I was not looking for that item. I thought it was statistically impossible for every single green sale item to be missing from children's and men's clothing so I approached a female sales associate to question this.

She immediately became antagonistic and rude and called for the manager. He explained that there is really only a two-hour window of opportunity on Sunday morning to buy items for 50% off and then they start pulling all sales items from the rack and they are sent to salvage. So they advertise a 50%-off sale but the items are systematically removed from the rack so the shopper does not really get an opportunity to buy these items on sale.

This is the most misleading, unethical advertising if not "bait and switch". Customers come into the store and earnestly look for these 50% off tags and find few to none so usually buy something else at full price. This is store-wide policy but it is a bad policy and this does not make it right.

The term "Goodwill" for these stores is certainly a misnomer; staff is usually rude and non-helpful. The prices are ridiculously high, you could go to Ross, Walmart or K-mart and buy the same items new at the same or cheaper price. This is certainly taking advantage of the very people that need and seek out a cheaper price--folks living on fixed income, those unemployed and trying to dress kids for school, the elderly, etc.

Shame, shame on Goodwill Ind. for this false advertising. So unethical.

I had previously suspected this practice but now I’m sure. With Murray's complaint, I’m positive of it and this is something of a scam, notwithstanding that Goodwill is not really all that much of a charity, anyways.

I worked for The Salvation Army as an Administrative Assistant for an ARC and know that almost all gains go to the programs and services they offer. So, this experience has given me reason to think something needs to be done to stop Goodwill from getting their charitable status while making all that money on well-intentioned donated items.

People, please, donate your nice items to The Salvation Army. I can verify they are honest and they also really do the most good with what you give them. Goodwill, you're disgusting and I am making sure others know this practice.

In my opinion, the items on the auction listings are often bid on higher prices that most customers could not afford or win. The point is that it sounds like this practice is preventing customers who walk in hoping to buy something nice and affordable for themselves or for their children. I think Goodwill should be sharing fair volumes of the merchandises they receive to sell at retails and auctions.

I requested to speak with the manager. She said she did not give such an order. She did not take responsibility for her action. I feel an employee would not take items off unless they are told by a higher up manager. I went today, and there was a different color. I looked for pants with the tag color, there was none. I am appalled at the practice of Goodwill. I will find some other origination to donate to. Shame on Goodwill, shame

As packaging chips are not suitable for separating goods in the box (see UPS or USPS packaging guides altogether; they should just be used to fill empty space), they do bad with heavy stuff. Like in quick sand the heavy machine scratched/smashed on the mixers, not to mention no wrapping around the machine nor the mixers. So the lovely Kitchenaid came to my house dented and scratched altogether.

Goodwill refuses refund besides me having to send the machine back from Germany to US (150USD) giving refund of the original costs (eBay bid + shipping) which would lead me having to pay 150USD for their fault.

I don't know about the individual state laws applicable in the US, especially in Maine. But in Germany, the seller is responsible for the protection of the goods packed to arrive unharmed at the customer side.

Besides violating laws, their customer service in the person of Suzanne ** is a negative example of dealing with good paying customers and a shame for the US business as I experience it from abroad.

Today, the green tags were $1 and the pink tags were 50% off. I have been shopping at the Goodwill stores ever since they had opened and signed up for the rewards program. After accumulating enough points to earn 25% off my next shopping trip (which was this visit), I was refused the discount, not only from the cashier but from the store manager.

The cashier asked if I wanted to speak with the manager, I said yes. The manager, whose name I should've gotten, was downright rude and was not very helpful in this situation because she couldn't find a written policy about redeeming points earned on sale days. I asked to see it in writing but she kept repeating over and over that everyone knows you can't use your discount on these days. I asked for proof on a document stating that. She then said there isn't one.

She left me at the register to call her boss (a higher manager), then came back to tell me that I couldn't use my discount because even he said so. The other manager was not present nor did I even witness her calling anyone. Meanwhile, I had a witness with me who watched this whole episode transpire. The manager wasn't making any sense because she didn't have the proof to back her up. She told me the bigger store manager was named Patrick and she would give his number. She then reached into a cash register to pull out a coupon to show me that you cannot use your point reward discount with the coupon.

I told her I don't have a coupon and this has nothing to do with what we are dealing with now. She then said, after 20 minutes of saying useless talk, that she'd offer me the awarded discount today IF they put into the system under my account for every time I am eligible for the discount that I cannot redeem it on sale days. I told her she can't do that because every day has a sale. She then said, "You can't use it on dollar days. Not everything in the store is on sale, only selected tags were marked down," then basically she walked away.

I told the cashier to ring me up and lo and behold, on the screen says eligible for 25% off. But the cashier did her thing on the computer so it didn't print out on the receipt. I paid in cash for items bought without the discount that was rightfully should've been redeemed.

They took two weeks to tell me, and I had to call them! I also had 1 epileptic seizure in the store, I got no help from any of the clerks while Lea, and another walked right by me! I was also treated rudely by Lea and another worker the day she banned me. I am disabled, low-income level, and 60 years old.

I do not drive. This ban has hindered me from shopping for things I need. I have had to go through counseling for PTSD sypmtoms that have re-occurred from this, had to have my medications changed to more, and had to see other doctors for again for seizures. I also was accused of not having seizures by Mr. **. I have documentation on all my medical problems, and he was mailed one on my epilepsy.

Whomever makes these prices are retarded. And the filth in that store is worse every time I go, especially the bathrooms. They charge $0.99 for things you can buy anywhere 2 for $1.00. There needs to be something done about this. They should not be called Goodwill; there is nothing good about being ripped off. People need a place to go and be able to afford to buy their children jackets or shoes or maybe uniforms because we can’t all afford new ones. But even at Goodwill now we still have to pay these prices.

But they made lots of money just off of me alone. I would buy any and all jewelry jars they had. I did spend a lot of money on other things as well! Since the store opened, there have been no complaints except one. I am on social security and enjoyed getting these jars and spending an abundant amount of money giving my daughters and grandchildren gifts of jewelry. Please try to see what can be done. I go in there now and only spend 99 cents and that's about every other week. It used to be spending on a daily basis. I want to support Goodwill, but there has to be an attraction.

I responded, “Hey, I am in line and I am interested in buying it!” The customer that Mele was assisting said, "Ring it up, I want to buy it.” I protested again and told her that I was in line with the stuffed animal in hand and I wanted to buy it. The cashier (Mele) said, "Okay, I am not going to sell it to either party.” Then she took the stuffed animal and put it in the back counter. The customer that she was assisting had a friend with her and they said, "Well, if they can't buy it, can I?” And the cashier said, "Yes.” I protested and told her that I wanted to speak to a manager. And the cashier said, "I am the manager.” Several customers protested and said that this transaction was not properly handled.

The customer that was being rung up (the one who wanted the merchandise that I had in front of me was a man dressed as a woman. Between the attitude of the cashier and this particular customer, I was shocked and surprised that I was being treated this way. The cashier's attitude and lack of customer service was poor and unprofessional. The store was very busy because they were getting close to closing time. I was upset, afraid and embarrassed by the customer and the cashier. There was another cashier working and the cashier (Mele) asked her, “Should I sell the tiger?” And she said, "Go ahead and sell it to them.”

I stood there motionless and could not believe what had happened to me. The cashier (Mele) told me that she had another tiger in the back and if I waited, she would get it for me. I waited approximately 15 minutes and then Mele came up to me and said, "I am too busy and will not have time to look for another tiger.” She then suggested that I come back the next day at 9:00 am. I arrived the next day at 10:00 am and Mele saw me and "rolled her eyes". She then told me that they did not have another tiger and one did not come in that day. I asked to speak to her supervisor whose name is Sergio. While I was explaining to him what happened, he seemed disinterested in what I had to say and was looking around the store. I told him that I was talking to him and that I would appreciate "eye contact" and he responded and said that "he was watching his store”.

I asked him if it was his store. He seemed surprised and then asked for another cashier to be in on the conversation (to witness). He seemed to follow what happened and then listened to what I told him. He confided to me that the customer (man dressed as a woman and the companion) were "problem" customers. Sergio (supervisor in charge said that the customers were known for sitting in the back of the store where the furniture is at and were famous for changing tags, but that they had not been caught yet. I asked him, how he knew who the customers were and he told me that Mele had described the customers to him and told him "who they were". He said that they were regulars at the store.

On the night of the incident, the cashier denied knowing the customer or the friend. It was then that I realized that the cashier was lying and had acted in bad faith. I then asked Sergio for the district manager's phone number. He wrote it on a piece of paper and I went to my office and tried to contact the district manager whose name I was told was David **. The phone number that was given to me was incorrect, so I looked it up and I left a message for Mr. ** at **1 extension 353. I waited for a phone call to no avail. I called again and I spoke to the operator who told me that she would leave another message for Mr. **. At the end of the day, I made a third call and spoke with Arnel, he suggested that I speak with another store manager named Josie. I left another message.

Today is Thursday, August 26, 2010, and I have not received a return phone call from Mr. ** or his superiors. In my opinion, I feel that I am being discriminated against and I feel that Goodwill does not have "goodwill" towards their customers. The above statement is "true and correct". Can you please contact me regarding this complaint? Thank you. I am a party planner and I needed the huge stuffed animal with crystal eyes for a party. It caused me about $100.00 in damages/time and it caused me psychological fear.

I used to love going into Goodwill. Now, I feel like I'm being ripped off. Thanks, but no thanks! I have taken my business to other thrift stores where the prices are reasonable for used items.

Today, again, I went in, I had about $50 worth of things in my cart. I am not trying to rip anyone off and I was willing to hand over $50 or whatever I had picked up but once again, a shirt from the kid's rack, size small Aeropostale which is tiny, maybe a 10-12. It was on the kid's rack which would be $1.25 but no she said that it is a small which makes it a women's size. I wear women's size and nothing in Aeropostale fits me! I said these sizes are for teens. The woman said they carry women's sizes too. She rang it up for $4.50.

I told my ten-year-old daughter sorry, and we left. They didn't need my $50. The cashier yelled out to me if I wasn't going to put all the stuff back. Are you kidding, she just wasted my time. I won't go back in there and for those who are thinking that I was arguing about a shirt for $4.50? My daughter and I left Goodwill, and went to Aeropostale at Annapolis Mall and bought a bunch of new shirts for less than $4.50 each at 75% off.

Leaving is a very hard thing to do and it can often be more dangerous than staying. I chose this risk. The night I made this decision I stayed at a friend's mother's house while he became drunk and enraged & searched for me. I came back two days later to get my things & move into my own apartment. However, I found that he and his family had thrown away every thing that I had owned. But, instead of just throwing it away, they took it all in a truck to Goodwill because (they admitted to this later) that way it would be harder for me to get it back than if they had simply put it in the dumpster. It was every pot & pan, every dish, every book, every shred of clothing that I had.

I told my story to a woman named Vicky who "managed" the Sanford, FL store (where my things were taken). I was only allowed to take a few articles of clothing back. Otherwise I had to pay for it. Yes, I had to pay for my own things that had been stolen! I knew that some items were in the back room, but she told me that they had to be sorted, tagged and placed on the shelves to give others a chance at it first. I was devastated. I could not afford to purchase all of my things back, so I admit that I did steal a good portion of it. I cried as I watched other people pawing through & purchasing my things.

I never realized that Goodwill was so grossly heartless! There is no goodwill here! I promise that I will go through whatever it takes to tell my story to help protect other women & help them fight back! I was beaten by a malicious family, but also by your company. If this is how you help those in need, then I have many more letters to write.

She walked down pass the picture department, made a quick right, and came at me with her hand drawn to hit me in my face. I threw up my right arm to block being hit in the face, then I brought up my left hand and pushed her in the chest off me, saying not to hit me again. She said, “I will hit you again several times.” Marilyn told the lady she had to leave the store and escorted her out the door. I continued my shopping and did not go back to the store till Friday. When I entered the store, Simone rudely said, “I need to talk to you.”

She said, “I was told by someone to tell you that you cannot shop at Lake June anymore.” I asked who told her that and she said, “I cannot tell you, call corporate.” I said, “You mean I'm being banned for pushing that lady off me?” She said, “I'm going on what Marilyn said. I said Marilyn was not there to see anything. Simone said, “I'm going on what Marilyn said again.”

At that point I called corporate. After talking to three other people, I finally got Rosis **, V.P. I told her what happened. She had not been told anything at all by Kylie, that she needed to talk to other customers. She talked to one customer on my phone, Ms. Sharon. She told her the lady attacked me first. Rosie promised both of us she would call me on Monday. I still have not gotten a call from her or anyone from Goodwill Corporation. Rosie also spoke to another customer J.R. He told her what happened. Still, no call from Goodwill. So on 02-01-10, I called the President, Rodney Ginthner, (extension 200) I explain to him why I was calling him. I also told him the other lady had not been verbally banned so why can't I continue to shop.

I was not in the wrong and that I had never been in altercation with employees or other customers ever. He said if I go to the store to shop, they were going to call the police. I was appalled at what he said. I said I can understand being banned for stealing, but I have never stolen or been involved with the law ever in my 57 years. I ended my conversation by saying it is apparent that even when a customer is not in the wrong, but has been wronged, all you really care about is your quotas. He said that is not true, that he would talk to Rosie. I said you all have both my numbers, you can call me when this is resolved. Still, no call from Goodwill.

Could you please look into this matter because I cannot get a return call or response from anyone. They still have not verbally banned that lady. I have been extremely depressed about what happened to me and how I am being treated, not to even get a call from Goodwill. It is extremely depressing because this is where my friends who live in that end of town and I would meet to shop, talk and mingle. I am a heart patient. This was therapy for me as well as my friends.

Someone needs to remind these people that they got it for free and they aren't selling brand new merchandise. I asked the cashier girl who made up the prices and she said corporate and the people working that area. I hope that Goodwill gets a handle on this because it use to be a lot of fun looking for things to get for a bargain and repaint it like new. As it stands now, I can go buy brand new for the same amount or cheaper than I can get it at Goodwill.

These "employee only" doors are always open. It turned out that it was some kind of an electronic baskets ball game with 3 balls. I said okay and that’s fine. As he was reclosing everything for me, the manager and an employee came running over, and they said that it could not be sold for that price and that they would have to look into the value. I tried to explain how the situation came about. Both the manager and ‘Meg’ chose to ignore me and requested that these doors now be shut in my face. I went to the register to pay for my other purchases and I asked for a supervisor’s phone number. No one even knew it. The manager then came out and he told me that it would now be $39.99, if I still wanted to purchase the item. I just wanted to explain how everything had happened. I felt like I was a thief and that I was trying to pull a fast one. He didn't care at all. He only wanted to know if I wanted to buy the item.

I have seen so much employee thief in that store. Just the week of Christmas, a back room employee wheeled a shopping cart out of the back right up to the register while another employee followed behind her to ring her up. I have seen backroom employees carry item from the drop off area to the vehicles not even bothering to pay a small price. I was looking at an item that was placed on the selling floor but I was very close to the ‘employee only’ doors which are open when a woman came out of the back and she told me that she was buying that item. When I looked, it was priced $6.97 and it was a brand new vacuum with all the attachments. You have cameras, try viewing them and you will find that all these situations are true.

I am a very good customer. Since your doors are opened, I have watched employees come and go but I have never seen such a dishonest group. There used to be a supervisor named Bonnie. She at least would pay attention to what was going on, actually, with what is going on. Where is your goodwill? I will not donate to this store anymore and I will try and make sure that anyone who will listen knows what’s going there. I would really like to hear from a supervisor just to know that I’ve been heard. If not, I will keep finding sites that I can post this.

I complained to district management, as well as most of the employees at the store since this paid employee has been attacking several volunteers in the back without consequence on several occasions. At the end of the day, I removed my son from the store to keep him safe. The main Goodwill branch wanted to speak to my son to offer their rehabilitative services. We met with them and the only thing that they did was refer us to the Washington State Department of Rehabilitative Services, which, in my opinion, is pathetic because we could have referred ourselves there to begin with.

All in all I find it real sad that an organization that advertises how much they help the disabled to not only hire but reward a person that preys on the disabled.

I called the number, which was provided to me. I called the number and asked to speak with someone in management position. The person who answered the call asked if he could assist me with anything. I proceeded to tell him what had occurred and suggested that the service was unjust. He told me that everything in the store is for sale. He took my cell number and stated he would call me back. I never heard back from him. Everything that Goodwill Industries receive is donated. How could they be so selfish to their customers.

Minutes later, I had a pair of shoes in my hand and one of the men tried to take them from me. I refused and he began to shove me and demanded that I unhand the shoes, I was physically assaulted. I notified the manager and he told me that he needed to investigate. I told him that he needed to call the police and let them investigate because he had conflicting interest considering how much money the men spent in that store every day. Plus, the witnesses told him it happened. He asked the guy if he did it. Of course he replied no. I told the manager that I wasn't the only one who didn't feel safe in the store and that I would call the police myself. He told me that since I didn't feel safe, I needed to leave. I left peacefully and called the police. The African was arrested for assault. My assault could have been prevented if the manager would have responded appropriately to the complaints, outburst and assaults prior to mine that day.

I can say for sure they rip people off on shipping. They will over charge for shipping on items that weighed next to nothing, example, they ripped me off on a necklace that is weighing next to nothing. I could have shipped a box of rocks or a book for the rate I was charged. The necklace was fake, garbage as well. Yet, they failed to mention this on the site. I thought it was an isolated thing, I was very wrong. I purchased a used computer from the auction site. Well, they claim to have no qualified testers/service people. By God, that doesn't stop them from tampering with electronic devices, so you have no idea if they break it while tampering.

Also, they switch out parts, so whatever is donated doesn't end up in the box. It’s absolute nonsense and waste of money. The lack of consistent rules means each Goodwill location can make up their own nonsense, meaning, they can try and speed you up, cheating you out of money and your auction item. Seven days to pay and pickup for example; if you do not pickup within the time, they steal your money giving you nothing to show for it. Some locations purposely try and trip people up.

Buyers beware; there is no protection or recourse when they cheat you. They barely respond to your questions, I'm at my breaking point with them. If they do this to one person, countless numbers have been cheated by the Goodwill auction site. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars with nearly worthless crap to show for it. They misled me with vague descriptions and at best blurry photos. Truly, you do not get what you believe you are paying for.

I went to asst. manager Becca and told her what we saw and she said, "It doesn't matter. It's allowed. No one listens, no one cares." I'm just getting to the basics here as to go into each conversation would be very time consuming on here. I then talked to another employee Sandra who works there when she was waiting on me and told her what I saw. She said that lady is Barb's friend. She calls ahead on her lunch break to tell her she is coming and Barb has these items ready. I then called the regional manager, April **, who acted mad that I called, basically acting like I'm crazy and did I really see this?

She then warns them the next day and tells them my name. I go in a lot. They know me. I didn't dream she would go in and give them my name. I thought she would investigate like any real manager would do. So now the manager Ginger and Barb will not wait on me. They call out another employee to wait on me. This goes on and on. They were nice to me up until then.

Anyway this continues to go on. I would still go in, Joanne ** would come in at least minimum 3 times a week on her lunch break. One day, I'm in the back looking at glassware and she comes in and goes to the register. I was watching by now every time I went in. That is actually why I went in so often after that. I walk toward the register/counter and they all are staring at me. Ginger, the manager, proceeds to motion with her head to Joanne ** who then follows her toward the back of the store trying to get out of my view. I followed and what do I see? Ginger hands her a huge dirty knapsack filled, Joanne hurriedly walks out the store. I mean this bag was really heavy because you could tell she was waddling when she walked because it was so heavy on her shoulder.

Now this woman does not carry a dirty old burlap knapsack as her purse. Well she does now, every time she goes into Goodwill. Everyone told me, go to the top, someone will listen. No one listened, they covered it up. CEO Ron Kratofil, to make a long story short, sent me this short pathetic letter and then said he was using his right to ban me from his stores he has control of as I am not in the best interest of Goodwill. While allowing this theft ring to go on, and it still is. The lady goes in still on her lunch break, picks up the donated valuables and drives right by my house. I live 2 minutes away.

These are theft of donated items. These are not Ron Kratofil's, April **, Joanne **, Barb, the clerk, and Ginger **, the manager's items! These are donated under false pretenses then if that's the case. They need to be stopped now!!! These are donated by the public because the public is led into believing they are going to a good cause, not so the above can pick out what they want and keep!!!!! Please help stop this goodwill fraud!!! Do not donate to any Goodwill stores under CEO Ron Kratofil.