"Thrift Stores" and Charities

[junquechick]

I was very disappointed when I learned that my favorite "supersized" thrift stores weren't necessarily the most generous charity supporters despite their affiliations.

Now instead of just dropping off donations with the "big stores" as I go in to shop, I  make it a point to drive the extra distance to donate my used goods to the smaller charitable thrift stores. I also ensure each item is freshly spiffed up in hopes that it will quickly sell and bring in much needed dollars.

Makes me feel like my thrift store karma's  in better balance, anyway!

[valleythriftshopper]

I do the same.  In fact I have a box of stuff in my car right now that has been sitting there for a few days even though I have been to the SA just yesterday.  There is one small independent thrift that I will take it to (haven't yet because they close early weekdays in the winter months).  One note about the small stores though- in the case of the one by me, when they have overflow of donations the SA comes & picks up the stuff they can't fit in the store! 

[oceangurl]

I feel the same way as you-all! I used to drop garbage bags full of clothes to Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity thrift stores with not so much as a thank you, just throw it there on that pile they would say, and often times when I drove up and went inside to tell them I had a suv load of donations they would make ME  tote all the bags in , I mean that's o.k. but Iam a little person, 4ft ll inches, lol! and the bags often times were bigger then me, Now I drop my donations off at littiler places that dont ever get much in, I feel sorry for these shops because every time I had been in to them they always had junk that they were reselling, when I donate clothes, my clothes were all in top shape , some with tags on them still so at least at these smaller shops I knew they could use the profits to enable their cause further, another place I donate now is the Humane society thrift store, I love animals and at least know that the money earned there will help shelter and feed animals in need....

[Sprocket]

"...and often times when I drove up and went inside to tell them I had a suv load of donations they would make ME  tote all the bags in , I mean that's o.k. but Iam a little person, 4ft ll inches, lol! and the bags often times were bigger then me..."

That's a pet peeve of mine too!  I've been to a local Goodwill twice recently and helped 2 women carry in their donations because the very able bodied man inside was too lazy or inconsiderate to help.  Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

-Sprock

[Krisathome]

I work in a small thrift shop and there is only one other woman employee, besides me.  We help carry all donations in the door unless they have brought enough help to do it themselves.  This includes furniture, which is killing our poor backs plus we have 5 steps to get the stuff into the building.  UGH! 

Anyway, I wonder if GW has a policy about helping dontators??  Maybe it has to do with insurance?  Not sure.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I work in a small thrift shop and there is only one other woman employee, besides me.  We help carry all donations in the door unless they have brought enough help to do it themselves.  This includes furniture, which is killing our poor backs plus we have 5 steps to get the stuff into the building.  UGH! 

Anyway, I wonder if GW has a policy about helping dontators??  Maybe it has to do with insurance?  Not sure.

My Goodwill won't take anything out of your car, but once it hits the pavement they will take it away.

-Jay

[Big Daddy Audio]

I'll bet it's two-fold:

1) Some people keep a bunch of junk in their trunks that they are not necessarily donating, and Goodwill doesn't want to the liable for mistakes; and

2) If someone claims their car was damaged while a Goodwill employee was unloading it, it would be a pain, so the policy of not unloading has been established.

People donate on a purely volunteer basis, so if they get hurt doing it, Goodwill or Savers or St Vincent's is not generally going to be held liable (unless it was a conditions issue, like a cracked and heaved sidewalk or something like that).

Charities have to carry WC insurance as much as the next company.  They probably want to reduce exposures.  It's a weak argument, but WC insurance is expensive, and charities being what they are...

See you next time
bye for now.

[lizardsally]

I just read an article about thrifting that said the only charity thrifts should be called Thrift Stores and the for-profit ones should be called Resale Shops.  I like that idea a lot!

[snjmom]

This is an interesting thread and I felt compelled to reply to it =)
I work at a Savers in MN.  I love my job!

Our store donates to the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota for EVERY donation we take in, whether it be just someone dropping off or an entire truckload.  They also give a lot of money just flat out to them.  The store is for profit because they do make a profit but they support the charity as well, so everyone wins.

On top of that..... there is a HUGE turnover in merchandise.  Things that hang around too long, are sent to third world countries. I beleive they buy it by the lb.  but extremely cheap and they use that of course to give to the people there who dont have what we have in the US.       

Hope this helps someone understand the store a bit better. I do beleive this is the practice of all the stores they run across 3 countries. 

This isnt a plug for Savers.... I just thought I would reply and answer the question about it in case no one else did. =)

[akbjr]

You're right, this is an interesting thread, & I appreciate the different viewpoints about carrying items into the store. Also really appreciate the information about Savers stores. I never was exactly sure what their priorty was, maybe it doesn't matter, but I'd like to think that it does...

[Jay2TheRescue]

I once had a bunch of stuff to donate to SA.  (couple of desks, an entertainment center, and other large pieces of furniture) Large, heavy items that required a big truck and 2 reasonably strong men to take out.  We called SA and the person on the phone said that they would come, and take the items out of the house, and load them on the truck.  When the truck arrived the driver asked me to put the items on the sidewalk, and he'd take them away.  I was the only one home.  I wan't told that we needed to do this.  He said that they can't take it out because they might damage the floors or walls.  I showed him that we were remodeling, and the walls were being repaintted anyway, and we were getting new floors anyway too.  He still wouldn't do it.  He ended up leaving with nothing.  I ended up taking the items one at a time in my pickup truck to another thrift.

-Jay

I'll bet it's two-fold:

1) Some people keep a bunch of junk in their trunks that they are not necessarily donating, and Goodwill doesn't want to the liable for mistakes; and

2) If someone claims their car was damaged while a Goodwill employee was unloading it, it would be a pain, so the policy of not unloading has been established.

People donate on a purely volunteer basis, so if they get hurt doing it, Goodwill or Savers or St Vincent's is not generally going to be held liable (unless it was a conditions issue, like a cracked and heaved sidewalk or something like that).

Charities have to carry WC insurance as much as the next company.  They probably want to reduce exposures.  It's a weak argument, but WC insurance is expensive, and charities being what they are...

See you next time
bye for now.

[Landlady]

I am very glad that Good Buddy makes it a policy to only list genuine charitable thrift stores. Let the others have their way, but they don't need to be helped by this list.

NANCY

[Thrift Envy]

This little scenario occurred at one of my thrift's morning staff meetings:

The manager proposed we color-code a series of shelves in accordance with the gay pride flag and label each shelf with the meaning of its color.

One of the employee's responses to this was, "Are you sure we want to do that? This is [name of town] afterall. Not boystown (the location of our sister store)." The employee went on to suggest we may lose customers if we exposed our alliance to the LGBT community.

And the store manager's response was perfect (in my opinion): People deserve to know where they are spending their money. If some of our customers do not wish to support the LGBT community, they deserve to know where their money is going and how it is being used.

Hurray for honesty and openness!

[SplashsMom]

This little scenario occurred at one of my thrift's morning staff meetings:

The manager proposed we color-code a series of shelves in accordance with the gay pride flag and label each shelf with the meaning of its color.

OK- I am in the middle of (very small town) hick WI but spent too many years in the "burbs" of Chicago so I should know better.
What are the meanings of the colors?

You will always have people who will go out of their way to patronize a store that supports a cause, even if they would never shop there if it was just a resale or "generic" thrift, and you will have people who will avoid a store based on its affiliations.
I think the management of the store needs to stand for their beliefs and mission. If color coding is a way to express your mission, go for it.

I wish I knew more about how the funds from our local charity thrifts actually do funnel down to help real people.
Personally I know that our Vinnies helps pay heating bills and supliments medical costs for deserving persons.
But what Goodwill does, other than hire some people without any experience, I have no idea. What other programs do they sponsor?
No one in the store could tell me either.

Do all Goodwill stores help in the same ways?

[Thrift Envy]

What are the meanings of the colors?

The first rainbow flag was created in '78 by San Fransisco artist, Gilbert Baker. It had eight stripes: pink (sexuality), red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), turquoise (magic), indigo/blue (serenity), and violet (spirit).