OMG!!! Have you seen this yet???

[floridarecycled]

I can't believe it...I woke up this morning all excited because they are opening up a new Goodwill store in my area and I was going to check it out on the way home...and then....

My sister told me about this website -

www.shopgoodwill.com

Have you been to this website yet    I just checked it out!

The California based Goodwill's started this site and now all of the Goodwill's everywhere can post items on there!

For a new site       OMG
...you should see all the items listed - some really great stuff
...and see how many people are bidding on this stuff (look at the number of views each items is getting!  This site is hot!)
...then see what the final sale price is!

    We may never see good stuff for decent prices again!! 

[valleythriftshopper]

They have been selling online for a while now.  On Ebay too, some of the goodwills like San Francisco have their own Ebay stores.  The Salvation army does too, although luckily neither of my local SA's participate.  Our one little independant thrift, the Survival Center sells on Ebay too. 

Even though its a bummer for us, the thrift shop hunters, why shouldn't they get as much as they can for their items, instead of giving them away for far less than their value?  It is for a charity after all. 

I just wish they would not work with rag dealers to sell off their excess inventory, it exploits people around the world & goes against the nature of their charity. 

[Good Buddy]

ShopGoodwill.Com has been around for some time now. It is REALLY cool too. They've made millions since they've been up and you can either shop the entire site, or look at one Goodwill Territory's items..
I've never purchased anything off of, has anyone?

[floridarecycled]

   Boy have I ever been out of the loop...I knew they sold some on eBay...but when I saw this I flipped!!

On one hand it's like "woo-hoo" to see stuff from other area's that we don't have here...BUT when I saw that the main Goodwill in my area has over 500 items listed on there     I admit I started thinking selfishly that I wouldn't be finding any more "treasures" - and if they did put it on the shelf...they would price it out of my range.

I apologize    I didn't mean to "freak out" in my initial post....like I said I was thinking selfishly and saw this as something that would have a major impact on the "fun" I have in thrifting! 

I know it's for charity...and truthfully...it's better for them to start their own site and not have to pay profits to eBay!  Plus with gas prices going through the roof...I'm sure that a lot more online thrifts are inevitable...

    Again - I thought I had "headline news" - thanks for bringing me up to speed - if it has been around awhile it shouldn't have much impact in the local stores at all...maybe this explains why the pricing in the Goodwill stores has went up a lot though - because they know from the auction site that they can get more??

**Note:  I did sign up on there today...just in case I see something I just "can't live without"   

[Magpie18]

I have browsed ShopGoodwill.Com

I have not bought anything.

I have no problem with Goodwill trying to maximize their revenue.  My problem is the terrible poor job they do in digital photography & description of the items they post.

I buy jewelry, mostly costume.  I am willing to pay a fair price. I am not willing to buy a pig in a poke.

The pictures will be slightly out of focus to actually blurry.  It is nearly impossible to judge the condition of the items up for auction from the pictures.

In addition to the incompetent photography, the descriptions are usually at the level of a 10 year old child.  The item might be described as in good condition -- sold as is. But what is good condition?  Is that a little flaking?  a little crazing? small chips?

Buying in the store is one thing,  you can exam the item yourself.

Trusting in the really bad photos & poor descriptions of GW online, well --- they need to improve a lot before I am willing to part with my money.

Just compare an excellent eBay seller of vintage jewelry to the online auctions on GW  --- the best eBay seller would be an A+,  GW would be a C+

[Jay2TheRescue]

I have browsed ShopGoodwill.Com

I have not bought anything.

I have no problem with Goodwill trying to maximize their revenue.  My problem is the terrible poor job they do in digital photography & description of the items they post.

I buy jewelry, mostly costume.  I am willing to pay a fair price. I am not willing to buy a pig in a poke.

The pictures will be slightly out of focus to actually blurry.  It is nearly impossible to judge the condition of the items up for auction from the pictures.

In addition to the incompetent photography, the descriptions are usually at the level of a 10 year old child.  The item might be described as in good condition -- sold as is. But what is good condition?  Is that a little flaking?  a little crazing? small chips?

Buying in the store is one thing,  you can exam the item yourself.

Trusting in the really bad photos & poor descriptions of GW online, well --- they need to improve a lot before I am willing to part with my money.

Just compare an excellent eBay seller of vintage jewelry to the online auctions on GW  --- the best eBay seller would be an A+,  GW would be a C+

Getting stuff on shopgoodwill.com is kinda hit or miss.  I have gotten some really good deals on that site.  The important thing is to ask questions, and ask for extra pictures if required.  If you are still not sure, don't bid. 

I only got burned once bidding there.  I was bidding on a Hamilton Beach Drinkmaster (The milkshake machine).  Before I bid I asked specifically if the machine in question was made of plastic, or was it painted metal.  I was told the machine was made of metal, not plastic.  When it arrived I was the new owner of a later model plastic machine in fair condition.  I paid more for that used machine than I could have gone out to Kohl's or Wal-Mart and bought one new.  I emailed them and I got a full refund, and was asked to just donate the machine to my local goodwill to complete the return.

-Jay

[Big Daddy Audio]

Being an electronics shopper, I would be hesitant to buy from ShopGoodwill.com.  I just "spot-checked" a couple of listings, and condition is listed as:  "Appears to work fine - powered on - unable to test further." 

Are you kidding me?  If that's all you're going to do, sell it in the store, so at least I can test it.

To wit - how can a Goodwill not be able to test an 8-track deck?  I've never been in a Goodwill that didn't have at least 5-6 8-track tapes.  If they (the tape cartridges) don't work, then why are you selling them?

If you are auctioning off used electronics, they should be fully tested and checked.  Otherwise, don't waste my time.  In addition, I'm 1000% more likely to buy the same model, pay more, and get a better specimen from a reputable seller on eBay.  If I pay $50.00 for a 6000-SUX from ShopGoodwill.com, I figure I'll probably pay $95-120.00 on eBay for the same make and model.  Shipping will be the same.  I'll get the 6000-SUX from the eBay seller, and 95-100% of the time it'll work as described.  With the ShopGoodwill, it looks as though the item exists in our space time continuum, but they make no guarantees beyond that.

See you next time
bye for now. 

[valleythriftshopper]

I never buy anything on Ebay with fuzzy pictures or sketchy descriptions so I would not do so either on goodwill.com.  Also the people listing the items for Goodwill probably don't have anything personal to gain so I am sure the effort is lackluster.   If they worked on commision the listings would probably be better. 

I don't trust the electronic items at the store let alone from an online thrift!

I do think it's better for them to do it from their own site that from Ebay though, because I don't think Ebay gives any breaks of fees even for 100% charity sales (those greedy bastards!).

[aGentlerTime]

I have  looked at the goodwil website and bid a few times without a win.  I am also for a charity making all the money they can from donations, but exactly who benefits from goodwill really. Originally, the mission was pure and good and not profit driven beyond making the money that was needed to train clients and make them more independant.  I have watched the turnover for so many years at goodwill. Many of their employees are typically much more dedicated than you find in the outside business world, but yet they continue to pay these good people so low that it is insultive (is that a word)?  The cashiers start and stay at minimum, front end managers are lucky to break $8 a hour, most do not get full time which translates into no benefits. The profits of each store are monitored closely by the home office (daily) and they  (the managment) are continually pushed for more profit.  I would love to see them spread those profits around to those who give their hearts to working the goodwill stores.  It is beyond me why they continually charge more for items, (jeans $5.99, tops $4.99 etc.) coming close to what you can buy new for with coupons and sales but do not help pay a decent wage to the workers.  The mission used to be wonderful and it is just not what it used to be. I continue to shop there because I am addicted.

[Anna5231980]

I have to admit that I have bought several things from shopgoodwill.com.  I collect sports trading cards and its great to buy them on there.  Its basically a treasure hunt.  You usually know a few of the cards you are getting but the rest are a surprise.  I've gotten some really good deals. 

But I have to say that I feel ripped off by the whole web site.  A few stores where I live sell on there and I don't even bother going into their stores.  I know everything good they get will be sold online, so its just a waste of time.  Luckily, none of the stores really close to me (I have 3 goodwills within 10 minutes of my house) are organized enough to sell online.

Does anybody else have a goodwill near their house that sells online?  Do you ever find anything good at those stores?

[Magpie18]

I haven't bothered to figure out if one location or another is selling.  I am in Los Angeles & so I assume they all are.

I was commenting on another thread about how little jewelry (costume & fine) actually seem to be in the stores.

Perhaps shopgoodwill.com is a factor in addition to the large number of resellers found in a megatropolis.

[Lcmsa]

I have got a few things off of shopgoodwill.com Usually really nice stuff. They are really bad about not authenticating stuff, so as always buyer beware. Ask a lot questions LCMSA