unworn clothing destroyed by retailers

**Gibs** · 01-09-2010, 09:56 PM

i worked at a Walmart here in Canada and they do not throw anything out that can be resold. They sell things on clearance for really low to get rid of it. Other then that they throw out things after they are brought back because of damage to the items, broken zippers, or what not.

It is sad if they are throwing out things that others can use, especially with the economy the way it is, and with so many homeless people, and people in need, shelters etc.

**Gibs** · 01-09-2010, 10:19 PM

after finishing reading the thread I just thought that i would add that one of the dollar stores near me have sold clothing from old navy and childrens place, all they do is cut the little symbol out of the tag on the neck. Or they have had the tag swen in half. (take the stitching out and u can see the brand name)

**MissFancyPants** · 01-09-2010, 10:22 PM

You know all of those brand new cars at all of the auto shows? When the show circuit is over...all of those cars are written off and crushed. Now that....is crazy waste as well.

**imagine** · 01-10-2010, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by eofelis

REI, an upscale outdoor goods store, holds periodic "garage sales" where they sell (for cheap) the items that have been returned or damaged. People line up at the door hours before opening time to get in to buy this stuff. REI marks a big X over the labels of the items so they cannot be returned again. I have many many awesome items I got at REI garage sales for almost nothing.

A small thrift store I used to go to in Wyoming had a big room of free stuff that they moved unsold things into. It was great!!

I wonder what our goodwill store does with stuff they can't sell. They have a lot of stuff piled up out back.

Several store I know do that. I know one friend that would get Land's end coats that were damaged and/or returned at Land's Ends factory for 25 cents.

Our local Goodwill packs everything up after x number of weeks and ships them to another store they make the rounds from store to store.

The Salvation Army packs up all unsold clothing and packages them up for rags. My father use to buy large containers of these for his work. He says he use to love pulling out a new rag (shirt) and wonder who it belonged to once he pulled out a Strawberry Shortcake shirt with a big stain on it he knew exact who it had belonged to, me.

**monkeywrangler71** · 01-10-2010, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by gibblerkelly

i worked at a Walmart here in Canada and they do not throw anything out that can be resold. They sell things on clearance for really low to get rid of it.

Do they ever, I've bought clothes for $1 off the clearance rack at walmart.

When I worked at the Bay, we packed up irregular and outdated clothing and sold it by the pound to a discount store.

**Incognito** · 01-10-2010, 01:05 PM

There are lots of intelligent approaches to the management of this situation, and its good to read about the companies that follow sensible policies.

In regards to the stupid approaches:
Why don't they stop and think a little? Why don't they find a better way, as others have? Or do they just prefer their own way of doing things? Carelessness, destructiveness and waste can be a big ego trip to the ones who do this. It's a power rush to have so much that you can do as you please with it, even trash it if you want to.

But there is always a cost with bad decision-making; and the bottom line is the cost to the taxpayers. People are going under these days because they can't afford to pay for their mistakes and the mistakes of others.

**mombottoo** · 01-10-2010, 01:30 PM

It is sad and it is a waste. But, all retail companies have their own way of dealing with overstock. If every single company donated all their unsold items it would in the long run cut into their bottom line. Mainly, because people like me would pay attention, figure out where the unsold stock went and go there to get it cheaper.

So while I don't agree with the wasteful practice, I can understand why it is done.