Goodwill Christmas

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-06-2011, 05:32 PM

Alot just depends on timing. 2 night ago it started snowing when I was at S.A. and bikes went on for $6. I frantically tried to think of someone to gift a bike.
Some nights it seems all junk and sometimes I don't have a big enough cart.
and far as a name we have always said the S.A. Boutique. Some of DD's friends started begging to go w/ her. Their folks had money but I know DD had 3x as many clothes and I allowed her to redesign them.

**heartofmine** · 12-06-2011, 09:31 PM

I LOVE Goodwill shopping. I went to one today and racked up. Last week I was at one in another town. I'd much rather buy clothes at Goodwill than to buy new. New blouses seem to be thinner, shorter, and lower in the neckline.

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-06-2011, 09:37 PM

Just an FYI to everyone. After the holiday season by approx 2 weeks you will find lots of tagged gifts people donated they were unable or didn't want to bother returning. I caught an awesome early bird special (50% off) w/ new stuff last yr.

**Debbie-cat** · 12-06-2011, 10:10 PM

Great finds!! I LoVE Goodwill but we don't have the Goodwill outlet here. Wish we did with prices like that!

**Spirit Deer** · 12-06-2011, 10:57 PM

I looked it up online and there are very few Goodwill Outlets, like maybe half a dozen in the whole country and one in Canada. So if you live near one you're lucky!

**227melissa** · 12-07-2011, 08:30 AM

Wow I just assumed they were everywhere just like the reg gw, I am lucky plus it's only 2 miles from my house in a very nice area.

**nuisance26** · 12-07-2011, 08:46 AM

~Those prices are amazing!! WTG!~

**Incognito** · 12-07-2011, 10:18 AM

In Canada, we have church thrift shops and/or regular thrift shops in every town, plus the Salvation Army thrift shops and lots of others kinds in the cities and larger locations.
It's all the same thing. Clothing and housewares, odd's n' ends, some furnishings.
During bag sales at my church thrift shop, I can get a plastic grocery bag full of things for $3. Many of the items still have the original sales tags on them. Otherwise they cost about 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, $1 or $2, or $1 - $10 for a man's suit or winter coat or parka.
I often get a whole bag of yarn for a dollar or two, and this is premium yarn from clearing an estate. Sometimes the volunteers snap up the best stuff before it gets to the racks, but mostly we get a pretty good selection.

**Spirit Deer** · 12-07-2011, 10:25 AM

Someone at a Goodwill told me employees aren't allowed to buy items until they're put out for sale and then they have to wait till their next day off to buy it, if it's still there. I don't know if that's the policy at every GW or not. It keeps the employees from cherry-picking everything as it's being unpacked.

**Incognito** · 12-07-2011, 10:35 AM

Well that's not the case around here. We can overhear them going through the boxes because the door is open, and they set aside what they want for themselves, I think they pay for it too.
I've heard the minister choosing his suits and telling the volunteers to lay them away for him, and any more they come across.

And we customers rarely get a chance to buy a good pair of boots or a nice coat. There are almost no size 9's and 10's put out for sale, and only the so-so coats and jackets. It pays to be a volunteer, all right.

**Spirit Deer** · 12-07-2011, 12:08 PM

That's a shame. That's not right, IMO.

**ssjane** · 12-07-2011, 04:33 PM

I have been buying the usual tags on yard sale items and deep clearance sale items all year for Christmas. My Dad will be getting a new Merona wallet still in the box which has a 16.99 price that I got at Goodwill for $3.50. My Mom will have 2 new cotton robes and a new sweatshirt for $6.60. My 19-25 year olds will have a box full of about 30 gifts which were .25 to 5.00 each. They will include books from our local library sale( these were half price since my daughter is on staff there), many new items that were bought at goodwill, but still have the target tags on them. One of which is a 100% silk dress which says calypso for target and a price tag of $49.99 and I paid $2.19, a purse of which I saw almost the exact same one in Target for 39.99, American eagle shoes, and much more. My husband found my daughter's boyfriend a shot glass chess game new in box with Kohl's 39.99 tag for 5.00. I have also gotten some cd's still wrapped as well as belts, bras,pj's and hose with the tags still on them. We have the goodwill reward's here, and also get a "facebook friday" 20% off coupon when you buy 20.00. I was able to get a like new brown broyhill couch for 28.00 a couple of weeks ago. Their stockings will include clearance halloween candy. Some of which were snack size snickers for .79 a bag. I just don't see how people can pay full price!!!!!!

**Spirit Deer** · 12-07-2011, 06:46 PM

That sounds exactly like what we did when our kids were all home. Trying to do a retail Christmas for eight kids plus grandparents would have broken the bank for us, and it wouldn't have made any sense, either.