Would you be embarassed to shop at goodwill?

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Chryso

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2004
4,039
13
81
Originally posted by: ICRS
Originally posted by: energydan
Sorry, but nobody cares where you buy your stuff at.

Most people I know pay very close attention to brand and such.

When people have absolutely no substance to them they have to try and base their importance on something external.
 

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
1,637
0
0
Originally posted by: queenrobot
I shop at Goodwill and donate to Goodwill, I don't find it embarrassing at all.

Ditto. I found a $300 espresso maker there once. in perfect working order, no missing parts/pieces.


$29.

 

AMCRambler

Diamond Member
Jan 23, 2001
7,715
31
91
I've never actually been to a Good Will store but I would feel like a bit of a jackass shopping there because I'm not broke. Since I can afford to go to a store and buy new clothes and the like for full price, shouldn't I be morally obligated to do so? Rather than go to a Good Will store and buy low priced items that someone less fortunate than I would need to buy?
Say I go there and buy a baseball bat for my nephew and save a bunch of money on it. After I leave, in comes the single mother of three that's working two jobs to support her kids. All her little guy wants for christmas is a baseball bat and Mom is doing her best to get him one but can't afford a new one. But no, sorry we just sold the only baseball bat to that cheap ass bastard AMCRambler. How much of a turd would I be? A huge floater if you ask me.
 

krunchykrome

Lifer
Dec 28, 2003
13,413
1
0
Honestly, yes I would be. However, maybe 5 years ago, I went to a goodwill store occasionally to buy vintage shirts; the kind you couldnt find in stores. I went through that phase.

 

Savarak

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2001
2,718
1
81
i shop at thrift stores all the time... i just give the clothes i buy a good heavy wash... Found lots of good name brand shirts and pants for less than 10 bucks each... I can easily afford these things at full price (and I also drive a 35k+ car), but I have such a hard hard time spending 30 or more dollars for just 1 shirt, or 50 or more for a pair of pants, when i can get several shirts, shorts, and pants, for less than 25. I buy my boxers, socks, and ***** tho...costco/walmart

Sure I'd like ambercrombie and genuine ralph polo stuff... got a bunch of those... for 4 bucks!
 

Savarak

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2001
2,718
1
81
^^ now that is really odd with the asterixes... i said "*****" and it replaced it with stars..?

edit: weird!!! first word is SHOES and second word is NEW... how come that gets filtered?? new shoes reversed
 

GhettoPeanut

Senior member
Feb 9, 2005
696
0
0
Originally posted by: mizzou
some people enjoy the nostalgic items that are offered. Other then that, it's a lot of stuff that smells bad and won't wash out.

Used by

1. poor people
2. Emo/punk kids
3. Halloween shoppers

*EDIT* wife and I consistently donate nice clothes that we grow out of, so sometimes they will have unused or barely used nice/modern clothes


i'm none of these things and i get about 1/2 my clothing there. what's the logic in spending 30 bucks on a pair of jeans when i can get them for 5?

its just clothing recycled from old navy, macy's and anything you find in the mall.

oh yeah, and allot of crap from the 80's
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
I think some people got the wrong idea, that buying at goodwill is for the poor and so the poor can buy clothes cheap.
That is not the reason they were started. It is to fund the programs that goodwill supports. So shopping there, regardless of whether you are rich or poor helps the programs they run. If you think you are too rich to shop there, then donate to them.
Read about some of the programs they run:
http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about

They also have a online auction site at:
http://www.shopgoodwill.com/
 

Stiganator

Platinum Member
Oct 14, 2001
2,492
3
81
Shopping at the Goodwill in rich, hoity toity neighborhoods is awesome. They bring in the nicest shit and its cheap. It's almost like rich people are buying things for you! I mostly get cooking items and dishes there. They don't usually have anything else real great, maybe an occasional table or desk.
 

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,522
1,131
126
*****


weird... new shoes does it for me too...

posted in technical forum issues

i would not buy shoes at goodwill either, they will have been broken in by different shape feet.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: ICRS
I don't get how some people can shop there like it is nothing. Seriously I would rather kill my self than have to shop at a thrift store like goodwill.


Maybe it is because I have been spoiled all my life, and don't know what it is like to be poor.

actually this fear comes from more feeling you will become forced to shop there rather than just having it be an option.

Not everyone is looking for basic clothing / survival items as well.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'm noticed something odd over the years - more than half the cars at the local thrift shops are $30k + vehicles, no more than 3 years old. So, I don't think it's a matter of being poor
-snip-

^ This.

I've volunteered at such thrify shops.

At least half od the shopers there were quite wealthy. So were most who donated.

You realize that by purchasing items there you are providing money for the charitable purpose?

The poor people are HELPED by the money raised in such thrift shops. The thrift shops are NOT necessarily created as a place for poor people to shop.

Fern
 
Dec 10, 2005
29,049
14,394
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This thread makes me want to visit some thrift shops just to see if I can find any hidden treasures. I just don't think there are many near where I live. I'll have to make a trip when it comes closer to Halloween - maybe get dressed up this year.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
yes i shop there. where else would i get shirts with someone elses name on them?

i got a lounge chair there in HS for like 3$, a sweet 25$ dresser which after i painted looks really nice
clothes for doing outdoor work.work on cars/ well dirty shit in

i got a perfectly working and new mini fridge there as well as a microwave

i got some bowling shoes as well
 

So

Lifer
Jul 2, 2001
25,923
17
81
Seriously, you'd have to be a fool to refuse to go to such places because you're embarassed. Yeah, I generally skip the clothes but that's because I have issues with wearing used clothes. Not issues with being seen in a "store for poor people." I've found lots of random great stuff at thrift stores. There's one near me that sells LPs for $0.10! My roommate is moving out today and taking a couple tables with him. I fully intend to look there for a decent cheap coffee table.

In fact, a coworker gave me some high quality old speakers and I went and got a perfectly good, decent quality old amplifier for $15. I hooked up my ipod dock to it and bam, I had a better sound system than a $150 ihome. I'm real ashamed to get good deals.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
If there is a product at a store that I like and want then I will buy it if I can afford it. I really don't care if it comes from Goodwill or not. Nor do I care if there are those draw any opinions about me for doing so.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: So
Seriously, you'd have to be a fool to refuse to go to such places because you're embarassed. Yeah, I generally skip the clothes but that's because I have issues with wearing used clothes. Not issues with being seen in a "store for poor people." I've found lots of random great stuff at thrift stores. There's one near me that sells LPs for $0.10! My roommate is moving out today and taking a couple tables with him. I fully intend to look there for a decent cheap coffee table.

In fact, a coworker gave me some high quality old speakers and I went and got a perfectly good, decent quality old amplifier for $15. I hooked up my ipod dock to it and bam, I had a better sound system than a $150 ihome. I'm real ashamed to get good deals.

yeah the sound system i got from goodwill is like 15 years old. But man its great it sounds amazing.

Also picked up some tables and odds and ends. great cheap stuff for the room in the basement.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: So
Seriously, you'd have to be a fool to refuse to go to such places because you're embarassed. Yeah, I generally skip the clothes but that's because I have issues with wearing used clothes. Not issues with being seen in a "store for poor people." I've found lots of random great stuff at thrift stores. There's one near me that sells LPs for $0.10! My roommate is moving out today and taking a couple tables with him. I fully intend to look there for a decent cheap coffee table.

In fact, a coworker gave me some high quality old speakers and I went and got a perfectly good, decent quality old amplifier for $15. I hooked up my ipod dock to it and bam, I had a better sound system than a $150 ihome. I'm real ashamed to get good deals.

yeah the sound system i got from goodwill is like 15 years old. But man its great it sounds amazing.

Also picked up some tables and odds and ends. great cheap stuff for the room in the basement.

Now that you mention it, the furniture is one of the most underestimated bargains. A lot of that stuff may look like crap when you first buy it, but the general shape of the furniture is good and with a little extra work you are can turn it into something which is normally sold for hundreds of dollars at a fancier furniture store. Home Depot is a wonderful place. Get yourself a sander, some varnish, stain, and paint. It's a masterpiece just waiting.
 

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
87
91
madgenius.com
I go there every so often...I only go for the TShirts, some are kind of cool...new/used/old TShirts get beat up/ripped pretty quick, so I could NEVER spend over 20$ on them.

Now nice work/dress shirts I can do around 40$-50$ at a known store.

Goodwilld/Savers all seem to be jacking up prices...on there clothes.

It doesn't make sense, considering they get them FREE/DONATED. It's 100% profit (minus costs to be at the location, and most of the workers volunteer AFAIK).

I donated about 4 or so grocery bags full of old clothes a few days ago..mixed with mine and the girlfriends.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I go there every so often...I only go for the TShirts, some are kind of cool...new/used/old TShirts get beat up/ripped pretty quick, so I could NEVER spend over 20$ on them.

Now nice work/dress shirts I can do around 40$-50$ at a known store.

Goodwilld/Savers all seem to be jacking up prices...on there clothes.

It doesn't make sense, considering they get them FREE/DONATED. It's 100% profit (minus costs to be at the location, and most of the workers volunteer AFAIK).

I donated about 4 or so grocery bags full of old clothes a few days ago..mixed with mine and the girlfriends.

They are still cheap though and a lot of the money made goes towards other services which they provide for free or really cheap to lower income families.

 

oddyager

Diamond Member
May 21, 2005
3,398
0
76
Originally posted by: ICRS
I don't get how some people can shop there like it is nothing. Seriously I would rather kill my self than have to shop at a thrift store like goodwill.


Maybe it is because I have been spoiled all my life, and don't know what it is like to be poor.



Jesus Christ. Just when I think you couldn't sink any lower you come and surprise everyone.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Xavier434
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
I go there every so often...I only go for the TShirts, some are kind of cool...new/used/old TShirts get beat up/ripped pretty quick, so I could NEVER spend over 20$ on them.

Now nice work/dress shirts I can do around 40$-50$ at a known store.

Goodwilld/Savers all seem to be jacking up prices...on there clothes.

It doesn't make sense, considering they get them FREE/DONATED. It's 100% profit (minus costs to be at the location, and most of the workers volunteer AFAIK).

I donated about 4 or so grocery bags full of old clothes a few days ago..mixed with mine and the girlfriends.

They are still cheap though and a lot of the money made goes towards other services which they provide for free or really cheap to lower income families.


yeap goodwill aslo helps with foodbanks, and paying electric, gas for those in emergancy's. Also if say something happens like a fire/tornado they help out the victims.