Goodwill

The people at Goodwill were really helpful when I arrived with a car load full of things to donate. The donation center is on the side and there is parking right in front of the door. A staff member brought over a cart and helped me unload. They did not take a container store closet organizer because they "had no was to display it."they took everything else. Easy experience.

My twice a month adventure to goodwill is never a disappointment. Not only do I find some great treasures (many brand new with tags); visiting with the other customers and staff makes for a fun, laughters full shopping experience. It's great fun to talk with other customers about odd items we find and sometimes even deeper more personal discussions. Always greeted with a smile and a cheerful hello. Not sure if I go for the treasures or for the socializing.

Shady practices go on here. On a nice quiet day at Goodwill in Branford Connecticut I literally was holding an item to purchase -- it was priced and sitting out on a shelf. The moment I placed it back down on the shelf an employee came over, picked it up and took it to the back room -- hmm I wondered. They must have been watching and waiting for me to put it back down. So I asked what happened to the item that I was still considering. They said oh, that item is being sent out. It's no longer available. Ah hmm, what does that mean? Apparently they send things out for "evaluation" if they deem them valuable. All that for a newish mass produced item that was already priced and on the sales floor? Wow. I wonder what would have happened if I didn't put the item back on the shelf to think about it. Would they have removed it from my cart? Would they have not sold it to me? Or do the employees cherry-pick items they want, take them to the back, not for "evaluation" but for themselves? Have never had anything like that happen or seen anything like that happen at any store anywhere. Seems very bad business.