If you shop at Goodwill regularly, you’ve probably noticed that the price tags come in different colors. At first, it might seem like the colors are just part of the store’s tagging system. But they can actually help you find items that are marked down.
Goodwill stores often use a rotating color-tag system to manage inventory and run weekly discounts. Once you know which color is currently on sale, you can spot discounted items much faster.
The catch is that the system isn’t identical at every Goodwill location. Colors, discount amounts, and sale schedules can differ from one store to another. Still, learning how your local store handles its tags can make your next thrift trip a lot more rewarding.
How Goodwill’s Color Tag System Works
Many Goodwill stores assign different colors to merchandise as it’s priced and placed on the sales floor. The colors help employees keep track of when items were put out and when older inventory should be discounted.
A store may rotate through several colors, such as red, blue, green, yellow, and orange. Each week, one color may be selected for a special discount.
If the current sale color is blue, for example, you can scan the racks for blue tags and check whether those items qualify for the weekly promotion.
The discount is often around 50%, though the exact amount depends on the store.
What Does “Color of the Week” Mean?
The color of the week is basically the tag color connected to that store’s current promotion.
A typical rotation might look something like this:
- New merchandise receives one of the store’s tag colors.
- A different color is selected for the weekly sale.
- Items with that color receive the advertised discount.
- Older merchandise may eventually be pulled from the sales floor if it doesn’t sell.
This gives shoppers an easy way to spot sale items without having to compare every price on the rack.
Related: People Donate the Wildest Things and Goodwill Is Begging Them to Stop
The Color Doesn’t Usually Tell You the Price
It’s easy to assume the tag color represents a particular price. That usually isn’t the case.
The color is more about the age of the merchandise and whether that color is currently part of a sale. The price printed on the tag still tells you what the item costs before any promotion is applied.
This can be especially useful if you find several similar items. One might have a regular tag, while another has the current sale color. That second item could end up costing considerably less at checkout.
Why Shopping at the Right Time Can Help
The rotating system gives regular Goodwill shoppers a reason to check back throughout the month.
One week, you might find a rack full of discounted clothing. The following week, a completely different group of items may be included in the sale.
Older merchandise can also receive additional markdowns at some locations if it doesn’t sell during its initial discount period. Some stores may move these items to clearance areas or offer special clearance events.
That means waiting for a markdown can sometimes save you money, but there’s always a trade-off: someone else might buy the item before the price drops.
Every Goodwill Store Can Have Different Rules
This is probably the most important thing to keep in mind.
Goodwill is made up of regional organizations, so individual stores can run different promotions and pricing systems. One location may offer 50% off its color of the week, while another may use a different discount or schedule. Some locations may also have special sale days or additional clearance promotions.
If you’re unsure which color is currently discounted, ask someone at the register or customer service desk. A quick question can save you from guessing.
Related: I Used to Shop at Goodwill Until I Found the “Bins”
Why Goodwill Uses Color Tags
The system isn’t just there to give shoppers discounts. It also helps stores manage the constant flow of donated merchandise.
Goodwill receives a huge amount of clothing, housewares, furniture, books, electronics, and other items. Merchandise needs to keep moving so stores have room for new donations.
Color tags give employees a simple way to identify older items and determine which merchandise is ready for a markdown or removal from the sales floor.
For shoppers, that means the color system can be a useful shortcut. Once you know your store’s current sale color, a quick look at the tags can help you find the bargains without checking every item individually.
A Little Local Knowledge Can Save You Money
There’s no guarantee that every Goodwill follows the same color rotation, so don’t assume the system at one location will match another.
Before shopping, check the signs posted in the store or ask an employee which color is on sale. After a few visits, you’ll probably have the rotation figured out and know which days are best for finding discounted items.
That little bit of extra attention can make a noticeable difference, especially if you thrift often. A regular-priced find might be tempting, but spotting the right color tag can turn it into an even better deal.
