If you shop at Goodwill regularly, you’ve probably noticed the different colored tags attached to clothing and stuck to housewares. Those colors aren’t necessarily random at participating Goodwill stores; one color may be discounted during a particular week, sometimes by as much as 50%.
The catch is that Goodwill doesn’t have one nationwide Color of the Week. Goodwill organizations operate regionally, so colors, discount amounts, schedules, and exclusions can vary depending on where you shop.
How Goodwill’s Color of the Week Works
Colored tags help stores keep track of merchandise as it moves through the sales floor. At locations with a weekly color promotion, one tag color is selected for a discount, so if blue is 50% off that week, an eligible $10 blue-tagged item could ring up for just $5.
Before you start shopping, look for a sign near the entrance or register, check your regional Goodwill’s website, or ask an employee which color is currently discounted. Once you know the color, you can quickly scan racks and shelves for qualifying merchandise instead of discovering the discount by accident.
Don’t Assume 50% Off Automatically Means a Good Deal
I still wouldn’t buy something simply because it has the sale color. I’ve seen fast-fashion clothing and mass-produced home decor priced surprisingly close to retail, and getting 50% off an inflated price doesn’t necessarily make something worth buying.
If you find something you love at a good price, I also wouldn’t necessarily wait for its color to go on sale. Thrift stores usually don’t have another identical item waiting in the back, so someone could grab it long before the next discount but before paying full price on your next Goodwill trip, it’s definitely worth checking the Color of the Week first.
