For years, Goodwill has been a familiar stop for people looking for inexpensive clothes, furniture, kitchenware, books, and the occasional treasure hiding on a crowded shelf. The appeal was pretty straightforward: find something useful for a few dollars while supporting a nonprofit organization.
Lately, some longtime thrift shoppers say the experience has changed. In an online discussion, shoppers talked about higher prices, crowded stores, fast-fashion clothing, and the feeling that some of the best donations never make it to the sales floor.
That doesn’t mean every Goodwill store is the same, or that everyone agrees with these complaints. Prices and inventory can vary from one location to another. Still, these are some of the issues that keep coming up among shoppers who feel the thrift store experience isn’t quite what it used to be.
Prices Keep Climbing
Price is probably the complaint you’ll hear most often from frustrated thrift shoppers. People say they’ve spotted used clothing, furniture, housewares, and other donated goods with price tags that seem surprisingly close to what they’d pay for something new.
Several commenters pointed out that Goodwill gets much of its merchandise through donations. That makes some shoppers question why certain used items cost as much as they do.
A thrift store doesn’t have to sell everything for a dollar, of course. But once a used shirt or household item gets close to the price of a new one, the bargain becomes harder to justify.
Fast Fashion Is Everywhere
Another complaint is the amount of fast-fashion clothing showing up on Goodwill racks. Brands such as Shein, Temu, and other inexpensive online retailers are common sources of donated clothing.
For shoppers hoping to find vintage pieces, older brands, or well-made clothing, sorting through racks of cheaply made garments can be disappointing. Some people also feel that these items don’t offer much of a secondhand bargain if they were inexpensive to begin with.
Related: Fashion Trends From the Past That We Hope Never Come Back in Style
The Best Finds May Be Sold Online
Goodwill’s online marketplace has also changed the way some shoppers think about their local stores. Valuable collectibles, jewelry, vintage pieces, designer goods, and other desirable donations can be selected for online sales or auctions.
That makes sense from a business standpoint since rare items may bring more money online than they would on a local thrift-store shelf. Still, some longtime shoppers aren’t thrilled about it.
For someone who enjoys hunting through the racks for an unexpected treasure, it can create the feeling that the most interesting donations are being pulled aside before they ever have a chance to find them.
Related: Online Thrifting Is Booming—and Goodwill’s Online Marketplace Is Proof
Some Prices Seem Based on Online Listings
Shoppers have also questioned how certain items are priced. A used item might be tagged based on what similar products are listed for online, even though an online asking price doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what someone will actually pay.
That can leave merchandise sitting on the shelf for a long time. A shopper may be willing to pay $5 for a used item but pass when the same item carries a $15 or $20 price tag.
For thrift stores, moving inventory matters. Merchandise that sits around takes up space that could be used for fresh donations.
Crowded Racks Make Shopping a Chore
There was a time when part of the fun of thrifting was slowly working your way through a rack and seeing what turned up. Crowded stores can make that much harder.
Packed clothing racks, overflowing shelves, and narrow aisles can make it difficult to browse or even pull an item out for a closer look. When a store is particularly crowded, shoppers may give up before they get through the entire section.
A little extra organization can make a huge difference in the shopping experience.
Smaller Thrift Stores Are Getting More Attention
Some shoppers say they’ve started visiting independent thrift stores, church rummage sales, community nonprofits, and local charity shops instead.
These smaller stores may have lower prices, fewer crowds, and a more personal feel. Since many are focused on raising money for a local organization or community program, shoppers sometimes feel their purchases have a more direct connection to the people being served.
Prices and quality vary from store to store, but the experience can feel closer to the old-fashioned thrift shopping many people remember.
Shoppers Want Items Priced to Sell
One idea that comes up often among frustrated shoppers is simple: price donated goods so people will actually buy them.
Lower prices can mean faster turnover. Faster turnover leaves room for new donations and gives shoppers a reason to keep coming back.
A $4 item that sells quickly may be more useful to a store than a $20 item that sits untouched for months. For shoppers, affordable prices also make it easier to buy secondhand instead of purchasing something new.
The Goodwill Experience Has Changed
For longtime customers, the biggest issue may be the feeling that Goodwill has changed from the thrift store they remember.
Higher prices, more fast fashion, crowded racks, online sales, and fewer unexpected bargains have altered the experience for some shoppers. That doesn’t mean Goodwill is no longer worth visiting. It just means people may need to look a little harder for the deals.
Some locations still have excellent finds at reasonable prices. Others may leave shoppers wondering why a used item costs almost as much as it did at the original retailer.
Some Shoppers Are Looking Elsewhere
People who feel priced out of Goodwill have plenty of other places to look. Estate sales, garage sales, church rummage sales, consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace, and community thrift shops can all be worth checking.
The biggest advantage of shopping around is that every seller handles pricing differently. A garage-sale host may want everything gone by the end of the day, while a small charity shop may keep prices low to move donations quickly.
For bargain hunters, that’s part of the fun. If one thrift store doesn’t have what you’re looking for, or the prices don’t make sense, there’s always another place to check.
