Goodwill Industries Corporate Office & Headquarters

On a daily basis I implore my co-workers, family members and friends to donate all of their unwanted items to goodwill. I do this because I refer single mothers and single fathers who are stepping out of negative situations and trying to change their lives to your stores to furnish their homes and get clothing for interviews and school. However, recently I have been absolutely floored by the prices I have seen for items in your Goodwill locations here in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am not sure if you have some sort of pricing guide, or if it is just done on a whim but I feel that it is completely outrageous. The items that you receive are donated, and while I realize that you are providing employment opportunities for many you are also providing an opportunity for those less fortunate to be able to purchase items in your stores. I would like to cite several examples that I found while trying to help a single mother furnish her kitchen in her very first apartment. 1) A clear glass Pyrex baking dish that was missing the lid. $6.99 at Goodwill, BRAND NEW with lid at Wal Mart only $7.99. 2) An old brown 4 drawer dresser with one drawer that did not have a handle $100 at Goodwill, BRAND NEW with all handles at Target $89.99 3) A set of plates, bowls, and saucers in a box with 3 pieces broken in the box $20 at Goodwill, BRAND NEW at Wal Mart $29.00 4) A night stand, old wood with one drawer $25 at Goodwill, I do not know what it would cost brand new, but I find it deplorable that a night stand with only one drawer, and a missing leg could even be listed for sale at $25. I could go on and on with what I believe to be outrageous pricing at the two Goodwill locations here in North Raleigh. One is located on Lynn Road and the other in Brier Creek off of Hwy 70 or Glenwood Ave. I hope that someone will look into this and put out some sort of pricing guide or remind those working at Goodwill locations of what I read on your website: "Our Vision We will be satisfied only when every person in northwest North Carolina has the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of a productive life." I believe this includes those that shop at Goodwill as well as those that are employed there. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, I am grateful for what you do and hope that this situation can be remedied.

I have to say, I'm not at all surprised to find so many complaints about the Goodwill. But I WAS surprised that the problem is not just at the location I frequent, which is in Bel Air, MD. I have been fussing for over a year now that the prices are RIDICULOUSLY high, and that I can buy some of the items somewhere else, NEW, for the same price OR LESS! And now they have a sign inside that says 'if an item is not priced, it will not be sold that day'. That just seems a little silly to me, because these are donated items, and it's not as though there is a shortage of items in their store. I wish they would price things reasonably (like they used to) to move the products out of a very cluttered, overstocked store. I shop on a very limited budget and I used to occasionally treat myself to a trip to the Goodwill. Now the only time I can shop there is on Super Saturday, when the clothing (and only the clothing, usually EXCLUDING Boutique clothing) is 50% off. My hope is that Goodwill Industries will soon realize how many loyal customers are no longer able or willing to spend their hard-earned dollars there.

There is no "God" in "Goodwill". The public expects a corporation with a name like Goodwill, to be aware of community need and reach out; to show "Goodwill" to the people where the stores are located and to it's employees and shopper's alike. WRONG. This is a multi-billion dollar, non profit organization. Because of the platform of hiring those with physical and or mental restrictions, most people are under the illusion that this organization "cares" They do not. They exist simply to make as much money as possible. They hire SOME people that would not normally find a place in todays world. They will hire these little people at minimum wage and hour and work them like dogs sorting clothing and packing and unpacking gaylords. (huge carboard boxes) A "Job Coach" will work with them on how to size clothing, hang it on hanger, which way to face the article etc. The stout strong men will be put on a truck with a driver to pick up furniture and appliance donations for 8 hours a day. A portion of these people do not have yearly reviews on job performance, raises, insurance benifits etc. They are Adult Foster Care Residents, Who live in group homes, the state pays for their housing in these homes, they are picked up by public transportation and taken to Goodwill to work Mon-Fri. They are "paid" by the experience they receive. Less handicapped individuals will be allowed to run the machine that shreds the clothing into rags and sold to local factories. If there is an "As Is" store they may put items out on the shelves. The Main store register and sales floor jobs will go to people who are just down on their luck whose jobs have been lost or they are related or aquainted with the "higher office staff" somehow. It doesn't matter how efficient they are or how hard they work, they will always receive minimum wage per hour. If they are lucky they'll get 40 hours per week. They are forbidden to use a phone at work, or receive a call during working hours, they are constantly monitored, they are not allowed to speak to a customer more that breifly. The security cameras are not there for the employees protection. It's focused on them stealing. Most people donate to Goodwill for the tax break, (You place the value on your items) Most people shop there out of habit and for the thrill of the hunt. Some out of necessity. What can you do to stop the mistreatment and greed? Donate your items to CHARITIES: Salvation Army, Helping Hands, St. Vincent DePaul etc. And shop at CHARITY STORES. Just in case Corporate Offices of Goodwill monitors this site: You would do well to restructure your units management staff every 2-3 years and monitor their activities more closly. You very well may see that your workers on wheels receipients are related and If your ever in the parking lot after closing time you could lend a hand to the stores manager struggling to load an antigue desk into his truck while the closing staff (2) are carring garbage bags of product to their cars.

I went to the local Goodwill in Champaign, Illinois in December around Christmas time. The check-out clerks were SO RUDE!!!, insisting that the sales listed on their board were not that at all(I had just had my wares verified as being discounted by the worker in the back). I WOULD LIKE TO URGE ALL DONORS TO GIVE TO THE SALVATION ARMY STORES INSTEAD OF THE GOODWILL!! LOOKING AT OTHER MESSAGES HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE GOODWILL IS RIFE WITH NASTY WORKERS ALL ACROSS THE USA. SHOP SALVATION ARMY! GIVE TO SALVATION ARMY! THEY DO NOT BELITTLE THEIR CUSTOMERS OR TREAT THEM LIKE TRASH!

I have shopped at many Goodwill stores for almost 40 years. Now all the stores have sanitizers or deoderizers on the wall emitting a mist that creates breathing problems for me. I begin coughing, sneezing and wheezing. I have asthma as do many other patrons and your own workers. I have talked to clerks in the stores (Of course they can't say anything because they are afraid of losing their jobs) and customers and all agree how unpleasant the mist is. I think the units are health hazards and I am writing to the Health Department, EPA and OSHA. You are subjecting your customers and workers to a hazardous condition. I can not shop the outside aisles because of the mist units.

I am so disgusted with "Good"will in so many ways, I want them renames "BADwill". FIRST, Goodwill's disgusting pricing on used items they obtained for free is absurdly, outrageously high!!! Even with overhead, their operating costs SHOULD be low, IF RUN CORRECTLY. Overhead includes---every store I have been in was filthy, stinky and a horrible mess. The low-paid employees are the absolute rudest people I have EVER dealt with-anywhere. There are tens of millions of minimum wage employees and at Goodwill you are treated with disrespect and with an attitude that tells you that you ARE LUCKY that you are being allowed to buy their used, donated items..that is, if the employees even respond to a question. Many times they simply ignore you, and why you ask again, are blasted with a rude and nasty comment. Who manages these "out-of-control" employees? Are they recruited from court-ordered programs like: "Mentally Instable" or "Anger Management"? I am NOT even a bit predjudiced against those who really need mental help. I care about them a lot, as I personally know people who do. BUT you cannot put unstable people in jobs where they treat the public in an almost violent way!! That is not an appropriate job for them, (or us-the buyers)at that time in their life. The WORST I've been to is the Goodwill in Orlando, FL, on Orange Blossom Trail. I have never had an employee speak nicely to me, and I AM a very polite person. In fact, everyone gets to witness the way that ALL the employees "purposely" treat customers in an abusive way, even BEFORE you need to ask a question. The employees know you now are "in fear" of talking to them because you don't want to be the next one humiliated or rudely dismissed with a "NO" to anything asked. This is "CONTROL", and yes, it borders on abuse. Honestly, GW's employess have serious mental or anger problems. For those who don't, I am sure they are abused by their managers and cooworkers. In Chicago, the Markland Resale chain is like a DREAM compared to GW! Helpful staff who actually want to help search, so you can buy more. Their prices are appropriate for USED and/or donated items. I am shocked to my core at GW's super-high prices in the last 1 1/2 years!!! People who shop "RE"sale because they can't afford "new" items even from discount big box stores! GW's prices are now so high that I can get almost anything at GW in a regular store for less when on sale or B1G1, etc. Bonus--the clothes don't stink and are not damaged. Here is an example of what I have seen TONS OF TIMES. ~~New items were donated to GW by Target with their "Target Clearance price sticker" partly visible under GW's price tag. In EVERY SINGLE EXAMPLE when I pulled back the GW sticker, the Target clearance price was way, way lower than than Goodwill's sticker price. When I mentioned it to the store Manager, she said that "Corporate determines the prices, and there is nothing they can do at the store leel". WHAT??? Goodwill Corporate is researching "current comparable" prices and then selling their new, freely obtained items at FULL RETAIL price? It is clear that Goodwill has become a chain that is not supposed to help the customers. They "might" help with other problems of disadvanted people, but not customers of their stuff. Due to their extreme pricing and lack of morals and values when it comes to the treatment of customers, I honestly and seriously doubt that any programs supposedly supported by profit of GW stores, do not help disadvanted people. They can't. Not with their "acceptable" horrible treatment of customers and price gouging. If they don't care about us, (human beings in need of HELP with BUYING necessities) why should they care about other groups too? (Again, Human Beings in need of HELP with "SOMETHING ELSE") Do they read any of the thousands and thousands of comments on blogs or forums? Habit made me keep going to Goodwill in "hopes" of being able to clothe my son. I know, for sure, positively, that I am wasting my time and if I go, definitely have a 90% chance of being publically humiliated and paying A LOT if I shop at Goodwill.

I love shopping Goodwill but recently left the Round Rock Tx. store angry with the overpriced merchandise. The large tags have a decent price but many items are above that price and the tiny lettering on the signs are deceiving saying it starts at that price!! I noticed that the store is so packed with merchandise that you can hardly get the hangers on and off the racks- An indication that merchandise is not moving quickly enough. The Salvation Army store down the street is packed with customers and has daily half price sales. I have never seen a sale at the Round Rock Goodwill - they don't advertise it clearly if they do. I have stopped donating to Goodwill and encouraging friends to donate to organizations that allow their donations to be available at a more affordable price. Come on Goodwill, it's a great program - don't ruin it!

I was at the new Goodwill store in Round Lake Illinois today... wow! I saw a used Anchor mixing bowl for 9.99 the same bowl I brought recently for half the price NEW. As I continued through the store I was shocked over and over again to see the HIGH prices. There was even a framed picture for 50 dollars... are you kidding. As I looked around at the population at the store it was obvious that these were not people who were there to find a 'gem'. Used goods were what they could afford, as a matter of fact the area that this Goodwill is located is a lower income area. And to make it worse many of these people probably don't even realize they are being overcharged. Makes you wonder who Goodwill is there for and who is lining their pockets.

what a flipping ripoff ! we went in to our goodwill last nite to find some old bedding to donate to the dogs at our local animal shelter. ARE THEY INSANE? the prices are ridiculous! ... old worn, ripped up shit that anyone who can afford it.. wouldnt buy it there anyway... $14 for worn- out faded, outdated comforters that have lent balls hanging by the thousands. a stretched out linted, outdated turtleneck $5.99 i just paid $7.99 each for two $30 shirts on sale at sears. we went to walmart a brand new twin comforter set was only $18. are they crazy? ok so the profits go to help people....they could do a hell of alot better if they helped the poor low income people who need to put clothes and shoes on their little kids. its bullshit thats what it is. come down to reality and do what you say you do... not charge outrageous prices on used shit thats given to you. i dont donate to goodwill anymore.. i give to the local thriftstore where the prices are a hell of alot more reasonable for the poor people.

greed,,, greed ..... and more greed.....when will it stop shame on goodwill

I have been a frequent shopper of Goodwill for the past several years and have also noticed the extreme increase in prices. While the clothing prices have held somewhat steady, prices for other items have become simply outrageous. It has certainly become a big money operation rather than an organization to help the needy and underpriveledged. Shopping Goodwill has become "cool" and I frequently see European luxury automobiles in the parking lot when I am there. I think it is sickening that they have become about profiting and not about helping people. While I do still buy reasonably priced items, I NO LONGER DONATE ANYTHING TO GOODWILL nor will I ever again. If you would like to know how much profit they are making take a look at the price of real estate where you see new Goodwill stores being built. I think someone needs to start looking into whether they actually qualify to be a non-profit.

I encountered an employee of yours today, a Latania (sp?) Brown, with a real attitude problem. With more employees like her, you won't have long to wait before your store retail numbers are affected. Apparently, she was already in a confrontation with another shopper, because as the shopper was leaving the store said she would never come back I do not know what precipitated the confrontation, but it was obvious the shopper was vociferously complaining about something that Ms. Brown had said or done. I was standing in line being checked out and I said to the irate shopper, as she left, they (meaning your Goodwill store) might just as well hold a gun to your head with the outrageous pricing increases that have occurred at this store in the last 1-1/2 years Your Ms. Brown took it upon herself to chastise me in front of the other shoppers by telling me what I said was inappropriate and if I continued to talk that way she would have me kicked out of the store and not allowed me to shop there any longer. Since when is an employee of yours entitled to tell a customer what they can and cannot say to another customer? Do your employees think they have a right to usurp the United States Constitution's freedom of speech by telling me what I can and cannot say to ANYONE? I said nothing inappropriate to Ms. Brown, I was not talking to her in the first place, I was talking to the irate customer leaving the store. Not a single swear word left my lips during this entire debacle. I will be sending this complaint along to every level and source of management in the Goodwill chain, and posting it online wherever I can. This is because of an employee of yours who thinks it is her right to humiliate customers, cause an embarrassing situations for all to witness and because she seems to think she has a right to do so. Is this the kind of employees you are hiring and is this the kind of an attitude you are teaching them, at your learning centers Possibly, you'd better re-think this one!

I bought a Madame Alexander doll that was advertised in good condition and looked beautiful in the picture. I stupidly bid 66.00 on this doll. After I received it , I realized the goodwill robbed me, she has matted hair under her hat. The goodwill will not refund me. They say as is. but they did not portray her correctly. I will never shop there again.

TACOMA WASHINGTON STORE IN CASE ANYONE IS INTERESTED. IT IS A SHAME WHEN THE GOODWILL THAT GETS EVERYTHING FOR FREE STARTS ROBBING PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THEM FOR MANY YEARS.

9/9/2010 was my wife Claudia's birthday...we have been married and shopped your stores for over 20 years...one of the things she wanted for her birthday was shop a different store location from the few common ones we visit near home, so we drove one hr. one way, spent an hour in store and drove back home...3 hrs. total time and a total dissappointment! We shopped and then the problems began at the point of sale..."No, Mr. B.,we don't not have 1/2 off one item on birthdays any more"...No, Mr. B., we don't use senior citizens discounts, but only on Tuesdays"...No, Mr. B., we will not stamp your "Valued Customer" card for purchases over $10...Well that did it, Claudia started tearing up and you can imagine the ride home...This letter comes to you in protest. We believe if your corporate name is on the door then the policies should be consistent...We can't direct you to keep or eliminate the Senior Discounts, 50% off Birthday discounts or offer the Frequent Shopper Cards stamps, but you'll never convince us it's right to have a bunch of rogue store managers making up their own rules..."only on Tuesdays Mr. B."...I can still hear it! I want one of you 'corporates' to talk to my wife and try and convince her that the dissapointment she experienced is justified. But I know she'll never get the call because you can't justify it...If you want to further succeed in your efforts assisting those in need and those who use your services, then teach them the value of teamwork.Sincerely: Stephen and Claudia B......betzclaudia19@gmail.com

I used to make monetary donations and clothing, furniture etc to the Goodwill when I was financially able to do so. Now that I have lost my job and I need help I decided to ride to the goodwill to get my family some things and with school coming up.. get my kids some school clothes.I was amazed at some of the prices on the items.Way to expensive. Old tops with balls of lint on them with a price tag that no person should have to pay. Furniture beaten down asking an arm and a leg. I saw some items that were new but were overpriced as well.I thought this store catered to the less fortunate?If I had knew that all my items I've donated over the years were priced gauged and my items were in the best shape I would have never donated them. A poor person can not afford to shop to a goodwill. They need to take Good out its name because all of its bad.People should take their donations elsewhere.... pick a family out and donate their items that way they know its going to someone who needs it.Ths goodwill is a billion dollar buisness making money off of people and saying they helping the community They are only helping themselves and making their pockets fatter.

Being with Goodwill for 18 years is a big disappointment. Thought this place was for helping people with needs and disabilities. Instead all I see is Big Brother..meaning corporate office getting stingy and very cruel to the people that work below below them. We all work 8 hours a day, faithfully enjoy our customers and the donors. As we know our lively hoods depend on them. Where I am located at its not so. Corporate office is greedy. All they are concerned about is their plush offices, vehicles and making our lives a total hell hole. They hire a snitch to watch us the employees not the customers that load up in the dressing rooms and come out with twice as much clothing on as thieves, take our holidays away from us as they are so CONCENCEND about THIER DONATIONS BEING GONE THRU! WHEN UNATTENED AS we have families and lives away from work of the 8 hours we work. So lets just go 24/7!!!! God we dont' want to loose any donation now do we when we are not there to watch! WE do not have fair labor laws at all! I can go eat dinner or lunch at the bank with a friend or the state offices but oh no we can not have none of our family members in our back room to go thru to the break room and eat with us! Customers can walk thru the back room to the front floor with no questions asked but god forbid for one of our family members to do this! Where is the right of the employee here. Why are we the crooks and the thieves! Why is our money not as good as the customers and why do we have to wait 8 hours to buy something when someone else can with a 10 percent discount or 20 percent discount buy it. Why is it that they make us out to be such bad guys! We have cameras every where watching our every move except the customers that are stealing us blind! We are the ones working and socializing with the customers to keep us in business and bring them back again. We use to take pride in our work but so many of us feel like we are just doing time like in prison..but oh gosh they have more lee way than we do! Its just not right anymore. Nothing goes back in our community here, the store here does not support people in need, we cannot go down in price to help some one who has just lost everything in a fire! But we can fill up the landifll with so much wasted merchandise when someone would have gladly paid for it with a reasonable price. We have no sales anymore like bag days...use to bring in a lot customers! So much has gone down hill. Us as the employees want to ask that the next time corporate comes to visit to please bring a tube of KY jelly as we are getting very tired of being screwed. Just to hear a thank you would be so shocking instead of acusations and incentives being taken away! Why should we work in such poor circumstances? This is towards the Northern Rocky Mountain Easter Seals Goodwills of the US!!!!!! Mostly to Bill Collins with all his cameras and high tech gadgets that make a job harder than it should be...more actions needed for one transaction, longer lines and oh so muchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh complaining from the customers and employees that work hard so he can have a company paid car, and holidays off with his family but none of us get to share that! So Bill lets go 24/7 to keep your donations safe that probably would end up in the land fill anyhow but I wont tell...................

I agree with Heather's remarks above. I shop frequently at two of your Goodwill stores and the prices are way too high for items that are used and donated to help poorer families, especially in this economy. While on vacation I also went into your store in Attleboro, Mass. This store is a big mess and stinks to high heaven. Something really needs to be done about this store. It's awful.!!!!!

The customer service is horrible the store manager smelled like liquor. The sales associate was very slow rude and didn't care about anything or the people around her.

I used to shop at Goodwill quite often and time to time I still stop in one of your many stores. But I always seem to leave without anything and angry. Goodwill used to be good for many reasons, it helped people give to the community, helped people who had a harder time finding job placement and offered products at great prices. That doesn't seem to be the case any longer. Your prices have become way too high. There are many items in your store that I could buy and Walmart or the Dollar Store for cheaper and brand new. I don't understand the reason for the raising cost when these items are donated and with the on going recession you would almost think your organization would like to continue to help the community by keeping prices reasonable.