If you're a thrift store shopper, you've probably made a few visits to your local Goodwill store, but you might not have known that you can also shop online from the comfort of your couch...
ShopGoodwill.com is an auction website owned and operated by Goodwill Industries. The site pulls from a national inventory of used items, and it operates like eBay, except that all proceeds go to Goodwill's education, training, and job placement programs.
Buyers bid on loot, and the highest bidder "wins." You can search merchandise by category, price range, and auction end date, among other things. Like eBay, Goodwill has reserve prices, the minimum amount the seller will accept.
The inventory is a little more well-edited than an average Goodwill shop, and prices can run a little higher, but you'll still find steals compared to commercial auction sites. Find more information right here.
Thanks to Heather for tipping us off to the Goodwill online shop!
Photo: kylesteed licensed under Creative Commons
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Comments (12)
I know that building! Gotta love thrift store row aka Forest Park Avenue. :)
Heh- I recognized it immediately too. I used to live behind the cathedral so this was a monthly stop :-)
Love that site! That's how I got my dining room pendant.
For years and years Goodwill and Salvation Army have employed "pickers", who have always taken out what they think are the most valuable things. They would then sell them to choice business's who would pay more money for them then the individuals who shopped there.
This is no surprise that they have now joined the online auction game.
It is getting harder and harder to find anything good at thrift stores......
no more sets of original fiesta on the dirt cheap....
Hall vases, Stangle, Roseville ...
good for them.....but sad for us collectors.
you just spilled the beans on one of the internet's best kept secrets.
@Amandica: Heh. Had the very same thought with the addition of an expletive or two : )
agreed with the two posters above me.
The beans are now spilled.
God, I hope no one reads this post... You guys have potentially killed a gold mine...
File this under "who knew??" I certainly did not!
LOVE going to the Goodwill stores. Thanks for providing info on this great site.
I disagree with those who think this ruins it for the retail shopper/seeker, though. There is still LOTS of good stuff at the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores in my area, plus miscellaneous thrift shops, plus tag sales and those heart-stopping curbside finds. Plenty to go around, I say!
Amandica, that's what I was thinking . . . "you've exposed my secret!"
i didn't know about this...but after look through it, i still think i prefer real thrift store shopping. i just feel like i'm on eBay here. i do agree that some thrift stores have turned to boring overpriced garbage stores. the other day i saw a plain green wine bottle, with part of the label still glued on, selling for $14!!! are you serious?? at a thrift store? anywhere?
still, i love the feeling that i've gotten a treasure for very little money. that site took all the fun out of it...you just gotta know where to look. :)
Perhaps we should try to remember the mission of Goodwill Industries and realize that the money is going to an outstanding organization.
Is getting a "steal" more important than helping people develop skills to function independently?
Quit your complaining, please.