If you’re looking for places to find items to resell, Goodwill can be a good place to start. There are some things you must keep in mind for both Goodwill and Goodwill bins when going to shop there and I will explain some of them below to help make your shopping experience profitable.
Goodwill Store
Goodwill Store: The most important thing to do when shopping at Goodwill is to know what their specials are the day you are shopping and to find their extra discount days to take advantage of better prices. Goodwill is not known for great prices for resellers. They have good prices for people who are looking for personal use items, but not always great for reselling.
All Goodwills tag their items with color coded tags. Each week they run specials on a certain color, usually 50% off. So, make sure to check what the color is the day you go shopping. Most Goodwills also offer a discount for seniors, 55+. Ours is 20% off daily and an extra 20% on Wednesdays. The exception is yellow and red tagged items are not included. These are usually the more expensive items. Our store also runs a special once a month for 50% off red tagged items. As you can see, if you watch for these special days, you will make out much better for reselling.
Goodwill Bins
Goodwill Clearance Center (Bins): Research before you go is a key factor in doing well at the bins. First, you want to know what the per pound price is and what the exceptions are. For example, books are 5 for a $1. Some bins have these exceptions, some don’t, so know ahead of time.
Next, be prepared to not find much the first time you go. Use your first time to explore this store. Find out how often they rotate bins, talk to people and see if there’s a time when it’s less crowded, do they have certain layouts of bins? Are clothes in front, shoes in middle, housewares in back or is it random? This will help on future shopping trips especially when new bins are brought in, so you know where you want to look instead of trying to look through every bin.
General Information
Give yourself time to really shop when going to the bins. If you don’t want to hustle with everyone else trying to grab new stock, sit back and go through the bins that have already been out. I’ve found a lot of great items this way. Also, grab a shopping cart and if you have an extra bag bring it so that you can sort through the items you grab before you actually purchase them.
Most importantly, make sure to check any item at either of these stores for tears and damages. Remember they were donated, so they probably aren’t in perfect condition. That doesn’t mean that aren’t in great condition, but you have to really check. Spoken from experience. I thought I found this really great pair of Levi’s and almost bought them, when I noticed a rip at the register. So just be thorough.
You can find great items at both of these stores and any other number of thrift stores, it’s a matter of how much time you want to spend shopping. Also keep in mind that most of the items at the bins are items that didn’t sell at a Goodwill store for whatever reason. Sometimes it’s just because they priced it too high at the store but it’s a bargain at the bin.
We want to try and help you with your reselling efforts and pass on any information we learn. Hopefully this will help you to decide what it right for you. Personally, I think shopping at both is the way to go.
For more information on Goodwill shopping, check out these videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwhGhIRZo-k6Gb5J1HP9YHg