Stupid goodwill. - DPChallenge Forums

08/21/2007 03:08:46 PM · #26

Sounding in as a past Goodwill employee who rather resents being called stupid.
First, as others have pointed out, it's only "worth" $X if someone in that specific market is willing to pay that. Proven by the fact that it sat there as long as it did, nobody was, hence it wasn't worth that much there, no matter what it might bring elsewhere. Price and worth are too often confused.
Our region had 5 stores. The prices in each were based on what the market in that neighbourhood would bear. I worked downtown, where the store was in the same building as the shelter. We served a lot of homeless and a lot of tourists, so our pricing was a bit unusual.
Staples like teeshirts, socks, blankets and sleeping bags were priced VERY low, while designer clothes and antique china were probably quite a bit more expensive than our other locations.

Second, is someone stupid if they don't know the current retail price of every item that comes under the pricing gun? Stuff comes from the warehouse in banana boxes. 3 people priced and put out, on the average, 20 boxes of clothing and 10 of "bric-a-brac" (everything else) daily. Usually at least one of us had a little extra knowledge in some areas (for example, I was asked about craft supplies, cameras and electronics) but it's basically guesswork based on life-experience, with not a lot of time to waste on second opinions.
Would you be able to tell me, off the top of your head in a few seconds, the retail price of a Donna Karan black blazer? Does it make you stupid because you can't?

Items that the warehousers had reason to think were valuable (antiques, jewellery, etc.) are set aside and priced with someone with some experience, but most things are just priced by ordinary folks like you and me, and priced quickly.

I'm glad you got a good price on something you wanted, and I've done the same; I haunt the thrift stores regularly. But I do resent the use of the word "stupid", and would be happy to see the subject wording changed. :)

(edit to correct weird spacing)

Message edited by author 2007-08-21 15:51:56.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/21/2007 03:11:21 PM · #27

Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:

So at the local goodwill there was a Philips 7ff1 Digital Picture frame. It was sitting there for $20 and i didnt think nothing of it, thinking it was some low quality piece of junk. well after 3 weeks of it sitting in the case hidden under a cupple of purses. noone even knew it was there, and it was blue week, so out of ceriousity i askedto see it. sure enough it had a blue tag, i had to scoop it up, $10! for this beauty. it rocks, looked it up on Cnet they go for about $150 used and up to $300 brand new. i thought it was a well spent ten bucks. just goes to show you never know what you can find at goodwill:) expecially when people know nothing about what they are sellin.
//reviews.cnet.com/digital-photo-frames/philips-digital-photo-display/4505-13499_7-31637882.html

I couldn't re-read this while I was posting, as it was on the other page, but now that I do, I have a PS or two to add...

So YOU thought it was a low-quality piece of junk, and didn't know otherwise until you took it home and looked it up? Wouldn't that make you stupid too? ;)

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

08/21/2007 03:26:31 PM · #28

Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:

I try to make a point of not criticizing anybody's English or spelling on web forums, as posts are fleeting and we all make mistakes. But you're over the top enough that I think I'm OK to ask.... Do you write like that on purpose? What I mean is, is that form of English cool?

Just wondering, not trying to be mean or anything. I used to read a regular web piece back in 1995 that was written in a similar form of English. It was very colourful.

Message edited by author 2007-08-21 15:29:20.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/21/2007 03:27:09 PM · #29

Originally posted by annpatt:

Anybody want an 1850's 3/4 size bed frame? A strange size, but easy to transport...it'll be going to the thrift shop next...

3/4 beds was one of the reasons our grand parents and great-grand parents had so many children. Sleeping that close to each other - what do you expect!

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

08/21/2007 03:30:27 PM · #30

Originally posted by swhiddon:

Originally posted by annpatt:
Anybody want an 1850's 3/4 size bed frame? A strange size, but easy to transport...it'll be going to the thrift shop next...

3/4 beds was one of the reasons our grand parents and great-grand parents had so many children. Sleeping that close to each other - what do you expect!

Thirteen kids in my family, but we attribute that to the fact that we lived close to the tracks and dear "papa" had a hard time going back to sleep. :O)

Ray

Ubersteiny

Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg hsm for Canon

08/21/2007 03:37:11 PM · #31

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Sounding in as a past Goodwill employee who rather resents being called stupid.
First, as others have pointed out, it's only "worth" $X if someone in that specific market is willing to pay that. Proven by the fact that it sat there as long as it did, nobody was, hence it wasn't worth that much there, no matter what it might bring elsewhere. Price and worth are too often confused.
Our region had 5 stores. The prices in each were based on what the market in that neighbourhood would bear. I worked downtown, where the store was in the same building as the shelter. We served a lot of homeless and a lot of tourists, so our pricing was a bit unusual.
Staples like teeshirts, socks, blankets and sleeping bags were priced VERY low, while designer clothes and antique china were probably quite a bit more expensive than our other locations.

Second, is someone stupid if they don't know the current retail price of every item that comes under the pricing gun? Stuff comes from the warehouse in banana boxes. 3 people priced and put out, on the average, 20 boxes of clothing and 10 of "bric-a-brac" (everything else) daily.
Usually at least one of us had a little extra knowledge in some areas (for example, I was asked about craft supplies, cameras and electronics)
but it's basically guesswork based on life-experience, with not a lot of time to waste on second opinions.
Would you be able to tell me, off the top of your head in a few seconds, the retail price of a Donna Karan black blazer? Does it make you stupid because you can't?

Items that the warehousers had reason to think were valuable (antiques, jewellery, etc.) are set aside and priced with someone with some experience, but most things are just priced by ordinary folks like you and me, and priced quickly.

I'm glad you got a good price on something you wanted, and I've done the same; I haunt the thrift stores regularly. But I do resent the use of the word "stupid", and would be happy to see the subject wording changed. :)

.... Whats Donna Karan?

RayEthier

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

08/21/2007 03:43:38 PM · #32

Originally posted by noisemaker:

.... Whats Donna Karan?

A simple Google would tell you This is Donna Karan

Ray

08/21/2007 03:48:55 PM · #33

Originally posted by noisemaker:

.... Whats Donna Karan?

Thank you, Dustin, for simply and eloquently illustrating my point. I KNOW you're not stupid! :D

08/21/2007 03:53:13 PM · #34

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by noisemaker:
.... Whats Donna Karan?

A simple Google would tell you This is Donna Karan

Ray

I wish we'd had the time and resources to do that in the store, believe me!

fotomann_forever

08/21/2007 03:57:03 PM · #35

Originally posted by SaraR:

Yeuugggghh! Not heard that one before - perhaps it hasn't made the trans-atlantic journey yet!

Has now :-)

Ubersteiny

Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg hsm for Canon

08/21/2007 04:07:20 PM · #36

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by noisemaker:

.... Whats Donna Karan?

Thank you, Dustin, for simply and eloquently illustrating my point. I KNOW you're not stupid! :D

hehe :p anytime

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm IS USM

08/21/2007 04:17:52 PM · #37

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Thirteen kids in my family, but we attribute that to the fact that we lived close to the tracks and dear "papa" had a hard time going back to sleep. :O)

I'm the last of 13. When I have to think about it, I prefer to think that my parents only ever "did it" 13 times.

Jimbo_for_life

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

08/21/2007 04:49:33 PM · #38

Strikeslip, is far as my writing, i tend t0 type as if i was speaking it to someone and not all fancy english, but as for our goodwill, in my town, they got items that are always over priced, i seen it on the first day it got put out, (cause im a goodwill junkie) i always pay attention to there stuff, and it was in the glass containers in the front, so i asked to look at it, and when i was done i stuck it under some purses in the case to hide it for a while incase i wanted it, just so happened they never moved it into view, so i scooped it up. no offence to you goodwill or previouse goodwill workers, i didnt mean to call you stupid. i more ment that the goodwill store in my town was say uninformed.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/21/2007 04:54:05 PM · #39

Originally posted by Jimbo_for_life:

Strikeslip, is far as my writing, i tend t0 type as if i was speaking it to someone and not all fancy english...

Coolio. The style has a certain 'kitch' to it. Nothing wrong with that on a web forum, adds colour.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

08/21/2007 05:09:21 PM · #40

Good deal, goodwill...now go and donate some more to charity. We all love a bargain, but not at the expense of charity.

Good Luck!

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

08/21/2007 05:44:01 PM · #41

I've donated computers, monitors, and printers to Goodwill all in perfect working order. Most were not the latest technology but good workable equipment. If Goodwill wants to sell them for $10 that's up to them. I only hope that they're going to someone who really needs them at a price they can afford. Since you got such a good deal, you should really consider taking a long look around your house for items that you don't use that could really help somebody else out.