Goodwill

I have been shopping at this outlet for about 2 years now and it is a great place to go for rock bottom prices on some fine merchandise. The inventory changes daily so it’s always different when I go. The only reason I don’t give this place 5 stars has nothing to do with the way the place is run or the folks that work there. It has to do more with the deplorable behavior I have seen by the shoppers especially the «regulars» that spend their whole day their over in the back corner of the place with overflowing shopping carts. I used to think it was amusing that when they brought out new carts of merchandise they had these «do not touch» basic manners rules they tell folks in English and then in Spanish. I thought it was a bit much that grown adults had to be told how to have basic manners. It did not take long to figure out why they have to be told these things. Think of an angry mob being thrown a fresh piece of meat and that is what I have seen pretty regularly especially when the shoes come out. As if the low prices and tons of inventory weren’t enough, shoppers will get aggressive grabbing things and stealing each others carts of merchandise. Pathetic. And then they complain that the prices are not low enough. Seriously? As for my «Carmen experience» she has been nothing but pleasant to me so I am not sure why another reviewer had such issues with her. Perhaps that reviewer is one of those obnoxious regulars who always wants something for nothing trying to haggle the prices down even further. I wish these shoppers would remember what Goodwill, the organization is all about and how it helps so many people. The pricing is already very low and these shoppers who try to get the prices down even further should be ashamed of their behavior. They are only hurting the organizations’ bottom-​line. When something lacks a price, Carmen has assigned a price for me but I have never thought she created it out of thin air. Rather, she chooses a fair price based on her vast experience in pricing this merchandise. Frankly, I think Carmen has way more patience with many of the shoppers than I ever would have based on the type of behavior I have seen. Every time I see her she is smiling. I give that woman a lot of credit for letting so much crap roll off her. At the end of the day, I just try to ignore the poorly behaved shoppers as best I can (which can be challenging when looking at furniture and they are sorting all the clothing on top of it), I remember that Goodwill is a wonderful organization and I get some incredible bargains.

This goodwill would get four stars if not for the rude cashier/​supposed and probably self professed manager there named Carmen. I have been going to this goodwill for years probably since the first day it opened. For the past few years I have encountered this woman often telling customers what prices are of things as she randomly thinks them up and does so with a very nasty attitude. And very seldom asking the customers to do the weigh in as it is a bulk weigh for clothes items. Having said that, the real problem I have is with her poor customer service skills. I have managed thus far, to go to another cashier if I see her because my problem is not with the pricing, but with a bad attitude that comes along with it for no reason. «Either you do or do not want it» attitude and «keep it moving» personality. No service with a smile here. My reason for writing this review today was the final straw. After asking a simple question about a suitcase turned into her «annoyed» attitude again, I finally said «why are you treating me this way»? I asked a simple question no need to act like that.
Then I said is there another cashier that can help me? And she shook her head no barely speaking it, then I said what about a manager? She said I am the manager, and if you keep it up, you won’t be allowed back in the store ever again! To which I replied «exuse me»? I did or said nothing wrong for you to say that to me… not to mention I have been shopping here since it opened and most goodwills in ffld and new haven counties since the early 80’s. And I never had a problem for have been given this much of an attitude ever from any Goodwill employee, much less been threatened to be banned for no reason. She basically told me there was nothing I can do and no one I can speak to obove her, and if I caused trouble I would be banned from shopping there for good. Well, I walked to the back and managed to find someone who could help me out with this ridicoulousness. I spoke to a lovely woman named geneene who took me into the back and listened to how I felt I was treated and gave me the phone to speak to her manager bothe of whom were very understanding and supportive. These are the type of people in management that I am use to running into at most all the goodwills I go to. Management and employees overall greet you and are happy to help out. I also donate to the goodwill myself just as much as I shop there. It’s a shame one bad apple can spoil good shopping experiences, and frankly I watched this person try to do it for years, but but because of all the nice and lovely people that also work there I never complained, but when someone threatens to ban you from shopping there for merely asking for a different cashier to ring them up or to speak to a manager, then I have to draw the line, by the way, a gentlemen named Dana has helped me for years getting me price checks and helping get things to my car safe I asked for him but he was out today, can’t speak highly enough about him and the rest of the staff there. Overall, excluding the «Carmen» experience for years, it is still a good place to discover unexpected treasures.

I’d been here about half a dozen times before today and never had a problem. I’d go in, head for the books, pour through them until I had an armful, then check out.
Today was different. I was looking through the books this morning, with 4 already in my hand, when some female employee with a silly looking hat started pulling the bins away as I was looking through them. Literally pulling the bin away that I was looking through. I asked what she was going. She said «Taking them away.» Duh! I asked why and she just replied «You should have been here at 8:30am.» I asked if she was bringing any more books out. She said «Maybe.»
I sat down and waited. I figured I’d wait 15 minutes, but the time dragged on. I wanted books so badly, I waited for nearly an hour. I watched as people flocked like vultures to the clothing bins. Many pulling out multiple armfuls of clothing. I noticed a couple people waiting for books, but mostly everyone was there for clothing. Hard for me to understand. All this knowledge in books that people COULD be looking through (had the books been out) and all they care about is clothing. Then it seemed to make sense why bringing out (and leaving out) books wasn’t a priority for the employees. Most people don’t care about the books. So why take them away to begin with? I watched for an hour as the empty floor space where the books had been brought in absolutely no money for the business.
About 50 minutes passed and I saw them wheeling out bins full of books. They brought out two bins, so I stood and began pawing through them. The woman (?) in the silly hat kept saying «Sir? Sir? Excuse me, sir?» but I ignored her as she had ignored me when I asked her if there were going to be more books. One of the other book shoppers who didn’t seem to mind such inane and truly non-​customer service driven behavior helped her in getting my attention. So I shouted «What?!» to which she informed me that I «had to wait» until the rest of the books were out before I could even look at them. I asked «I have to wait?! I’ve been waiting!» She proclaimed «It’s the rules!» So I placed the books I had in my hand on the floor one by one and walked out without buying a thing and without saying another word.
On the one hand, it’s a great place to go for books. On the other hand, they’re insane if they thing they can implement rules that allow them to take merchandise away WHILE people are trying to buy it, then refuse to let customers look at anything until they give the okay. Such behavior is not acceptable. Or should not be acceptable. Nothing will change as long as customers abide by such truly ridiculous «rules». Yet if more people simply started walking out in disgust without buying anything, the lost revenue would eventually add up and policies would have to be changed.
I opted to walk out without causing too much of a scene, but it was not what I wanted to do. If you’re ever in a store of any kind and employees start pulling merchandise away while you’re looking at it, then they’re rude to you, ignore you, and/​or refuse to answer your questions… walk out. Don’t spend a penny and walk out.

The outlet store is setup in one large building, as an open plan. There are shelves on outer walls with appliances, electronic, furnishing, etc. Larger furniture is lined up along the other wall. And in the center are these large blue bins loosely organized by: 1) clothing, bedding, housewares, 2) housewares, kitchenware, and 3) children’s toys, bric-​à-​brac. I shopped on a busy Saturday. The customers were all picking through the deep piles of second-​hand wares, being courteous of others shoppers. Checkout was processed via small counter-​scale or large floor-​scale since the cost is calculated by the pound. Remember to bring your own shopping bags.

I love the Goodwill Outlet. This one is great for furniture, housewares, toys etc. Not as good for clothing but try to get to the shoe bin first and you will not be disappointed. You can get amazing rewards for your efforts. Be prepared to get dirty. Not over picked and over priced as many of the Ct Goodwills have become.

Not really sure how I feel about my first visit to the clearance center. Wasn’t aware of the don’t touch until given permission rule. Was able to get some good finds. It was very unclear how much each item cost since its sold by weight. The cashiers don’t bag anything, just stand and chat while you fumble to put away change and bag your items trying to hurry since there’s a line behind you. Will probably return however.

Not a typical Goodwill. This is a warehouse with things thrown in corners grouped by the type or kind of object. There are no aisles, shelves, or helpful staff. Unless you like warehouses, I wouldn’t go there.

Bring gloves and your poker face. GET READY TO DIG.
Don’t expect clothing racks and organized sections. This location is made of big blue trays of stuff that are rolled out via a buzzer warning. Veterans line up prior to the newly carted merchandise arriving to get first dibs.
This location attracts vintage-​seekers, Ebay sellers, hoarders, etc. It’s an eclectic bunch, but it’s definitely its’ own little community.
Chairs, desks, tables, bookcases.
Books, vhs, cassettes
Kids toys, games, dolls
TV’s, speakers
Clothes, shoes, purses
Housewares at the front left
The real gems are found by testing your patience and exhaustive digging. You buy by the pound.

two words you don’t ever think you would see together: goodwill and outlet.
i had driven by here and couldn’t really figure out what it could be, so we stopped in the other day and after finding a parking spot in the larger PACKED parking lot we were pretty surprised at what was inside. the goodwill outlet store is not like any other goodwill you have been to — no shelves, no clothes on racks, no real departments — just big blue bins on wheels and most items are sold by weight, not per item. for most everything you can find here thats a pretty awesome deal.
did i find anything here? almost bought a book and an LP, but not this time — but we will be back when we have more time to pick through the massive blue bins of stuff. if you are trying to save some dough, this is a good place to go.