The Goodwill Store

This Goodwill is trashy and overstaffed with people who are completely unhelpful:
1. no one knew who had the key to the fitting room;
2. I was RAMMED several times with restocking carts. My cart was rammed at least 3 times as well.
3. The cashier would not tell me the prices as he was ringing up my items — it was not his job. So, I was charged for a dress instead of a shirt.
The floor is littered with hangers, clothes, and filth — piles of dirt, swept but not picked up, used baby diapers.
Everything is organized by color. Really? How 1978. I mean, if I want a shirt, I don’t need it to fit if it is yellow, right?
The most horrifying thing is that this is next to their Job Center. Yikes!
I am a thrifter who has been to over 1k of Goodwill stores (you read that right one thousand different stores), and this is the worst.
If you manage this store PLEASE, PLEASE fix these problems. There were plenty of staff members flirting with each other while ignoring customers with questions to do a better job of cleanliness.
And, unlike what the ASSISTANT MANAGER believes, the same stock organized by size, then color would not take up more room. It would increase the turnover of stock (look at the numbers).
Oh, and fire cashiers that are nasty to customers. The male that rang me up was so awful that other people told me they were sorry…

This is a great goodwill. It’s very organized, and I got lots of great home goods stuff for reasonable prices. Compared to the outlet next door, the prices are higher of course, but this store is easy to shop in and lots of great stuff to be found. There were tables, couches, chairs, and shelves all for great prices.
The cashiers and staff were very friendly and helpful. I’ll definitely be back!

Huge place, with women’s, kid’s and men’s clothes color sorted– also sorted by type i. e jeans, trousers, outerwear, dresses. Books and home goods are in the back, shoes and accessories in the front. Prices are reasonably cheap, but I notice they have gone up over the years. The usual mall names: Gap, Banana Republic, Tahari, HM, Free People, Talbots, Eileen Fisher, Ann Taylor, Aeropostale, AbFitch, J. Crew, Old Navy, Forever 21, Express, Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe, Victoria’s Secret, Guess, Zara… you may find Armani, TopShop, Saks, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Neiman Marcus etc, as well. Many smaller «catalog» names; some from QVC/​HSN. Sizes for women tend to be small or medium for sweaters and tops. I have found Prada here… a gorgeous wispy size two camisole top. Yum! I am not really into shoes, but others have found good stuff… just don’t get aggressive and btw keep an eye on your shopping cart., If you do not, yes– other customers will go through it– the staff often leaves carts of items on the floor that they are sorting through to put on the racks. They are not theives, they just assume the stuff is available if you aren’t holding onto it. As for handbags, I have been there when a bin of unsorted bags came onto the floor and saw a Zara shopper in pale creamy taupe patent, new with tags. Also a Vuitton drawstring bag… had all the correct markings, not sure if it was the real thing.
My beef is with the management. They have a section in front where the signage says the merchandise is «better quality». I don’t think they make any effort at all to tell the staff to put the high end designer names in that section because what’s there is the same as what’s on the other racks. I did a little informal merchandising for them while there– I found Kenar and Kookai, a perfect, basically new-​as in flawless– Alfani butter leather blazer in pale pistachio green and some other names, and put them there. Having worked in fashion I get annoyed about stuff like that, and I felt the women who shop there would be ecstatic to not have to sort through the dreck for the good stuff. Neurotic? possibly.
One more thing, for God’s sake, leave your «omg, what am I doing in Goodwill!!!» attitude at home. It stinks to high heaven, and impresses/​intimidates no one.
There are fitting rooms on the right.

Solid Boston thrift store. Most places in this city are either 1. too expensive and hipster, or 2. absolutely disgusting. This place fills the really nice middle ground. You get the thrill of the chase without the sense of disgust picking through gross things.
Most things are pretty cheap, it’s sorted by color, and there are some really nice pieces here. It doesn’t have the common thrift store problem of no smaller sizes; there was plenty in my size for me to pick through.
Shoe section leaves something to be desired, but all in all, this is one of the only places like this I’ve seen in Boston, so I’m enthusiastic. I’ll definitely be back.
Oh, and did I mention they have dressing rooms?!

It’s my first thrift shop in the Boston area. It’s a big place with 3 back to back rows of unorganized woman’s shoes, large section of color coordinated women’s tops/​coats, equally large section for women’s bottoms/​jeans, and a small section for men’s clothing. Decently priced. Bought 2 shorts for $ 4.95 a piece. Few brand names among the shorts, banana republic, j crew, etc, so I’ll say they are of good quality. 1 pastel yellow, long sleeve, thin, button up from forever 21 for also $ 4.95. Can’t wait to pair it with my black shorts/​mint green mini skirt/​waist high shorts: D For the big finale, my bf found a black trench coat just the right length for my 4 ft 9 ¾ self! Awesome haul today! I would have shopped more if I had more time :) thank you

This review is of my phone call to them only. I called to ask if they had board games, just board games. I do not have an accent. I grew up in Massachusetts. I say ‘board games’ pretty clearly. The woman asked me to repeat 3 times before saying, «I don’t know what you’re saying,» and passing me off to someone else who had an equally hard time understanding my question. I eventually had to say, «Like monopoly, twister… board games,» to which I received an, ‘Oooooooo no.” It shouldn’t be that difficult to ask if they carry board games.

I live in NYC, which means I’m severely thrift-​deprived. Let’s face it, thrift stores in big cities tend to suck compared to their suburban counterparts, but the Roxbury Goodwill kicks even cornfield-​town thrift stores’ asses. My best friend lives in Arlington, so whenever I come up to visit, I set aside a day to go here, and I am NEVER disappointed.
Today, between the outlet and the actual retail store, I got the following:
1 pair Rocket Dog shoes
1 Anthropologie jacket
1 cute jacket of unknown origin
1 Ann Taylor cardigan
1 Ann Taylor ruffle tank
2 Old Navy long-​sleeved T-​shirts
1 Saks Fifth Ave shirt for friend
1 cute sheer skull-​print top for another friend
1 Free People hoodie
1 Kimchi Blue top
1 cute cotton dress of unknown origin
1 H&M dress
1 pair black leggings (new with tags)
1 Le Sportsac bag
1 winter scarf
…and I spent FIFTY-​NINE DOLLARS, people.
I’m not kidding; I got a ridiculous pile of name-​brand clothes and accessories for less than sixty bucks. Some of it came from the outlet, which is around the corner from the retail store, and which is absolutely worth it if you’re willing to dive in and dig.
I’ve done a lot of thrifting in a lot of cities for a lot of years, and this is without question the best Goodwill I’ve ever seen.

The shoes and purses are pretty battered and disgusting. I have gone in here a few times and found mostly nasty pocketbooks and bags. I once found a decent pair, but only once. They also do not have a great selection of household items such as blenders, toasters, stuff like that, which other thrift shops usually have piles of. You would be lucky to find one or two of what you need, and you need to grab it while it is there. The book selection is hit or miss, but the clothing is pretty cool. Large selection. I would closely examine stuff for damages, and try on if you can because it can be unflattering, hence why it was donated. The prices are average for second hand stuff. There are some vulture type people who arrive in the morning and grab out of the rolling carts before merchandise hits the floor, hence the reason for crappy handbag selection.

This place can be amazing. It can also be awful. Case in point: today I spent 2 hours picking through racks. I had 5 $ barely worn balenciaga flats (sigh) in my basket hidden under a few shirts and pairs of jeans. I tried to go down a skinny aisle w/​my cart and it was too tight. I left the cart at the end of a row and pulled out a shirt I was eyeing in the aisle… it took me 30 seconds tops and my cart was gone. I spent the next ten minutes peeking into everyones cart around the store like a loon and asked several employees if a cart was in the way of things where it would be placed. I love thrifting and this felt like a knife to the heart! There are warnings here that it is cut throat, I did not take it seriously enough womp.

Who knew that there was such a thing as a goodwill OUTLET store. And I do not mean that these are the leftovers that did not sell in the regular store. This location is the headquarters for the Boston area, so not only do they have the largest goodwill retail store, but also an OUTLET store in the same building but is kind of hidden with a different entrance around the corner. When I say «outlet,» I do not mean that it is the leftovers that did not sell in the store. They just receive such a large amount of donations they just throw things into bins, literally piles of clothes you have to DIG through.
The retail store is huge, well organized in everyway down to color, making it easy if you are looking for a general style or color. Usually I am not, but I tend to have a specific palette of color shades I like. This location literally has a great selection, whether you are looking for women’s, men’s, children’s, etc.
If you are not looking for anything in particular other then really cheap spur of the moment finds, and you have no problem of crowds, pushing, and sometimes very verbally rude people. Then the outlet is definitely where you need to look, or dig, I should say.
Despite the fact that it is always semi-​crowded, hectic, and stressful at times, the prices are set in general categories and are so cheap that it is worth it, as long as you have the time and patience. I have found numerous great items here, but my best including; a J crew peacoat, Coach sneakers, 2 pairs of Converse shoes in pretty good condition, especially for $ 3 each and looked close to brand new after I washed them, sorrel winter boots, and some JCrew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, and Ralph Lauren sweaters and blouses.
I will only buy sweaters and shirts here that are of a brand name, size, and cut that I know will fit me because you cannot try anything on and its final sale.
Some shoes are held together with a rubberband, while a lot are separated but you can find in the same general vicinity, if you are lucky.
Basically on any given day you have the chance of finding anything that you would in any store, (not furniture) and for dirt cheap.
If you have never been to the outlet and are planning to go, here are my suggestions:
1. Bring hand sanitizer
2. The earlier you go, the better
3. Get a cart when you go in
4. Go with a friend, for two reasons. Obviously two sets of eyes and arms rummaging through everything will give you better odds of finding those great items. But also because people will literally take items out of your cart if you aren’t looking.
5. When they close, they are closed. I have seen them literally stop people and make them put everything down and leave because they did not get in line when the closing announcement was made.
6. Do not have any physically strenuous activity planned for after, because my back and arms always hurt.

This place is, in two words, thrift heaven. If you’re willing to put the time and energy into digging (and I mean DIGGING!), then it is amazing. However, if you’re just a casual thrifter who likes to easily comb the racks, then this place isn’t for you. You can make some amazing scores, as others have mentioned, but it takes a lot of work to dig through all the bins.
If you go, set aside at least 2 hours, wear clothes you don’t care if they get dirty and be ready to get a little overheated when digging.

I don’t typically write reviews about thrift shops, but this place is seriously HEAVEN ON EARTH. If you are looking to reinvent your wardrobe, THIS is the place to go for dirt cheap, but quality pieces!
I happened to Unilocal «thrift shops» while I was on a mini-​vacation in Boston and this was the first business that popped up. Initially, I was intrigued by the high ratings and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. I’ve been to alot of Goodwills in my area and honestly, I’ve learned to not have high expectations and to not expect to find anything amazing, but this Goodwill is a definite gamechanger!
When you first walk in, you’ll see racks upon racks of clothes, all neatly hanged and color-​coordinated. They also have a section in the front with all of their «newer» and «better-​quality» items, so that was the first place I went to look. And I immediately found two pairs of True Religion jeans, in my size and for less than ten bucks! What a steal! :D There’s also a good mix of J Crew, Banana Republic, Lucky Brand, Urban Outfitters, Gap, etc items, but you really have to be patient to find the hidden gems. I think I spent about 4 hours there (the longest I’ve spent in a store!) and I found and bought items from brands such as True Religions (as mentioned above!), Zara, Urban Outfitters, Madewell, Juicy Couture (typical, but their stuff is oh so comfy!) and a bunch of other good-​quality brands. I left with a total of 14 items, for a quarter of what I would normally pay for a typical shopping excursion. And let me tell you, I have never been happier about each and every single item that I got! This Goodwill really has a good selection of trendy clothes, some still with the tags still on! It seriously doesn’t get any better than that! :D
If you are in the area, I would highly, highly recommend you check this place out. But be warned, there are alot of clothes to sift through, so you really have to be patient. But if you put in the work, you’re sure to find something you like!
Also, bring in a student ID and you’ll get 25% off! :D

OH. MY. FREAKING. GOD.
This Goodwill is amazing. First of all, it is huuuuuuuuge. If you’re a woman, you can easily spend 3 – 4 hours browsing through all the stuff they have (as I have done!). Therefore, you almost definitely find what you need, even if you’re a small girl like me and usually have trouble finding XS stuff in thrift shops.
Unlike a lot of other thrift shops, this one isn’t all stuff from H&M and Forever 21 (although you will find those here). I came here originally to try to find some cheap business casual clothes for work, and left with a pair of $ 9.99 Stuart Weitzmans, some $ 4.99 dress shirts from Banana Republic and equally priced Brooks Brothers sweaters. It’s so good that I keep coming back, only to be surprised every time by the quality of the goods. I even picked up Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother for $ 2.99.
The only disclaimer I have is that waiting for the fitting rooms WILL be a pain. I usually wearing tight-​fitting clothes in case I need to just throw things on for size.

Yes, I need to sanitize my hands afterwards and immediately get my things dry cleaned and/​or washed, but I’ve found some serious treasures here. Case in point: $ 595 Akris Punto black pencil skirt — WITH TAGS — for $ 5.99. That is 99% off aka WHAT AN AWESOME DEAL. That’s just one of many super finds I’ve gotten here (e.g., BCBG MaxAzria shirt, Marc Jacob silk top, Emporio Armani linen pants, Isaac Mizrahi skirt, etc.) and why I keep coming back whenever I’m in the thrifting mood.
Yes, you’ll have to sift through racks, but when you find something that looks good to you, just grab it and then take inventory at the end. Sometimes you’ll realize that that old couture shirt is better suited for the hanger and not your closet, but sometimes you’ll find that you’ve been holding onto a gem. And then you get to take that piece of couture home with you — for the price of a burrito! Score.
And sometimes you’ll have even more luck because they have «color days» when a certain color is 50% off. I scored a cute gingham shirt for $ 2.50 the other day because it was a yellow tag. Pretty sweet. You can’t find those kinds of deals anywhere!
I also love that proceeds from Goodwill go to training services and career services for the local community. I get great deals AND help out. :-)

While living in Boston as a student and a teacher thereafter, I frequented this Goodwill at least twice a month. Almost my entire wardrobe is from here, including work clothes, jeans, date outfits, and shoes. This Goodwill is pretty well-​organized, and the store itself is enormous. My trips yielded covetable items from brands such as JCrew, Banana Republic, Marc Jacobs, Anthropologie, Free People, American Apparel, and Burberry. It’s safe to surmise that Bostonians are very trendy, and since there is a such a high turnaround of (wealthy albeit wasteful) students here, this store is a powerhouse of really awesome labels, like-​new items, and style.
The prices are so cheap, too! In the winter, the sweater selections are amazing!
Other than clothes, I’ve found a vintage, velvet jewelry box that looks like a pirate’s booty chest and a fabulous oil painting of a scene from old-​school Alice in Wonderland.
I love, Love, LOVE this Goodwill with all my heart!

Wow. THE go-​to place for thrift store-​fueled projects. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t your standard departmental goodwill store. Be prepared to dig, and have a bottle of hand sanitizer ready. This is the stuff that comes in before it is organized and put in the store – some of it may be things they don’t expect will sell in the store.
Your efforts are rewarded with dirt cheap prices, and there are often decent fabrics and books in the mix.

Thrifty fashionistas of Boston, this is where you want to be. I know it’s a hike if you’re without vehicle but it’s definitely worth the trip at least every 3 months or so. I can’t count the many items I scored here, while living in Boston: Prada pumps, several pairs of Ferragamos, most recently a Helmut Lang top, Dior maxi skirt, American Apparel galore, and the list continues. If you thrift, and I mean thrift not stand around in the aisles talking to your girlfriends about how you can’t believe you’re at Goodwill, then this place is for you.
You can also get the student discount here, in September, with your student ID — I believe 25% off?
If you don’t like shopping alongside pushy, sometimes unfriendly Roxburians, then you might feel a little annoyed. However, I thought a woman was up in my business one time and then she told me that I looked cute so there ya go. The shoe section is definitely where the claws come out though, and equally the most frustrating section of the store because sometimes beautiful shoes are missing their mate. I found Manolo Blahniks and perfect Ferragamo sandals that were both missing a mate and a girl working there told me sometimes that happens when things get sorted in the warehouse :(
None-​the-​less! Forget the Harrison Ave. Goodwill’s flaws and cherish the gems waiting to be found in this massive place. You will thank me, and never want to go to any other Goodwill in Boston again (except maybe the Davis Sq. one once in awhile.).

Fantastic store. This is where everyone dumps their (still quality) stuff when the consignment stores won’t take it.

[UPDATED EDIT:
What the hey, yo. I have two reviews. One for the actual store and one for the outlet behind back. Unilocal consolidated, but there are TWO different stores in ONE location. The Outlet is open in the middle of the day (short hours) on weekdays. See my previous review to get the full gist of that store.]
When going to most thrift stores, you have to hunker down and plow through as much crap as you can handle until you hopefully find one or two items that you might be interested in. You hem and haw until you decide you need that item (or not). It might be a GAP cami off the dollar rack that you wear under all your other stuff. Whatever— it saves you money.
This Goodwill is a game changer.
Overwhelming. This place could be quadruple the size of other thrift stores– the In-​N-​Out 4×4 of thrift stores in the city. If you go online and do a search on how best to tackle thrifting, people suggest that you go in without a list to keep your mind and options open. Not true here.
After snapping out of my first impression awe, my goal was «pink sweater.» You should have a similarly narrowed down goal or you will wither from mental exhaustion. Seriously, I found more than a dozen pinkish sweaters that passed the first stage. I was able to try them all on (oooo… they have fitting rooms), and I bought three that I absolutely love. One was red, one was magenta, and one was navy blue, but that’s besides the point. A goal’s purpose is just to anchor you while you wade, high on glorious stuff.
Shirts (including sweaters) were $ 4.99. After three hours, I didn’t get through all the the shirts but had all that I wanted already, so I don’t know the prices for anything else. They do up the prices for «première» items and tag them when some employee or volunteer deems it worthy of tagging. One of my sweaters was marked $ 7.99, but my sweaters were all of equal awesomeness, so I don’t know what the rational is. Ann Taylor stuff was marked up. So were several yucky acrylic sweaters.
Ambiance: What? Really? There are lights. And it’s square footage to crap ratio is optimal. Eclectic mix of bargain hunters out of need and as a hobby. No one seemed like he or she was on drugs. Pretty swank for Goodwill.
Go here for your crap. You will find something you will need/​like/​love.

A little heavy on the clothing for my taste, as I do not go to these stores for the clothing but instead for the electronics and other goodies.
The store is quite large, there are a lot of clothes to choose from, there are also a nice selection of ‘assorted’ stuff, some electronics, some knickknacks, etc. In other words, the sort of stuff I go here for.
The prices tend to be a little on the high side for some things.