Goodwill

For a donation center, this Goodwill is the best I’ve found. It’s not an actual Goodwill store so don’t come looking to make purchases. It’s a small room where you drop off any donations that you have. I love it because they give you a donations receipt for your taxes, which not all donation places do. The people who work there are also very helpful. I’ve been twice & the last time I went I had multiple bags to carry in so he asked if I needed help carrying them from my car. Excellent service and very effective.

The recent reviews must be for the storefront drop off at 715. Next to Big 5 Sporting Goods and Beck’s Shoes. If helpfulness is defined by someone pointing dryly to which bin you can put your stuff then, sure, he’s helpful.
I arrived at 9:45am. Sign indicates they open at 9:00am.
Doors are locked and attendant is sitting at desk reading paper. He finally gets up and unlocks door. No explanation. No «good morning». Just a gruff «What do we got?»

I’ve been donating at this drop off center since 2011.
The attendants that I’ve encountered have been helpful and courteous. They have always helped carry boxes of books and bags of clothing from my car, and given me a receipt promptly.
I was here today at 4PM, and the attendant on duty (Lawrence) was sitting outside the drop off center when he saw me lifting a box of books, and he immediately headed over and carried the box into the center. He also helped me with a big bag of clothing and shoes. He wrote out a receipt and thanked me for the donations.
They accept residential e-​waste here as well, free of charge. All the e-​waste they collect goes to a state-​certified e-​waste recycler.
There is parking right in front of this drop off center.
Located near Big 5 Sporting Goods, The Habit, and Boudin SF.
On Sunnyvale Saratoga (cross street is El Camino Real).

I’ve taken bags of old clothes, kitchen accessories, books, and even a box of record albums to this drop off center, located in the shopping center that has Boudin, The Habit, Peet’s and Radio Shack. As I was taking the box of albums out of my truck, the man working behind the counter came out to carry it inside for me, which I appreciated because I forgot how heavy a bunch of records can be. They always ask if I want a receipt for tax deduction purposes, and they have always been polite. I prefer the drop off center to the truck where donations used to be accepted because it seems more secure. I’m already starting to plan my next donation run. It’s nice to have a convenient way to get rid of stuff.

I’ve dropped off my donations to this location several times now. Easy, quick, typically easy parking right up front & friendly staff. I’m always offered a receipt, always asked if I need assistance & always given a cheerful «thank you». I’m a fan because it’s now much easier & faster than dropping off my donations to the Palo Alto, Mountain View & Sunnyvale store locations. Plus, after dropping off donations, I treat myself to a Peet’s latte & then pop by Trader Joe’s to do some grocery shopping. Very convenient.
This GW drop off location is next to Beck’s shoes & Yume Ya restaurant in the Sunnyvale Shopping Center.

Wow … I just wanted to donate adult and kids clothes. All the clothes were in good condition. The guy who receives the stuff told me the pick up was closed when there were still 15 minutes left. When I pointed this out, he said, he just did not want my stuff. He was behaving really rudely with everyone.
The least I can expect from any store is basic respect for people. I am not going back there to listen to crap from an employee. Go elsewhere.

Yes the trailer is gone, and they now operate this store front location. I had wanted to donate to the Salvation Army but their drop off times appeared to be sporadic and I was getting tired of carrying all this stuff to donate in my car. I have had mixed experiences with Goodwill and this was just another one.
There was a young man with a ski cap in the middle of May that greeted me behind the makeshift desk/​booth. I did not have a very good feeling about the whole transaction and made sure my name was not readable on the receipt.
The hours are posted on a cardboard sign by the front door but I had been there before 5 PM and it was closed with the sign hanging on the door showing open at 9AM.
So I have to agree with Kimberly M.‘s review.

Just want to give an updated review of this drop-​off location. Yes, it is now a «store front» next to Radio Shack. The site is indoors, so it is well-​lit and clean. The lone gentleman employee came out to help me unload from my car and offered me a receipt. Simple and effective. The only foreseeable problem may be finding a parking space.

The trailer Is NO LONGER an available option near Trader Joe’s due to vandals and late night dumpster divers.
The trailer is now a storefront donation center (drop off only) no retail store, next to Radio Shack and Big 5 in the same shopping center.
They accept everything but furniture and large appliances.
They also accept infant car seats for recycling. Mattresses (can be dropped off at the Mountain View Location/​El Camino). They charge $ 10 per mattress piece vs. the dump that charges $ 25 per piece to unload. Infant seats are not charge a fee.
Open 7 days a week, but I don’t know the exact hours, it’s usually the 9 – 5 routine. I would avoid this place during lunch/​dinner hours during the week, unless you want to be walking around the parking lot like a vagabond dragging your bags. Prime parking can be limited during peak hours.
UPDATE: They reserved two parking spots out front just for Goodwill customers. I can’t say if this is respected during lunch hours. I myself have been known to park in «employee of the month» space when convenient.

Due to spring cleaning I got rid of 3 bags of clothing. One of the bags the clothes were in pretty good condition with only wearing them once or twice so I decided to sell them at Cross Roads Trading Company and it was a success!
The rest of the clothes I decided to donate. Went to the Goodwill website and this was my closest location. Its the Goodwill trailer that is open from 8 to 5pm. Its in the parking lot next to Trader Joe’s. I showed up, gave the guy my bags, and he offered to write me a receipt. I didn’t want to think about how much my stuff was worth and wasn’t so much donation that I needed a tax deductable so I passed.
I didn’t want to just throw my clothes away because in this economy– these clothes will go to somebody that may want them. Also the Goodwill helps those in needs from what they sell in stores. Just another way to be green and give back to society.