grandma23

Does anyone know what the difference is between a retail store and a goodwill outlet store? Does the outlet store have better or same quality stuff? Also how is pricing at outlet?

We just found out my daughter has one near her and we might plan trip next time I go there to visit.

Thanks for any and all help.

ckcowl

often outlet items are priced lower than the regular retail store- sometimes it's the items that are not selling well, or the *over flow* that the retail store does not have room for- I would imagine the (quality) is going to be the same as you would find in any goodwill store- since the items are donated- quality is going to vary. always worth a stop- browse to see if anything catches your eye- or is a deal you can not pass up- just like shopping at any goodwill/thrift store.

Geri B

GW Outlet store??? Something new? The GWs around me seem to be a combo of "thrift" and "outlet"...as I do see a smattering of "stuff" that is still in original packaging most of the time ....strange thing though sometime the GW price is the same as the " original" price of the item.......I sometimes wonder how they determine their prices on things....it seems so illogical most of the time!

zennia

Around here we just have Goodwill Thrift Stores. Could they be one in the same.

Jingle

Goodwill and Salvation Army stores around here mainly sell donated used clothes and other used items. Therefore they would be cheaper because the items are used and not new. Even there are new items they are still cheaper than in a retail store. I donate lots to Goodwill and some clothing is new. The store close to us does not have real good things. Never see anything I have donated in there.

Tink's Mom

I think they are the same...I can't remember seeing anything different at any of the Goodwill stores that I go to.

Rose Marie

Outlet store = new
Goodwill = used

sew4nin

We have a Goodwill outlet store in St. Louis. I had to go in to satisfy my curiosity - Definitely NOT the same quality. Everything in the outlet store was in much poorer condition than what I usually find in the regular stores. I think it is stocked with items that are not considered good enough for one of their regular stores or what hasn't sold after a period of time in a regular store. Lots of the items were broken or missing pieces. The people that seemed to be loading up their carts were spending a lot of time going through items to find something worth buying.

needles3thread

A Good Will outlet store near us has a set time of day they bring out more merchandise on a rolling cart, & they sell by
the pound. We like to go there-great prices.

mirish2

Good will is a "for profit" agency. GW used to employ disabled or needy people, not necessarily true anymore. They do have a good web site for bidding , similar to ebay. Salvo is all profits to S.A.