Hi ladies as most you all know I totally love love garage sales and also going to my Goodwill stores. First off the neighborhood I live in is fairly rich and most homes go for 750.000 and upwards so our Goodwill store items that are brought in are some things are very expensive. I only buy items like clothes that have 1/2 stickers and some items I can bargain with the ladies they all know me. However since it has become warm here and garage sales are popping up all over I have found the deals to be much better as compared to the goodwill store. Actually what really happened was this yesterday as I walking into the goodwill store a big truck pulled up and I assumed it was a family who had a huge garage sale and was donating items that did not sell I could tell because all the items had those colored little stickers on them and 3 items got my eye they are handpainted wood pieces like little pieces of furniture only small I have so many all over my home. Anyway they all have a 1.00 sticker on them and I said wow if I would have been to that garage sale I would have taken them all. But anyway the lady who runs the goodwill store was taking items back and I told I would love these pieces and she said I have to put prices on them, So I said okay and waited and when she returned all of them were 7.99 what the heck I could not believe the mark up . So I am asking you ladies were are your thoughts. Peace to all, Catherine

The Goodwill store in Ohio where I live is nuts! I went in there hoping to find some deals...HELL I can go to Walmart or Target and find new for less! What a joke!!!!! I will not even bother going to Goodwill anymore. I do not shop their clothes though...just stuff like kitchen items or household items. We have a Habitat for Humanity Restore that's VERY cheap...I buy stuff there all the time! Found a set of my dishes, Corelle that are expensive on ebay, for only $8! Same set on ebay sells for over $60.

To answer your question...garage sales are WAY cheaper!

I was just going to say the same thing! The Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc stores around here are so expensive I can go to a "new' store and get things cheaper, especially if they are on clearance. (oh Clarence don't think I don't think I don't love you anymore I really really miss you! lol)
Garage sales & craigslist that's where the deals are. Craigslist you can go to clothing & accessories or household or beauty or free or whichever categories and shop in the privacy of your own home. Garage sales (in Oregon it's yard sales, what is it in your area?) or estate sales are great too. I can't wait to be able to go shopping again.

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Garage sales are cheaper. Especially the one we have! The last time I went to the Salvation army store I was shocked at the prices. Ratty kids jeans for $5, ugly tshirts for $3. No thank you.

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I just don't get it...who is buying this junk anyway? You can go to garage sales and they are almost giving the stuff away and in fact sometimes they do give it away...HAHAHA!

I just couldn't believe the old torn up junk they had at the Goodwill that they wanted some ridiculous $8 for. Like some old chipped nik nak for $8? Looked like it came from the $1 Store originally! How do these stores even sell anything? OH and the time I was there they had this old torn up black little end table thing like you'd buy at Walmart and put together yourself...they wanted $25 for it. I swear I could buy it new for $15.

Sounds like the OP answered her own question in her post. No debate needed.

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I did answer my own question and truly realize now garage sales are sooooooooooo many better. However I will say this I have gone to this goodwill store in Lancaster P>A> they have 25 and 50 cent and 75 cents and 1.00 bins full of items I am wondering if my goodwill store prices are so high because of the area and place I live in. Thanks anyway for all for your input. Have a wonderful day. Peace. Catherine

Goodwill....................Don't even get me started on what I really think of them. For one, grossly overpriced. Example, a pair of jeans cost $7.00! I could maybe get them brand new for around $25 on sale, why would I pay $7 for used jeans? All items in general are very marked up. The only thing they do right is have a 50% off sale twice a month. You can get just an okay deal then, but that is the only time.

Another huge gripe I have with them is they have a giant dumpster in the back of their store (connected to the store). I wonder if folks realize that if Goodwill does not sell their over-priced merchandise, they throw in the dumpster. Explain the rationale to me? If more people realized what was really going on, I do not think they would donate to this fine organization. I choose to bring all my donations to a small thrift store that has reasonable prices.

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Crittles I totally agree with all you said and sadly I am realizing it more and more each time I have gone to my 2 local goodwill stores. I always thought the idea of the goodwill store was to give people who cannot afford the full price to be able to purchase clothes and bedding and towels and dishes and etc and etc . However I agree the markup is outrageous and also they keep the most expensixe stuff behind the glass enclosed counter they have coach bags in there for 70- 90 dollars its crazy.. Thanks to all for the input. Peace. Catherine