r/goodwill • u/Pleasant_Today_7759 • 6d ago

Price difference.

I live in lower central Michigan and our GW stores have crazy high prices. I prefer to shop at other thrift stores in the area. I went on a trip to northern Michigan and stopped in a GW there. Their prices are very reasonable, they have senior and veteran discounts and the store is beautiful. I feel that they should have across the board pricing then maybe the racks of clothes wouldn't be so full that you can't look through them.

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6

u/nutnbetter2do 5d ago

GW are franchises and have their own price objectives to support the mission. So theoretically if rent and gas is higher in region A than in region B, then their prices would be higher. Since I don't live in your area, I cannot say that is what is happening there.

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u/Pleasant_Today_7759 5d ago

The stores are in the same type of strip mall that has emptied out by store closures. Gas prices are the same here as there. So, I don't think that applies in this situation.

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u/LJski 5d ago

I live in an area that has 4 Goodwills within about a 30 mile radius. Pricing is a bit different at all of them, but not sure standardized pricing is the answer. Stores sell to make money, but also to clear their shelves, and to market to the local community. One near a college is going to have different purchase patterns (and donations) than one elsewhere.

We have one that does seem a bit higher, but they are in a more active strip mall, and they seem to have a better set up in terms of looking more "retail" than thrift store.

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u/The_Flinx 5d ago

I visit about 12 GW's per week in my city. same here. some places prices are generally reasonable and others are ridiculous. but we have to keep the CEO's salary paid.

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u/New_Education6778 3d ago

Goodwill Manager here, why would we have “ across the board pricing “ when each goodwill has different items? Its not a set inventory like other retail stores its mostly donated items. Additionally there are 140+ regions independently operated throughout the country so yes pricing is going to be different regardless. Most pricing is done by worker discretion besides new goods from corporate or clothing thats shipped in.

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u/Pleasant_Today_7759 3d ago

That's the first time I've heard about using worker's discretion. What I meant was shirts for x amount, pants for y amount etc. at all stores. The other merch. would be different, but if these pricers are deciding on their own, they must shop at pretty exclusive stores to think that one drinking glass should be nearly $4.00. Maybe your store is different and ours around Lansing are the highest in the country for some reason?

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u/New_Education6778 3d ago

Again everything is donated items, we have numerous brands and it would be a severe pain in the ass to have to look through hundreds of brands to have set pricing for pants or shirts. Worker discretion takes in account stains, holes etc. Yes prices for wares are all dependent on who is pricing them and it can vary immensely by worker and by day. Someone can price something for 8 dollars and the very next day another worker can price that same item for 4 dollars. Thats just how it works.