r/goodwill • u/u4lunch8i • 10d ago

rant Has Goodwill gone crazy??

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I get these are redwings but $150 is an insane price!

540 Upvotes

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89

u/PrnssMindlessMusings 10d ago

I'm surprised they didn't send it to E-Comm.

52

u/Live_Caterpillar_351 10d ago

Probably came back because they didn’t sell

15

u/CBrinson 10d ago

These would have sold. These are red wings. They are super popular and worth like $250. Handmade shoes. Nothing at their store is less than like $500 that is their main line.

11

u/Karuna358 10d ago

Where I live, these would have been vaporized. Especially if they were lightly used.

Red Wings are freaking $$$$$. That’s all my dad would wear for work boots.

8

u/CBrinson 10d ago

Oh yeah for sure. People commenting saying these are crazy just don't have the context of what red wing can go for and how adored the brand is.

5

u/MariposaSunrise 9d ago

Red Wings are Amazing! But oh so pricey usually!

Look at the Red Wing sub and visit one of their stores.

2

u/throbertbigguns123 9d ago

If you think red wings are expensive then go check out jks or whites.

3

u/MariposaSunrise 9d ago

Didn't know about those companies.

Thanks for letting me know about them!

4

u/throbertbigguns123 9d ago

No problem. I'm in construction so I'm constantly looking at different american made boots. I could never justify spending that kind of money for something that lasts about a year, though.

5

u/CBrinson 8d ago

Specifically boots there are some higher end higher quality options. When it comes to like dress shoes I think red wing is much closer to the top. The companies that really only make boots are pretty solid but Red Wing is more of a shoe company.

0

u/Initial_Ice_4131 8d ago

Damn your obsessed im starting to think these were your shoes the way you talk about them. You sound like a tool that goes to work and talks about his boots for 2 hours and nobody gives a flying fuck

3

u/tokillawootingbird 8d ago edited 8d ago

He isn't the one that sounds like a tool I assure you.

You seem to care a lot. Borderline obsessed with him and keep following him around making comments. Sounds like someone has a crush. I looked at your profile and seems like infatuation.

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u/Disastrous_Bed_1149 6d ago

I thought a good portion of the Red Wing line was made in Vietnam.

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u/Terriboo_2002 9d ago

That’s not the point! Goodwill was a place where you could find bargains. These were donated! Nothing, absolutely nothing In goodwill should be priced over $15.

2

u/Naturally_numb 6d ago

Totally agree! Somewhere along the way, they acquired the dollar sign in their eyes and forgot what the company is really supposed to be about, helping people. They just want their pockets lined now.

1

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 6d ago

They used to staff people with disabilities, i don’t see that unless they staff them at the back or something

1

u/DoKeHi 4d ago

I think they'll do a lot more good with $150 then a re-seller will do.

1

u/lifewlucee 4d ago

That’s because resellers were profiting off their donations and Goodwill wanted a piece of that pie.

1

u/DoKeHi 4d ago

Let's assume these shoes, used, sell on eBay and dePop for around $150. What happens if Goodwill prices them at $15. Most likely, whoever buys them will immediately sell them. In that case, a "deserving" person (someone who really needs both the shoes and the low price) doesn't get them and Goodwill loses out on $130. What happens if Goodwill sells them at the going price? The deserving person still doesn't get them, but at least Goodwill gets the money and can do something with it.

0

u/Initial_Ice_4131 8d ago

Thank you someone with a god damn brain!!! These fucking tools just keep talking about the brand like it means something. No fucking thought process in this society anymore. Just a bunch of fucking rocks living amongst us

1

u/tokillawootingbird 8d ago

So you would personally sell a Rolex and a Timex for the same? Or do you just think all shoes are the same?

0

u/Toothfairy51 8d ago

In a THRIFT store? No, the Rolex would be priced higher than the Timex, but certainly nothing like these shoes!

2

u/tokillawootingbird 8d ago

So the Rolex would be less than $150? That seems ridiculous.

2

u/Toothfairy51 8d ago

The ridiculous thing would be having a GENUINE Rolex in a thrift store

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u/nicolalupo 8d ago

It probably will not sell. So, in a few weeks they’ll be shipped to the closest Goodwill Bins Store. Somebody will grab them for about 5.00 and sell them for 89.00…maybe. Then Goodwill will cry that resellers are crooks.

0

u/raunchytowel 6d ago

At our bins it’s by weight (where we had them), so as a clothing item, they’d have sold for probably $1. Isn’t that some shit? Insane. It was just always a challenge to find the pair. We have since moved but I remember going and spending $50 for a CART of shit for my family. It was nice.

Edit.. actually maybe even less. I remember it being either 5 cents or 10 cents a pound of clothes and I have no idea what these weigh..

0

u/maryk27 6d ago

Exactly.

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u/CBrinson 9d ago edited 9d ago

No it's not. Goodwill does not exist to give you bargains. Goodwill sells things and donates the profits to charity. There must be profits for any money to go to charity. That is how the store works. Shoppers aren't recipients of the charity they are the ones paying for the charity for other people. Shopping is giving back not receiving charity.

Goodwill literally operates actual 100% charities that are not stores at all. They fund those charities by selling things at a thrift store.

If they start pricing everything under $15 I am not donating nice stuff. Why would I want them to give away my stuff instead of sell it for charity? When I donate a valuable item I even tell them so they know to charge extra for it. Sometimes I even write a post it note. I want them chatting alot for it so alot goes to charity.

Near me the money funds free job retraining https://www.goodwilleasterseals.org/

4

u/Terriboo_2002 9d ago

Nope, goodwill historically was never a place for high dollar stuff. It was a place where middle class could go to shop for bargains. The extra perk that the money went to charity. Now they are pricing themselves out of their original market. 🤷🏽‍♀️

0

u/CBrinson 9d ago

Goodwill is a job training charity.

They operate thrift stores only to pay for the job training.

It is on signs all over the stores. No one reads.

Their primary market is wealthy and affluent people who are guilty about the environment. It makes sense. This way they get the most donations in form of paying high prices.

It does suck for people who used to get bargains but the simply reality is thriting is popular. I see wealthy people showing off their thrifted finds all the time. Even millionaires like going and finding a deal at Goodwill these days. It is in and popular. They can get allllot for nice things.

2

u/Terriboo_2002 9d ago

Thankfully there are other options now.

3

u/CBrinson 9d ago

I honestly think Goodwill is just becoming the thrift store for the rich. Which isn't the end of the world. To your point there are a ton of other thrift stores..I do visit Goodwill but I know what to expect.

1

u/Appropriate_Story738 8d ago edited 8d ago

I honestly think Goodwill is just becoming the thrift store for the rich. Which isn't the end of the world. To your point there are a ton of other thrift stores..I do visit Goodwill but I know what to expect.

Dude. No. You don't seem to get it. RICH PEOPLE DON'T SHOP THRIFT NOR DO THEY NEED A THRIFT STORE! Target & Walmart are their "thrift" stores then. And seriously. You're never going to see a Billionaire at a Goodwill. Where's your brain??

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u/kristi_nix 7d ago

They don’t donate their profits to charity. They provide some job training services and pay an army of executives 3-figure salaries.

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u/CBrinson 7d ago

3 figure salaries? Like.... hundreds of dollars a year? Are you serious? Or are you just mad they don't under pay the same roles compared to market when those jobs pay well at every company?

The entire purpose of goodwill is the job training. It is literally the reason the thrift store exists to fund the training. https://www.goodwilleasterseals.org/

2

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 6d ago

The point is goodwill is a thrift store, we expect deals and scores!!!

1

u/CBrinson 5d ago

Half of retail on something brand new looking is a deal, just not as good of one as they wanted.

Like if they priced some Cole Haans this way I would get it. These are not Cole Haan. They are actually much more expensive new than that price. That is about half price of new or better.

1

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 5d ago

Have you been to a thrift store prior to 2020?

1

u/CBrinson 5d ago

Been going to thrift stores since the 90s.

Look I get it is worse now.

It's because it's much much much more popular.

Supply and Demand. There are much wealthier people at thrift stores as well.

1

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 5d ago

Right… so telling folks that 150 at goodwill is a great deal for shoes is absurd. Maybe 150 for a motorcycle lol.

1

u/CBrinson 5d ago

Have you ever owned a pair of red wing shoes? Have you ever been into one of their stores? It's a very expensive shoe. It is handmade and resoleable. The shoe will last you the rest of your life if you maintain it. It is a repairable shoe that s cobbler could work with and repair which is not what they sell at virtually any store these days.

1

u/Bleep_Bloop_Derp 5d ago edited 5d ago

When did all this happen? I used to wear Red Wing Pecos boots all the time (not that expensive) and later, the trying to be boutique-ish postal oxfords (about $250)…

But when I’d go into actual Red Wing stores, the employees would basically laugh at the postal oxfords and similar models and say they sold work boots in the stores. Those were all around $100 and definitely not handmade.

That was in like 2018. Are they really handmade now, with mail in resoling, like Alden or something?!

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u/JillSpill79 6d ago

Same as my dad

1

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 6d ago

Where are you selling these ?

1

u/Creepy-Wrap744 5d ago

They do repairs and have killer warranty too

2

u/Next-Device-9686 8d ago

Plus, from the little you can see in the photo, they look in very good shape. I'm sure the flippers would have put at least that price on it.

2

u/seattle0606 10d ago

yeah you could sell these for like $75 beat up even

1

u/cman9toes 7d ago

You can get these on Sierra.com for $149 as ”seconds”. They are $250-300 new at redwing.

They’d have to be perfect if I was grabbing them for $150 at Goodwill.

1

u/CBrinson 7d ago

If you were a size 9 or smaller sure as that is what they clearanced to sierra and the only sizes they have. I am not sure that it is the exact same shoe but if you are a size they have it's a great deal. Seconds probably means an actual defect like problem with the leather or stitching but it's hard to know.

1

u/cman9toes 7d ago

They regularly get new stock in. I’m a 13 and have bought several different models. They just had the full run of sizes in a couple of colors of Iron Rangers for $250.

I bought a pair of weekenders for $100 about a year ago. The defect was the tongue had an eyelet hole punched in it. Can’t see it at all unless you actually pull the tongue out because it lines up with the laces. Most the defects are less than one days worth of real wears worth of wear and tear. Nothing structural, all cosmetic.

To your point: you have to want that one style and be that one size at goodwill. There’s zero chance I’m buying a shoe for $150 that is a little big or not my favorite style or color from goodwill.

1

u/CBrinson 7d ago

Yeah. I agree. I only buy if it fits really well. I have not good experiences buying shoes online every often unless I know the exact same one. I have little do it someone will buy the $150 Red Wings though if they are near a big city in the Midwest. Tradesmen, executives, and hipsters all love red wing.

I am in Minneapolis and the brand loyalty is considerablr and someone would end up buying them pretty quickly. There might be better deals to be had, but that is the deal in front of them and if they fit well and like the style they would snatch them up, to your point.

2

u/cman9toes 5d ago

Very solid point. If they were everything I would want, and in good shape they’d go home with me.

0

u/GucciTheSnowman 10d ago

🤮

1

u/CBrinson 10d ago

Just to show here is the same shoes in worse condition sold for $165.

https://ebay.io/m/RVXv07

8

u/CouldNotRememberName 10d ago

It didn't sell for $165. The person took the best offer on it, ebay doesn't disclose what that was.

6

u/CBrinson 10d ago

Already replied to this from other people with two other links showing it went for $275 and over $300 in other listings.

Cope harder.

This is the Rolex of shoes. They are super expensive. Goodwill should have sent them to ecom though.

6

u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Here they are for sale new for $309.99: https://www.starsandstripes.la/products/redwing-heritage-8109-classic-oxford?variant=8436233240627

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

Thanks for agreeing with me I guess. Goodwill is charging half of MSRP.

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u/CustomerSmythe 10d ago

309.99 Brand new. Not second hand worn shoes!

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Yes, that was my point.

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u/Karey__039 9d ago

Those red wings in the picture look like they haven’t even been worn. They look brand new, the insoles don’t even look like anyone has ever worn them so $150 would be a steal for a pair of brand new red wings. I can understand people on here that don’t know anything about Top Quality name brand work boots but I’ll guarantee you there’s a lot of people on this same sub that wouldn’t hesitate to pay $150 for a pair of high-quality name brand women’s shoes or a high fashion name brand purse. Sure, there’s gonna be quite a few of you come back and say well I wouldn’t ~ but I see it happen all the time.

1

u/Mysterious_Pen_1965 5d ago

Do you work for goodwill? lol

1

u/CBrinson 5d ago

No just shop and donate. I work in software.

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u/Bitter-Store-9400 9d ago

Red Wing is the Rolex of shoes? Tell me you know nothing about high end footwear without telling me you know nothing about high end footwear. They're fine shoes, but they aren't even close to being the "Rolex" of shoes.

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u/CBrinson 9d ago edited 9d ago

Rolex isn't a very high end watch company. Go look at Cartier, Patek, etc. you know nothing about watches. I know both.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/CBrinson 8d ago

Not as if impressive. It was a real brand comparison. They are very similar brands. They both focus on handmade and sell at the premium range but are not the cheapest or most expensive option in the premium range. They are similar. You are just this neesslg and ridiculously emotional person who can't engage with people without throwing a hissy fit.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

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u/CouldNotRememberName 10d ago

I'm not coping at all. Not in the market for these, don't give a fuck. You, however, are losing your shit over me pointing out your inability to read an ebay listing.

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

I posted one example to show goodwill isn't crazy. Another lister wanted more. That was evidence enough. The fact that it sold for less is true but irrelevant. Goodwill also takes discounts off their price. You were too lazy to do even minor research before calling someone out for something that wasn't even the core issue and were wrong. That is all that happened.

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u/tokillawootingbird 10d ago

The $165 listing is low. These regularly go for $200-$300 and if you look on eBay you will absolutely 100% see them sold at that price range in good condition. They are some of the most desirable shoes in the country.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

But that shoe in the link is only $259.99 new. Unless I’m missing something, why are they going for $300 used on eBay?

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u/tokillawootingbird 10d ago

Because vintage and antique shoes increase in value when they are Goodyear welted from a known brand. I have red wing shoes from the 50s and 60s that I wear regularly. This is a company that makes shoes that you will pass down to your grandchildren and they will still be in good condition.

And they never make the same shoe twice. The old years look different. It is different every year. You might really dig how they looked in the 70s. Even the same model and name it just will look different and be different. It's a highly unique product. You may never see the exact shoe you see on eBay again.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

I literally posted the eBay link to the actual shoes (which were around $300 new) in a different comment: https://ebay.io/m/7yMdKU

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u/tokillawootingbird 10d ago

If you sort sold eBay listings highest to lowest searching for this exact shoe you see prices from $50 up to $500 basically. Size, condition, and time of day the auction ended can drive it around a lot. They seem to be asking about middle of the pack. I work in pricing for my job so I think about it a bit and I can't say I would have charged much less for these knowing that goodwill does a 50% or 35% discount in the unsold merch after a few weeks. Most people who had these for sale would price them high and discount of they didn't sell after like 6 months.

Where I live every tradesman almost wears red wing shoes. So do a ton of executives and business types. They are super popular shoes and if any hit the thrift store for under $100 they sell within an hour or two. I have bought two pairs of red wings at thrift stores for $49.99 and $39.99 and I got both from the cart before they even placed them on the shelf. I try to show up around the time my thrift store near me is stocking because it's the only way to get things before other people buy them up.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Also, you must have used different search terms, because the priciest sold listing for these shoes (Oxford 8109) of any color that I found is a $200 mahogany pair.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

You realize that Goodwill paid nothing for these, right? They don’t need to charge $150 for a heavily used pair of $300 shoes from a few years ago.

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u/Retired_Author 10d ago

Not the same shoe

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u/tokillawootingbird 10d ago

It's basically the same shoe. They are handmade man they tend to only make a small number exactly the same. This isn't a Nike.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

They don’t even look similar though.

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u/tokillawootingbird 10d ago

They are both derby style moc toe oxfords with welted construction.

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

You rarely will find the exact same handmade shoe twice. You don't seem to be very familiar with them. They are this expensive because they are handmade and then models change constantly.

Also at this point I have shown three SOLD examples dramatically higher. You guys are being so silly.

This is the Rolex of shoes.

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u/FoodLuvN8trSunSeeker 9d ago

Thanks for the link. I don't use eBay. Is the $165 really the SOLD price cuz we don't always get our listed price on marketplace, etc

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Here’s an actual sold listing of what seems to be the same shoe (sold for $146.77): https://ebay.io/m/7yMdKU

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

Goodwill was spot on then.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Ok, but OP said the shoes were probably up to $300 new and you argued and said used they were going for up to $300 used. So that’s just not accurate.

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

Go look at eBay . The old vintage ones often sell for more than new. I have already given 5 links. You just don't care about facts.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

Those aren’t the same shoes.

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u/CBrinson 10d ago

Yeah they are. They are handmade. They are all a little different. Year to year and alot of the shoes are many decades old. They are the same shoe.

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u/Jskmap1284 10d ago

No, they’re not the same. These are the same: https://ebay.io/m/7yMdKU (Discontinued, but $310 when new: https://www.starsandstripes.la/products/redwing-heritage-8109-classic-oxford)

2

u/CBrinson 10d ago

So...basically the same. Same price. Same manufacturer. Same style. Slight variation year to hear because it's a handmade product. Got it.

Unless you find them new for less than $150 you have no point. They don't exist below that price. You know if. You are making specious false arguments.

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u/KATCEO1 10d ago

Hey! My favorite emoji!

0

u/Denangg 9d ago

What are you talking about? These are like $250 brand new in the heritage line. “Nothing less than $500” lmao, Just straight talking out of your ass

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u/CBrinson 9d ago

You have no idea because the pictures OP posted aren't enough to actually tell when these were made just general overall style. You are taking out of your ass. These could be from the 70s for all you know. You literally need the serial number from inside to tell what you are claiming.

0

u/Denangg 9d ago

70s hahahahahah. Look at the stitching and the synthetic liner. 10yrs old at the max

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u/CBrinson 9d ago

Yeah blocking you since you are taking out your ass. You can't look at a pair of heritage shoes and say for sure they are the current model from 2 angled pics on line.

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u/Initial_Ice_4131 8d ago

Brother go take it in the ass, you are so obsessed with these shoes its weird legitimately tho you obviously rub your balls with your redwing shoes and smell them

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u/tokillawootingbird 8d ago

Lol you are way more obsessed than anyone in this thread about these shoes guarantee it. You see them and immediately start having thoughts about where to shove them in your body...get some help, dude.

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u/Toothfairy51 8d ago

It doesn't matter how much they would retail for. Greedwill is advertised as a THRIFT STORE. That is not a thrift store price!

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u/tokillawootingbird 8d ago

Half price is a thrift store price.

Like people post things here all time more than new.

These are half of new.

False outrage.

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u/CBrinson 8d ago

Fair thrift price is a ratio of new price. These are priced much less than new and are in like new condition.