The Different Types of Goodwill Stores (And What You Can Find at Each One)

There are different types of Goodwill stores, and each one offers a unique shopping experience. Here is a look at what Goodwill is and the different types of Goodwill stores and what you can find at each one.

What is Goodwill?

Goodwill Industries International Inc., often known just as “Goodwill”, is a nonprofit 501 organization thrift store chain that sells donated items in order to generate revenue for their social programs. Their social programs provide job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs for people who have barriers to their employment. 

Goodwill Retail Stores

The first type of Goodwill store is an original Goodwill Retail Store. These stores accept donations of items that are supposed to be in good condition. You can find a variety of items at these stores, including clothes, shoes, housewares, and more.

Unfortunately, I personally find the items at my local Goodwill store to be overpriced and not always in the best condition. But I am not a frequent shopper there, so I’ll give them and other stores the benefit of the doubt that they may offer a better supply of items at affordable prices. 

After items at Goodwill Retail Stores have been for sale awhile and not sold, they are usually shipped off to a Goodwill Outlet Store that we will discuss next. 

Goodwill Donations Are Tax Deductible

I personally like to donate my clothing and unused items to charities that give the clothes and items away for free to those in need instead of Goodwill marking the prices up too high that no one can afford. But that being said, if I’m in a hurry to get rid of stuff, it is convenient to drop off items at my local Goodwill store.

My local store has a drive-up area in the back of their retail store. When you drive over the signal bell hose, someone usually comes out quickly with a cart to haul your items back inside. I always ask for a receipt to claim on my income taxes. They always leave the amount empty for you to fill in the amount yourself. 

According to the IRS, to claim a deduction of $250 or more, you must have a written acknowledgement from the qualified organization, which is Goodwill in this case. If the deduction is over $500, you must complete Form 8283 to your return. There are several guides online outlining estimated donation values of your items, but it’s best to have your accountant review before filing. 

Goodwill Outlet Stores

The next type of Goodwill store is the Goodwill Outlet Store, also known as “Goodwill Pay By The Pound Store”,  “Goodwill Weigh & Pay Store”, “Goodwill Clearance Store”, or “Goodwill Bin Store”. These stores are typically larger than other Goodwill stores and similar to bin stores in that the items are not sorted and usually just dumped into large blue bins for customers to dig through. 

Image Source: Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries, Inc.

You can find a variety of items at these stores, including clothes, shoes, housewares, and more. Goodwill Outlet Stores sell items by the pound, but each location has a different pricing model. Here are some example prices:

Goodwill Outlet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charges $1.49 per pound for general merchandise, books are 25¢ (hardcovers 50¢), and furniture is priced as marked. 

Goodwill Outlet Stores are a favorite sourcing location for resellers who buy the items to resell online. Therefore you may be competing with other thrifters and pickers who are rummaging through the bins looking for hidden treasures. 

Tips for Shopping at Goodwill Outlets

Here are some tips to make your experience shopping at a Goodwill Outlet store even better:

1. Wear gloves – Some stores require this, but it’s also for your safety. 
2. BYOB – Bring your own reusable shopping bags or totes as Goodwill Outlets do not provide plastic bags. 
3. Inspect items – Make sure what you are buying works or has all it parts as all sales are final. 

If the items do not sell at the Goodwill Outlet Stores, they are usually recycled or auctioned off.  

Goodwill Boutique Stores

The last type of brick and mortar Goodwill store is the Goodwill Boutique Store, although some of them don’t use the word “Goodwill” in their store name as it may deter affluent shoppers. Goodwill’s Déjá Blue Boutique in Las Vegas simply goes by “Déjá Blue” and features products from Nike, Michael Kors, Coach, Tory Burch and other designer brands.

Goodwill boutique stores are typically smaller than retail and outlet stores and sell items that are higher-end in terms of quality and condition. Think thrifted luxury items.  

I don’t personally live near a Goodwill Boutique, so my friend, Lisa, wrote up the synopsis for her experience. 

“Prada, Burberry, Chanel, oh my. These are top designer names that fetch big bucks for their products. But now, thanks to a new initiative by Goodwill (yes, I said Goodwill) you can often find these luxury goods for dirt-cheap prices at Goodwill Designer Boutiques.

Goodwill Industries International now has about 60 of these upscale Goodwill Designer Boutiques across the country and the number is growing. These stores tend to be in slightly more affluent communities and carry high-quality designer clothing and luxury home goods that are both new and used.

And these aren’t your old-style Goodwill stores. They have a more more retail feel (think Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie), window displays that rival for-profit shops and layouts that are hip, pleasant, clean and inviting.

The move by Goodwill is great news for savvy bargain hunters who want higher-end hand-me-downs at cheap-chic prices. It wouldn’t be uncommon to find Stuart Weitzman pumps that go for $350 at an upscale department store for around $14 and 7 For All Mankind women’s jeans for $20. New at a department store, those jeans would probably cost around $200.

A few months ago, I scored a set of yellow four Le Creuset plates and four large bowls in the box for $30. I’m a Le Creuset fanatic and know that a single plate costs $29 at Sur La Table. I’ve also seen Anthropologie mirror look-alikes at bargain prices at Goodwill.

In recent years, Goodwill has been facing stiffer competition from for-profit thrift stores like Buffalo Exchange as well as websites that let people sell used designer clothing and auction sites like eBay. The Goodwill Boutiques help the non-profit company bring in more money, which in turn, allows it to provide more services to people who have difficulty getting jobs because of disabilities, drug addiction, criminal records and other employment barriers.

In addition to donations from individuals to the local Goodwill that are sent out to the Boutiques , some boutiques have relationships where local stores will donate “salvaged” goods. That means there is often a slight imperfection (like a ding in the foot of a chair or a missing button on a blouse) that doesn’t really affect the quality, but also doesn’t allow retailers to sell it as new. These retailers will also donate overstock or last season’s products to the Goodwill Boutiques.

Several of the Goodwill Boutiques in my area get regular donations from store including Target, Ikea, Levi’s Williams-Sonoma, Macy’s and others. Because there are new items coming in several days a week, going often increases your chances of finding a great bargain. If you see something you like buy it immediately. I’ve had two experiences where I waffled about a purchase, then returned to the store just hours later to find it was snapped up by another shopper.

But not everything in the boutiques are designer per se. There is still typical thrift store stuff (vases, used electronics, regular brand clothing, jewelry, etc.) mixed in. You do have to do some hunting – but that’s also part of the bargain thrill.”

Shop Goodwill Online

In addition to the different types of Goodwill stores, you can also shop online at ShopGoodwill.com, the official online marketplace for Goodwill thrift stores. But keep in mind that not all Goodwill stores participate. Some Goodwill stores may have their own website where they sell items exclusively. Some stores sell on eBay and other reseller platforms. Some sell on multiple platforms, and others sell only on the official website. 

Goodwill Finds

GoodwillFinds.com just launched in October 2022 and is going to give digital resale leaders RealReal and ThredUp a run for their money by selling pre-loved authentic luxury items. 

Not only will you get amazing deals at GoodwillFinds on designer brand name items, but you’ll also be helping to provide job training and career development opportunities in your community, giving goods a second life and making sustainable choices for the planet.

Check out the deals at GoodwillFinds.com now!

Goodwill Stores FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Goodwill stores.

What’s the difference between Shop Goodwill and Goodwill Finds?

The primary difference between GoodwillFinds and ShopGoodwill is the type of shopping experience that each offers. On GoodwillFinds, you can quickly and easily add items to your virtual “cart” and check out without the hassle of participating in an auction – just like any typical online store. On ShopGoodwill, customers can place bids on auctions, with the winner receiving the item they want at a great price!

Conclusion

There are a variety of Goodwill stores to choose from, and each one offers a unique shopping experience. Whether you are looking for a bargain or for items in good condition, there is a Goodwill store that is right for you.