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HeyElliot's Blog

by HeyElliot from St. Louis

Last Post 14 hours Ago




We've got a disturbing story tonight about people who take advantage of Goodwill.  Instead of donating useful, resaleable items, they use Goodwill as their personal dumping ground.  Tune to FOX 2 News at 9 and you'll see the downright disgusting stuff people 'donate' and you'll also learn how much it costs Goodwill, taking money away from the goodwork the organization does.

On a lighter note, I'm wondering what kind of stuff you've donated or purchased from Goodwill?  Recently it's become a hotspot around Halloween where people shop for inexpensive vintage clothes that become a costume.  In college I bought several really nice sportcoats for well-under $20.  Have you found any lightly-used gems in your thrift store shopping?
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Member Comments Total Comments: 14
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mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 1:43 PM

Some of the nicest thngs I own have come from there..... New pants and I'm talking 40 or 50 dollars from the store that look like they have never been worn for 4 dollars...... Just cant beat it......

I don't think it costs them that much more for every time I have ever donated they always have a big trash hopper to throw away anything and everything...... I imagine they have a monthly trash bill that won't change if they dont use it......

bubba-right-wing read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 1:52 PM

Trash is always dumped illegally since forever. Another reason St. Louis County is making changes to our trash pickups. Has not as much to do with recycling at all. Simple minded people. oh well.

jeepers4559 read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 2:29 PM

I only donate decent items to Goodwill. From household goods to clothing to toys, I'll donate it.

And before I do, I ask myself 'can someone really use this?' Is it in good condition? Will a child be pleased or disappointed? (if a toy doesn't have all of the parts that matter or doesn't work, it's chucked, not donated)

I never donate junk or trash. I think that it's insulting. Rude. Uncivilized, really. And if it's good and usable, I ALWAYS donate, never toss.

Haven't found any deals in STL, yet. There really aren't many thrift stores around my neck of the woods.

TheShan2007 read my blog
May 1, 2008 | 2:43 PM

I LOVE the Goodwill. I have a closet full of Lord and Taylor, Old Navy, The Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. only because I shop at the Goodwill. I rarely shop for clothes for myself anywhere else. The St. Charles, O'Fallon and Chesterfied areas have WONDERFUL Goodwills.

racegirl2000 read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 4:20 PM

Yep! I love to go and hunt for jeans at my store. 80 feet of jeans on a rack, 4 bucks a pair, I always find at least two pair I can purchase. Check out some of the record albums too, I've found all kinds of cool old stuff, and in pretty good shape. We have a semi new Goodwill on highway 94 in St Charles.

old_as_the_superbowl read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 4:46 PM

It's like a big yard sale to me. I love it. It's fun to find that one perfect item like the vintage game with all the pieces and no bent corners,lol, or even to see things that mom had in our kitchen growing up. I once found the 1964 Password game in immaculate condition for 54 cents.

I always donate items to Goodwill and the Salvation Army, and I wash, fold and put my clothes in a nice box.

TabbyKat read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 6:10 PM

When I lived in STL. I use to give to GoodWill, but since I'm in Illinois I give to Beverly Farms nursing home. The Goodwill in Illinos is really bad I hate to say.

rosie read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 7:57 PM

they need cameras in back, to see whow dumping crap...there have been boys that bought the wildest sports coats there for prom... i get all my sweat shirts and t shirts there, but i wont buy shoes there, i wont put my feet in someone elses shoes... ya got to draw the line somewhere.

downtowner read my blog
May 1, 2008 | 8:15 PM

That dumpster if is a 20,30 or 40 yard dumpster it call a "roll off " there or different charges ,but all of them or base on how many times they or dump.I`ve worked for a recycling center.Paper,glass,clothes, cans,and cardboard etc. you would think it was a land fill, with all the stuff people would drop off there after hours. Some people will always find some place to drop off their Junk .I was also a solid waste driver for the county .you would not beleive the bulk trash that I pick up every month along streets and county right-away..If you don`t see it in your neightborhoods, It because some Counties and cities have more money to cleans it up faster..

jeepers4559 read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 10:10 PM

People dump their garbage in the wrong place because they're basically lazy as all get out.

Some people grow up and others just age. Don't have to guess which ones we're talking about here. Shame is a good thing. They should have some.

imapayne read my blog view my photos
May 1, 2008 | 11:57 PM

At the end of winter, i took my daughter in there for some clothes. We found Tommy,Hollister,and Aeropostal for her. She got 12 shirts and i only paid $37.00. What a steal.

rkiry read my blog
May 2, 2008 | 11:10 AM

I love Goodwill! I have been shopping with them since 1995 -- at area stores in St. Louis, St. Charles. I also shop Goodwill whenever I travel. I've found designer clothing items, household items, books, videos and furniture. I also shop Goodwill online and have gotten a number of collectibles and designer clothing and handbags.

In fact, half of my home decor is from Goodwill. People come to my house and say "My God, where do you get the money to buy
all of this stuff?"

Goodwill is also getting a larger portion of they merchandise from retailers. Target has named Goodwill as their charity of choice, so many items go to goodwill -- with the price tags still on them.

Last winter one of the leather stores went out of business and gave new coats and jackets to
Goodwill. I bought 3 new leather jackets -retail value at $199 each per the price tag - for $75 total.

sarcasticdragon
May 2, 2008 | 3:10 PM

Worked next to a salvation army store 10 yrs ago and it was common practic even then to use their pick ups as a junk hauler.

ONly like half of what they picked up was in good condition. But they never turned anything away and the people knew it.

Old matresses that had rats living in them, clothes that had been sitting in water for years. TV's that didnt work and the owners knew it but lied to the drivers.

But you better believe they claimed the donations on their taxes without a second thought.

liltluvtobone39 read my blog view my photos
Sep 25, 2008 | 5:43 PM

i think need to make bush pay it back he got us in this mess we in an he wanna us to pay back the money that will come out in the wash that ther be embezzelment some where dont the road prolly why they in the hole

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HeyElliot

Hey--It's Hey Elliot, FOX 2's Consumer Reporter, also known as Elliot Weiler. Great to be online on MyFOXSTL. A blogging we will go, hopefully together! You'll hear from me, of course, but I really want to hear from you!

Member Since: 9/13/2006