Goodwill

I love the BINS!
I must say however this place is not for the faint at heart– seriously– it is NOT a normal thrift store! It is a large warehouse where things are dumped into large bins and rolled out for the masses to dig through. Some of the stuff comes from what did not sell at the Goodwill stores and some of the stuff is just opened from donation bags and dumped in the bins. You really never know what you will find! They do make an effort to sort as far as type of item– a shoe bin, a book bin, a toy bin, a household junk bin, textile bin and so on. The majority of stuff going into the bins is clothing in various states of wear– i have pulled out many items with original store tags attached– not just goodwill tags. They charge by the pound for almost everything but books and furniture. If you hit a certain pound amount you can get a pound of stuff for under $ 1. You can get out of there with a shopping cart full of clothes for your whole family for around $ 40.
~~~~Now for a few tips– warnings– disclaimers!!~~~~
This is a definite case of enter at your own risk!
Wear gloves. do it! I have seen everything from broken glass to spiders, used diapers, a dead mouse, and countless pairs of used underpants! Sadly I have stabbed myself on a few metal things poking out of bins… tetanus shot here i come!
Do not bring anyone here that has any sort of social anxiety disorder or fear of confrontation!!! Seriously!!! It is loud at times — the lifers/​pros can be very mean and rude and will push you out of the way. Many large families come here together and overtake bins to get everything they want while you cannot get near it. People are up in your business– someone will probably graze your bottom at some point if not worse. I have seen people get in verbal confrontations over who grabbed something first. It Smells at times too– I don’t think that needs explaining.
Do not bring your kids– they get bored and trampled over by people. Not a kid friendly place– you also shouldn’t bring your poor dog in either to sit in the shopping cart while you rummage– its just mean. (I have never seen them throw anyone out for having a small dog on them so i think dogs are ok?)
Also this place is like a casino– seriously– you will start looking at things and before you know it 5 hours of your life is gone!
All in all if you have a strong constitution and love to hunt for treasure you will fall in love with this place– on the other hand if going to a thrift store on half off day is too overwhelming for you do not even pull into the parking lot.
On a side note– it is very possible you may leave here slightly disgusted at the american way of life– over buying items and just throwing things out that were never used can make you feel a little shameful when you think about the fact that many people in the world get new clothes every few years– if that. This is a great place to buy clothes and ship them over seas though– philanthropy!
Have fun hunting for those treasures!

I used to shop at what I call the «Bin Store» a lot when I lived in Salem. It is a crap-​shoot treasure hunt kind of place where very little effort is put into sorting items by type. And the clienteles’ typically careless attitude about helping to keep it sorted doesn’t help in the least. It’s kind of smellier than your typical thrift shop and some days can be kind of frustrating if there are creepy or pushy people there. The decible level is VERY high when it’s crowded with families of screaming kids running all over the place. Still, if you don’t mind literally digging through junk to find something worthwhile, then check this place out. Like any other thrift shop, there are good days and there are bad days. I’ve had more good than bad, though, and often have found nice housewares and crafting items there. I steer clear of the bedding bins, though, because of the potential of icky things on the fabrics. Goodwill will take practically ANYTHING as a donation so I’ve seen really filthy pillows and sheets and rugs in those bins. On the other hand, judicious picking through a bin of clothing once netted me a huge stash of really nice quilting cotton fabric. I wouldn’t buy kids any stuffed toys or dolls there, but any plastic toy that can easily be washed is probably worth buying if it’s in good condition. Yes, most stuff IS sold by the pound except for some larger items like furniture and power tools. Books are ABSURDLY priced…$ 1.00 for a paperback and $ 2.00 for a hardback?! WTF?! Most of the books are just thrown into the bins so many of them are damaged. I’ve seen WAY too many Christian and self-​help books, encyclopedias, and old textbooks in those bins. On the other hand, I once found a book worth $ 50 I sold online. So, like I said, it’s a crap-​shoot. I recommend wearing gloves or at least using an anti-​bacterial wipe on your hands after you’ve left the store if you’re afraid of catching something. (I’m pretty certain that’s how I caught warts and pink eye on two separate occasions there.) I can’t help but think of how immigrants must view Americans… we throw out SO MUCH useable stuff! I look at the expressions on their faces when I’m here and it’s usually a mixture of astonished wonder and confusion… so very, VERY much is so easily available for them to purchase. It’s mostly nice stuff if they’re willing to search for it… stuff the average American considers garbage.

This is Goodwill’s Garbage bin. This is where things their stores couldn’t sell goes before it gets tossed or shipped overseas or whatever they do with it. If you don’t mind literally digging through huge bins of stuff to find that one rare item that is worth buying then it’s great. The only real good thing I can say about it is its fairly cheap. Except VHS tapes, $ 1? Really?

I cant say enough good things about this place. Some of my favorite clothing comes from places like these. I notice people who are here shopping all day long, and I can’t help but notice I’m shopping here all day long too. This is a great business for the homeless population, compared to the salvation army where prices are sky high. Iv often seen homeless people shopping here, and believe it or not, they can actually afford to shop here with prices being so low. With just a few bucks, you can have a new sleeping bag, new wardrobe, and maybe a new attitude on life, if you dig hard enough. And remember, You don’t find clothes here. The clothes find you.

Great goodwill outlet. I stop by a couple times per week. It’s always hit or miss. If you are coming for clothing you are in luck. The vast majority of the bins are clothes. I have never purchased clothing, just knick-​knacks and furniture.

Ahhh… DA BINS. I found this gem on accident many years ago and stop by whenever I am in town. This is an outlet Goodwill, which means things are just piled into bins and most items are pay by the pound. If you don’t like getting dirty or sorting through crap, then this probably isn’t the place for you.
I love coming here when I’m just looking for interesting fabric, buttons, etc. Even if you find an interesting shirt with some stains on it, paying by the pound means that most things are pretty darned cheap, so using parts of clothing items makes sense if you’re sewing together… whatever. Definitely cheaper than buying the fabric new. Sometimes you can find some clothing to wear too. The last time I was there I found probably 6 pairs of jeans that were in great condition. Paying by the pound meant that I got those jeans for less than $ 20.
I really just love this place because you never really know what to expect. It would be a great place to go with friends to see what everyone picks up.

Who says thrifting isn’t fun? I love it. Just because the economy is in a slump and many of us have found that we have to cut back doesn’t mean we can’t find joy in cutting corners.
I found some cute milk white vases for 99 cents, a bag of WWE wrestler figures — eight of them — for only two bucks, and a Precious Moments lullaby doll for three dollars. They also had a lot of nice tablecloths and other kitchen things I was looking for.
If you’re willing to dig and hunt, cool treasures will surface!

Maybe I am the only person in the world who finds joy in out the way Goodwills, but I do. I also like vintage patterns and interior design books from the 1970s… but that is another story.
This one is a tale of a nice Goodwill, a little overlooked but brimming with potential. And is it just me or are the Oregon Goodwills really clean, cheerful, and color coded? Reagrdless, this one is a gem containing all sorts of things that have been discarded from the hip Salem folk.