Bonney Lake Goodwill — Attraction in Bonney Lake

Update for March 28, 2023: I originally rated this store about a 3/5. It wasn’t bad but not the greatest. Well today I decided to take my toddler out for a quick trip, I really do love thrifting. As I enter the store, I see a lot of people lined up at checkout. I thought that was odd but moved on. I found a few items I wanted, then headed to checkout. I get up and greet the cashier who seems a little distracted, that’s ok. Then after me asking how he is, he tells me “oh, by the way it’s cash only. Our card machines are down.” Well, I have been in here for a whole 20 minutes, never heard one single announcement about this issue. I didn’t see anything posted on the front doors (like they’ve done in the past because this problem has happened before.) I tell him well, I don’t have any cash. And he says “hm, maybe I should make an announcement about it.” I’m always a respectful person even in frustrating situations but I did tell him, “well, yeah? Maybe even something on the door? I just shopped around for 20 minutes and wasted my time unfortunately.”

I know things happen and the cashier and workers can only do so much. But to not use the intercom to announce this every few minutes for new shoppers coming in, with no signage on the door at bare minimum, is not ok. And I wasn’t even bummed about the items I couldn’t buy. I was irritated that I had wasted my time “pretend shopping” essentially.

So not that it matters to the store or the people who work there, but after this experience and previous ones of inconsistency and whatnot, I’d rather drive the extra 10 minutes to Puyullup and go to their Goodwill and Value Village there. Unfortunately I don’t want to shop here anymore.

Previous review:

The store is extremely small and sometimes not seemingly inviting. The prices can vary from a great price on something that makes sense, to very expensive for something that was donated. With the affects of the pandemic, they are often short staffed and don’t have many people to ring up customers so you can sometimes be waiting in long lines. The donation center over the last few weeks has been on and off closed to donating, and as an avid donator, it’s a bit frustrating to pull up multiple days and see they aren’t accepting. That’s because there is staff shortage though so that’s understandable. I have found some awesome finds here particularly in the home and wall decor section, and I buy used books here for my kids. It’s a decent place. I do enjoy coming here to look around. The place isn’t perfect but you may...

This will be my last goodwill experience. I’ve kept trying. I hate throwing away things others could use. Like lululemen pants and $100 soccer cleats. After this experience, a client decided it be better to throw it away. I help my clients selling homes donate items. This location is the worst of all of them in Pierce County. They put the sign out for it being closed when they are open. We waited in line for 45 min. So we call the store, they say they are working through one more bin inside and then will be opening the line back up. Then they take 2 more cars with about a small box each. Then they close the line again. After waiting 10 more min and feeling really irritable. We go look inside. There were about 8 employees, one drinking coffee, one on their phone, a couple talking, one eating, some just standing around. It was so disrespectful to the 20 cars in line.

Goodwill makes a lot of money on your donations but you won’t find any gratitude, more like a bother to them. You know when others say, “they make minimum wage, they don’t give a S* to care.” Now, I get it.

For a much better experience and so you don’t lose your mind, value village on river road takes all items and are so much friendlier. Also, Desert Industries is a 20 -25 min drive, so you will go there and back and still have time compared to waiting in this line that can be like Russian roulette, even if you call the store (they either are lying or don’t communicate with each other, even after complaining… no solution or resolution to their tactics) Both of those other recommendations take about everything too and are so nice! They work hard and are so efficient at organizing and getting in your donations at the same time. More a spirit of gratefulness and goodwill. Haha I just realized I said goodwill except not in relation to the actual company.

I won’t even shop at goodwill anymore after 3 drop off locations all seemed to have the same level of disrespect and no work ethic and lying.

Hope you have a better experience or try a diff brand as mentioned above so you have a better experience and others can enjoy your...

I really don’t like giving bad reviews and in fact I rarely give reviews at all, but I think it’s important to give feedback. I understand that the money that is made off of donated items is intended to go towards good things. However I also think it’s important to take on to account that some people that shop at these types of second hand stores do so because they do not have the budget to shop at full prices stores. I enjoy thrifting and today I did so to find a couple items for a friend going through hard times. I also like to keep an eye out for household items. I was absolutely shocked at this locations prices. Everything was marked up to the max for the value it could possibly be sold for as used or second hand. I saw a couple things that would have worked for what I was looking for and unfortunately the prices were higher than buying these items used on Amazon or even target. I don’t understand why you would price items so highly. It was really a bummer and I decided to go to a different store to buy these items. I have donated so many things to the goodwill over the years and was very disappointed with what appeared to be greed. I will say the workers were very helpful and I appreciated that. I hope that you consider the fact that not everyone that goes into your store is trying to make a money reselling. Maybe make your prices affordable for those who need it. You do get them for free and 80% statistically goes into a landfill anyway. Not mad just bummed I will be donating my items to other places...