Good Samaritan Thrift Store — Attraction in Helena

Walked in today and was told that I needed to wear a mask due to there being “an outbreak” among the employees. There is no longer a mask mandate in Montana and I questioned why they were even open if they were so concerned about it. I was told “I called the governors office and you should too.” Talked to another employee who has always been really great and was told the 7 employees out were very sick.

A few of the employees are pretty polite every time I go in but lately they have been getting more and more belligerent and rude. I have also heard one woman who I believe is the supervisor berate an employee who seemed to have made a small mistake.

In the last 2 years their prices have been going higher and higher and many items are close and often over what they would be new. Many broken or unusable items litter the shelf at premium prices and there is no room for bargaining.

I know they work with the needy in some capacity. I have directed some people in need to them and often the response has not been great after they have reached out.

Many items are unmarked and when taken to the register I haven’t been able to buy them due to them needing special pricing and was told that’s the rules. I hate to see a once great store go this direction and hope they will turn around but, with other fantastic options in town I don’t think I’ll be going...

Multiple terrible experiences with rude staff. There is a male who works the front counter who really loves to argue about their own marked prices. I have also heard workers tell guests they cant help them, do not work there, or answer questions with zero to little tact. I even know an older couple who carried furniture out themselves because they waited for over 30 minutes for help. Unacceptable. How can you “do so much for the community” as i keep hearing, but allow workers to treat guests who fund your organization with such disrespect.

Prices are not thrift store prices, they are boutique prices. I have found the exact same items they have on their shelves, especially electronics, at other store for less. It is also impossible to know if they really test their items, most probably get power, but they definitely are not testing for functionality on everything labeled as “tested.”

If they could find volunteers and workers with much better attitudes, be honest about their “testing” of products, and at least be comparable to other thrift store prices across Montana (i have been to MANY of them), i would be more inclined to give them my money. Otherwise there are many other ways to help...

Some good finds, huge store. BUT the first time I came in I found a lovely window chime that had five sections in a line but had clearly broken (missing loop to attach the 3 with the 2) but they were priced separately and when I asked about it they said that they were clearly two different items and that's the price if I wanted them both (about $14 all together) and the cashier even kept one to get for their daughter and put it behind the countwr before I even fully made up my mind if it was worth that price or had just wanted half of the item! Today I arrived at 6pm along with several others, triple checked the posted and online hours (close at 7pm) and the doors wouldn't open. I watched a few people knock and even peer in the windows, so I clearly wasn't the only one mistaken..not really sure what's going on but definitely a huge...