Habitat For Humanity — Attraction in Kelso

We participated in a neighborhood Garage sale this year. We arranged in advance for Habitat for Humanity to pick up after our sale. When making this arrangement, I inquired with 'Dave' what specifically was acceptable for donation.. His response was, household items including furniture, construction items and tools, no bedding and no clothing. He stated there would be a $10 donation fee for fuel and told me the date they could come and pick it up. I accepted the arrangement and proceed with my day. After the sale, myself and a few others who helped at our sale boxed everything up. Excluding bedding and clothing, which I will take to another donation center. I covered everything with tarps knowing rain was in the forecast. Today they came to pick up. Everything is dry and completely boxed up. Including somethings that were clearly, brand new, in box, never opened with contents printed from the manufacturer. For example, a rolling tv/microwave cart that was purchased by a family member that decided against this cart and didn't send it back to Amazon. The man who was loading the truck, up to his workmate, shook his head in a manor as if he was disgusted with these purchases that are now being donated. He opened each box with an attitude, often shaking his head, making us feel small, belittled, and as if we wronged him in some way. His head shakes were often and plentiful, as if, what we were donating was for some reason, a horrible act on our part. For me, donating items to a non profit was the right thing to do. Up-cycling of items instead of filling our landfills. I don't file long form so it's definitely not for a tax break, but hopefully, that maybe things would reach others who might need or want the items. Shaking his head at each box or item made us feel worthless and like we've done something wrong. I need to add, it was not because he has a 'tick' or a health issue, he simple would shake his head once he saw the content of the boxes. I won't EVER donate or purchase from Habitat for Humanity again. There are plenty of other organizations and/or the landfills for these things. His rudeness wasn't necessary or warranted. I called him out on it and he simply stated, ma'am sorry.... zero sympathy, remorse or corrective action was taken other then 'ma'am sorry'. Not even making eye contact with me. Trying to donate to a non profit, for them to sell, to help the community was way too hard and felt.... attacked is too strong a word but Im lacking the ability at the moment to find the correct word. Clearly, Im upset with his behavior towards our donations. I absolutely hate when a person makes another feel small and worthless. This is exactly how this man made me feel. Absolutely no reason for it. Maybe he could have nicely stated, Im sorry to waste your time but some items we wont be taking today. Can I set them aside for you or what would you like me to do. Shaking your head in a manor of disappointment or disapproval is not a proper way to accept DONATIONS. Do better Habitat!

PS. I wanted to post pictures of the mess they left behind but Its not allowing me to...

PRICED LIKE GOODWILL, BETTER DEAL TO GO NEW RETAIL

I used to adore ReStore, now, they might as well be Goodwill with their pricing. Walked into one location, packaged sandpaper packs just as you buy it at Home Depot were $10 each. $5.69 off the shelf at Home Depot for the identical product.

There was one day when everything in the store was reorganized and neatened up and prices seemed to shift back down. I realized this must be old prices, shuffled to the top alongside the new prices during that process. I filled a cart...and got charged up at the register. Really? You don't stand by your own pricing? Wasn't a one off either. There was a box of hardware, drawer handles, with a giant $1.00 sign taped to it. I needed 10, it had 11. Great, pulled the entire box, sign and all, dropped it in my cart. Get to checkout: $22. Again, what the actual fudge is going on here? If you price it $1, then it should be $1.

Another Goodwill tactic. To change their minds at the register and upcharge after they find out someone wants the item.

ReStore used to be a legit charity where poor people could improve their own house, do some DIY and not get taken for a ride. Very common, back in Wisconsin, to get a door replacement for $20-50, interior or exterior, and they wouldn't take hollows so those were never even in the line up of doors. I even found a new storm door, one that I would never afford at HD for $300, for $50. Great. Now the front door has a little insulation on it for winter. Love it. Here, no go. Doors are $100 or more.

It's like they're doing the Goodwill thing since ~2021. Taking a reactive stance to reselling and demanding they be the final reseller on every item such that every single person who needs a place like this, to simply buy things for home upkeep, or making a kitchen a little less 1970s, gets shafted. Not everyone is a damn reseller.

When the ever-tightening squeeze began to clamp down around 2018 and has just about strangled us all, I never expected Habitat for Humanity to jump on that train and do the same. And yet, here we are.

This place isn't worth your time. Better to scrounge rummage sales and estate auctions outside the blast radius of PDX and Seattle.

This place won't even honor the prices they personally put...

10/15/25 even worse than last lime place is so full it’s hard to walk around in most places and everything is overpriced like 80-90 percent of what it would cost new and none of it is selling it’s crazy. has gotten worse 1-10-25 everything is super expensive $200 for a used work bench $30 for a 18 year old harbor freight sawsall ect. this store is supposed to be for people who own homes who are not rich. They got rid of or I haven't seen them in a while they used to have a couple of older lady's who where employees or volunteers not sure who thought everything was a antique or collectable I brought a closet door up to the counter it was marked $4 in marker in a few places like it was a garage sale and they ended up donating it to habitat I bring it up there and she says "I cant sale you that for $4 that's worth $50 I can sale it to you for 45$" and I said its marked $4 in more places than one she says " well that from the person who donated it" she was rude and wouldn't honor the price that was on it. the last time I was in there it was still there a year later for $50 over priced you think? for a used door I can but the same door at lowes for 45$ new . There is other run ins with this lady one of the reasons I didn't go here much. She reminds me of those old people who finds deals at garage sales and resales them at consignment shops because she thinks everything is worth a fortune. Otherwise the other staff are good Wayne or Dwayne not sure which one is; he is the only reason I still go in there he is professional and fair and if something has multiple price tags in it which is the case a lot there (not sure who prices stuff but its crazy its all over the place ) he gives it to you at the lower price since hes been in there its improved 10 fold hopefully I can give them a better review in the future only...