Knoxville Habitat For Humanity ReStore — Attraction in Knoxville

There was a time when I used to give this place five stars easily. Especially when they were located on Central Avenue. However, when they moved out to the west side, things started changing, both in the way that they price donated merchandise and in the way that they treat their customers. For starters, they went to using a new point of sale and inventory system known as Clover. In the old days when you found an item on the sales floor that didn't have a price on it and took it up to the register to pay for it, the clerks had no problem giving you a price, ringing it up, and making a sale. Now, since they went to using the new Clover POS system, if you find an item on the sales floor that doesn't have a price on it, the register clerk tells you "I'm sorry, I can't sell that to you since it doesn't have a price label on it." This has now happened to me on the last four visits that I made to this local. I'd find some electrical extension cords that I used to be able to get from this local for a buck or two and now I'm told "I'm sorry, I can't sell that to you since it doesn't have a price on it." This is a very bad way of treating a customer who drives all the way out to this location and then wears their back out walking the sales floor looking for deals, and one who has been doing business with them for well over twenty years. Now, I could understand if they were getting their merchandise from top suppliers brand new, but they're not!! They acquire their merchandise as a result of people donating it to them used!! This place is not a Macy's, Sears, Lowe's, Home Depot, JC Penney's, etc, but the current management of this local sure likes to think they are both in terms of their pricing and in their attitude towards customers who find items on the sales floor without their new fancy Clover POS generated price label. Past time for a clear change in management of this store. Until that time comes, I will be severally limiting my purchases from this local and continue shopping at the ones in Oak Ridge, Maryville, and Jefferson City for the time being. They treat their customers better. After all, some of their customers are also the same ones that donate stuff to them. Mom and I have donated our share of stuff to them over the years, but no more for...

I found great furniture pieces here the other day, exactly what I needed coincidentally! 6.5' wood shelving/display unit, tall and narrow- $5!!! A very slender aka space efficient, vintage wood end table for $20!! A shelving unit (pressed wood maybe) with four drawers and a cabinet for freaking $2. And a two seater faux leather ottoman/storage bench for $10. It took awhile to find it all because there are some outrageously beautiful and obscure vintage pieces to move through (not sure why their prices are complained about in other reviews- you can't find 10' long solid oak foyer tables, 8' tall solid wood hutches, etc without dropping thousands in lux furniture stores- I digress), but after a few trips around, I had everything my household needed for under $40.

The staff I interacted with were pleasant. I moved each piece to my vehicle (alone), as they require shoppers to do, so if you're furniture shopping, bring a hand if you need one.

Clothing and handbags were overpriced relative to the consignment and thrift shops nearby, the original retail cost of the pieces, and how old (some 5-10 years old in gone by fashion) and worn they were. That's really my only qualm. However, they also have a marvelous colored tag system that provides discounts over time. Again, only qualm is related to how some garments/accessories have tags that don't participate (white tags), which seems odd for the sake of moving inventory and the aforementioned reasoning.

Summary- 4/5 stars! 4.5 if it were an option haha. I would gladly return and do...

I have to admit this store frustrates the heck out of me. Their clothing is way overpriced for a thrift store. But what is frustrating is that they NEVER mark it down. I see the same clothes for months and months- some for over a year. The woman who manages the clothing believes "everything will eventually sell" so there is no need to mark down or have a sale. Well, here's a clue, you have Plato's Closet that marks stuff down. You have Repeat Boutique and Katie's Closet that mark down stuff constantly- (and way, way better brands than what is here). There is a TJ Maxx which literally has brand new clothing less than what some of the used stuff is here. These are all stores within a mile of this one. Where do you think people are going to shop? Yes, I understand you want to raise the most amount of money, but inventory sitting in your store for months+ isn't going to help anyone. You generally have the same clientele, so if they are not interested in month 1, they are certainly not going to be interested in month 14. You used to have seasonal 75% off sales, but that ended over a year ago. And now the same stuff is sitting there, month after month after month. Household goods, furniture and such are great. But the clothing department needs a new manager- because she has her head in the...