The Salvation Army Thrift Store & Donation Center — Attraction in Newington

See those first few pictures? Almost all of that is barely used, real wood or upholstered furniture. I have donated such items an estimated 15 to 20 times over the last decade, without issue... until this load.

They rejected almost everything, citing that they didn't have enough room.

That was a naked lie. This happened because of your employee that didn't want to do his job. I have also included pics of the store's floor space. PLENTY of room, and I would have been happy to do all the physical labor... I literally move for a living.

When he said, "Try Savers down the street," that was the last straw. Pushing me away to a for-profit thrift shop that barely even takes furniture anymore? That's how you really know he was lying and didn't want to do his job...

Again, the pics don't lie. Given the amount of business I do removing furniture, rest assured The Salvation Army will lose thousands of dollars in (often quite valuable) donations. From now on I'm going to the ReStore in Cromwell. What a joke.

EDIT 6/14/25: 😂😂😂.

I sincerely hope you go bankrupt. I hope the Salvation Army as we know it ends before my lifetime does.

I literally provided PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE that you could have at least accepted some of my stuff, and your response is to suggest that my donations could be costly?! News flash Salvation Army: YOU'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH ZERO COST OF GOODS SOLD!

What a top-notch gaslight of a response. Thank you for, shall we say, "righteously affirming" my previous decision to take my furniture elsewhere. And no more change for your little red buckets either. 🙄

Thoughts...

There is a lot to be said for the ministry of the Salvation Army and there are many good reasons to shop at their stores to support that ministry.

BUT

This location is not one of them. This location is unkempt, feels dirty and has a definite smell to it. I recognize that some of the staff are the very individuals that the Salvation Army supports yet they do not themselves serve as an inspiration to support the ministry. Having donated a good deal of materials to this location while closing out an estate, I found some of the staff to be grumpy if not nearly verbally abusive. Compared to the direct competition further south on the Turnpike, this location did not at all meet expectation. I was treated on some visits as if I were up to something and felt like I was being scrutinized excessively, perhaps even being profiled. This is while I was donating items. I also found it impossible to get a receipt indicating that I had donated items.

Shopping here is nowhere like visiting the direct competition further south on the Turnpike. As noted above, there is a definite smell to the place and the showroom area just seems dirty and uncared for. There was not a whole lot of selection in the areas that I shopped with no apparent attempt at organizing things by size or season.

Donating and shopping here was just...

thiz place iz awful the employeez where rude I ask one girl to use the bathroom an she didn't answer me cuz she had headphones in but I know she saw me si I ask another employee an she said nope out of order any way I waz discussed with the prices the had used candles that where Jesus an Mary candle selling them for 5.99 that u get at any other store for 1.99. they had outrageous prices. there are supposed to help people who really can't afford things. there iz no way that some with not alot of money would never be able to pay those prices especially win they are putting prices that are more than getting them bran new. it absolutely discussed me . don't go there if your trying to get on your feet an looking for a bargain. I never right reviews but people need to know they are pricing item higher then getting it bran new at the store.also he itemz where in terrible condition an I mean it shouldn't even be for sale. it made so discussed an really said . I will never ever go there again an defiantly letting anyone wanting to go there that...