To Whom It May Concern,
I recently visited the Palmetto Goodwill store in Charleston, South Carolina, located adjacent to the corporate office. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing and left me questioning the level of care and oversight being applied to this location.
Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the condition of the exterior. The building appeared neglected, with layers of dirt and grime suggesting it hadn’t been pressure washed or properly cleaned in years. The lack of attention to the outside of the facility set the tone for what I would find inside. The entrance door was filthy and clearly hadn’t been wiped down in some time, and the trash can near the entrance was full and overflowing—something that creates a poor first impression and raises concerns about basic maintenance.
Once inside, I was greeted kindly by the cashier and another gentleman near the front, both of whom were pleasant and professional. However, the positive customer service was overshadowed by the condition of the store itself. The shelves and racks were filled with low-quality, heavily worn, or damaged items—particularly in the men’s clothing section, which lacked any sort of organization or decent selection. I could not find a designated area for men’s shoes at all. The store as a whole felt neglected, disorganized, and uninspired—as though it lacked any sense of pride or care in its presentation or offerings.
What struck me most, though, was the irony of this store being located right next to the multi-story corporate headquarters, which had a full parking lot—clearly indicating daily activity. And yet, despite this proximity, no effort seems to be made to ensure that the adjacent retail space is kept clean, welcoming, or even functional. It’s concerning that those who oversee operations at the highest level appear to walk past this building every day without taking notice of or action on its condition.
As someone familiar with Charleston, I find it hard to believe that quality donations aren’t being received regularly. This raises further questions about whether higher-quality items are being diverted elsewhere, or simply not reaching the floor. In a city this size, the store’s poor condition and stock just don’t make sense.
I write this letter not to criticize for the sake of complaint, but in the hope that someone will take these observations seriously and initiate meaningful improvements. A clean, well-run Goodwill store can be a beacon of opportunity for the community it serves. This location has the potential—but it desperately...
Read moreMy review is in regards to the outlet store on Rivers. I visited the store on a Monday morning, drove in from out of town for it. There was a good selection of items, I really expected it to be cleaner than my local Goodwill Outlet, no such luck. Overall, it was worth the trip. Watch out for other shoppers though, they're insane! After rolling new bins out everyone crowded around and literally just started grabbing handfuls of clothes and shoes, throwing them into their carts..I was nearly taken out by a pair of rogue Steve Maden wedges...I can only imagine how many quality items were damaged in the chaos of it all. The employees weren't the most friendly either, but with shoppers like the ones I encountered, I can understand why. A poor employee had to break up an argument between two shoppers while I was there. Apparently it wasn't the first time as the employee mentioned that he didn't know what their problem was but they needed to get themselves in check as he was tired of their drama. "Yall are the only two I have...
Read moreThis clearance center is a joke if you have small kids and no stroller! Huge 2 seater strollers are allowed but not carts from the retail store? Seriously?!!! Some stollers are twice as big as the shopping carts and yet the shopping carts aren’t allowed because there’s no room. I took my son who is 19months old in there and we didn’t have a stroller because we were just visiting at the time! He got away from me and yes I was watching him ran out the door because it was wide open and no way to close it, took a step off the curb and fell face first on the pavement in the parking lot. He had a big scrape and bruise on his head as well as his elbow. All the goodwill worker that day said was “good luck next time buddy!” If we were allowed carts to those with babies this wouldn’t of happened. I love the prices don’t get me wrong but there needs to be a better way if handling these kinds of situations and the workers need to be a lot more...
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