Deseret Industries Thrift Store & Donation Center — Attraction in Riverton

This review is specifically for Joy, one of their associates. I am giving 2 stars just to compensate for other times I have gone to this DI and not had terrible service. I came in at 5:30, 30 minutes before closing. I browsed the infant and toddler clothes first for a DIY halloween costume I am working on for my kids. About 15 minutes to close I made my way to their books which I have always had a great experience with. Many of their books are in pristine condition for $1-$2, which is an awesome deal. As a conscious customer, I keep track of time so I asked one associate if she knew roughly where I could find a book that I was looking for. It was then that Joy rudely interrupted what she was telling me making it take longer to guide me in the direction of this book. I thanked the lady I asked for her help and went to continue looking for a new hopeful book. Joy came over to me and continued talking about random information that was completely irrelevant like how they won't let her organize the books further than it is already organized. After accepting some of the comments she made showcasing her disapproval of the store she was working at, I again said thank you, I am going to look for this book so I can get out of here. She replied, "yeah you don't want to be THAT person, no one likes those people." Trying to sympathize with this comment I replied with a simple, "oh I get it, I own a repair company and we get people who come in 5 minutes before close and a repair takes a minimum of 1 hour, usually longer." She seemed excited by that comment because she went off and asked "what kind of repair work?!" The conversation went on for a little bit (again further procrastinating me from finding this book). I don't remember all the specifics about the conversation but then she said something like, "I'm looking for a new job" and then wrote her name and number on a piece of paper. I told her I would talk to my husband and see if we would need someone with her position in our shop. Again just trying to stop the conversation so I could get out of there. After about 2 minutes of looking, I heard her say to another customer "...otherwise they're going to yell at me but hurry because we're closing." She just would not stop telling customers useless information that I'm pretty sure everyone was already aware of. I was still looking for a book and she comes out of the blue and says "you need to wrap it up and head out, we're closing." By this time it was just after closing, it was only a few seconds earlier that I heard the intercome state that it was 6pm. I started to lose my patience just then and said something like "trust me I get it, I don't want to be here either." And she said, "yeah some of us actually have families and a life to get back to." Like EXCUSE ME. I am literally here with 2 kids and own a business with my husband, you think I don't understand that some of us actually have lives? Seriously so unprofessional and rude. Maybe this is her first job but I can say one thing to you Joy, if you treat every customer like that and tell multiple people to hurry up because we're closing but YOU keep procrasting conversations, you're going to have a tough time looking for that "new job" you so badly want. Or you'll simply always work as an associate and will struggle to move up to higher positions. I hope you consider working on this for the sake of all your employers. I don't write reviews often but as I was leaving, I head towards the front and all of the lines (roughly 4 lanes were open) were full of customers probably 4-5 people checking out in each lane. This is easily an additional 20 minute wait for anyone in the back. So her rudeness and rush to get people out was again, unnecessary. Seeing this I turned around and left my basket with 2 books for a friend who is getting married and a toy for my daughter. I also placed Joy's contact info in that basket and hopefully she takes that as a "we are not interested in hiring you." We do not tolerate people treating our customers this way, I don't care...

I don't always go out of my way to write reviews, but I want to add my own experience with the Riverton D.I. and hopefully even clear up a few things for those who may have had negative experiences.

First of all, Deseret Industries (or the D.I.) functions primarily as a training facility. The thrift store is a big part of that because 1) the store itself offers various types of job experience and training for associates employed there, and 2) the donations received and the revenue they generate help pay the associates, fund their individual training programs, and pay for the costs of retaining job coaches and managers. These training programs help associates overcome personal barriers to employment, whether that is addiction, lack of education or work experience, disability, or even an unexpected change in life circumstances.

I have been to this D.I. store many times since it opened recently. I have always found the store to be well kept, the employees to be kind, and the prices to be reasonable. For example, I recently bought a bike that looked brand new for my son. It was $4. The skirt I'm wearing just today, which was brand new with all the tags, was $6. And every time I buy books, which is almost every time I go in the store, I come away with great finds that are usually $.50 to $1.50, or more than that if it's a really high quality book. Totally worth it, especially when books cost so much to buy brand new!

Just as in all Deseret Industries stores (Riverton is no exception), they can't always sell everything that gets donated. Items that are in poor condition or that are unsafe are not sold. Instead, the items are taken to the dump at the expense of the store itself. Metal is taken to scrap yards. Some items are donated in good condition but don't sell over time. In these cases, older items are removed and discarded to make room for newer donations. Some donated items received even get shipped to the Bishop's Storehouse, which then sends donations to other stores that may need them more. They try to waste as little as possible.

Personally, I think the D.I. is a great treasure hunt. You honestly never know what you'll find from one day to the next! I have certainly loved finding some great items (like my kids' bunk beds or the dresser I refinished), and I've saved a lot of money! And knowing that my purchases benefit not just me, but also the associates who are trying to better themselves through the dignity of working, makes it all the more worthwhile. I will definitely be shopping there...

I don't usually shop on any DI, but I regularly donate the things I know I won't be using anymore. I was stunned by the horrible attitude the people on receiving had. I went on Tuesday afternoon; there were around four or five people on the receiving, and these people showed incredible disrespect. None of them would say Hi, or greet you in any way, which I could've tolerated, but what is unacceptable is the lack of cordiality and kindness these people displayed. The guy that took my stuff from my car was the older one; he grabbed my stuff with such disgust and trowed them on the carts sitting outside of the receiving area. I will mention that I don't donate ugly, broken, dirty, old, or unusable things. Our stuff is meticulously selected, organized, clean, and ironed! It comes from a meticulous family, nonsmoking home; nothing inside the boxes or bags I took there is garbage. I donated stuff that is precious to me, not for the monetary value, but because it belonged to the people I love and care for, and I know how much love has been put into selecting these things for others to enjoy. And when you are received with such disrespect and your stuff treated like garbage, it is excruciating to watch. I just wanted to grab these stuff and go to a different place. It is very disappointing to be treated like that in a place that is supposed to be founded by a religious community. People could have been chosen to re-sell their beautiful stuff and make good money from it; instead, people choose to share it with the community and bless other people through donations; it takes nothing to have a good attitude and show some gratitude. I would never in my life donate to this place,...