Goodwill Store and Donation Station — Attraction in San Antonio

I visited a store today off of I10 and DeZavala road and had one of the worst experiences since the pandemic hit. Please keep in mind that currently in Texas masks are no longer mandatory and for someone like me who experiences severe anxiety, prone to hyperventilating and allergy related asthma lifting mandatory mask mandates has been a blessing especially since it’s currently allergy season. Now let’s talk about today’s visit about 15 minutes after I enter the store an employee told me I had to wear a mask. I informed her of my health concerns and my rights as a Texan. Prior to the lifting of the mandate any time I had to pull the mask away from my face in public people have been extremely understanding. The employee asked that I at least wear it at my chin to comply to store rules, and reluctantly I did as requested. (She did provide me with a mask since I don’t even carry one with me, she was kind and empathetic to my situation but “store rules”) I finished shopping with my child and went to the register where I was rung up and I was attempting to pay. I was struggling with the card reader and I was being kinda loud because my anxiety levels had elevated to a point where I was an absolute mess. I apologized for my loudness and the prolonged time it was taking me to complete my purchase and explained that my anxiety was quite high and I wasn’t trying to be rude. I finally completed my purchase and at this point the person who had my merchandise told me I had to put my mask over my nose and mouth. I told them what the first employee had told me to do and why wearing a mask was difficult for me to do, especially today since I was already struggling with my anxiety. I also pointed out that I’m almost out the door & to just to give me my purchases and I would leave. This is when I was told that I would not get my purchases until I put my face mask on correctly because this person didn’t feel safe and that their safety was more important than my medical issues. So after being told this I put my mask on and they made me stand there for several minutes before handing me my bags. This person was rude, selfish, callous and unprofessional. I had already finished my purchase, informed them of my issues and was ready to leave the store and yet they felt the need to belittle my condition, increase my anxiety by having me stand there and wait, for what reason I don’t know. Because of experience I will never visit a goodwill store again, nor will I donate and I encourage others to donate and visit other organizations such as the Salvation Army or other...

It was fine. Employees are friendly. Goodwill is Goodwill. But ...they seem to be a little too interested in making money. Goodwill is asking each customer to round up the payment for their purchases to the nearest dollar to help support goodwill programs. Ok. I rounded up. So did the man in front of me. Prices have gone up which is too bad for people who dont have much to spend on clothes. I bought a skirt. It was $12.99. Last time I was there,wasn't more than a year ago..... skirts were $5.99. Since almost everyone I know who has items to donate, gives some or all to Goodwill, I dont understand why they need to charge $12.99 for a used cotton skirt. ....and ask customers to round up whatever they're paying. Everything being sold is donated with no expense of laundering or refurbishing prior to selling. I think Goodwill provides training and companionship for disabled people and does a service for the community by selling used clothing, dishes, shoes, furniture. .... Almost anything needed for a home or apartment I personally want to find out where the money is going since they are bringing in 2 or 3 times more money than they did in 2015. Goodwill is a big seller on ebay as well. Usual expenses certainly, for rent, Salaries, health Insurance, transportation. I like the skirt I bought.I like going to Goodwill occasionally. I think I can go to a resale shop and buy a better skirt for less money but it wouldn't be the same as going...

GREEDWILL, not Goodwill. An absolutely shameful company that, because it essentially has a monopoly on the second hand market, prices things AT OR ABOVE market value! I've literally seen sticker prices higher than the manufacturer MSRP! YOU GET EVERYTHING DONATED TO YOU FOR FREE!!! Do you really need to make MAX PROFIT on everything?

PRICE GOUGING AT CHRISTMAS IS THEIR FORTE. Example? Throughout the year, the Nintendo Wii, which they have had many of, were priced at $14.99 (console only, everything else must be purchased separately). At Christmas, when I returned because mine died, they were $29.99. The same '1st Minister of Electronics Pricing', or whatever BS, overblown title he carries now, still works there and is part and parcel of their infamous exploitative affairs.

The sad thing is that the economically disadvantaged, especially the elderly, will go into this store believing that they are buying at truly affordable prices, and they are being taken advantage of by a company that gets everything for free, complete with unfair, undeserved TAX BREAKS! GREEDWILL!!!!

Yeah, and don't buy their manipulative line about 'helping to change lives with your purchase' either. The only thing really being changed is how deep the owner's (or owners')...