Goodwill NYNJ Store & Donation Center — Attraction in Town of Wappinger

Goodwill, classically was a place where neighbor could help neighbor. Donations came from the heart, since dumping unwanted, used items in the trash can is certainly quicker and easier. Prices until this summer were an opportunity to turn those donations into usable cash. Cash that could help train the underserved of our community, while giving the buyer something to take home and recycle into new life, at a cost that was reasonable. Unfortunately, when the economy took a dive and prices soared to twice their normal prices at the gas pump and grocery store, Goodwill prices followed suite. However, donations are BROUGHT to the Goodwill sites by those donating. They are not affected by the same "trucking" costs our groceries face. They also are not faced with the increased cost of running refineries or transporting it in from longer distances. Nor are they dealing with hiked prices by foreign countries. They are free, as the donations are not bought by Goodwill. Yet, the prices at Goodwill have skyrocketed to double the cost prior to this summer. Why? In some cases, they are attempting to price donated items they received for free, to a cost above what the same item would cost new from brick & mortar stores. Used items costing the same as the item did brand new. So who does that serve? The neighbor, who no longer needed the item and thought they would haul it over to Goodwill in the hopes someone else could use it, probably did not intend for those recycling their items to be gauged on the price. 100% increases in cost should be justified, not just "copied" because everyone else is doing it. I used to go to Goodwill regularly. Every time I went, I bought something. Not anymore. I might just as well shop in a big box store where I get unused, brand new items, often with a warranty. I am also rethinking my desire to donate, when price gouging is so reprehensible a practice. If the purpose of reviews is to make suggestions as to how something can be improved, then my suggestion would definitely be to go back to the reasonable pricing we always saw prior to this summer. Items that were donated for FREE, and BROUGHT to your door (eliminating transporting costs), because the donator wanted to see someone else use their donation--and raise a reasonable amount of money for their programs, is being short-changed morally. Something to...

Very clean store everything neatly in its place. Wide aisles. Women, men, children, clothes. Books, DVDs, VHS videos, a lot of glassware, dishes, pictures for walls, mens & women shoes, men's suits, winter coats clothing, women's winter clothing, etc. They accept credit cards, debit cards, you can purchase very large and nice material bags for $1 @ bag. Employees very friendly and helpful. I look forward to going there again. DEC. 26 Jeremy, my grandson and me went Christmas shopping for ourselves. I treated Jeremy all day from Breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Fishkill to the Goodwill Store Jeremy wanted to look around in. I bought a cardigan sweater, 2 blouses and a pretty floral sweatshirt. Jeremy picked out DVDs and VHSs that only cost $0.79-$0.99 each and books he likes to read. We checked out and I paid $55 for all our Christmas presents. I look forward to go there again. Directions from Newburgh take I-84 East go over Newburgh Beacon Bridge get off at Exit 13 and make left at light stay in your right lane because Goodwill is located in a Mall typed setting with lots of other stores you can visit. When you see Hannafords hang a right and enjoy. They have a Buffet Restaurant either next to Goodwill or a couple of stores down from it. The town you are in is Wappinger Falls. I used to live in this town walking distance to the village. I loved living across the river. To me it was NYC...

It's more than a little disappointing that y'all have so many rules in regards to donations people want to bring to you and almost makes it look like you're going against what you stand for in regards to your mission statement about keeping items out of landfills.

I attempted to bring a few boxes of toys & books earlier today that had more than enough life in them to be enjoyed by another kid but was told you only take brand-new toys that are still in the box and only accepted one box of books per day.

I understand wanting to put the "best" (using that very loosely considering what's on the shelves in your store right now) items out to sell, but you can't be picky when it comes to donations.

If you really want to filter what you get, you can have your backroom employees sort through the items like they're supposed to be paid to do.

After this experience, I'd rather take the +30 min drive to CT and shop at Savers than support a regional sector of Goodwill that doesn't appreciate all of...