MERS Goodwill Outlet — Local services in Bridgeton

I love this Goodwill Outlet! However it's important that you know what you are getting into and set your expectation right or you will have a 1 star experience here.

They open for two 3 hour chunks during the day. They are closed in the middle of the day. During the closed time they are restocking the bins and making sure there is inventory on the floor. If you arrive right at opening time it's literally like a Black Friday stampede and mad dash for a cart. SCARY! To prevent this you can arrive early and stand in line hoping to get a cart OR come an hour after opening time and walk right in and get a cart.

This is an outlet of your standard Goodwill store, which means super low prices and leftover stuff. IE: lots of resellers, online sellers and thrift store buyers are here trying to get the best deal they can to resell this stuff to you somewhere else. You will notice this right away with people that have 3 carts filled to the brim of good stuff. I'm not that serious about it. I'm shopping for personal use looking for items I can wear or use, sometimes gift. I don't mind being there super early. I find it kind of stressful actually. I like to come an hour or so in when people are already leaving and there are empty carts and I can shop slowly without others rushing me. The downfall here is "the good stuff" might already be gone. Maybe... but I've found really good deals here like" lululemon leggings, athleta leggings, entire dish sets, containers for cookie baking season, so many name brand clothes - some new with tags on, books and shoes. Almost everything I buy is still new with tags or in like new condition. AND WORTH every cent I spend on it.

The bins with the items can be very scary. There can be sharp things sticking out, glass, etc. in them. They are stacked high and awkwardly. Items are literally thrown into the bin and just pushed to the floor. Prepare yourself mentally for this (it can be a lot). I recommend you bring and wear gloves. Be careful as you move stuff around in the bins because the whole thing shifts. After digging in once or twice it gets less scary.

Be aware that there are no returns and you will be RUSHED through checking out. Step to the side when you have your items and make sure they are what you and in the condition you want. I check every page of books to make sure no pages are missing/ no one colored in it, etc and all my clothing for holes, stains, rips, tears.

Overall this is a 5 star experience for me. I buy goods worth hundreds of dollars for 10% of that price. I usually keep a list on hand of wants/needs and don't rush on finding it. So I'm a casual...

Don't let the 2 stars scare you off before reading through.

This was my first time at a goodwill outlet, with descriptions being my only expectation. I was blown away by the size of the building with its blue bins as far as the eye could see, overflowing with items.

Then my awe rapidly dwindled as I rummaged through the first bin. Due to the sifting process, nothing in these bins are organized whatsoever, and the items are not treated with respect: smashed cds with jagged shards ready to cut you, board games and puzzles ripped open with their contents spread throughout various bins, books crushed under encyclopedic volumes which crumple their covers, etc.

I would personally never donate to the goodwill outlet because of it. Plus, there is the danger aspect. They warn you with signs that you might get stabbed and even offer you gloves you can buy at the register.

If none of this sounds bad to you, by all means, come here. In fact, the prices are the best in the land, only surpassed by some charity yardsale and booksale events. This place just...

My Husband has way more fun here than I but even I have to admit I have found some good items. Some things obviously came from other stores as a last ditch effort to sell them. And some things you just have to wonder how they made it in to those bins. For example, on my last trip, I found a marriage proposal! Yeah you read that right. Very well put together on scrapbooking paper, nicely cut out words accompanied by a photo of a good looking man in suit and tie, down on one knee holding a ring. (Stone is big enough to actually be seen!) There he was asking for someones hand in marriage. But how and why did I find this romantic gesture at the bottom of a donation bin in Bridgeton? It's always exciting to see what you can find. I have started a new collection since we began going there more regularly, I now collect heads. You can find all sorts of little heads broken off statues and kids toys if you dig deep. Weird collection I know, but fun way to pass time trying to pretend...