Habitat ReStore - West — Local services in Madison

I have shopped and volunteered at Restores across the country. This one is my favorite.

If you dont know what a Restore is, they take used and new donated building materials (the stuff you would buy at Menards) and resell it, and use the profit to build Habitat homes.

I like it because I am always looking for a good deal on the materials for my projects, and often dont mind used. And also I collect vintage items like ceiling fans, light fixtures/lamps, etc, and Restores are one of the best places to find such things.

This Restore is my favorite for a host of reasons. They get a wide variety of stuff-- mid century to current/brand new. They tend to be less selective about what they sell (some stores only put out new/impeccable stuff, and that's not what I'm looking to buy). They sell furniture (some Restores dont). They tend to price reasonably (some Restores sell used items for new prices). The staff is very friendly and helpful (some, it seems like you are required to be cranky and anti social to work there).

Biggest con is that they dont negotiate on prices. Some Restores do, although not any in this area.

I have also volunteered at several stores, because I believe in their cause. This is one of the better stores to volunteer at. The staff is welcoming. There are cookies. They value your expertise.

One of the other reviewers noted that if you want modern stuff, or cool vintage/antique stuff, this isnt the place. That's not true, but you have to check back every week or even every day. It is there but it sells IMMEDIATELY. The 80s/90s stuff doesnt sell nearly as quickly as the post 2000s or pre 1970s, so that's mostly what you see. Keep checking back. I stop in at least...

Employees and volunteers seem to have zero training, because they have limited knowledge of products, labeling and procedures for product management. Also, the items this store were way overpriced. When calling for assistance on the PA from the front desk, nobody came despite that I was told someone would help. I waited 20 minutes, and then I went looking for an employee. There was no one in the front, so I knocked on the " Employees only" door and someone came..however he had no idea that anyone needed help. Then he did tell me the item I had purchased was waiting for me to pick up outside at the back. He said that people were going to be waiting to help me load the item. When I went to pick up the item, two employees saw me struggling to load up the couch, and never offered to help and then they walked away. This is the reason why I am not giving a...

Very nice stuff in the store. There are a lot of very nice people working there. But I can say that one of the back loading dock people is very grumpy and rude. He also said that none of the other employees could help with loading something into my vehicle. because all of the other employees are old. Which is not true. If the store policy is to not help load stuff into your vehicle. Then that is fine. But to say all of the other employees are old just does not sit well with me. And the real help that I needed was a spotter to make sure that I did not hurt myself or knock anything over. I would shop there again but I just know to stay away from the gummy old bearded guy. God bless all of the hard working employees who are not rude working at...