The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center — Local services in Orchard Lake Village

I've been to the store a couple of times already. Unfortunately, today I had a bad experience. I drove all the way from Lake Orion. I found the cute little stuff. Monkey and their purple tags were half off today. I was excited to find it for only a dollar. I waited 15 minutes in line. To find out that the price, the cashier decided to change it on me when there are 3 purple tags saying it was $1.99 all over the monkey. He said it's $2.99, but I'll give you it for the purple tag. What's the point? I think it's ridiculous that he had to charge me another 50 cents instead of just honoring the price. I don't understand what the point is in doing that to me. So it was $1.99 half off. Now he changed it to $2.99, but he'll give it to me for half off. He really wanted to charge me $0.50 more cents. I was disappointed, and he actually wanted to walk me over to show. Me the differences between the stuff animal sizes with their sign they had with prices of the animals. It made me uncomfortable. He really wanted to prove his point. It was like he wanted to cause trouble with me. It doesn't make sense because that doesn't change that. There were prices already on the item. I also did see a couple of stuffed animals about the same size, saying a $1.99 so that's not my problem. It feels like a scam. Especially if there are different prices already on the plushies they should honor that I felt tricked How am I supposed to know that when there's 3 tags that say the exact same price. Other plushies that are about the same size are only $2. I'm definitely disappointed. I was also uncomfortable because there were people in line waiting, too. And he wanted to leave the front to have a debate with me. He also. Removed the tags that were on the monkey. Luckily he missed one so I was able to have proof to take a picture. That it said $1.99 Purple tag. Whatever he was trying to prove It's not going to make a difference. I will not be coming back here if they're going to change prices on the spot. That was very uncomfortable. I definitely was starting to feel anxious and wanted to cry. I felt picked on for no reason. Don't come here, you'll waste your time. Very unprofessional, the stuff is donated for free. It was just a stuffed animal, I really did feel picked on. It was not worth doing that to me for 50 cents. And messing around like that. I know. It's only a 50 cents more, but he did try to go $2.99 on me, but that just shows that they like to change prices on you. And they don't honor the price of the tag what it says. It's just awful to be there for a bit to just find out that they changed the price on you. I'm definitely sad about this. I feel like they no longer care for people who struggle. And I feel like they abuse their customers. All I did was go there to purchase one thing. I didn't do anything wrong, and I felt picked on. I was nice. I waited patiently in line. I don't regret purchasing the stuff monkey. I'm just. I was really upset about how I was treated on the spot. I really don't recommend coming here. It's just...

Manager’s Abusive Behavior Is a Pattern

I had an appalling experience at the Salvation Army store on Orchard Lake Road, and unfortunately, it wasn’t just a bad moment — it was part of a pattern that others confirmed has been going on for far too long.

The store’s manager, a tall Black man, spoke to me with open hostility and condescension when I asked a basic, polite question. His tone was aggressive, his body language dismissive, and he made it clear he had no intention of helping. It was so jarring that multiple shoppers nearby stopped and stared — visibly uncomfortable with how he was speaking to me.

After he walked away, several employees quietly approached me to apologize, completely unprompted. One of them said, “I’m so sorry — he’s like that with everyone.” Another added, “We’ve seen him treat customers that way so many times.” The fact that both staff and other shoppers immediately recognized the pattern says everything you need to know.

I reported the incident to Salvation Army’s corporate office, who were polite and receptive — and, importantly, not surprised. They acknowledged that they’ve received numerous complaints about this manager. While I was advised not to share internal discussions, I was strongly led to believe that he is under review and that a leadership change may be coming soon.

Until that happens, I cannot recommend shopping at or supporting this location. The mission of The Salvation Army is rooted in service, dignity, and compassion — and this manager embodies the opposite of all three.

I will gladly update this review if and when corporate makes the long-overdue decision to replace him. Until then, take your donations and your business to one of the many locations that still treats customers — and employees — with basic...

Outrageously overpriced! It should be illegal for a store that's supposed to be "thrift" to mark things higher than retail...higher than antique stores. They should be ashamed of themselves. Customers were literally walking around upset with the prices and saying to me "oh, you also think they are priced to high?"

I've seen the same items sitting on the shelf for weeks and weeks because it's marked too high. They would rather let things not sell and sit there, than to price things reasonably and move them. That is horrible.

Salvation Army has completely lost touch with the fact that they are supposed to be a "thrift" store, a sanctuary for people on hard times or a limited budget to shop.

Often i see chipped or broken ceramics (making their true value close to zero) marked for 8, 12, even 17.99! Today i wanted to buy a simple ceramic planter and it was marked for $14.99!! A small bag of diapers was $5.99. I can walk into Walgreens right now and buy them for that. That is absurd. Who are they helping by over charging. THEMSELVES, that's who.

Donate somewhere else, shop somewhere else. Or, if you see something there that you'd like to buy try looking it up on ebay first. You will most likely be able to find it...