Goodwill - Retail Store and Donation Center — Local services in Paradise Valley

I’m so sad to write this, as this was previously my ✨favorite✨ Goodwill. However, a series of changes have been made in the past couple of years since the pandemic that have changed my rating of 5 star to a 2 star. Here’s a breakdown of the reasoning:

2 stars: The prices in this GW are off the charts right now. To be clear, I’ve seen a universal price increase (GW is dealing with inflation issues too), but $19.99 for Torrid dresses, $19.99 for an old label Chico’s dress, $12.99 for a Macy’s pajama set? $5.49 for a Starbucks cup? $17.79 for converse sneakers? These prices are about the same as clearance prices from the brands themselves or from TJ Maxx / Ross. I’m so confused as to why the pricing at this GW in particular is so high.

1 star: unable to try on clothes. With COVID, all GW changing rooms were shut down (understandable) and shoppers were not able to try on items over clothes (also understandable). However, since mask restrictions eased and COVID cases have gone down, this is the only GW where this policy has not changed. So, gone are the days of trying on a jacket or dress over your clothes to check the fit without running the risk of an employee scolding you. And sorry, but with prices as high as these, I’d like to check the fit before committing (even though I can return for store credit).

1 star (but technically, this isn’t GW’s fault, so I’m not holding it against them): If you’re a shopper who is looking to avoid resellers, pass on this location. Not sure if it’s the time or dates that I’ve gone, but a line outside of the back door is often formed to mob new racks. Easy enough to avoid the new racks - but the crowd makes the houseware section congested and tough to navigate.

Perhaps these are champagne problems in the scheme of the thrifting world, but they’ve definitely encouraged me to seek out new GW locations. Silver lining, I have a couple of new favorite locations that are clean, with great prices, and...

The worst Goodwill experience I have had and I shop A LOT at A LOT of Goodwill locations! I got there shortly after opening and the stocking/sorting team was still on the floor bulldozing thru the shelves and racks. The selection was not what it should have been or what I expected for Scottsdale. I see way better in South PHX!... But the checkout was by far the main act of this locations $H!T show!! There was at least 15 ppl in line, 1 register open w/ a young (deer in headlights) man nervously made all kinds of mistakes. It was incredibly unfair of management to put him in that position and make their customers wait for 30 mins to pay!! I ended up spending $24 extra dollars on 2 items I did not want just so he didn't have to go hunt down the manager. It sucked!! Then I and everyone else still ended up having to wait for the manager anyways because the kid didn't have enough change in his drawer!! She didn't stick around to help him out of the weeds or open another checkout, she just walked away like there wasnt a problem or maybe she just didn't think it was her problem to deal with... Who knows but management was at the root of every issue I had that day. Not to mention the prices were ef-!Ng ridiculous!!! Not more than a few dollars difference between this Goodwill...

As much as I enjoy thrifting, this location’s management is insane. Everyone other than the manager is super sweet and seems like hard workers. They are always helpful and extremely kind. The manager on the other hand isn’t just rude she literally bullies both her workers and the shoppers. She yells at her workers from across the building and scolds them, and she also SHOUTS at people when they try clothes on. I get that it’s store policy but she literally makes a scene out of it to the point I warn other shoppers to be on their best behavior when she’s working because I don’t want them to get screamed at. I genuinely feel so bad for the other workers there as they are SO nice. I’ve been going here for several years and always have an amazing time when the managers not around, but recently it’s gotten ridiculous. I had her bump into me with her cart when she was organizing clothes, and I first thought it was a mistake, but when she did it again she just laughed at me and did not apologize 😭 I try to be polite and just avoid her but it’s gotten a little out of hand. But a huge thank you to all the other workers at this Goodwill location who are very helpful and hard working, you guys...