Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center — Local services in Simi Valley

Before my visit yesterday morning, this location would have received a much higher rating. Unfortunately due to a “company wide policy”, I wasn’t allowed to shop at this store because I carried a backpack.

I take the nearby Amtrak train to Simi Valley for work every week. I’m a 44yo businessman who works as a personal assistant for a local resident at a senior living facility.

I was told by the store manager, Ryan Ortiz, that I had to leave my backpack carrying a laptop, iPad, iPhone, and various other valuable items on the public sidewalk “outside” of the store if I wanted to shop there. “Outside in a public area where it could be stolen?” I asked. “Yes” was his answer. Him and another employee then stated “Anyone with a backpack or a “large bag or purse”must leave it outside the store, you also can’t leave it just inside the doors, and we don’t offer for customers to leave it at the front near the register because then customers could say we stole something from them”

His statement of it being a company wide/district wide policy is a falsehood because I’ve visited this location, Ventura, and Thousand Oaks (all locations I arrive to by train) and never once have I been denied being able to shop.

I was one of two non-employees in the store when it opened at 9:00am. The other customer was female, carrying a purse, and she stood and listened to the exchange of words between myself and the staff. She was shocked, shaking her head, and was in disbelief that this was actually happening to me.

I was told to contact corporate offices if I wanted to discuss it further.

Please keep in mind this not a complaint directed at the manager or staff of this location. They were simply doing what they were instructed to do. My complaint is about the ludicrous policy itself, the lack of training and the inconsistencies that exist from store to store. It seems to be a policy they enforce at their own leisure. Had I carried my usual briefcase into the store, according to the policy, I would have been allowed to...

Shop here all the time, they have a no backpack policy that I understand and have no issues with, but presently there is rules about backpack storage because of COVID. If my primary mode of transportation is a bicycle, then I use a backpack to carry my personal belongings. So your policy is prejudiced against persons in my position. I am not indigent and I have spent $100’s in your store over the years I haven’t had anyone make an issue of my backpack until today. What I find frustrating with this rule is that my regular purse stores more than my backpack and a lady shopping in the store the time as me was pushing around a stroller without child, and she putting merchandise inside of it. I would wager money this person has, in the past, “accidentally” left a store without paying for products. I really believe there should be some accommodations made for during this difficult time. When more restrictions are lifted I will be happy to check my backpack in at the front but until then a little understanding would be nice, instead of kicking out a customer that spends money in your store every week, and allowing another customer load up their stroller with unpaid merchandise into all the cracks and crevices. So bummed from this experience, I really did love to coming in and shopping, and I am not sure I want to spend my money...

Wow! That is all I can say! I went in because I was in the area with no real expectation of finding anything I couldn't live without. I actually ended up actually ended up shopping and looking through just about every section in the store. I found and fell in love with something that is probably an antique. I plan on gifting it to a family member as a Christmas gift. I am close to them and in spite of 2020 being the difficult year most of us have ever had they also lost their father in October to cancer. This is something they will be able to pass on to their son that will never have met their grandfather. The best part of finding such a great gift in this type of establishment is you can tell it was once a loved and cherished item. I now get a second chance to allow that to continue to a new home and new generations. Stop by and see what...