Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette — Local services in Warrenton

Larger, clean store. Very nice staff (there was one problem person years ago but he's gone). The only issues I have are ones that cannot be changed by the store staff, they are corporate issues that only upper management can change, so I hope they listen: Prices are way too high on many items, especially statues & figurines, plastic bins and garden supplies (pots, baskets, etc.). Very often the prices for these items are the same as or higher than when they are new in original store. They need to remember people shop at Goodwill for two main reasons. One is to save money. The other is to contribute to Goodwill. And if shoppers are trying to save money (like I am, like most are) the high prices keep us from purchasing. Many items are then broken, from handling before they get purchased, because the high prices keep them on the shelves way too long. So they end up being thrown out instead of purchased. Usually too hot in the store and they don't give store employees or store management on site the ability to adjust the temperature. I've left early on many occasions because it was so hot it made it uncomfortable to shop for more than 5 or 10 minutes, and I know the employees are uncomfortable with the heat too. Why do they do this? I have no idea but they would make more sales if it were more comfortable to shop. As with temperature, the music playing on the store loudspeakers is not up to the local store, and the music is often annoying. I've left w/o buying on more than one occasion due to the music. Why they play rap music in a store frequented mostly by 40-60 year old women, I don't get. Some mellow music from the 70s to 90s would be perfect. Mellow is always best in a store of this kind. Upper management should know their audience in each store and do the right thing.

Goodwill management (upper management in corporate) needs to changed. If they made the changes I speak of, and others I have in mind, they'd attract more customers and make a...

When you come to the beach you look for interesting things to do to kill time. One of our favorite things to do is go to the Warrenton Goodwill store. coming to the coast you find all kinds of very interesting things to look at in this store and we always seem to wind up buying something of interest.

The place is always clean and well kept. Nothing is ever disorganized. Wonderful staff are busy moving about the store straightening up the clothes racks and basically tidying up after customers. There's always a great selection of very interesting things. Today we purchased an antique metal tin, a candle holder with elephants on the outside that my wife says when you put a candle in it it will brighten a room. We also bought a couple picture frames for her artwork projects. Two very nice picture frames for 12 bucks each. Amazon will charge $75 for the exact same frame. The really cool find on this trip was an antique lamp, and after we found a piece for the shade we looked around and found a very unique lamp shade as well. The wife always asks me what we need this for or what we need that for and I told her this lamp would be great in the entryway when I come home. She smiled and agreed, Goodwill does it again.

I also wish to comment on the staff. They are a hard-working bunch and the cashiers and the folks that work the checkout are exceptionally on point making sure that they open up another check out the minute they start to get a long line and I guess what I want to say is they're paying attention and tending to the customers needs and concerns. My tip my hat to whoever is training the staff and I also thank them for making my visits to Goodwill a pleasant experience. I live in Portland Oregon and I rarely visit a goodwill in the big city because of this...

Wow, This is one of the cleanest and most organized Goodwill stores that I have seen, I usually frequent the Longview store and it does not compare! The staff is wonderful, they really know their stuff, and if they don't, they will take you to someone who does. They seem to have an eye for quality, there was a lot of name brand gently used and for a decent price. Something that my home Goodwill does not do, they buy directly from Target; all that stuff that doesn't sell at Target- Goodwill sells for like 1/3 the price. I bought a brand new table set and a dresser (they were in their original packaging, and not assembled) online Target has them both listed together as $375, I paid a total $80, $40 each piece. Besides all that, they have this really cool program called Job Connection, it is free job assistance. Sorta like the Employment department but smaller and more personal. They will also tell you all about how their business works, why they collect and sell donations. I learned a whole lot, like that it is NON-PROFIT, I had no idea. All this time I thought they were benifitting from us. But really they have cool free programs for everyone. Plus what it takes to run the business, like payroll and electricity. Overall I experienced more here in my one hour visit, and I have the entire time I have been shopping Goodwill in Washington. Also they run as separate companies in different territories, WHO KNEW! I hear and read the negativity from others saying that Goodwill is money hungry and greedy, I think those people should really talk to the supervisors/management/ or even JOb Connection (I met the ladies in the Job office, they will answer so many questions for you.).

My opinion has changed, for the better, I was so impressed, I just had to write this...