Shopping at Goodwill

If you've never shopped at a Goodwill store before, you are in for a pleasant surprise. In my home state of Arizona, Goodwill stores can be found at "big box" retail sites with ample parking. They are clean, well-lit and extremely well-organized.

Organization of Clothing

Clothing is first organized by type. You'll find tops in one area, shorts in another, a section for jeans, coats, dresses, etc.

Tops

Tops take up the lion's share of the space. They are first organized by sleeve: sleeveless, short-sleeved and long-sleeved. Next they are organized by color, usually starting with red and moving down the rainbow from there. Most of the time, I find the clothing to be hung with enough space for me to pull out a piece and easily replace it on the rack.

I find it best to go shopping with something in mind; otherwise, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

Accessories

While clothing is always organized and well-marked, keep your eyes peeled for scarves and other accessories. These might be located at the end of a rack, or with shoes and handbags, which are usually placed against a wall.

Dressing Rooms

Dressing rooms are locked and require an associate to let you in. Also, the number of items that you can take in with you is limited to six - another good reason for already having something in mind when you shop. I find the dressing rooms to be roomy, but I wish there were a couple more hooks. They have handicapped-accessible rooms as well.

In my home state of Arizona, dressing rooms are closed due to the pandemic, and clothing cannot be tried on in the store. Instead, you are able to return items for store credit within seven days with tags attached. Your local Goodwill may have different rules, so be sure to check.

Other Items for Sale

Keep Goodwill in mind for kitchen items as well. My husband and I purchased a set of four dinner plates in perfect condition recently. Goodwill also carries Christmas items throughout the year, highlighting them in July and the regular Christmas season.

Visit Goodwill for more information.

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