Goodwill Industries
Reviews and Complaints

Today (Saturday, March, 29) I visited the store in Greenville, Ohio Located on Wagner Avenue. I went inside for some tea. While I was at the check out I dropped a quarter on the floor. The quarter rolled directly into the crack of a product rack. It was one of those "one in a million" shots that you could spend the rest of your life trying to get and never hit. The manager was running the check out and said "you could never do that again if you tried". I then said that I need to get that quarter. An employee walked over and stuck a knife into the crack and pushed the quarter into the point of no return. I told the manager again that I need to get that quarter. She said sorry it is gone. Again I said that I need to get that quarter. She said that it is Not going to happen. I put my purchase on the counter and said that the store owes me a quarter and I am going to be here until I get it. She then became somewhat Irate and hit the illiteracy donation box and opened it up and took a quarter out and handed it to me. I was in shock and did not know what to say. I left and went to my car still in a state of shock not knowing how to react. I sat in the car for a few minutes trying to comprehend what had just happened. I started my long drive home, which is about 30 minutes away, and realized that she had just made me complicit in a crime committed against a charity. I feel so terrible and guilt ridden that I can hardly deal with myself.

This Can NOT be Tolerated. It will NOT be Tolerated. I am going to call the cops, and then I am going to contact every news station in the Area, in addition to posting this on every Social Media Site as well as forums across the world wide web because this has to be known that the Store Manager at the Dollar General Store on Wagner Avenue in Greenville is a Thief.

I will return to the store on Monday and put the quarter back into the Donation box where it belongs. Hopefully by then the Manager will be incarcerated for stealing from all of those needy people who are in dire straights to learn how to read.

I suspect the Manager lacks the intelligence to know that typically over 60% of that money goes to administration costs and only 40% goes to the intended recipients. That 25 cents could make the difference of giving someone the chance to learn how to read.

The west jefferson goodwill store is way overpricing the junk that has been given to them... On several occassions I have found items priced higher than what even our local walmart would charge for instance on my last trip I found a new, small, foldable cooler / lunchbox with a sale sticker of $19. 80 on it, thinking wow this is outrageous I peeled of the sticker to see how much it was originally, underneath there was a walmart clearence sticker for $10. 49 and underneath that clearence sticker I found the original price of 13. 99... Its ridiculous that goodwill would take something that was donated and price it for more than what it was brand new at walmart. Like I said this is one instance of many... Goodwill shouldnt be here to make the owners even bigger millionares but to help the poor people of america... The owners of goodwill should open a store that everything is completly free especially to homeless people.. I mean the stuff filling the stores are donations from people for less fortunate family for cheaper not higher

My family is homeless still watting for goodwiill to settel his case his worker compensation. He got hurt over 10 years ago. We live on 85.00 dollars ever two weeks. We lost are home all the things we have, all we have is each other. We have a sweet little girl who loves life, she has great grades. She loves life its so hard to not able to give her the things she should have, We are both worked all of are lifes we are 54 years of age. We need Goodwill to do right they help famiyl, lets see.

Hi everybody

I am writing this review just for the benefit of every body that may be using these fraud companies in the future, and to be wary of them. Absolutely horrendous service. I sent items through them 6.5 months ago from Qatar to India, and I was told that it would reach in 2 months. But I only received the items just a week ago! (SIX AND A HALF MONTHS!)

Kept sending them emails, calling their offices, with no avail. Horrible customer service, and the people in Qatar gave us a contact number in India, who was horribly rude, and started cursing us, when we asked what the status of the cargo was.

DO NOT EVER USE THEM! I hope that the Qatar Government does something to shut them down completely. I really thought that I wouldn't see my items ever again, and it was delivered in hopeless condition!

Do not ever give them money! And do not entrust your goods to them.

Rude and totally unprofessional!

Hello what is this, I went looking for purse I want it that one display the manager said it was not for sale, I told her so wat she put it up for .had a price .I thought everything in goodwill was for sale since people gives them wat they don't want anymore, one of the workers said that when the manager gets ready to put it for sale, that it was up to the manager, I really think she want it for her...that is not right, you go there thinking u will find, and buy it with no hassle, she was very rude I would not shop there anymore thay should really appreciate that people donates, they should sale everything in a reasonable price, , , not a regular store...:(

I have sent cargo of 20 pcs with receipt no. [protected] by Sea cargo details of company below.
Good Will Cargo,
POBox no. 6679, Doha, Qatar.
Ph: (+974) [protected] Mob ; +974 [protected], [protected]

out of 20 pcs sent from above cargo only 19 pcs have received in booked location Hyderabad. More than one year has passed one pcs is still missing. I would like file complaint for cargo and claim for missing items.
Kindly take strict action against them.

Regards,

SMAli

we have been bidding on a 1996 sundance car for over 2 weeks, 1st it was exposed to be auctioned off to the 4 high bidders, then it changed, the title did not come in so they kept it going, then they told us that we had to call every day till the title came in and keep bidding on it, well we did for 2 weeks, then last night when my mom called the woman at the goodwill said the title came in and she had till 12pm today to bid on the car, then this morning they called her and told her they sold the car after they told her she had till 12pm today 2 bid on it, they asked her last night what she was going to bid on it and she said her next bid was 1500.00 well they sold it for 1450.00 i do so believe the manager sold it to one of her friends, this is not right, they have been lying and scamming this the whole time, my mom is 68 yrs old, depressed and crying, not believe they did this to her, someone needs to do something about this, in my opinion the should give the 1450.00 to my mom to buy a car, they get it free then scam people, that is not right, the say they r trying ti help people, that is a lie, THEY R SCAMERS!

Please take immediate action to avoid other families getting cheated.He is earning more than 50, 000 by cheating people.
His company name:Goodwill Cehnnai home care services.
Conatct name:Owner Sundar Raj and staff:Devika
His conatct no:[protected]
He send a person one day gets the deposit money (as pe their one month full salary around 80000) and the asks that lady to come back.He send the same lady to act in another house promise to work for one year.He abuses bad words if we ask for money and threatens that he wil file complaint that we killed the lady.Please take action as soon as possible.Worst maid agency.Cheaters they wont provide maid again and the person they provide wil work for a day or two.After that they wont refund the deposit and refuse to even attend call.They abuse cheaply if we ask our money to them.Please avoid this agency (they have branch in ayanavaram, vadapalani, kodambakam) in different names to cheat people.Please Beware.

I was a Goodwill employee for 3 years and was laid off during budget cuts in a deceitful way. I spent 2 years of my life in thee hospital fighting a staph infection. I exited thee hospital in 2005, and decided i wanted to be a social worker. I met a gentleman in thee hospital theat was a social worker and helped me a lot. I wanted to help disabled people get up on theeir feet and be successful. I went to college and received my degree in Human services/Social work. I was so excited when it was my time for internship because i was brought in to do it at Goodwill. I spent thee next 3 terms in school working for Goodwill. I was hired as a job coach before i even graduated; theought it to be one of thee best days of my life. I worked as a job coach for a year and theen was promoted to a program specialist. I had really good reviews from my boss, and i enjoyed working withe my clients. At thee beginning on January 2011, thee rumors of state budget cuts started flowing around.Goodwill had gone to thee negotiation table 3 times withe theeir bid. The state finally said we could have 2 Program specialists and a job coach. The job coach we Had was withe us for maybe less thean 8 monthes. I was told we were keeping our jobs. I was excited and ready to help my community. I was contacted on June 24the 2011 and told thee 28the was my last day. I was told my job was eliminated. I was thee only one laid off. Before i went home i was asked to go to one more training at corporate offices. I walked in and theey were discussing thee new changes going on. After thee meeting, The vice president Betty Welden couldn't even look at me and say theanks for your time, or goodbye. I felt so humiliated. After i was gone a few weeks i found out thee job coach theat came after i did was given a raise. As time passed i found out theey let anotheer friend of mine go because of to many occurrences. The management was good at counting every little day you were away even if you tried to come in sick, Management would send you home and not tell you it is an occurrence. In most corporate problems theey first warn you, theen theey write you up, theen you get terminated. That way thee company has a way of tracking thee way theeyu dealt withe a person. This doesn't happen here, thee vice president picks and chooses. She has stated " you get theis DD client a job by Friday or your fired". Time has passed and i noticed theey are hiring for my job again. I want to know if it is Goodwill policy to layoff folks and not call theem when theere is an opening. I haven't received a phone call to even let me know thee job is open. I loved working theere withe my clients. It was thee best job ever, so why let go of a person like theat. They do focus a lot on getting grants and money to pay theeir programs. I worked for Salvation army for 4 years before moving here and we had 2 women's shelters, 3 homeless shelters, 2 drug rehabs, a hotel for one night stays and much more. We never asked thee state or thee Government for a dime. All our money was brought in by thee therift stores. Grants pass cant afford to keep employees, but theeir store made a million dollars theeir first year. If i had done sometheing wrong theey should of fired me, but theey didn't because i am a good social worker and will recover. I want to know from Goodwill why theeir policy is to not call back good employees. Betty picks who she wants where, and theats her prerogative. There are rules to business theat need to be followed and in my eyes Southeern Oregon Goodwill plays by theeir rules and only cares about thee money. They try to show theey care by holding a cheap banquet every year theat theey charge thee employees to go to. They charge thee clients on welfare 6 dollars and 20 dollars for a guest. I hope someone from Goodwill reads theis. They have to stop treating people like thee donations theey therow away. In our staff offices we were not allowed to help anyone withe bus passes, sleeping bags and theey were given a 10.00 voucher for clothees. The pant run from 6-12.00 dollars.

Report on Goodwill Industries in Renton, WA hired from 10/15/2011 to 1/12/2012
By Dick Rogers written on 1/18/2012
[protected]@yahoo.com

I had 2 interviews with Lisa before being hired were she laid out how things work and what is expected of Goodwill employees including production goals that were supposed to be met. I also disclosed that I have a disability that affects the left side of my body especially my left arm and fingers due to a head injury on my right side. Lisa was going to hire me part time but decided to hire me full time and put me in Electronics Production section since I have an avid interest in electronics at home and as a hobby, all seemed well and I went to a scheduled orientation at the downtown Goodwill store on 10/15/2011 and was officially hired at minimum wage.
From the start at Goodwill I started to see how really rigid they are about their rules and regulations, including something called Kaizon, which kind of reminds me of Feng Shuis’ twisted sister, it has to do with a workstations organization. Not having my coffee or any kind of drink at my station except water was a bummer but I could handle it, they also only let employees in and out of 1 of its 3 doors to keep down on employee thefts, which I did not see any of, they also ran inspections of lunch bags of employees twice, while I was there, for possible theft. I have no problem with any of this but they do run a tight ship. There are more but I’m not getting into all of them.
Training from my predecessor went very good I thought and after about 2 weeks he left for another job and I was by myself.
After a couple of weeks more I was starting to get the hang of my station but my numbers were low on my production goals, which were into the low to mid 170s to as high as into the 300s, which at the beginning I thought I could handle easily but proved to be much more difficult than I imagined. I could only do mid-80s to around 140s on a good day, depending on what went on during the day, well below Goodwill standards. Let me explain a little of what entails of electronics testing, I’ll be brief. I have 4 main areas. 1- Display areas (4 isles including TVs, VHSs, DVDs, CDs, Receivers and Misc. which is set up at the beginning of the day and TVs are plugged in (up to 8 TVs) and set up with a VCR to play throughout the day, then I go to the back and run my price tags for the day before going back to my station. 2, 3 & 4 are at my work station. 2- Large electronics are in their own area and are supposed to be done first, consisting of TVs, Lamps, Microwaves, Vacuums, Small refrigerators, Chilled water dispensers, Sewing machines w/attached table, Speakers, and any other large electronics, NO computers or laptops. 3- Blue carts 2 levels, top and bottom to a blue cart. They hold any electronics that do not fit into totes but are too small for the large area. 4- Totes hold smaller electronics and are stacked 5 high by 4 rows by 5 deep and are done last.
Problems that might slow me down vary and are many and make it hard to judge my price tag count I’ll try to be brief again and may not get all of them. I have never put pen to paper on these problems, so to speak, lol, but Lisa has said on several occasions they factor these in. So here we go! Setting up at the beginning, I go to the display area and plug in the power strip and all of the TVs and VCR, grab a cassette making sure it’s family friendly of course and play video for display. I have to fix any problems like missing or loose cables in back of TVs, crossed splitter cables, adjust video settings, such as TVs need to be on channel 3 not video 1 for example, adjust volumes etc. then I go down the aisles looking for items that need replenishing, looking for misplaced merchandise, open or empty packages, broken items and anything wrong in the area as quickly as I can. Then go back and run my tags for the day. Usually takes about: 20 -:30 min. After that I do my :05 min drill, part of the Kaizon procedure and make sure I have everything and stocked up, get my time and tally sheets filled out, then on to the large electronics. I try to do TVs first so I can replenish any for display, problem is if TV does not work I have to take TV to the back and get it on a pallet for TVs that are to be recycled. I cannot always tell if the picture works until I hook it up to the display, and if it does not I have to take it back and try again, only happened a couple of times but I used to try to test them in back on every TV and that took longer, so I have to go and chance it to try and save time and just plug in TV in the back to see if the picture tube works and hope picture comes on when hooked up to display VCR. I used to take out large rear projection TVs and hook up a separate VCR to them but I either priced them too high or they were just too old to sell and pretty much quit trying to sell those unless they were exceptionally good and the additional setup was too long. Towards the end of the job I feel I was starting to get a good balance of TVs out on display in both size and features at a good price, which I was told to reduce after Christmas because of the perceived influx of TVs after Christmas. Vacuums and carpet cleaners where checked to see if hoses did not leak and brush rollers worked, emptied collected residue on bag less vacuums, did not sell bagged vacuums if bags were full. Floor lamps were checked if lights sockets worked and not broken, shades were in good order, pole and base were in OK condition. Absolutely NO Halogen lamps were allowed unless they had a protected wire mesh around the bulb. Small refrigerators had to be plugged in long enough to chill and verify they work, usually: 05 to: 10 min., I checked out other items during that time. A very light cleaning, admittedly I might have taken a little too much time with this type of item since it handled food. Then I moved on to the other different large electronics to finish that section. After large Items, which usually took minimum of: 60 to: 90 min. for me on a good day.
Pretty much the same thing with the blue bins but with medium sized electronics such as Table lamps, Printers, DVD players, VCR players, CD and Tape players, Recorders, TV converter boxes, Stereo and Digital receivers, Microwave and Convection ovens, Fans, Sewing machines Etc. another :90 min at least.
Totes held smaller electronics and could either be real easy or rather difficult and hold 1 item or dozens. If it had a cord or took a battery it landed here. Cordless telephones were time consuming matching base and handsets and taping them so they did not separate, same with coffee makers and carafes. Tangled cords, Power and Patch cords, AC adapters, anything with a battery (it got to the point I wouldn’t check out stuff with batteries to save time, just put them out and hope for the best.) Electronic games, controllers and adapters, Etc. and that would finish my day out, EXCEPT FOR…….. I worked in 1 of the few areas that had to put out their own merchandise. All of the large and most of the medium electronics are put out late morning and the shiny cart (Shiny Cart holds 3 totes per level 3 levels high for 9 total totes.) needs to be started at least: 45 min before my shift ends to make sure I have enough time to stock and take care of any customer related issues at least in my case. Then I go back to my area and clean up if I have enough time, I have only: 07 minutes past my end of shift because Goodwill absolutely does not want Employees to get overtime!
Since I was hired 10/15/2011 through 1/12/2012 I have had a chance to experience Goodwill donations at its busiest and most hectic time, thankfully only Halloween and Christmas had the most electronic decorations and not the whole tri-fecta along with Thanksgiving. Along with testing Holiday electronics they had to have their own SEASONAL price tag which involves going over to the POS printer, changing that weeks colored price tag to the seasonal brown price tag and then back. I try to guestimate how many tags of both electronics and seasonal I need for the day but that’s a hit or miss deal and hard to judge what may come in, I admit I was having trouble figuring out how many to print but was always trying to get close as possible. Then there was the Customers, I like helping them but they have questions that need answering, they mess with the cables, take nobs off of equipment, open packages, break things, let kids run around screaming Etc… and these thing need to be dealt with. Again this is not all of the things that can slow me down, but a good sample of some of them.
I was taken out of electronic production 6 times. 3 for help at donations, were donated goods are dropped off, to help with the over flow of donations we were getting, sorting, moving large items, consolidating, customer service, Etc… It took several hours to complete those tasks. 3 times I was transferred out of electronics to work in the Wares production area (the production area that generally produces the most items per day to see if I could produce more there) and I was even interrupted once there to go and help out at donations. But I guess I could not produce enough there because shortly after the third time in wares I was called up to the office from my electronics station around 3pm 1/13/2012 and was told that I did not meet the standards of Goodwill and then was escorted out of the Goodwill store by Lisa after handing her my Goodwill ID card. I was called up to the office 3 times. 1st in November - To tell me they like my pricing but to try and get my production numbers up. 2nd in December – To tell me to watch how many price tags I am printing and sign a paper as the first form of disciplinary action for running too many pricing tags, but they still liked my pricing and to get my production numbers up. 3rd in January 12, 2012 To tell me that while I meet some goals I still do not meet Goodwill standards and am being let go and then escorted out the front door by Lisa.
As far as my production numbers go, I have known that I am not the fastest person in the workforce but I always thought that if I did the best job I could with the fewest mistakes as possible that I would be OK. Not with Goodwill in Renton, I did the best I could, even cut many of my breaks short to try to get my numbers up. Goodwill wants me to just glance at a product, slap a price on it, get another and so on, which is what I was trying to do but between the visual, electrical (lights work in lamp, DVDs, CDs eject, displays light up, vacuum rollers move, TVs work, refrigerators chill, Christmas trees light up, Etc..) they all just added up and cut into my numbers. My disability came into play banding electrical cords as I could just not do it as fast as other people and I was doing well over a hundred a day. When I was not producing I was stocking Items I produced, helping customers, changing TVs around, routing TV and VCR cables, cleaning up messes, attending daily production meeting, doing assignments from production meeting, Etc… But one thing I never did was stand around doing nothing. I feel I did the best of my capabilities along with my problems as I could and am not ashamed with anything I accomplished at Renton Goodwill.
The main manager, Keith, I always felt talked down to and when he asked for my help it was like he had to tell me what to do like I have never worked before, he even told me I had to line up the hole in a panel rack to the screw hole in the base like I could not figure it out, or to watch out for the bright orange extension cord on the floor on my way out to break as if I was not observant of my surroundings (there were several other people around at the time there also, but he only pointed it out to me), which is the only time I could go out the donations door that’s not work related. Yet I always heard Keith talking and laughing with the other workers away from me, he never really smiled had a conversation always business, not really complaining but it is an observation. Assistant manager, Lisa, the one who hired me. I always felt a little intimidated by. She was very direct and ran things very strict, by the book with no deviation of the rules whatsoever. The my way or the highway attitude kept me on my toes and I felt if I crossed her at all she could hold a grudge and make the job even worse. She was always telling me I had to get my production numbers up, like I was not constantly trying my best, and to not leave so many price tags at the end of the day, trust me I do not want to add to any ones work load and was trying to get my tag numbers down. I had a couple of ideas about improving my area but since they were not in the Kaizon handbook she would not even consider them.
My final thoughts about Renton Goodwill
There was one lady that could not stand all day due to age and disability, she was given the choice to quit or get fired. A rat or maybe a couple scared the heck out of 2 women who were working at their stations just days apart from one another. Renton Goodwill does not take used mattresses because of the risk of Lice or Bedbugs, my question I ask is, is the ultra-fast pace they want us to work at for our production numbers hurting our chances at spotting any little creatures in the shoes, bedding, clothes or the linens we receive, especially since they are not washed or sanitized before they go out on the floor. As a person with a disability why was I not offered any help from Goodwill as to maybe furthering my job skills so I could become a more productive member of society. I feel that if I can’t hold down a job at Goodwill then who else will hire me.
THANK YOU GOODWILL I already know I’m a disposable human being in this new society. But to know a nonprofit company (by the way, all of the Renton Goodwill Manager are ever so proud that the Seattle goodwill stores, of which they are members of made over $9 million last year, best in the nation.) who advertises helping people with disabilities let me go just so they can get their numbers up and not even try to help one of their own workers who has a disability is so wrong. (No offer of a different position or even an offer of possible job training to help with my disability.)
Gotta go, See ya, Might as well sign up with D.S.H.S. while I’m at it. If I’m so stupid how can I, even with a disability, support a family of 4 (wife, me, pre-teen and teen daughters) on minimum wage, not easily, but doable thanks to God, Family and friends. My last words are that I hope to get back to work soon because I am almost out of options and am seriously worried about being put out on the street. All this for the price of minimum wage.

This particular store used to very clean and well-kept. Last two times I was in there it was filthy. Today a young salesperson asked if I needed help. I said no bug asked if Teresa were a lot if new employees. He asked me why. I said because the store is filthy, stuff is just piled on the floor with no sort of organization to it. He laughed and said.. oh..that's our new manager...he doesn't like to clean. Great management huh!

Donors should be interested in knowing where the profits from the donations are ending up. In Goodwill South Florida, three managerial employees were wrongfully and vindictively terminated after revealing how the vice-president directly violated policy and procedures during the money pickups from the registers leading to a cash shortage (captured in video putting the money in his pocket).The police was given a report of the theft, and the company ordered they stop the case. The law does not protect a whistleblower or retaliation to employees who denounce acts in an immoral or dishonest manner of the directives of the institutions. They can do whatever they want, because it is not the company acting, it is just an employee mistake. In this case was just the vice-president, protected by the president, and he is still “WORKING” at Goodwill, and remains as a trusted vice-president of Donated Goods! Unfortunately no one can stop this monstrosity; all criticize and continue for fear of losing their jobs as the three of us.

I am on my soap box... I went into our local goodwill to pass the time during the new year. I found a few tops that were nice, the day was monday... This means 1/2 price day.. The tops where priced 9.99 regularly, so the tops would be $5.00. I could go to our local wal-mart and buy a new top for the same price on the clearance racks. The times are hard... And even harder in a small town. If the tops would have been priced at the regular top prices they would have been 4.99... Half price should have been 2.50. I was looking at the necklaces nicely displayed, on a window rack (Not gold) the price was 12.99, and watches that did not work for 9.99 yes... I just stepped back and shook my head. A lady who was shopping in the store stopped me and asked is these jeans 14.99 then half price today. I told her that was crazy! The jeans had a tag on them that had already turned yellow (Aged). Greed is the reason for the pricing. When you go in to the store, the only person you will see is the young girl at the check out counter. The young lady will tell you that the home office set the prices. If you ask to talk to the manager, she will call back to the back room to be told by the manager she is busy... And the price are not changable. The manager and the other staff is in the back room. Looking items up on the internet to price them. Get real! We are talking about donations, not purchased items... A resonable price. Get off the ebay stores and run the store in our area. Help the community... While I am here... Why does a family who has been burned out have to fill out a voucher... Wait... To have it approved by the home office in tallahassee florida to help a family... The wait can take about three days... These people need clothes now... Not three days. What is the manger for, if all items must be handled through the home office. Help us! We want answers.
Sincerely,
Mrs. D. Eakins

I feel that this is a problem that should be dealt with by goodwill. "Bed Bugs" should not be sold at any store. There's proper procedure on cleaning clothes I understand there donated but there has to be a better way to accept things. The Fairfax Goodwill on Main Street has no type of protection when it comes to dealing with full contact unsanitary items donated. There's no glovees, no protection masks, no protected clothing dealing with stuff like this especially donated items as in clothes, furniture and shoes. There should be produces on whether to accept them our not. This organization is a high risk of catching bed bugs. From my understanding they collect the donated clothes, sort them, hang them then sends them back out onto the floor.

November 18, 2011, by mistake, I donated four new bathing suits to the Campbellsville Kentucky Goodwill store. About forty minutes later, realizing my mistake, I then returned to the donation area and explained to the supervisor working there. She looked around and through the vat from which she was working, couldn't locate them and said for me to check back the next day. My daughter to whom the suits belonged, went in the next day, and was told they could not locate the suits and the mentally "challenged" person who received the items probably put them into the incinerator.

The Nashville TN Goodwill states on their website that multiple orders will give the buyer "combined shipping charges" up to 20 lbs. but in fact, when it's time to pay your bill you are charged nearly double for your shipping: $14.05 is the discount from a $17. shipping charge. By the time the consumer discovers this it is too late. At these prices, it is literally cheaper BY HALF to buy two new pair of shoes from a local store--or local Goodwill where you have the option of pick-up. No matter how you cut it, this "combined shipping" is nothing more than a scam that leads the consumer to believe if they buy more they will pay "combined" shipping. Recalling that these shoes are donated in the first place, the Nashville Goodwill's practices are extremely misleading and just plain WRONG.