We’ve been discussing the various departments that can be found in Goodwill stores across the United States. So many people have a negative connection with the purchasing of items at a Goodwill store, and I am off to prove that it is worth shopping there.
Here are a few more departments and what we found.
Shoes
It wasn’t a large section, but there were definitely shoes to be found. Yes many were used, but there were more that were new. From summer sandals and flip flops to winter boots and slippers, and everything else in between, was right there sitting on those racks. Every size, ever color, ever shape. It is nothing compared to a shoe store, but they are inexpensive and in great shape – especially for children who outgrow everything real fast, or if you needed a certain type of shoe (flip flops for shower shoes at camp) and you didn’t want to pay a lot.
Toys
The toy section was huge at the stores we visited. There were toys for every age and every personality. There were board games, puzzles, electronic toys, trucks, cars, dolls, Barbies. It was very much like going to a regular toy store with the exception that most of the items were used. It was like going to a garage sale. We found ride on toys, bikes and more. Of course, they explained it was a hit or miss, because sometimes they have what you are wanting, and sometimes you might just have to settle. It is definitely a collectors paradise, because many older toys were there and we recognized a lot of collectible items.
Electronics
This was a surprise at one store in particular. They had everything you could imagine and most of the items were brand new. They might have had a scratch on the side or something that deemed them not able to sell, but the quality was great. There were radios, CD players, we found two mp3 players, TVs, VCRs, DVD players – if it is in the electronics section of your local department store, you have a chance of finding it at Goodwill. It pays to return often, and find out the policies of your local store. Some exchange the items out frequently, and some allow the items to sit for a longer period of time.
Shopping at Goodwill is quite the adventure. You will be amazed at the deals you can find, if you only have the patience to look past some of the imperfections.
More on the various Goodwill Store Departments in the next article. See below for the other articles in this series.
Nicole Humphrey writes articles for the Scrapbooking Blog and for the Frugal Blog. She also guest blogs on a variety of topics. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
More Articles in this series:
Shopping at Goodwill Saves Loads of Money
What You Can Find At Goodwill Stores Series – Clothing and Furniture
What You Can Find At Goodwill Stores Series – Kitchenware, Luggage and Accessories
What You Can Find At Goodwill Stores Series – Shoes, Toys, and Electronics
What You Can Find At Goodwill Stores Series – Home Decor and Artwork
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