With the recent spike in inflation, consumers are looking for ways to save money, and thrift store Goodwill is one of them.
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that sells donated goods at low prices, offering everyday essentials like books, clothes, shoes, furniture, accessories, plates, and cups for $15 or less.
The store is bustling with customers of all ages. It looks like an ordinary thrift store from the outside, but it’s often jammed with shoppers looking for unique items at bargain prices.
Bill Needle, a regular visitor to Goodwill, said, “I like finding interesting books at low prices here,” adding, ”There are new books almost every day, and it’s fun to just look around too.”
Goodwill has a wide variety of books, including children’s books, classic novels, and the latest bestsellers, all at affordable prices. Most books are priced between $2.99 and $5.99 per book.
Goodwill in Los Angeles University Park is currently stocking several popular titles, including the Harry Potter series ($5.99), Ken Follett’s “A Column of Fire” ($5.99), Walt Disney children’s books ($2.99), “One Piece” manga ($2.99), and “Spy Family” manga ($2.99). The store is local donation-based, so books in different languages can be found in each neighborhood.
You can also find old videos, CDs, and other items at affordable prices. Movies and drama series such as “Sex and the City”, “The Office”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Lord of the Rings”, “Harry Potter”, and “Ghost World” are available for $3.99.
An elderly man who visited the store spent a long time in the children’s shoe section, picking up a pair of pink shoes, and then putting it back down. “I’m looking for a gift for my granddaughter,” he said, adding, “She’s growing up fast and it’s hard to buy her expensive shoes, but here, for $3.99, I can buy her all the shoes I want.”
“Every used item has a story,” said a worker at a Goodwill store. “Sometimes there’s a letter written inside, sometimes there’s a photo tucked inside,” he said, explaining that ”the beauty of thrifting is that you can share the memories of your items.”
As a shopping tip, he explained that most donors come on Sundays, so the perfect time to shop is Mondays and Tuesday mornings. Military personnel get 15% off on Mondays, seniors 55 and older get 15% off on Tuesdays, and students get 15% off every time. A form of ID is required, however.
If you subscribe to Goodwill’s email newsletter, you can get a monthly coupon that can save you 20% on a purchase of $30 or more.
Since each store donates different things, shopping in the spring, when many people are moving, is a good way to get a good deal.
You can also donate books you don’t read anymore and clothes or shoes you don’t wear. Donating items to a local Southern California store can also get you a one-time 15% off coupon.
Goodwill also has an online store. The products range from high-end brands like Chanel bags and Versace coats to Nintendo, Apple TVs, Canon cameras, and musical instruments, although the online store usually has rarities and is more expensive than the store.
BY HAEUN CHUNG, HOONSIK WOO [chung.haeun@koreadaily.com]
