Goodwill

This goodwill would get four stars if not for the rude cashier/​supposed and probably self professed manager there named «Carmen» I have been going to this goodwill for years probably since the first day it opened. For the past few years I have encountered this woman often telling customers what prices are of things as she randomly thinks them up and does so with a ver Nasty attitude. And very seldom asking the customers to do the weigh in as it is a bulk weigh for clothes items. Having said that, the real problem I have is with her poor customer service skills. I have managed thus far, to go to another cashier if I see her because my problem is not with the pricing, but with a bad attitude that comes along with it for no reason. «Either you do or do not want it «attitude and «keep it moving personality» .
No service with a smile here. My reason for writing this review today was the final straw. After asking a simple question about a suitcase turned into her «annoyed «attitude again, I finally said «why are you treating me this way»? I asked a simple question no need to act like that. And I said is there another cashier she shook her head no barely speaking it, then I said what about a manager? She said I am the manager and if you keep it up you won’t be allowed back in this store ever again! To which I replied, «exuse me»? I did or said nothing to you for you to say that to me, not to mention I have been shopping here since it opened and most goodwills in ffl and new haven counties since the early 80’s. I never had a problem or have been given this much of an attitude ever from any goodwill employee much less been threatened to be banned for no reason. She basically told me there was nothing i can do and one I can talk too obover her and If I caused trouble I would be banned from shopping there. Well I walked to the back and managed to find someone who could help me out with this ridicoulousness and I spoke to a lovely woman named geneene who took me into the back and listened to how I was treated and gave me the phone to speak to her manager both of whom were very understanding and supportive. These are the types of people in management that I am use to running into at most all the Goodwills I go to. Management and workers overall greet you and are happy to help out. I also donate to the goodwill myself to just as much as I shop there. It’s a shame one bad apple can spoil good shopping experiences, and frankly I watched this person try to do it for years, but because of all the the nice and lovely people that also work there I never complained, but when someone threatens that your banned from shopping there for merely asking for a different cashier to ring them up or to speak to a manager, then I have to draw the line, by the way, a gentleman named Dana has helped me for years move things into my car but was out today… can’t speak highly enough about him and the rest of the staff there. Overall, excluding the «Carmen» experience for years, it is still a good place to shop for unexpected treasures.

craziest goodwill i have been to. but i have never actually found anything to buy here. i think this is one of those you have have to be in the right place at the right time deals. i am never here at the right time.
parking lot is always busy and the driveway is narrow. lots of BMWs and Mercedes in the lot when i was there last.

I love this place to no end!
If you have some time on your hands to sift and rummage through numerous bins of stuff, you will be surprised what you will find. You do have to be a little patient.
I go especially for children’s books, adult books, cook books. sand box toys, and all the other junk toys (Fisher Price, Tyco etc) that we waste our money on.
A bell will ring first to inform the customers that a new bin is coming out. DO NOT touch the bins while the workers are wheeling them out. Sometimes you have to be assertive when you are at the bin and stand your ground.
Keep in mind that because it is pay by pound there are, what I call, the «Super Serious Rummagers» who arrive in the early morning with their gloves, sticks and face masks; ready to rip through the bins and fill their carts with anything and everything and spend the entire day at the store. Once they have collected what they can, they sift through their ceiling high mounds of clothes etc and pick out what they do not want.
If you are concerned about bed bugs — check the seams under the arm pits for the little pesky insects. They are roughly the size of watermelon seeds. The minute you get home toss the clothes in the dryer on high heat for 15 minutes and that should exterminate them.
PS– Make sure to take along some reusable backs for your newly found treasures.