Stopped at the Goodwill near my job today, which rarely has anything worth buying, and today didn't disappoint, just a whole lot of nothing. I did however notice a large bin filled with random books waiting to be shelved which was labeled "books already scanned", which leads me to believe that this Goodwill is pre-scanning items before they get put out on the sales floor, in order to cherry pick the ones of value. I know other people have mentioned that their local stores have been doing this now, and it's been a known fact that Goodwill has been cherry picking through merchandise for their website, at least on a smaller scale, but it's still a bummer and would explain why I never find anything at this Goodwill.
I'm really not sure what the logic behind Goodwill's decision to do this is, outside of the obvious increase in revenue that would come from selling valuable goods at market value rather than at a discount. In the long run however, this is going to result in nothing more than Goodwill destroying their retail business, which is half the reason of their existence, to provide training and jobs for the handicapped. The only reason people go to Goodwill in the first place is for bargain hunting and finding good deals on otherwise expensive merchandise. If you cherry pick the good stuff, all you leave is the shit nobody wants, and people will simply stop coming. If Thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army or Savers think that they can get away with charging an arm and a leg for merchandise because "that's what it goes for on the Internet" or just flat out hold back on all the good stuff so they can sell it online, then they won't be long for this world, because people just aren't willing to pay those prices. How many of us go into these stores and see the same crappy selection of CD's or Electronics or Video Games that have been sitting on the shelf for months because the store wants to much for it and it's of no value?
How about the endless selection of VHS tapes that should have been thrown in the trash a decade ago, but are still allowed to rot on the shelves? Hell, why do these stores even continue to accept donations of VCRs, old CRT televisions, and antiquated (but not so antiquated that it's cool) computer equipment? Why do these stores think they can get away with charging higher prices for used, scratched DVDs that I can buy brand new for less right next door at Big Lots? It's sad because I used to enjoy shopping at these places, but unfortunately I think greed and incompetence are going to do a lot of these companies in, and the thrift store industry may be one that won't last the decade.
S1-Bubble Bobble w/ Rainbow Islands-$2.99(was there last week but I passed then)DVD-Mickey Spillanes Mike Hammer-26 episodes on 4 DVD's(SEALED)-$7.99(also there last week and passed on it)
