November 13, 2014
I had driven past the Goodwill Outlet daily when I worked off of Shadeland Avenue. It was intriguing but I had never gone in and I didn't know what it was about. I walked in on a whim one day and I was so amused by the place that I had to go back again and again. I went three times in one week! This entry is about my adventures there. The first time I went was with Mary Gordon. We pretty much walked in and then walked right back out on a Saturday. Too busy for me, No thank you! I had a couple of things in my hand to buy and saw that the line to check out was way too long and people had carts that were overflowing. It was ridiculous. So we left. I wondered to myself if things would be less busy during the week. So I returned on a Monday. My theory proved to be negative it was just as busy but it was Veterans Day so I thought maybe with it being a holiday that was the reason the parking lot was full and I had to wait for a cart. This time I took both kids, I started asking questions, and I started taking in the experience! Yes, the Goodwill Outlet is an experience. I am not sure how else to describe it. First of all their pay scale is very unique. You pay for things by the pound! .89 a pound to be exact. Merchandise is not on shelves rather it is in the huge bins that have rollers on the bottoms of them. Every hour the merchandise is changed out! One side of the warehouse is all house ware items and the other side of the warehouse is all clothing. So every other hour one side is taken away and then new items are brought out.I was looking through a bin and the worker took it away and I asked what he was doing and he explained to be the process and then they started lining up the new bins. So I was ready to look at new stuff but all the other customers start running across the ware house to get their spot in line. I thought well ok Ill just stand over here and see how this goes down. People start running and they line up and no one is allowed to touch anything until all the bins are in place and they ring this bell and then people make a mad dash throwing crap left and right! I was taking pictures and cracking up and protecting my small children all simultaneously from the opposite end of the building. I did not want any part of all that! I did however make it out of there with a large Goodwill bag full of stuff and paid less than $10. While we were there Aspen kept scratching her legs because she was wearing tights and suffering from dry skin that we both endure over the winter. Well here I am digging in these bins hoping to find a treasure and feeling ridiculous and Aspen is behind me scratching and fighting with the tights that she chose to wear and she screams out MOM, MY BUTT ITCHES!!! All the fellow diggers around me turn and look and I am just trying to suppress my laughter but not doing a very good job. All I could say was well I'm sorry honey maybe you shouldn't wear tights. I had to call Luke when we left to let him know I had reached a new level and appalled some Goodwill shoppers! He was soo proud! LOL! I bought Aspen a Baby Alive doll while we were there and she wanted to hold it while we were driving. I told her she could hold her but when we got home she was going to get a good wipe down and she agreed with me and said good because her doll was awfully dusty LOL. I could not stop laughing about the whole experience. I started telling people about the place. It was so bizarre and funny. So that night Bailey and Kristen and I decided that we would all go back together.
I know Bailey and Kristen because we all have small kids and we all attend Outlook Christian Church together. I hadn't spent any time with them outside of church events so this was a fun field trip. They are both thrift shoppers like myself but I still prepped them the best I could on what to expect because even for a regular thrift shopper I think this place is shockingly different. Its grungy and dirty and AWESOME! HAHA! Where else do you suggest your friends to bring gloves to shop? So we show up and its the third time I have been there in one week. But this time its not a holiday or a Saturday. Its the middle of the dang day in the middle of the week and there is still no parking! The place was packed yet again. Once I got a spot and got in there the other two gals weren't far behind. Bailey right off the bat found some awesome vintage looking sleds to use for decor and props for her photography business. I found a signed print of an airplane to give to a pilot friend and Kristen found clothes for her kids. We were all in there over an hour but we all found some great finds. I ended up with 30 items for $7. In a separate transaction I also got the kids a trampoline and a Fisher Price Rock N Play that I cleaned up and resold.
All in all I would say that it was great fun. It definitely takes you a back when you are putting on gloves and digging in bins for things but I am not above it! I found some great name brand clothes for the kids and a few tops for myself. I think if anyone goes they need to be patient and not judge the whole book by the cover. It can be overwhelming at first.
Kristen and Bailey I enjoyed shopping with you gals. Let me know if you want to go back again. I like treasures!!
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