ShopGoodwill is an e-commerce website featuring products and goods collected from Goodwills across the U.S. These items are placed for sale online via auctions and bidding.
The purpose of ShopGoodwill is to allow customers access to higher-quality items at lower prices without having to sift through Goodwill retail stores. Goodwill consumers no longer need to go in-store to purchase their favorite pre-owned items at a discount.
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Is ShopGoodwill a legit website?
Yes, ShopGoodwill is a legitimate website where consumers can purchase products.
ShopGoodwill doesn’t have tremendous reviews online, but that doesn’t mean it’s not legitimate. It’s backed by the same retail, brick-and-mortar Goodwill chain stores. There’s no reason not to trust the legitimacy of ShopGoodwill.
Are all the items on ShopGoodwill authentic?
Technically, all the items on ShopGoodwill will be authentic. The company claims to authenticate high-end items and discard replicas or fakes. However, Goodwill is not a known, trusted authenticator of goods and things do slip through the cracks.
How does ShopGoodwill work?
Basically, Goodwill employees at brick-and-mortar retail stores across the country sift through donations and remove items they believe to be better quality brands. Those items are then shipped to ShopGoodwill where they are listed online for consumers to bid on.
In doing this process, Goodwill consumers are no longer getting access to the best items in store and now need to bid on them online.
Will ShopGoodwill affect resellers?
Yes, ShopGoodwill will make it harder for resellers to source high-quality products at a discounted rate. ShopGoodwill is attempting to become the “middleman” who finds goods to sell at higher prices while pushing resellers out.
The auction-style bidding is so customers can drive up the prices of goods and Goodwill isn’t stuck looking as a nonprofit that’s price gouging consumers. Some customers speculate Goodwill has recruited former eBay resellers to help them sift through goods to find valuable brands, however, that isn’t confirmed information.
Even before ShopGoodwill, Goodwill chain stores were already increasing the prices of donated goods they received. For example, sneakers at my local Goodwill went from $6 for men’s pairs to $10 per pair. This is due to inflation forcing Goodwill–and other retailers–to up their prices to keep up with rising costs.
How can resellers compete with ShopGoodwill?
For starters, ShopGoodwill is not perfect and doesn’t find every great brand or product to list on its website. The employees who sift through goods miss a lot of extremely valuable items that resellers can still find for cheap and sell.
Additionally, shopping at Goodwill outlet stores can be a great alternative for resellers to find bargains to flip for larger profits. These outlet stores typically charge by the pound and have all kinds of great products if you’re willing to get your hands dirty.
Many resellers have abandoned going to Goodwill stores altogether due to higher prices and fewer quality items. Depending on your geographic location, Goodwill might’ve already priced you out of their stores. Alternatives like mom-and-pop thrift stores, Savers, yard sales and estate sales can still be extremely profitable for resellers..
FAQ
How long do you have to pay for an item on ShopGoodwill?
Winning bidders on ShopGoodwill have 10 days following the close of the auction to pay for their items.
What’s the difference between ShopGoodwill and GoodwillFinds?
The biggest difference between ShopGoodwill and GoodwillFinds is ShopGoodwill is auction-based and GoodwillFinds offers items that can be added to cart. The winning bidders on ShopGoodwill are the only customers who get to purchase items.
Can you return items on ShopGoodwill?
Shopgoodwill offers Goodwill gift cards and exchanges for products returned within seven days of purchase with a receipt.
What happens if I don’t pay for a bid on ShopGoodwill?
Winning bidders who don’t pay for their items will forfeit their deposits and be required to put down larger deposit amounts going forward.
