Keep An Eye On Whos Watching You At Goodwill

[srcdco]

Keep An Eye On Who's Watching You At Goodwill

What I mean by the title is this: I've noticed a couple of the managers watching what I buy at our local Goodwill. I collect records and when I stop in, they will come nearby and "chat" with me, but they are really checking out what I'm buying. Now I'm noticing that more of the "good" stuff is not going to the bins, but going online to their auction site. Apparently, since they know I'm a collector, if I'm buying it then it must be worth more than $1.99. I tried to talk to one of them about it and his response was "it's our job to get the most that we can for each item".
So, be mindful of who's around when you are picking up items at Goodwill. They are watching what people are buying and if they know you are a collector or dealer, you will find the good items disappearing. They are trying to learn from those of us that already know what we are doing.

Scott

 

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[wvwildman]

lol find a new goodwill

 

[mjlalt]

Next time wear a disguise!

 

[Iron Patch]

But things are always changing so I don't really see what advantage they have by seeing what you buy. For me the location has always been the big one, but that's only if someone with a little knowledge finds your spot. Someone who doesn't know enough to cherry pick the good stuff I can't see hurting you just by paying attention. I'm sure what you know couldn't be learned in a few minutes here and there, so don't see a big issue. Now if you were buying all the records, and now they are, that's a different story than cherry picking the best out of a big selection.

 

[srcdco]

Originally I thought the same thing. But I primarily buy 50's, 60's, and early 70's rock. What I'm seeing now is that there is almost none of that showing up in the bin at the store, but if I go to their auction site, they are showing up there. The items aren't making onto the floor, they are being caught in the back room and directed to the online auction site because they assume they can get more than $1.99 for them online. No one gets a chance to buy them at the store.

Scott

 

[jeff of pa]

Next time wear a disguise!

exactly.

don't go in looking like a collector

go in looking like you need to shop there.

go directly to the Clothes, find a pair or 2 of pants you wouldn't be caught dead in front
of young women in.

spend enough time looking at clothes & utensils.

remember to carry the Pants with you . check out what your there for,
and before you leave, put the pants back, maybe mention you really can't afford them right now
but needed these records, or whatever for a gift. and decided to put the pants back


maybe next time you'll see clown pants on Ebay

 

[Iron Patch]

Originally I thought the same thing. But I primarily buy 50's, 60's, and early 70's rock. What I'm seeing now is that there is almost none of that showing up in the bin at the store, but if I go to their auction site, they are showing up there. The items aren't making onto the floor, they are being caught in the back room and directed to the online auction site because they assume they can get more than $1.99 for them online. No one gets a chance to buy them at the store.

Scott

I was halfway through your post and thought exactly what you said, they must auctioning at the same starting point and seeing what they bring. Unfortunately for you it's a pretty smart move.


If I was you I'd offer to pay a bit more to have first shot, and at least you could cherry pick all the best. Much better to control a deal than everything going online, because you know once it does that usually eliminates any chance of a good score.

 

[Minrelica]

What I mean by the title is this: I've noticed a couple of the managers watching what I buy at our local Goodwill. I collect records and when I stop in, they will come nearby and "chat" with me, but they are really checking out what I'm buying. Now I'm noticing that more of the "good" stuff is not going to the bins, but going online to their auction site. Apparently, since they know I'm a collector, if I'm buying it then it must be worth more than $1.99. I tried to talk to one of them about it and his response was "it's our job to get the most that we can for each item".
So, be mindful of who's around when you are picking up items at Goodwill. They are watching what people are buying and if they know you are a collector or dealer, you will find the good items disappearing. They are trying to learn from those of us that already know what we are doing.

Scott

I wouldn't worry much about that. Goodwill, Salvation Army and every other mom & pop thrift store has access to the Internet, eBay and every other research tool that we have and I guarantee that they use them. I can't tell you how many times I've walked into a thrift store, walked up to an item to see a printout from eBay or Amazon taped to it to show me how much it's worth when in reality they are only asking prices.

I went on a few gold/collectibles buying trips with a local dealer last year and these two 80ish year old women came in with a few things for us to look at. No less than 3 times they referenced eBay's completed auctions and what the item is worth or what it has sold for. My point is that as time goes on, more and more people are becoming eBay conscious and research items before putting a price tag on them and thrift store owners are first in line. Yes, I know there are still deals to be found and there will always be but it's a new game now and time has changed things.

Personally, I was fortunate enough to pull nearly 5,000 near mint, rare, & promo classic rock albums from our local Goodwill & Salvation Army stores over the course of 3 years or so for the whopping price of .50 each. When CD's started getting big, many of the radio stations were bringing in boxes and boxes of awesome albums for donation and I was hauling out boxes and boxes of the same albums to build my super sweet collection. .... then 15 years later my apt flooded and I lost 90% of them

 

[diggummup]

All thrift stores are hit and miss nowadays. It depends a lot on who is in charge of the pricing/research also. They catch most things but they don't get everything.

Sorry to get off topic but-

A question for the record collectors... I found a rare Cuban Disco (yeah, I know Disco sucks) LP recently, locally recorded, in very good condition. When it comes to records, rarity doesn't always mean value, does it?

 

[Beans]

Tell them the real hot items are the broken dishes and all the plastic crap they have. You would buy them but they could get more on their auction site.

Nothing but garage sale leftovers and true junk on the selves at my local garage sale. Almost bought a Nolan Ryan autographed baseball but did not have anything to authenticate the signature, so I passed.

 

[jerseyben]

All thrift stores are hit and miss nowadays. It depends a lot on who is in charge of the pricing/research also. They catch most things but they don't get everything.

Sorry to get off topic but-

A question for the record collectors... I found a rare Cuban Disco (yeah, I know Disco sucks) LP recently, locally recorded, in very good condition. When it comes to records, rarity doesn't always mean value, does it?

I have never been able to get a good handle on records. I know enough about records to make money on them but every time I "think" I know what I am doing - the game seems to change on me.

I think the biggest "secret" to records is the painfully obvious rule of supply and demand. For example, I have seen several examples of a specific record sell for big money on ebay. Then, out of nowhere, the market becomes flooded with that "rare" record and the price takes a nosedive. I think it might be as simple as there are more out there ready to hit the market than meets the eye.

I have done best selling records at the flea market and just hope that the big collectors showed up the same day you set up your table.

 

[cyberdan]

I was hauling out boxes and boxes of the same albums to build my super sweet collection. .... then 15 years later my apt flooded and I lost 90% of them

I know the feeling. When I was in the Navy we had a radio station on our ship. I was actually a DJ for a while on Radio KAOE off the coast of Viet Nam. I had all my records on the floor and the station flooded. It didn't take long for mold to take over.

 

[Minrelica]

All thrift stores are hit and miss nowadays. It depends a lot on who is in charge of the pricing/research also. They catch most things but they don't get everything.

Sorry to get off topic but-

A question for the record collectors... I found a rare Cuban Disco (yeah, I know Disco sucks) LP recently, locally recorded, in very good condition. When it comes to records, rarity doesn't always mean value, does it?

If it's locally recorded you may have some luck on your local craigslist. No, rarity doesn't always mean value... condition is everything and even more so with albums. People can get extremely picky about their vinyl which is one reason I don't deal in it much.

 

[Minrelica]

I know the feeling. When I was in the Navy we had a radio station on our ship. I was actually a DJ for a while on Radio KAOE off the coast of Viet Nam. I had all my records on the floor and the station flooded. It didn't take long for mold to take over.

It seems that once that cover gets wet, the party's over... I managed to salvage a few that got wet or downright refused to let them go, rather... I gave the majority of mine to the old hippy that lived 2 floors below me and the remaining 400 or so that were in okay condition went to my IT friend that does free PC work for me and gives me an occasional laptop. I think I'm down to about 10-12 now

(I just tried to get KAOE in on TuneInRadio but it didn't work)

 

[Chug And Red]

I Have 2 boxes of Records In a Garage At work!!! Any Ideas on where to Get rid of them!!! Yes Im looking at Selling Them For Cash!! One is The mamas and the Papas!!!

 

[dieselram94]

Thought this would be fitting....
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[austin]

Old friend and ex antique store partner went to work for Goodwill here. She was training other workers on internet use and what items were worth. I don't collect anymore, but was told that the prices and availability here have really changed. Suspect that is taking place everywhere...

 

[jerseyben]

Old friend and ex antique store partner went to work for Goodwill here. She was training other workers on internet use and what items were worth. I don't collect anymore, but was told that the prices and availability here have really changed. Suspect that is taking place everywhere...

Shopping at my local store is like picking through a dumpster.

 

[FloridaHunter]

Too late. A mouse couldn't find a crumb at our Goodwills. I do not believe they do auctions, but they are so overpriced it is beyond crazy.

 

[NGE]

I have over 750 L.P.'s Mostly original label Big Band Stereo and mono's. Blues, Jazz, Elvis (yes I do own a pristine) Elvis Blue Hawaii, wife won't let me sell. I have several Edgar Winter Group albums. Also own several thousand 45 rpm's. All my albums are stacked flat in a cool closet with low humidity......nge