Expensive goodwill finds.

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I rarely find cool vacuums at Goodwill or Savers. I found a blue Sanitaire once, but it was broken. I turned it on, and the motor was so loud, it did not sound normal. It was also dirty too, covered in mud. And the bag was not original. I could buy a brand new Sanitaire on ebay anytime. I also once found a Hoover Decade 80, a green one. I turned it on and it spat out a lot of dirt from the bottom. I have seen a few concepts, but those do not interest me as much. I wish I can find a Montgomery Wards made by Eureka at a Thrift store. I've searched all over my city, and not one. If I ever found a Wards with it's original bag and cord, but it was broken, I would def. fix it, because those are getting more impossible to come around now and days, especially all original. Most I've seen have generic bags, not their original bags. That, or the cord is brand new.
 
Which goodwill did you go to?

I only live about 30 minutes away from you! I have seen outrageous prices on vacuums at goodwill. YES, it is a good cause, BUT they still got them for free, and they are still NOT desirable to the GENERAL public, even though collectors will go for them. One wanted $80 for a bojacked kirby classic. It sat there for MONTHS!! Another wanted $50 for an older kenmore progressive without the powerhead! Here is the best one: A hoover flair with a missing brushroll and cracked base for $25!
I have discovered the reason why they ask for so much- I found out a year ago that one particular goodwill used ebay to price everything! Good luck selling those!
 
Wow, I have never seen prices so high! In what sort of area is this Goodwill located? I'm not sure if this is the same everywhere, but I've gone thrifting in just about every sort of town in Arizona, from rural retirement communities to Mercedes-swamped Scottsdale, and I've noticed a trend. Thrift stores in high-rent districts will tend to have more modern disposable products in poorer shape, but will take advantage of the community's wealth and charge top dollar. Lower-rent districts seem to take better care of their belongings, and thrift stores more often have older products in above-average condition, but charge reasonable prices. I always find the best stuff there. Does it seem to work this way elsewhere? 


 


 
 
Habitat 4 Humanity

Here has a Hoover windtunnel self-propelled bagless U6626 for $35 in excellent condition. I told them they could sell it for more, but the manager said they price things to sell fast & they do!! They had a Kenmore Progressive blue model there last week in pristine condition for $25, went back there on Mon. & it was sold.
 
Bet if those high dollar vacuums and other things sold at those Goodwill stores don't sell-they get chucked into the compactor or dumpster in back of the store.The Goodwill and Salvation Army places closed near me-no longer around.
 
No offense guys, but I am not having any sympathy for your complaints of high prices not one bit! The city I live in, which is pretty small- only 36,000 people- has a Value Village, Goodwill & Sally Ann. The Value Village we got just 1 1/2 years ago, & had fought to get one here for decades. Very seldom do you see vacs at any of the thrift stores, & when you do they are cheap disposable Hoovers, Eurekas, Dirt Devil, Shark, etc. And a lot of the time they are broken or well-used with lots of scuffs & scrapes, or need expensive replacement parts that make the vacuum not worth it. Case in point....about a year ago, Goodwill had a Shark Infinity upright vacuum, one of the first Dyson multi-cyclonic knockoffs....the vacuum itself was in good shape, but it was missing all it's tools & the brushroll was BARE....no bristles at all. It was priced at $20 dollars, but to get new tools & brushroll from Shark would have cost easily $50 dollars, so $70 dollars into a used disposable vacuum is not worth it. I would gladly pay the high prices they ask for DTD brands or high-end vac shop brands.

Rob
 
Our city has about 27,000 residents and the whole valley maybe 35,000. Last weekend in the local Goodwill store there was a pretty nice, as in dirty but no obvious damage, no big battle scars, Kenmore Progressive vacuum with a good hose and Powermate for a hefty $25. That's a steal. The Powermate alone is worth more than that and the hose alone ought to fetch $50. Since it was Sunday the Salvation Army store was closed but the other thrift shop had a Kirby G Series in good condition, really all it needed was some detailing and some elbow grease on the aluminum polish for $10. Ten bucks for a Kirby! Yesterday I saw an identical Kirby in the same condition for $135 at the little vacuum shop I frequent.
 
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That does seem high for the Electrolux but I think $60 is reasonable for the Tradition. It's all-original and appears to be very clean. A couple of hours on the buffing wheel and it'd be gorgeous.
 
Back to the 'Lux and Tradition--does the 'Lux come with ALL of its tools?does the Kirby come with ALL of its tools and the hose-tool case?If not, WON'T pay those prices!The Kirby appeared to be pretty dusty-they should at least clean it up!Yes,the polishing would be something I wouldn't expect the swap shop to do.
 
Well....

Went back yesterday and the lux is marked down to $34.99. The lux had a hose, Wands, and old style bare floor tool. The Kirby had no tools.
 
Habitat lately here lately has few vacuums. I have about stopped going to the Salvation Army, it's always the same stuff! I don't know why but since they remodeled the store they have a lot less donations it seems.
 
Funny thing with the Salvation Army. Joan Kroc put an awful lot of her fortune into them, starting with a huge modern new complex in downtown San Diego. Really beautiful and it helped their outreach to the poor immeasurably. She has funded a lot of good things for them. But I have a hunch that when donors make choices, nice digs at a Salvation Army store might make people think they need donations a lot less than someone else down the street. Just a hunch with nothing to back it. Also consider that local conditions might have an effect. Which thrift store is more willing to pick stuff up at your home or makes that part of the deal easier? If I am clearing stuff out and don't have a pick-em-up truck to haul it away, the thrift store that will gets the goods.

Having said that, the big Salvation Army thrift store in Lancaster CA puts the two Goodwill stores combined to shame in terms of selection, and always in every case has lower prices than any Goodwill store. Ditto in Ridgecrest where I live. My co-workers get a giggle out of my $3 Salvation Army coffee pot and $5 DART thrift store toaster in the coffee mess at work. Desert Tortoise is a cheap a__ , heh, heh, heh. Saves money for motorcycles and now vacuums. Gotta have your priorities.
 
Expensive finds

You can always talk to the manager and make an offer. Most times they will dicker just to get rid of product. Next time try it. You got nothing to loose. Also, with Goodwill if you donate anything they will give you a 20% off coupon on your next purchase.
 
Wow like I have said elsewere on the forum I would consider those prices cheap. If  it would not cost so much to ship here I would buy that Electroux in a heartbeat 
 

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