Goodwill lately

[bikerray]

It seems like Goodwill is raising their prices as well as asking if you want to roundup and donate the change.

Lately I've seen a Green non self propelled Hoover Dial-A-Matic for $25
A Dyson DC40 for $75
A Kenmore Progressive Canister with hose and power nozzle for $35
A Dyson canister for $75

On a separate note Hoover and aftermarket brands have stopped making the Hoover H bag

 

[toastermike]

Most of my collection has come from my local Goodwill outlet store. Years ago I paid $5-7 for a vacuum. Then they began charging 99 cents per pound. Recently they raised everything to $2.29 per pound under 25 pounds, and $1.19 over 25, greatly reducing my purchasing! Lots of people complained (including me) and they lowered the rate to 69 cents per pound on electronics, meaning anything that plugs in. I'm back in business!

 

[human]

Yeah, the Goodwill stores around here have been asking to round up the change to support their job training center. Sometimes I do it and sometimes I don't, depending on how close to the next dollar it is and how good of a deal I feel like I'm getting. If it's 30 cents or less, I usually do; otherwise, it largely depends on my mood.

Pricing of vacuum cleaners and household appliances is really all over the place at Goodwill and other thrift shops here. Most vacuum cleaners at Goodwill start out in the $15-25 range but then may be reduced over time if they don't sell. I once saw a vintage Eureka upright start out there at $12 or $15 and continually get marked down until it finally sold. The last price I remember seeing on it was like $2 but it just wasn't one that interested me. But I did get an Electrolux Diamond J there with hose, wand and PN5 in great shape for $10 with no price reduction. The replacement hose on it had a $69 price sticker from a local vacuum shop. Earlier this year, they had a Kirby Classic Omega in great shape for $10 but somebody else was looking at it and I let him take it after I briefly explained to him how it worked. I figure I earned some Karma points on that one. Besides, I wasn't too keen on the shakeout bag. Newer Kirbys, regardless of condition, seem to go for about $50 if they have their tools.

Value Village, which recently closed down, would go through spells where they were really proud of their vacuum cleaners and would put ridiculous prices on them like $110 for a really beat down looking Kirby Classic III and $95 for a very old Rainbow in not so hot condition. I'm thinking they may have been using eBay for a pricing guide on ones like that. Meanwhile, I got a Royal Prince 501 for the princely sum (pun intended) of $2.95 and my final purchase there a few weeks before they closed was an Electrolux Genesis LXe for $8, not on sale. Another good vacuum related purchase I made there a few years back was a set of tools for $4 to go with my Kirby Gsix that I had snagged from beside a dumpster a few weeks earlier. The color of the tools was correct for a Gsix, so I like to think I reunited them.

I just figure it's like fishing. Some days, you get some good bites and some days you don't.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Last month I visited one of the Goodwill stores, there was a Pile of Kirby Generation boxes. The whole ensemble (machine included) added up to $158.27. I passed on it, and it disappeared when I stopped in the next time. I usually wont spend more than $20 at a Thrift Store for a vacuum unless it is absolutely MINT. 


I am usually willing to spend up to about $3 a package for bags at the Thrift shops as well. After that it is cheaper for me to order them Wholesale.


 


I Have a picture of that Kirby Pile at the Goodwill on my Cell phone. I willtry and post it here.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

[No message]

 

[vacuumlad1650]

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[ultralux88]

Oh the Kirbeastery!

 

[fan-of-fans]

I've seen newer Kirbys at Goodwill before for about $20 with the attachments sometimes. Last time I went I saw an aqua Hoover Sprint style Elite in good condition but don't recall the price. Sometimes have seen plastic Electrolux as well, again under $20.

My local Habitat also gets a lot of Kirbys for fairly low prices. I saw a burgundy Eureka Rotomatic power nozzle canister awhile back for $20 and there's an orange one model up from BOL Kenmore Powermate canister there for $30 right now. Good condition but bag stinks.

I do round up to $1 sometimes at Goodwill, but lately I haven't seen anything there that I was interested in getting. The appliance section has been rather low lately.

 

[huskyvacs]

I worked at goodwill for a week a few years ago before I quit. There is a sheet you follow with prices the manager sets based on who knows what logic. If something isn't on the list, you use your best judgement. Vacuums usually are not on that list.

Problem is, the people that work there are not experienced in junk sales like me, so they have no concept of the value of things. They will put $80 on a 40 year old microwave that's 2 feet tall. They will put $100 on a DVD set of "24" that you can buy online for $30-$40.

I've seen vacuums there all priced at $20, one of them the motor started smoking when I plugged it in.

Habitat Restore has vacuums here sometimes, but the employees are free to scalp them from the back and they usually never make it to the sales floor. Last time was there they wanted $40 for a 1998 Oreck XL. I paid $10 for a Oreck XL 5 months before that one came up for sale, and mine has a really bad sounding motor, I'm sure it just needs oil.