secondhand

How to Donate Items to Goodwill Online Auction

August 19, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

If you’re a regular Goodwill shopper, then you probably have a favorite local store near you. However, did you know that some of the best stuff that Goodwill has to offer is actually not in those stores at all? Instead, the really good stuff often goes to the Goodwill Online Auction. Here’s what you need to know about shopping at, and donating items to, this online aspect of Goodwill.

Not All Goodwill Stores Are Created Equal

I recently read a terrific book by Adam Minter called Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale. Until reading it, I really had no idea that each Goodwill store is significantly different than the next. Of course, I knew that each one has its own things since everything for sale is donated. Heck, on any given day my Goodwill has an entirely different selection from what it had the day before. Still, after reading this book, I really came to understand how entirely different each store is from the next.

It makes sense, of course. People usually donate their goods to the store closest to them. Therefore, more affluent locations will have different items than poorer places. But it’s even more intricate than that, because what you drop off at one store isn’t necessarily sold at that location. It all gets sorted and sent to the places where it can garner the most money. If something doesn’t sell at one location, it might get sent to another location and sold at a lower price.

So, not all Goodwill stores are created equal. You’ll get different things at different locations on different days. And then when you throw in the Goodwill Online Auction, things get even more nuanced.

What is the Goodwill Online Auction?

ShopGoodwill.com is the home of the Goodwill Online Auction. It is operated by Goodwill of Orange County. However, more than 100 different US and Canadian Goodwill locations list items on the site.

High-value items are pulled out of the stores and sold on this website. For example, if you were to donate vintage items, collectibles, brand-new luxury items, or other things that are high value for the store, these might end up in the Goodwill Online Auction. Electronics, jewelry, and art are popular items to purchase through this tool. You can even buy vehicles through this channel!

Buyers register on the site, free of charge. It’s an online auction site; in fact, it’s the first one ever created by a non-profit organization. You can filter and search for different items. Then you bid on them as you would on other auction bidding websites. Like with many of these sites, there’s sometimes a “Buy Now” option for people who are willing to pay the suggested price to lock in the sale. The earnings from the site go to support the many different programs that Goodwill offers to help people in need gain job skills, literacy, and more.

Can You Donate Items to Goodwill Auction?

The only way that an item is listed for auction on the site is when a Goodwill organization lists it. In other words, you can’t go on the site and sell something; it’s for buyers only. You also can’t choose to donate an item specifically to the auction site. However, if you donate high-quality goods to your local Goodwill, then they might end up on the auction site.

You can always ask your local Goodwill store if they are one of the locations participating in this aspect of the business. Either way, though, if you donate high-value items to Goodwill then you’ll help the organization out, whether they sell it through a physical store or online. In addition to selling items through ShopGoodwill.com, they also sell some things, particularly books, through eBay and Amazon.

Find a donation center near you here. Don’t forget to request a receipt for your donation so that you can claim it on your taxes since it’s a charity donation.

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How Does Consignment Work?

October 26, 2016 By Jennifer Clark 1 Comment

Consignment is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “goods sent to a person or place to be sold.” You have most likely heard of this term before. In fact, you probably have been a part of it at some point. But, did you know there are different ways this process works?

Consignment stores are a great way to make money for your unused goods. These second-hand shops exist throughout the country, both online and offline, with inventory provided by consumers. As it happens, Amazon and Ebay are also actually considered consignment shops.

However, while the concept of consignment is simple, each store is not created equally. Usually, as someone providing goods in exchange for money, you will be paid either up front or through sharing a portion of the profit with the owner.

What is up-front payment?

When paid up front, you receive payment immediately for your goods based on what you have that can be resold. A price will be in place for certain items, and what is actually taken not only depends on the relevance for the shop but also the condition. Based on the pre-determined prices for products and what they keep from your pile, you will be offered cash or in-store credit.

Whatever is left can be brought to another consignment outlet to see if someone else will take it before giving up. Remember, each one is not created equally. Just because one shop did not value your items does not mean another will not.

The negative about getting money right away is that you may not receive the best price. You won’t receive as much as they will sell the items for, which is how they make a profit. So, what other options do you have? This brings us to our next payment method: profit sharing.

What is profit sharing?

Profit sharing involves collecting compensation for your goods after they’ve been sold. A price is set on the items as it is normally and sold directly in the store. You’ll share profits of your materials sold as agreed upon with the seller, and you can choose to receive cash or store credit as you would with the up-front payment. Generally, you won’t have to pay any fees in order to sell in someone’s place, but some do charge what is known as a consignment fee or entry fee.

You’ll gain more through profit sharing, but it could take a while to get all your money though. Thus, what route you choose to take depends whether or not you need cash right away or you can wait.

The varieties of consignment

Shops can exist physically, virtually or even be just a weekend event. These weekend sales act as pop-ups in a temporary space, where people pay an entry fee to attend or a fee to sell. The benefit of these consignment sales is that people tend to sell more than what they would in a shop. On the other hand, if you only have a few small items to sell, this is probably not worth your while.

If you are looking to sell items in a consignment shop, just make sure your pieces are in good condition and clean. Additionally, you may want to research niche markets to see if your goods will sell better in a more focused industry. From furniture to books and clothing, there is usually a concentration for everyone, both as a seller and buyer.

Do you love consignment shops? Would you recommend selling in them?

Used Baby Items: When Should You Buy New?

January 25, 2016 By Alexa Mason 1 Comment

Babies can be a wonderful but very expensive. Many parents, especially in recent years, have opted to buy their baby’s items used, which is great (you can save a ton of money this way). Newer items for babies can be priced extremely high. While wanting to buy used items is completely understandable, there are a few items that you shouldn’t buy secondhand.

Used Cribs

Baby cribs can be incredibly expensive, but it’s a well-known fact that you should not buy them used. Many used cribs are models that have been recalled in recent years as the cribs were deemed unsafe. This is especially true if you’re thinking of using a crib that’s over ten years old. Many of those cribs can no longer be sold in the U.S. due to safety or recall issues. It’s better to shell out the money for a new crib than risk your child’s safety with a potentially hazardous used crib.

Secondhand Crib Mattress

Most people would never buy a used mattress for their own bed, so it’s best to avoid buying a used crib mattress as well. Unless you’re receiving one from a very close friend or family member, it’s a good idea to purchase an entirely new one. After all, you don’t know how sanitary that used mattress is, if there are any germs or diseases in the material, or if it will even fit into the crib you own.

Pre-Owned Play Pen

Unfortunately, many play pens have suffered the same fate as cribs and crib mattresses. Older versions aren’t as safe and are subject to recalls and buying newer versions can be strange if you don’t know the usage history. As with a mattress, you don’t know if a used play pen is sanitary or if it’s been contaminated with an illness or cold the previous baby using it came down with. Again, as with many of the items on this list, unless you’re 100% certain that everything is fine, you might want to avoid buying a used play pen.

Used Strollers

While strollers made after 2007 are generally okay to reuse, you should avoid buying a used stroller that was made before 2007. Many of the older models don’t have the same safety precautions or standards that the newer models have.

Used Car Seats

Most car seats have an expiration date on them and within the past decade, many of them have also been recalled. While car seats can be pricey, it’s best to avoid buying a used one unless you’re certain that it’s not expired and hasn’t been recalled. Additionally, while a used car seat may look fine, it’s often difficult to know whether or not all the parts are in working order. This is definitely an item you should consider buying new.

Secondhand Swing

Many people are split on whether or not baby swings are truly necessary, just as they’re split on whether or not buying one used is okay. Some claim that it’s fine as long as you personally know the person giving or selling it, but others claim that a swing could seem great at first glance but have wear and tear if it hasn’t been used in awhile. It’s also important to determine whether the swing has been made of safe materials, if it’s out of date, how old it is, and if it’s been recalled.

Used Breast Pumps

While a lot of items on this list could be bought used if you do your research, you probably shouldn’t buy breast pumps used. These can be hard to sanitize completely and you don’t want to run the risk of getting an infection. There are plenty of organizations that provide low cost breast pumps to rent or buy, so you should stick with buying a new one instead of using a secondhand one.

Used Bottles

Baby bottles can be very inexpensive, so they’re something you should definitely buy new. For one thing, you may not be able to properly sanitize them after buying them used. For another, you have no idea what was previous held in the bottle. It might not have been just milk or formula. If you’re worried about cost, a quick search on Amazon or any other internet retailer shows that you can receive packages of them for a decent price.

Secondhand Pacifiers

Pacifiers are another item you shouldn’t buy used. You may not think that people buy used pacifiers, but they definitely do. A good reason for not buying them used is because like many other items, they have an expiration date. They also become brittle over time and can crack inside your child’s mouth, making it a dangerous choking hazard.

Pre-Owned Bath Toys

While normal toys can often run the risk of recalls or containing dust mites or germs, those problems can be easily fixed. Bath toys are a different matter entirely. Many of these toys often retain water and you may not know what germs are being carried.

Photo: Flickr: Valentina Powers