16 Reasons to Stop Donating Your Items to Goodwill
Many assume they’re doing a good deed by donating their old stuff to Goodwill. But your decision might end up backfiring, even if you didn’t mean it to.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to share your unused items, but are you sure that Goodwill is the best place to do it? There are quite some things they hide from the public. It’s better to understand the negative implications of going to Goodwill rather than going there in good faith, unaware of the harm they may cause.
Let’s discuss a few reasons why you should stop donating your items to Goodwill.
1. They Don’t Pay Workers Fairly
Goodwill is known to underpay its employees. They exploit a legal loophole that lets them pay disabled workers less than minimum wage, sometimes below $5 an hour. It’s a business practice that can do more harm than good.
At the same time, their CEO is compensated very well for their efforts, with a $600,000 salary in 2022. The company seems to cut corners. If you don’t wish to support this practice, donate and shop elsewhere.
2. Surplus Clothes Affect Third-World Markets
Goodwill receives a huge volume of stock, and not all of it is sold. Their surplus items are shipped to developing countries.
Local textile industries in smaller countries struggle to compete with the discounted prices of Goodwill’s stock. This forces them to bring their prices down, which hurts their livelihoods.
3. Hurts Local Economy
While Goodwill claims to serve communities, it mainly operates as a retail business. When you donate items to Goodwill, you’re supporting a large corporation rather than local businesses.
Donate to local thrift stores or consignment shops instead. It’s a great help to the locals who own and operate these businesses. Also, it helps them provide a wider variety of items tailored to customers’ needs.
4. It’s More of a Business Than a Charity
Businesses and charities don’t operate by the same rules. Both have valid purposes. However, it becomes an issue when a business disguises itself as a charity.
Goodwill is technically a retail store with a mission of employing those with limited job prospects. However, some people suspect Goodwill uses the “charity” aspect as a cover-up. As it generates profit, the executives reap the benefits, while customers are told that their purchases benefit a noble cause.
5. It’s Better to Give Directly to People in Need
Goodwill isn’t always a lifeline for the less fortunate. At the end of the day, it’s a corporation, and its for-profit model needs to earn through sales. Your donations won’t be their priority.
Want to help your community? Donate your items personally. It will feel more rewarding as you’ll get to interact with whoever receives your things.
6. They Inflate Prices of Used Items
Once something gets used, its monetary value goes down. That’s common sense for everyone, and yet you’ll find inflated prices for secondhand goods at Goodwill.
Those worn-out sweaters from your college years are no longer in their best condition. If it were up to you, you wouldn’t sell them at the same rate you bought them for. That’s why it’s surprising that Goodwill sells old things at a high price.
7. They Contribute to Textile Waste
Did you know that about half of all clothes donated to Goodwill end up in landfills? You might have imagined your items going to a new owner, but that’s often not the case. In a dirty place like a landfill, garments are no longer usable, which defeats the purpose of donating to Goodwill.
Prevent the waste issue from worsening by finding other ways to donate your old clothes. The U.S. already deals with 17 million tons of textile waste annually, so let’s not add to that number.
8. They Don’t Accept All Donations
Goodwill doesn’t take all donations due to limited storage space. Furthermore, some items may not be suitable for resale, such as broken or damaged goods. Electronics can’t always be accommodated, either, as they require specific handling procedures.
As a donor, you want to be assured your donations are put to good use. However, you might end up disappointed if your items are not accepted.
9. Donate Money to Charity Instead
Donating money to a chosen charity is often a better choice than giving clothes to Goodwill. When you donate money, the charity can use it exactly where it’s needed most. This could be for medical supplies, food, or other essential items.
Plus, donating money helps the charity avoid the costs of storing, sorting, and selling donated items.
10. You Don’t See Immediate Impact
When you donate to Goodwill, you won’t know the impact of your generosity. In your point of view, your donations only reach the store, then you leave and never see them again.
Instead of donating to Goodwill, consider researching local homeless shelters, orphanages, or other non-profits in your area. These centers are more likely to use your donations to address specific needs. By supporting local organizations, you can see a more immediate impact.
11. Difficulty With Quality Control
Goodwill employees spend a lot of time reviewing the donations they receive. It’s a time-consuming but necessary task.
When donors treat the store as a dumping ground, it takes much longer to sort for quality items. Don’t be inconsiderate; allow Goodwill employees to work with inventory they can actually use.
12. Indirectly Supports Resellers
A lot of items you donate to Goodwill get bought by resellers. They get their items from Goodwill and mark up the prices when they resell the items for a bigger profit.
This means your donation might end up with someone trying to make a quick buck rather than going directly to those who need it most. To make sure your donation is used for its intended purpose, donate directly to a charity or organization that aligns with your values.
13. Old Clothes Are Smelly
Do you sniff every item you plan to donate to Goodwill? Most people don’t, and that’s why many workers and shoppers have to deal with piles of smelly, worn clothes.
Smelly clothes are a burden no one wants to face. If you’ve ever procrastinated washing your laundry, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Before you give away anything you own, make sure the fabric has a refreshing or neutral scent.
14. Items Might Have Holes in Them
As a child, I saw my aunt’s closet overflow with clothes until I thought it was going to burst. It became inconvenient to grab items from underneath, so she decided to give almost all of it away. She packed three big boxes full of her old clothes.
Since her clothes were arranged in tall stacks, she didn’t get to examine the items one by one. Many donors don’t realize some clothes have holes in them, since stacked clothes often hide damage. If you have damaged items, it’s better to throw them out rather than donate it.
15. Clothes Can Carry Germs
Clothes can pick up germs from different surfaces. When you put those clothes on, the germs can transfer to you in turn.
You don’t want your Goodwill donation to act as a bridge between germs and other people. Before you hand in anything to a thrift store, wash and clean them beforehand to prevent this from happening.
16. Unwashable Stains
With regular use, a white top will look different over time. You might not notice stains or yellowing, especially if its print design makes it appear faded. However, place a new shirt and a used one side by side, and the contrast will look like night and day.
When donating to Goodwill, some overlook stains on their clothes that can’t be washed off. Don’t donate items that aren’t clean and in good condition.
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