Local Thrift Store Rules

Posted by Valerie on March 9, 2009

I’ve talked to employees at the three Goodwill stores within 30 minutes of where I live in Rock County, WI.

Two of the Goodwill stores are owned by the same group. The rules at those two stores are as follows:

Clothing–
1. No zippers on any children’s clothing unless they are plain plastic or bare metal zippers.
2. No paint and no painted metal parts–rivets, eyelets, buttons, buckles. (Plain plastic buttons ok.)
3. No rhinestones or other embellishment except plain cloth appliques.
4. No clothing decorated with paint.

Toys–
Must be in complete, original packaging with age warnings intact. Otherwise, they cannot accept any toys but stuffed animals, “which we check to make sure any buttons are sewed on securely” (I wonder why, since buttons on stuffed animals are the very subject of some recalls.)

They’re not even thinking about phthalates as far as I can tell from those restrictions, but for the sake of our community I’m glad they’re not being more strict.

Third Goodwill store–

Clothing–
Nothing with zippers or buttons at the collar or chest area where kids would mouth them. They’re not rejecting pants or skirts with zippers or buttons “since kids wouldn’t suck on them ever.” No rhinestones or other embellishment.

Toys–
“Most” toys are rejected unless new in package.