In big news for thrifters everywhere, Goodwill is going digital. It’s launching GoodwillFinds, a new website that allows you to browse through roughly 100,000 pieces of secondhand merchandise from the comfort of your couch.
Instead of making your way to one of Goodwill’s 3,300 stores, now you can just click on your favorite bargains and have them shipped to you. Because your purchases will come from Goodwill locations across the U.S. and Canada, the shipping costs for each item will vary — but they’ll never be a surprise. At checkout, you’ll be offered shipping options based on your address.
The goal is to list a million items on the site within a few years, said Matthew Kaness, the website’s CEO. Eventually, the plan is for GoodwillFinds to be personalized for shoppers based on each customer’s previous purchases on the site.
For now, there’s a search bar, and you can also browse by category. Do you need women’s clothing, men’s clothing or shoes? Cookware, jewelry or books? Home decor? Collector’s items? It’s all there.
When people donate their secondhand stuff to Goodwill stores, workers will decide which things to list online. They’ll inspect each item, and if it’s dirty or in bad shape, they won’t try to sell it.
Goodwill also says they’ll accept returns for purchases that arrive damaged, or if there’s an incorrect item in your order. GoodwillFinds takes major credit cards and PayPal, but not Apple Pay.
The new website is the brainchild of a coalition of Goodwill leaders from across the country who wanted to bring Goodwill fully into the digital age. It’s an improvement over Goodwill’s previous internet offering, an auction site called ShopGoodwill (which is still operating). You can’t just click-and-purchase on that site — you have to bid on items.
This new Goodwill shopping site comes just in time for the holiday shopping season, too.
And although we’re big fans of putting together affordable Halloween costumes, you’ll need to place your online order for spooky stuff by Oct. 20, according to the website. After that, you’ll need to go to Goodwill in person to throw together a cheap zombie or rocker costume.
Goodwill is a 120-year-old nonprofit organization, the granddaddy of thrift shops everywhere. When you buy from Goodwill — or from GoodwillFinds — the proceeds help fund Goodwill’s community-based social service programs across the U.S. and Canada, like youth mentorship, job placement and professional training.
Also, it’s a good way to save a buck or two.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
