Apryl Mock
Managing editor
When most people think of thrift shopping, the first store that comes to mind is Goodwill. The Goodwill here in Durant has a lot to offer and is where I spend most of my spare cash.
Durant’s Goodwill is pretty typical in comparison to others in the chain. It has a wide selection of items, and appeals to those who like to rummage and root about for something really cool.
The best thing about our local Goodwill is the sheer amount of stuff they have. I can spend hours and hours shopping and still not see everything they have to offer. It seems like they re-stock every day because I always find something new each time I visit, even if I visit three times a week. (Yes, I really do that.)
They have the best price on books in town. I regularly stock up on paperbacks here, and they often have really good sales on books. I regularly find nice, trashy novels for 25 cents.
They also give good deals on their crafting supplies. I’ve purchased brand new rubber stamps (which retail for at least $10 at Hobby Lobby) for 10 cents apiece, as well as a box of plaster of Paris for $1(normally around $15).
Another nice feature of our local Goodwill is the grab bags they put together. They sometimes groups large amounts of similar items together for an extremely low price. For example, they have sold a trash bag full of purses for around $3.
While I spend a lot of time in our local Goodwill, it is not without its faults.
First of all, the men’s clothing section is just pathetic. It’s like stepping back in time. Good luck trying to find a modern pair of jeans here fellas. However, if you’re looking to go as one psychedelic daddy from the seventies this Halloween, this is the store for you.
Another problem with the Durant Goodwill is receiving the student discount. While I am grateful for my 10 percent off on Fridays, it can be a bit of a hassle to get. If you forget to inform the cashier you are a student before beginning your purchase, they usually aren’t too happy about it.
The only sign I’ve seen warning customers to inform the cahier that they are a student before they start ringing them up is tapped to the front door. I think it would make more sense if the sign was by the cash register so you would be less likely to forget.
For the most part the Goodwill staff is friendly and helpful. They are usually more than happy to point you in the direction of the $1 ties or the lampshades and tables clothes.
I’ve only had one employee be extremely rude to me and that was because I forgot to tell her I’m a student. (I have short term memory loss Ok? Sometimes I forget that it’s even Friday.) However, one bad experience out of hundreds of visits is a pretty fair track record.
The biggest problem at our local Goodwill is the price of clothing and shoes. There are several thrift shops around town that will sell you a pair of shoes for a dollar or less. You aren’t getting an old pair of Walmart- brand sneakers for less than $4 at Goodwill.
Blouses cost around five dollars and up. I understand that they need to turn a profit, but considering all of their merchandise is donated, how could they not? Why can’t they charge reasonable prices? Other thrift shops around town charge as little as 50 cents for a shirt.
They even have a special name brand mark- up aisle. I feel like they’re saying, “here’s the isle where we charge you twice as much because these clothes are, in our opinion, somewhat nicer than the other clothes.” Whose bright idea was that?
What really cracks me up is the stuff they consider worthy of being marked up. They put brands like Forever 21 and American Eagle on these racks but leave the Gucci and Versace in with the Walmart brands. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but only a little. They really seem to miss the worth of designer clothing when it happens to pop up in Durant.
Overall I would say that the Durant Goodwill is a good place to start “poppin’ tags.” If you’re looking for a place with a wide variety, friendly staff and aren’t afraid to pay a little too much for some of your stuff, I would recommend it. I give Durant Goodwill four out of five stars.