Goodwill Store and Riot Control on the Resume'

I went to the Goodwill Outlet store today. If you have never been to one of these, it can be quite an uh, interesting adventure in shopping.

Practically everything is sold by the POUND.

So you have to train your mind to think differently.

"Old Toaster = 4 pounds = too expensive"

"L.L. Bean fleece vest= 1/4 pound = good deal"

From the Goodwill website:

What is the pricing structure at the Goodwill Outlet Stores?

• Clothing, accessories, housewares and toys:
  $1.39 per pound for 0-19 pounds
  99 cents per pound for 20-49 pounds
  59 cents per pound for 50 pounds or more
• Glassware and dishware:
  59 cents per pound
• Books and media:
  Hardback Books – 50 cents each
  Paperback Books – 25 cents each
  Coloring Books, Magazines, Comics, Wall Calendars – 25 cents each
  Records – 50 cents each
  8-Tracks, Videotapes, CDs – $1 each
  DVDs – $2 each
• ****************************************************

So - it sure seems like a good way to shop - BUT - the experience is NOT for everyone.

They bring out 8 large rolling bin/carts into a specified area and you are NOT allowed to reach into the carts until "They" say so.

This means the shoppers have to stand pretty much elbow-to-elbow, lined up waiting for that last cart to get in place and then get the "OK" to dig in.

And dig, they do.

I took some photos to give you an idea of the process.

I had not been there for a while and when I got there today, I saw a different kind of employee there. He was wearing a bright florescent green vest and had an official looking clipboard.

I was curious and asked him his job.

He told me he is an ex-Marine and his background is in riot control, and that is why he was hired for this store.

RIOT CONTROL in a GOODWILL STORE?

You betcha!

When the carts of books come out - the "book guys " dig in and grab armfuls of books and fill the shopping carts next to them in no time. Then later, at their leisure - they sort through them to determine the valuable ones.

Before the Ex-Marine - you could easily get elbowed or gouged by one of these guys. No longer.

When the bins of clothes come out - the "Clothing" people are there - they stand with legs wide apart to take up more room for themselves.

I swear some of them do not bathe on purpose - just so nobody will stand next to them!

There is a very weird psychology working in this place.

A lot of the shoppers re-sell sell clothing on ebay or resale shops in Portland.

They hang out together in a friendly competitive sort of way and wait for more carts to come out.

All day -they are there.

All day...

Because....

Now, you never know what is going to be in those bins.

Paint splattered t-shirts

Goose down duvets

Thong underwear

Victorian linens

You NEVER know!

And they roll out bin after bin after bin - ALL DAY!

Bags of kitty litter

Dansk Dinnerware

Old Televisions

The dress Grandma died in

You NEVER know....

Needless to say, it attracts shoppers of all kinds.

All kinds.

(Today, it was the two Hillbillies who were methodically going through each purse that was in the bins looking for money)

I am glad the Ex-Marine is there.

Goodwill Hunting - All Fired Up!

I went to Goodwill after work last night (so what's new?) and found this great piece of raku pottery.

I used to do some pottery and loved doing raku.

It is so wonderfully unpredictable.

You can get different colors and patterns depending on the medium that you burn. Newspapers - old leaves - whatever.

It is like looking at the Universe.

I knew it was a "good" piece of pottery.
I made so many lousy ones, that it taught me what "good" is...

I knew when I spotted the signature that this was even a little better than "good."
I did not know the artist - but I know a good signature when I see one.

The artist is Jon Oakes.
His artwork is worth way more than the $2.99 that I paid!

At Goodwill, they do not know art.

They no longer put out many paintings - since there was one that they had on their website that went for over $150,000 a couple of years ago. So most of the art - goes to the internet.
But not pottery. Not so far....

Lucky me!

Not Skunked in Seattle!

I am in Seattle for a few days and I finally got to a Goodwill store.

The part of town it was in was, uh, let's say - really more "urban" than I am used to.
The store is near a big University and the workers were young and hip and quite friendly.

I found this nice print there for a good price.

I googled the artist and she was from around here at one time.

The subject is a Skunk Cabbage.

There is an old song by the wonderful singer, Melanie, and one line in there goes something like this - "Everything is phallic if it's longer than it's wide."

I think that would apply to this skunk cabbage.

Anyhoo...

I was pleased to find something of value in a new town in a new place and look for it on ebay here sometime in the next couple of weeks.

The artist is Dale De Armond and this is an early piece by her and nicely numbered 1/25 - dated 1972 ( hint: the avocado green matte is original) - and it was also printed by the artist.

I am going back to the same store today, in hopes of increasing my personal fortune!

Collecting Mystery #1 - Metal Cow Figurine

If you shop enough- you will find some very interesting things that you know nothing about.

Like this

I have googled and googled trying to figure out if this is from a cartoon or old movie.
No luck.

There is a clue, however. Here it is: E.L.K.

I keep thinking, Clarabell? Daisy Bell?

More mysteries to follow....

Sock Monkey arrives in the Mail.

Mable is excited to meet a new friend!

There he is - he seems kinda tired from the journey.

Yikes! He is a Fresh One, indeed!

I put him high up on a shelf for safety's sake.

I consider ebay, paypal and Ken, the mailman - all to be enablers!

cat on a hot danish sofa

I got this neato Danish Modern sofa at a local sale for only $30.00 -

I felt like I won the lottery.

Stubby, the cat seems to like the new couch - but just won't admit it...

The sofa has a definite "smile" to it - the cat -
not so much...

I admire mid century clean lines in other peoples homes!

I really did not "need" this piece of art. It was at the local Goodwill that I haunt everyday ( yes, everyday - more about that later..) and just look at that face.... So, for $3.99 it had to come home and find a place on my shelf.

Finding a place on my shelves is no easy matter.

I have been a collector since I was a child and I try to limit what I collect - but there are SO many interesting things out there!

Lately, it has been NW pottery that has caught my eye.

Just yesterday, at sale at a retirement home, I picked up a bowl and turned it over and saw it was signed Coleman. It was porcelain and I was pretty sure it was Tom Coleman and for $3.50 - I wanted it anyway!

I stopped at my office to use the computer and found out that I was right. Tom Coleman. Lucky me!

I also bought a mid-century ovoid sofa with teak accents along the front. So the old sofa went to Goodwill this morning. Adios, old sofa - I knew you were just an interim sofa anyway...

I mostly buy things to resell - hence, the daily trip to Goodwill. But Goodwill has their own feeble website now and they pull much of the desirable items and sell them online.
People pay stupid prices, prices they would not pay on ebay or at a mall for items on the Goodwill website. Lucky them.


As I said, I MOSTLY buy things to resell - but now and then - I find it too hard to part with something. There is a Glidden tray I found this morning and I am considering keeping it - but may just put in on ebay tomorrow... Oh, the indecision! :)