Goodwill moves to block Ohio trash pickers

An Ohio woman complains a Goodwill store is trying to stop her from recycling what she says are usable donated items that the organization throws out.

[Balls Deep]

Goodwill's reaction is PATHETIC. Let the lady pick for goodness sake she isn't hurting anybody. Goodwill is just being tightfisted.

[Bob]

I guess I won't be donating anything to goodwill for a while. This fosters Badwill.

[Eugene_C]

The issue is that Goodwill doesn't want people to know how much of the donated stuff they actually throw into the garbage. They're afraid it might deter people from donating.

That said, a lot of people donate garbage instead of USEABLE used items. They use Goodwill as a trash service so they don't have to buy extra trash cans.

[Mark]

Goodwill should not car is someone wants to take something they are throwing out......that does not sound like "Good Will" to an over trashed world..........

[right thing]

Balls Deep wrote:

Goodwill's reaction is PATHETIC. Let the lady pick for goodness sake she isn't hurting anybody. Goodwill is just being tightfisted.

Yeah, then when she gets hurt, cut, or falls while trash picking she can sue Goodwill. Then folks will be complaining about how Goodwill should have stopped her 'cos she got hurt.

Point is...she's trash picking on private property which Goodwill is responsible for.

[earplugs]

I stopped giving to Goodwill years ago when I realized all the workers got first dibs on any merchandise you take into the store. I had not even walked out the door yet and the nasty lady behind the counter was like I want all that to the left. I took it all back and called the Kidney Foundation and they kindly came to my house to pick it up.

Goodwill is more about making money then helping those who are in need.

[Edd]

The trash pickers in general in my neighborhood open up the can and make a mess. I called the sheriff's dept and they said that there is nothing that they can do because once it is thrown away it become public domain. It sucks because the crap was thrown away once already, and now I have to do it all over again.

[DMR]

Goodwill is less about helping and training people for viable jobs and more about money, very big money. Their executives are among the highest paid among the so-called charitable corporations in the U.S. They receive millions upon millions of dollars in grants from government agencies ranging from Federal agencies to local governmental agencies. At the same time they shout how they need quality donations.

It is time for all Goodwill's all over the U.S. to be held accountable at a much higher level. What is their true long-term success rate with their so-called training? What is the revenue generated by their stores? Why are many Goodwill's competing on-line on sites like Amazon, with valid retail stores. The difference is they are deep discounting their products, not maximizing their revenue.

It Goodwill really achieving what they claim is their goal, or is their goal funding salaries (and bonuses) for grossly over paid executives? Is Goodwill really providing quality training services, or just cranking out more and more people for low paying unskilled positions, with very little future.

Goodwill is great at doing the talk, but they do not do the walk.

[rick]

Who can one trust anymore, i didn't realize that Goodwill officials were paid so well. One always wonders why the executives of these programs don't volunteer their time. Im speaking person's who are wealthy and can afford the time to assist. This is why I didn't support United Way. I guess I will rethink any gifting or donations to this group. I think all of these centers should have their financial reports available.

[DollarBill]

rick wrote:

Who can one trust anymore, i didn't realize that Goodwill officials were paid so well...

Be careful, just because you read it on the internet doesn't make it a fact. I would have prefered the poster making the statement about the salaries of the Goodwill Execs to have posted a link to where his facts can be checked.

If the woman is on private property they have a right to complain. If the trash bins are in the public right of way then they don't. They do have a ligitimate concern about liability. For that you can thank the lawyers.

[Ann]

earplugs wrote:

I stopped giving to Goodwill years ago when I realized all the workers got first dibs on any merchandise you take into the store. I had not even walked out the door yet and the nasty lady behind the counter was like I want all that to the left. I took it all back and called the Kidney Foundation and they kindly came to my house to pick it up.
Goodwill is more about making money then helping those who are in need.

The exact same thing happened to me at the Salvation Army. I drove to the back of the retail store to make my donation. They had two Somalian women sitting in lawn chairs smoking cigarettes at the door. I said hello to them and they never even acknowledge me. They didn't even offer to help me unload my vehicle. I had to juggle all my merchandise pass them to get my donations inside as they stared at everything I brought in. They refused to even give me a receipt for my taxes. Fortunately because of past donations I knew where the receipts were kept so I held up a receipt and told them I was taking one. As I was getting in my car I hear one of them say to the other "I'm taking those." I knew my temper so I kept my mouth shut. As I drove off I saw them pulling out items and tossing them on the lawn chairs. I should have done what you did and retrieved my items, but if I would have gone back I think I would have belted them with my donations. Needless to say I have never donated to Salvation Army again. Amvets comes to my home now.

[earplugs]

Edd wrote:

The trash pickers in general in my neighborhood open up the can and make a mess. I called the sheriff's dept and they said that there is nothing that they can do because once it is thrown away it become public domain. It sucks because the crap was thrown away once already, and now I have to do it all over again.

Wow... you really thought it necessary to call the Sheriff because someone looked in your trash??? They should have arrested you for wasting their time. God forbid someone could use something you are throwing away!!!

[DMR]

Well someone wants links to discussion on Goodwill exec pay...there are long standing issues at Goodwill's all over the U.S.

I would suggest starting with www.ncrp.org and enter Goodwill in the search area.(National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy).

Goodwill local affiliates in a number of areas have has "executive compensation" issues after invesitgations.

[TotallyTimm]

earplugs wrote:

I stopped giving to Goodwill years ago when I realized all the workers got first dibs on any merchandise you take into the store. I had not even walked out the door yet and the nasty lady behind the counter was like I want all that to the left. I took it all back and called the Kidney Foundation and they kindly came to my house to pick it up.
Goodwill is more about making money then helping those who are in need.

And do you know who actually benefits the most from donations to the Kidney Foundation in Columbus? Look it up ... a FOR PROFIT organization receives the absolute bulk of the proceeds. The charity gets very little. Ohio Thrift Stores makes the dough... do the research.

[Get Real]

tom the traveler wrote:

Dumpster Diving is an accepted tradition in the Ohio State Univ. area. I find nothing wrong with it.
They also have "can fairies" at OSU. Every Sunday, they come out and pick up all the cans around OSU. They make some money, and the area stays clean.
Goodwill can go F themselves along with the govt. regulations that they claim make them do this.

The OSU area stays clean? Please have your eyes checked before driving again.