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Goodwill Bins Guide

The Goodwill Outlet (aka "the bins") is where unsold thrift store items go. Pay by the pound in a chaotic free-for-all. Not for the faint of heart.

How Bins Work

Pricing: Items sold by weight (typically $1.50-$2.50/lb)
Rolling bins: Large blue bins filled with unsorted items
Bin rotation: Fresh bins rolled out every 15-30 minutes
The rush: When new bins come out, everyone dives in
Categories: Clothing, housewares, books, electronics, shoes (separate areas)

The Reality

Bins are NOT glamorous. Expect:

Dirty, dusty, sometimes smelly items
Aggressive competition from other resellers
Standing for hours digging through chaos
Touching things you'd rather not touch
Lots of garbage to sort through

⚠️ Wear gloves. Seriously. You'll encounter dirty diapers, used tissues, broken glass, and worse. Heavy-duty gloves are essential.

What to Look For

Designer labels: Quick label check on all clothing
Quality fabrics: Cashmere, silk, wool by feel
Vintage tees: Single stitch, band tees, 90s graphics
Electronics: Test if possible, know valuable models
Toys: Complete sets, vintage, LEGO
Books: Textbooks, non-fiction niches
Shoes: Designer, quality leather, popular brands

Timing Strategy

Opening time: Most competitive, freshest items
Weekday mornings: Less crowded than weekends
After lunch: Crowds thin, still fresh bins coming
Watch the rotation: Learn the schedule, position yourself

💡 Pro Tip: Bring a cart or basket. Claim items first, sort later. In the rush, you can't stand there checking labels—grab and go.

Bin Etiquette

Don't reach over people or push
Wait for bin rotation—don't follow bins from the back
Respect personal space (as much as possible)
Don't hoard bin space with your body
Be quick but not rude

What to Bring

Gloves: Non-negotiable
Hand sanitizer: For after
Cart/basket: Hold your finds
Phone: Quick comps checking
Comfortable shoes: You'll stand for hours
Old clothes: You'll get dirty
Bags: For organizing finds by category
Water/snacks: It's a marathon

Is It Worth It?

Bins can be incredibly profitable if:

You have time and stamina
You know what sells and can spot it fast
You're comfortable with competition
You can wash/clean/process lots of items

Average haul: Spend $20-50 in weight, sell for $200-1000+ if you know what you're doing.