Complaint Review: Goodwill - Nationwide

 I read here everyone talking about the outrages shipping charges that Shopgoodwill.com (AKA: Goodwill Industries) is charging, and I do agree that some of it is ridiculous. It some instances they charge a flat fee, which makes no sense, because we all know costs for shipping vary drastically from one place to another. Enough about that though, I’m here to write about the that they might be using BOTS, or other IN-HOUSE BIDDERS to jack-up the “auction” prices. In other words Shopgoodwill.com is FIXED, and that is just my opinion… here’s why: I was interested in a guitar, and not an expensive one. I figured I would stick to a price of $50.00 max with the shipping and handling fees altogether (same item was selling on EBay for $59.00-$109.00). I had been looking at many guitars, and I was checking comparable prices all over the internet. The opening price for this particular one was $9.99, and it stayed at that price throughout the day. However, the minute I decided to put it on my “Watch List” the price shot up to $14.99, immediately. I was surprised, but not completely dumbfounded, since I figured someone might have set a “proxy bid”.

Here’s the unusual thing, when I checked to see how many other “bidders” were bidding on this item, there were none. In other words, my bid was outbid by no one. I thought, no problem, it could just be a slow server on their end. So, I left it at that, and didn’t check it for a good while, since I was looking at other items too. I went back a couple hours later; approximately 30 minutes before the auction ended, and noticed the bid was at $19.99. I checked how many bidders had taken a liking to this particular item, and noticed only one. I thought it was weird, because the bidder that had immediately surpassed my bid at $14.99 was not listed, and neither was mine. Of course, I couldn’t see the actual bid prices, but there was only one bidder listed (NOT me), and there should have been at least three. I have no way of knowing which bidder was this that was listed, but myself, and at least one other bidder somehow just disappeared from the equation…strange. Well, I still had room to bid, so I proceeded.

I would bid $20.99, since the increment was set at $1.00. Again, I was outbid by the new amount, that now must be $29.99, because I needed to enter at least $30.99, which I did, and again was routed to a page that said I had been outbidded this fourth time. I was flabbergasted. How can this item go for so much so quickly, yet no one had shown interest all day. I put in my last bid at $36.99, with under a minute to go in the auction, and I won. The total for my purchase was $49.38 with S&H, so I accomplished my goal. However, I was disappointed when I received the item 7 days later, and found that one of the potentiometer was busted, plus the cable jack is malfunctioning. I have bid on other items, including other guitars, and have noticed similar patterns. Prices on almost everything I have bidded on seem to go as high as retail, and in a few instances higher. I have also observed this on many other items I have not bid on, but just followed. Needless to say, something isn’t right. I refuse to believe that the majority of people bidding are complete idiots. You can buy most of these things on EBay, and other sites, at better prices, with exact explanations on condition, and many times with an easy return policy.

It is my opinion that the Goodwill auction site (shopgoodwill.com) is FIXED. People aren’t stupid, and wouldn’t bid almost retail for stuff that’s used, and may be in non-working condition. According to their website, they aren’t experts in any field, and can’t guarantee an item will function as it should. However, they jack up the prices on all this FREE (to them) merchandise, as if they know something, because somehow most of the items reach almost retail price, and in some instances above it. Charity or not, they are just another giant COMPANY/BUSINESS out to make a buck, and yes, they have CEO’s and the like making mega money, off our (FREE) donations. Charity, what charity? Charity to whom? When was the last time they gave you anything, or helped out your family? Oh, and as far as “tax deductions” are concerned, unless you’re donations are in the thousands of dollars, it does nothing for your tax return. I think everyone should be very weary when purchasing things from Goodwill, in general. Have you visited their stores lately? They save all the “good” stuff for their online auction, so it’s almost impossible to find anything really good at their stores anymore, probably, because they can scam us online out of more money, since they can hide the fact that they may be using in-house bidders, or bots, to jack up the prices, even on known defective items that they claim they have no clue about. It’s just my opinion, but something smells rotten over there, and I’ve always been a big fan, while still regularly donate.