The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center

Esden Grohe

2024-03

Prices at this store are absolutely ridiculous. 8.49 for a target brand blank t shirt? I can get it brand new for cheaper. Whoever is making the prices for clothes is completely clueless and needs to be removed immediately. Avoid this place complete waste of time

Seth McCoy

2019-05

It was a very pleasant visit and the cashier that helped us was very friendly and nice to talk to. She also was able to help answer our questions. The only thing is that some of the items were priced I feel a bit high. Otherwise will be going back.

Christina K

2023-11

Store seemed not well-stocked. Many Walmart and target things there are still tagged as more expensive than new in the store…And most disheartening- the manager (who is very unfriendly/unwelcoming/unpleasant to customers) spoke VERY harshly to his employeeWould love to see this store get turned around!

Sonya Webb

2020-05

Picker's heaven at reasonable price. Friendly staff! Great hours!

Cecelia Beth

2023-05

Soo expensive! Don't even waste the gas going

RS C

2023-05

From what I have personally experienced, the Ames Salvation Army Thrift Store has by far the best customer service. A manager, Nate, was his name was professional, friendly, and kind. Such great quality of service and product as well Nate worked with my advocate to ensure everything I need for my apartment, was available and reasonably priced.I enjoy the Christian music And the Christian books! They put out what is donated and who are we to discriminate against the religion of the store clerks and those who donate? That's just silly! The uplifting, lifesaving music is way more ethical and appropriate than other songs and stations out these days!

Luke Knowles

2023-05

I thrift for a living. My eBay store sells hundreds of items delivered all over the globe every month. I know thrift stores. And, this particular chain of Salvation Army Family Stores (Greater Des Moines, Ames, etc.) is, hands-down, the best in the entire industry. The stores are always clean and well-organized. The selection NEVER fails to impress and the staff is friendly and helpful. To that point, in my last trip we had a special request that required assistance from the district manager. Jenny worked with the store manager and in minutes, everything was in order and I walked away so very happy!! I mean, where else in the world can you find that level of service? Nowhere. The answer is, "nowhere."

Megan Clemens

2023-05

I find a lot of items here but the prices are getting way out of hand. I thought the SA wasn’t about making money? $5 for a stained t shirt is ridiculous or $3 for a used baby bib…no thanks! I will still shop there but definitely won’t be able to buy as much.

George Laurie

2023-08

Pretty it's a pretty clean store and the staff is really friendly and things are easy to find

Tasha Abuassba

2023-12

Bought a dresser from here an it was very nice for $35 dollars.

jessa williams

2021-05

They get the best books especially Joyce Meyer and faith based books. I have also found workout dvds I've looked everywhere for. They also have some cute clothes if you really look around. Two things I don't enjoy is one staff woman acts like she hates me and I've been nothing but kind. Not a good look for a charity store. Also, they play really horrendous Christian music on an earsplitting level. If the staff can't be nice to everyone dont force religion. The new manager has really improved the place and is really pretty and nice. I actually prefer this store to the local goodwill or the loft and overflow.

Katherine Beeson

2023-05

It's usually a decent experience there, but my total has been rounded up for the donations without them asking me multiple times. Its usually just a couple cents, but they didn't even ask me if I wanted to.. seems kinda rude to me to be honest.

Jon Risseeuw

2022-05

I don't know what's going on with the store lately, but I don't like it. Prices have gone up. Way up. And the donation process is extremely unfriendly. There's a sign on the front door that says "Do not bring donations into the store. Bring them to the back." Guess what. People don't want to go to the back. They want to drop off their donations in the front and then shop. One more thing, selection is way down

Txos Vaj

2019-05

What a joke. Who’s rating this store five stars? Do you live in a pig sty??? Because that’s what this place is!The lady who I thought was the manager because she was barking prices to the employee who wasn’t sure what certain items were priced was also using the second register but I guess she was a little special too because she couldn’t figure it out so she called someone else over to help her and there was a huge line that seemed to go on forever like this sentence. And between the three of them, they kept yelling at each other... Awkward.My friend waited in line to buy his single DVD for I want to say 30 minutes. I may be exaggerating but hey, it might as well have been. Then the manager wanted to charge $5 for it even though it was stated on their price list that DVDs were only $3. But she decided since he waited so long, she’ll just do $3... ok, not much of a favor considering that was the price already, lady. But yeah, train wreck...

Christine H

2019-05

It's really crowded and difficult for carts to pass through let alone a person using a wheelchair. The clerk was nice to some, rude to others. The furniture is so packed you cannot even see through to each piece or even walk down by it.

PatriciaAnn

2023-05

Salvation Army is a Family Tradition. My grandmother, a teacher, and grandmother's Sister, who was a Captain, in Newfoundland, in the early 21 century, were of Salvation Army. I stay connected at Christmas and find a store to donate in their honor. :-)I found some good clothes @this store.

G

2020-05

I think the majority of employees do good work at an, often thankless, job. My one complaint is the loudly played Christian music. It's worse than Norwegian death metal and even harder to ignore. Poorly played bagpipes, amplified during a migrain, would be preferable.

Kathleen Gallegos

2020-05

Just like any thrift store, if you look hard enough you are bound to find the hidden treasures. But at salvation army, you'll have to dig through mounds of stained, broken, and generally dirty garbage to find it. The staff is always kind, but the store is always dirty and dosorganized. A lot of clothing is deffective, with obvious rips and stains or excessive wear. I'm not saying don't go there, but definitely inspect things VERY CLOSELY before buying them.

Luanna Peterson

2020-05

They have gone under new management that are rude and disrespectful. The prices are way to high cause there just out to malke the buck for them selves. I will never go there again

Karla Gilmore

2019-05

great stuff, super sales, fair prices, unique items, kind staff, clean restrooms, many fitting rooms,plenty of parking, a service to community, the workers are doing their best in a challenging business; thank you salvation army ames iowa yee ha love you guys and gals

Sarah Fortisi Vereeke

2018-05

Poor managment thing are dirty way over priced will not shop there ever again. Go to goodwill much better place they are always clean

Samantha Morales

2021-05

Always great finds when I come in.... They just price a lot of stuff WAY to high for a resale store.

Diane Miller

2022-05

Go here to find pretty, unique, or unusual items and/or clothing and shoes. The store is very organized and uncluttered.

Tonya And Marty Dudley

2019-05

Just went last night to get a few things. We liked it better than Goodwill. Going to go to The Salvation Army more often.

Heather Bartling

2019-05

You'll have to dig your way through if you want to find a good deal! Cheap prices for the most part, but it is kind of dirty and very crowded.

Jeannie Garcia

2021-05

I was pleased with my finds and the price was good. I will return to see what other items I can find.

Lisa Wetherby

2021-05

The store is looking much better than it did last year at this time ! The prices on the merchandise is still very expensive for a second hand place!

Alexander Peichl

2019-05

Very good prices. Wide selection. Anything you can think of as long as you don't mind second or third hand

Jessica Hicks

2022-05

Wide selection of products, very reasonable prices. It's are clean and in good condition.

Rhonda Hoffman

2022-05

Very poor selection. I can’t think of a time I walked out of an SA empty handed. 😢