Goodwill of Central Iowa

Honest Reviews

2024-02

Extremely over priced for a goodwill. Most large quantities of items are INDIVIDUALLY priced. All nice clothing are higher prices. Even the nice coats are priced just under eBay prices and are located on a special rack in front of the store. I originally walked in looking for a decent cheap pair of shoes. To my amazement the closest size they had for me cost $19.50. For a used pair of shoes at goodwill!?!? Yes, it was a better brand but the shoe was completely destroyed! No tread, dirty and hair all over it. After seeing this I had to make a post. Absolutely unacceptable goodwill. Also Don't give me the generic reply too this review. Tell me how you are going to make the prices more reasonable instead.

Kaydence Thomason

2024-02

I was employed at this Goodwill for a week. They are very disrespectful to their employees, especially their district manager. Theres a mentor there also and she always had very backhanded comments to make. The mentors don’t actually train the employees most of the time, the just stand there and make condescending comments. They do not wash the clothing, blankets, sheets, pillows etc. before putting them out for sale. Instead they spray the clothing with febreez and put the other stuff out for sale without doing anything. The bathrooms constantly smell, and the store is overall just very dirty.

Martha Jaie Simmers

2024-04

You get stuff for FREE, usually from garage sales or people cleaning out closets. But yet they put ungodly prices on items. Yeah, you're supposed to make a profit, but what expense.People donate items to you, but yet you put new prices on items cups is $$$$ blue jeans is almost price of new jeans shirts? Knick knacks the same thing.Shoes are almost $20 a pair of used torn dirty put them out no prices on them just a sign stating prices. That's Ottumwa.....Fairfield, omg, new prices on everything, same with Coralville it's used items yes, it's in good shape but are you serious?I worked well and volunteered there a long time ago with my Mom it was supposed to be a job. Nope, we were volunteers. We put applications in. We never heard back from them, but teens working there to everyone else.I have never liked the manager since then, so I went through a lot of hands since then. But it got ruder and snottier since then, not picking up clothing. I donated clothes cause a place called Pay it forward closed for winter.I saw them out, and almost 10 for a purse? It's not new. I paid less for it at the Des Moines location at Goodwill. How about getting back to reasonable prices? Even regular thrift stores are overcharging for name brand items. It's used cause the regular price is $100, which does not mean to charge $50 to $25. You do not want to keep it.Sell it cheap $15 to $20, yes, not cause it's got name brand it's higher priced. I saw prom dress huge rips in them $89 dollars cause was a famous designer.

Tina D

2024-02

Great customer service from I think his name was Less . He was just wonderful and I truly appreciated him . I do not want his hard work and dedication to go unnoticed . Thank you again . ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Zachary Lawrence

2023-12

Poor management throughout the years, my family members were mistreated working here as was my girlfriend, plus this place is always a mess! Do not go here

Joi Hubbs

2023-08

Wow! The worst Goodwill I've ever been in. Dirty, dingy and just blah. Because they decide not to tag half their stuff the already slow and incompetent cashiers have to figure out prices. When I asked him what color was the half off for the week was he said it was was a secret! 🤣😂🤣 They could learn a lot from the Heartland Goodwills!!

Kerry Karp

2023-09

Goodwill only gives veterans a one day discount i hope they don't get upset when the military decides to fight one day a week when wwlll starts

Soccer Addict

2023-12

Heard this place has horrible employee standards, do not work here

J M

2021-05

I emailed your feedback email. I hate leaving a negative review as I have shopped here for over a decade. I did not at the time leave any comment because I did not want it to be controversial. As you read the email I hope you understand how this can be fixed. I love Goodwill's mission for helping people with Disabilities receive training and employment. Even though I probably do not need anything in the store its still fun to shop and even donate to. My family and myself make it a priority to shop here and support you.

Carlos Gonzalez

2024-01

They have to lower the prices of some products further

Judy Dalton

2021-05

UPDATE i want to let you know that this complaint was handled with a quick response from Brenda's Supervisor. She listened to me, was very professional, promised she would address the problem and wished very much that we would return to the store and continue shopping. Well we know what happened next. The Covid-19 closed the store down for quite some time, so no one was able to do anything. Upon reopening the store, I though I would give it a try again. On my second visit I was approached by Brenda with sincere apologies, a smile, a wonderful chat and a vow that we would start all over. Now that's what I call a Stand Up manager! I am so happy to be back shopping in my favorite store. Love you all and Thanks for being there for us, wearing masks, and keeping us safe.This is a complaint on the manager, Brenda, of this store. My partner and I have been shopping in this store for several years. The past several months we have been coming in daily to shop because they have been getting such nice merchandise so reasonably priced. We have receipts for almost $5,000 dollars that we spent in this store last year. We have loved our experience and all the associates and Assistant Managers that have been so friendly to us. Since we are such frequent shoppers we find a lot of items that do not have price tags, so we either give them to an associate on the floor or take them to register to have them priced, even if it isn't something we plan to purchase. knowing that they won't sell without a tag. Last week I found another couple items that hadn't been priced and when the cashier took them to the back Brenda came out and told me she has a problem with me, that I bring too many untagged items to them, well I can't help that so many things do not have price tags She told me I was banned from bringing anymore unpriced items. I can't help that they aren't priced. Then she produced a plate I had tried to buy the day before that had 2 tags on it and I wanted to know how much it was. Again that was unacceptable with her I was warned I couldn't do that again. I am retired, 74 years old, and was in Retail Management and was the Loss Prevention Specialist for Walmart in Kansas City, Mo. and I know that people do this, but we had to have proof by seeing them in action or on tape before accusing them of something wrong. Brenda can look at her tapes til the cows come home and she will not find me doing anything that she accused me of doing. I want a public apology as I was humiliated, defamed and embarrassed. I will be copying this to Goodwill Corporate Office.

Melinda Bernard

2019-05

I've always had good experiences with this goodwill but after today I'm not so sure..I purchased a calendar witch has coupons five bucks off..apparently they are marked by month for usage..I didn't know witch is fine but the lady was finish with my transaction then realized her mistake and I had to wait for two different people held up the line .. so after making me wait over Five mins after already paying the manager comes and says we have to ring everything up again and refund then purchase again without the coupon...they completed put themselves first and did not care about my time .. they made the mistake of charging my card already and was already done with my transaction wanted me to waste more time for her mistake.. I work in customer service myself and if I mess up I don't put it on the customer and make them stand around to make my job easier. not going bak anytime soon.

Ane Aer

2023-05

My microwave doesn't work and they was rude to my sister over a coffee machine so I'm not buying kitchen appliances there again. If I would able give no stars I would.

Julie Hill

2020-05

I did post "Nice store with good help and prices" about a year or so ago. I want to change it to hiking up prices too high. Ottumwa Goodwill wasn't jacking up prices like other Goodwills. Now they are like the rest. Name brand stuff is priced higher than retail store sale price. Poor kids that want to dress hip can't afford $20 to $30 dollar and up clothes. I use to go in and buy a whole cart full but now walking out with 5 or less

Diana Taylor

2019-05

The staff are always very friendly. They really get to know their frequent customers, and usually know you by name. The store is always clean, as well as the changing rooms.

Kim Goering

2019-05

I bought a chair (I know dumb) was in my house for 6 hours found bedbugs. Cost $1300 to get rid of them. I notified goodwill and they did NOTHING. don't go there they have bedbugs

Marc Conners

2022-05

Nice place, with a good staff. Good selection of things to choose from, and the staff is friendly & helpful. Nice location, with plenty of parking.

Rexanna Haines

2023-05

Found lots of stuff to buy. According to my receipt I had way too good of a time!

michel schumacher

2019-05

This is the worst Goodwill I have ever been to. The clothing is not only over priced but almost every item is ruined by the insertion of the colored tag making a hole in the item.

Carrie vanderhorst

2020-05

Oh my, I can't be the only one who thinks this goodwill is overpricing majority of all items. WOW, you could go purchase these items at Walmart cheaper. Get with it goodwill of ottumwa.

carol mcneese

2019-05

I thought my experience was okay the only thing that bothers me is the price of your items there were several items there that had been donated by stores you could tell they were brand new and they were 90% of the price that you would have paid for him at the store and I just feel like that there should be some more Bargains there than that

J Garrett

2023-05

Prepare to wait in line forever other than that great store

Mindi Chamberlain

2022-05

I love this goodwill. I have always found fantastic treasures here and the staff are so very kind.

Joyce Larson

2022-05

Very nice staff. Lots of nice reasonably priced items

Kathy Mcallister

2021-05

This is the MOST expensive Goodwill...their prices are unbelievable compared to other Goodwills...love the staff...but corporate is GREEDY!!!

Timothy Brown

2019-05

great prices, alway cheap on most things, nice big store, and most r nice that work there.

Allen Stewart

2023-05

Found stuff I didn't know I needed good deals

Len Thompson

2022-05

Shelves were nearly empty. Clothes are totally disorganized , mixed together.

Elijah Blue

2019-05

Great deals I always love coming to this good will they have awesome tshirts

Tracey Blake

2019-05

Most staff are friendly...items are pretty good..like the exp.alot..