KARM Stores

Outlive lIre

2024-04

Prices are more expensive than buying it BRAND NEW at Wal-Mart. And this is products that you are getting donated to you for FREE. Thrift stores were designed to help communities and the needy. Your establishments are always playing “Christian music” but you’re not following the Lord’s word or you wouldn’t be trying to rob communities of every dollar they have just to buy from you. I’m not interested in your scripted response to me, I just want to make people aware of how ridiculous and fake your stores really are. “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.”

Heather Browder

2024-04

I’ve been frequenting KARM stores for many years, usually Lenoir City and throughout Knoxville. Today I visited the Maryville location with great disappointment. ONLY secular music playing which is not the case with other KARM stores; certainly not an example of Christ. Plenty of employees but not a word spoken, especially when time to check out. No hello. No thank you. No nothing from anyone. I will continue to frequent KARM stores, however probably not the Maryville location. I know everyone’s not of the same mindset, but exemplifying what your business is about is key. I hope the environment at the Maryville store improves sooner than later.

Tiffani Lachea

2024-03

This is the second time I’ve been in this location (Maryville) by foothills mall my grand total was over 200$ but yet I was followed around like I was a thief and the cashier is extremely extremely rude. Rolled her eyes at me when I was digging in my purse for my card and then proceeded to ask if I wanted to donate… get outta here you lost my business.

ScottNHeather Watts

2023-12

Thrift stores were originally designed to provide very affordable opportunities for families to get items they need, and even chances to get nice things they otherwise couldn't afford to buy new. Every KARM thrift store is very overpriced. They have a seemingly clever response to reviews complaining of their prices, but their carefully scripted response does not phase me.It is nauseating to see Jesus' name being used on a business that has thrift stores with nauseatingly high prices. KARM claims their steep thrift prices are justified because of the good they do in the community. While I don't doubt they help folks, KARM shouldn't "bite" the hands that shop and donate to their thrift stores with their greedy prices. If you were confident in the purpose of your organization and its functions, you would fully rely on God to keep your business afloat and not prey on folks' hard earned money to keep you in business. Resellers and greed have forever stained thrifting. However, they don't stop Habitat for Humanity Restore, Community Chest Thrift Store, Second Chance Family Promise Thrift Store, AMVETS Thrift Store, and Reclaimed Treasures Thrift Store from providing affordable items you need for your family and maintaining their missions to help others in need.

Alexis

2023-12

This place is such a rip off. They charge premium price for donations and will sell defective items and not even allow for store credit refunds. I wanted to shop somewhere where I could give back to the community, but this is not that place. Will never come here again, AMVETS is much better

James Jones

2023-11

Karm stores claim they are helping poor people while charging outrageous prices. They seem to be only helping their charities and not the poor people that shop at their stores. I would not recommend unless you are wealthy and like thrift stores

Scott Caylor

2023-12

Wonderful place to shop for odd and unusual items you can find almost anything also glad that the alcohol store is in a new building a lot cleaner and spacious

Joshua Smalling

2024-04

Well overpriced stuff for a thrift store, there are much cheaper places to shop.

Emily Jean

2023-09

Update: This store has continued to disappoint with the sky high pricing. I went two days ago and found a “vintage” dresser that was not even real wood, had been poorly updated with knobs and handles that were only partially attached with clearly filled in holes from the original hardware. All for near $400. I wouldn’t have picked it up for free. Save your time and go to Amvets and donate to local missions.Previous Review: I love thrift shopping and have shopped at this store and donated many times over the past two years. The past three times I have gone I have left with nothing due to the prices and the past few months before that I have dished out money and splurged on a basket or frame. This place was expensive when I moved here and the prices have just gone through the roof. I found a round piece of cutting board/stool top that was BROKEN in half (and taped together by a worker) and priced at $8. There was a faux vintage art set with only a couple paint brushes left (basically a cheap box) for $15. One vintage piece of furniture was $350 and I couldn’t even open the drawer. Every time I am there I here someone say something like “$50?!? I could get it new from Walmart for $20!” These are consignment/antique store prices not thrifted. You even sort by color, which is arguably the least amount of effort to curate items (Though I give credit to those that make displays).Respectfully, I recommend you re-evaluate how you fund your mission if you are resorting to these prices. Just because people buy the stuff, doesn’t make it ethical for you to price it so high.I love your mission which is why I am giving feedback. I hope you will consider dropping your prices or just doing a better job about who prices items and based on what criteria. Another idea is to have a garage sale day where everything is 1/2 off. Maybe do a color tag system like Goodwill has done historically and do special deals. Your monthly deals are…. sad.

James Coleman

2023-08

FYI: ALL these stores are Ridiculously overpriced. Everything they get is donated by the public so the community should be getting great deals. Not the case. You can get cheaper online or retail. These folks need to lower their prices. I will never waste my time here again.

J Clark

2023-07

I brought two desk to donate and was told by one of the girls outside, they didn't take furniture in that condition. One desk is an antique with no scratches and the other is in better shape than most of the furniture they have in the store. Its a shame they are too lazy to do their jobs. I took them to the Alcoa Karm and they were tickled and thanked me for the great looking furniture. Skip the Maryville location and go to the Alcoa Karm or an antique store 🤔

Kathy Moore

2023-05

I tried returning a necklace that I bought last night, but the policy is all sales final. It was too small for my neck. They didn't even offer to exchange for something else. I was very upset and out $22.00. I told them to just take it back as a donation. I won't donate ever again. Nor will I shop there. And we were huge supporters, not any more. Sorry.

Andrew Henley

2023-08

It is extremely rare to find a good deal on anything at KARM stores. On several occasions, I have found a new identical item for sale at Walmart for less than KARM wanted to sell it for used. As an affordable alternative, check out our lady of charity or AMVETS. Oh also AMVETS and our Lady of Charity have bathrooms. KARM stores do not.

Karla Ale

2024-04

Why have the fitting rooms close at 8, if the store closes at 9 ??

Sam Eileen

2023-05

I have never been treated so well at a store than I did at this Karm location. Kim went ABOVE AND BEYOND to help me and the kindness I was shown is unmatched. I am truly grateful. She made my 3 Year old non verbal autistic son very happy. Thank you thank you thank you!

Christina Gentile-Fields

2023-05

Wow I am shocked at what I am reading. I just moved back to tn from Florida and can't seem to find any, let alone decent thrift stores around my area or nearby and passed one of these stores recently. I thought about checking them out but am glad I decided to look into them and read some reviews first. It's really sad that they are limiting their business to helping only people who come into whatever rescue ministry the money people spend there goes to instead of helping the people of the community the company is in. Florida had so many great and cheaply priced w quality item thrift stores. I can't even find a thrift store so I was excited when I learned that is what the karm store is. Your reviews make you lose customers before they even step foot in your stores. It is so beyond me that you receive free donations and have the audacity to over price them bc of their quality instead of having set prices for the diff article of clothing regardless of the brand, except for major name brands and that's just the high high higher end clothing name brands,...allowing more people to frequent your stores which allows more items to be sold. Total bummer and disappointing.

Kayce M

2023-05

Overpriced and a sad excuse for a thrift store. They also throw away most of your donations, even the perfectly good items that aren't broken or stained. They overprice items and what doesn't sell, they throw right into the trash. Do better, Karm. Stop filling our landfills even more.

Jana Latham

2023-05

Lots of diverse merchandise but many times the prices are just not affordable. I do buy from them but many times I pass on items that I am interested in.When you price a used Kim Rogers top for $6.00 and I can buy it at Belk for $8.00 new at the end of the season sale; it’s not affordable. I do believe that the upper KARM corporate management that’s advising the store to price so high is losing revenue and sales because they are pricing themselves out of the market.If customers come and can’t find affordable items, they eventually look elsewhere.

Tab V

2023-05

The Maryville location is clean and well organized. However, I’m rating it a 4 because the prices are kind of ridiculous. When I can go to Ross and TJ Maxx and buy items new I don’t know why I would bother shopping at a KARM. I understand it’s for a good cause but it needs to be affordable for the shoppers and it’s just not. I will be going back to Ross and buying new.

Angie Witte

2022-05

No clue what a Karm store was when I moved to town so stopped in to check it out. It's a resale shop where the money goes to pay the workers and to help the homeless in a shelter. Prices were okay if not a great bargain but something about shopping for a cause makes me want to pay more. Staff was super friendly and took the time to tell me about what they do. Will keep them in mind for donations and for bargain hunting.

Moon Mama

2022-05

I went to this store on Wednesday or Thursday of last week on my lunch break. I spilled something on me at work and needed a new pair of pants asap. I have an 18 month old daughter and haven't went clothes shopping for myself since before she was born, so I figured while I was there I would grab a few clothing items to make myself feel like a woman again, instead of just a mom. I have been dealing with some thyroid issues that have got me feeling down about my looks recently also. I got up to the checkout and the cashier, who seemed somewhere around her 20s or 30s, asked me if I qualified for a senior discount. I quietly said "no". I am 35 years old. At a VERY hard time in my life physically. I just left my abusive husband 2 months ago, my daughter still wakes like a newborn so I hardly sleep, and yes, I'm getting older. I sat there the whole time quietly wondering why she asked me that. This was by far one of the most embarrassing and heart wrenching things that's happened in my life. At a time when my self esteem is already in the gutter. I do not know if the cashier was just being mean, if it's something asked to all customers, or if I just look twice my age suddenly, but I do not think that is something you should ever ask someone. So KARM, adapt better policies or get better employees. And people, just be kind. You never know what someone is going through.

Gene Gowdy

2023-12

Jezz. The prices are stupid high for mostly junk. I don't care what they say about who they help. You get the stuff for free.

Lisa Boring

2023-05

3rd change in as many months. I'm not destitute, but I shop at Karm because I don't have a lot of money. I stopped in there today to buy a warm winter coat, only to find out every coat in the store is hanging on a rack labeled "Coats for the Cold".NOT for sale.Voucher required.IT'S 20° OUTSIDE, AND I CAN'T BUY A COAT?!YOU PEOPLE ARE UNBELIEVABLE.Changing my review from 'Love this place!', to " I used to love this place, but it's a THRIFT store, impossible to find a bargain when the prices are so OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH." It used to feel so good to find a nice treasure at a great price, plus you knew the money was going for a good cause. Karm has great stuff, usually in great shape, but apparently someone up the ladder has gotten greedy.AMVETS Alcoa is a great alternative.

Amanda Stover

2023-05

They have alot of great items how ever im on a budget so I try to shop to save money as much as possible I thought there prices would be cheap but their not so cheap anymore sometimes ill find a couple things but went in there today and was suprised of how expensive it was this stuff is donated to them and I thought there supposed to help people that are needing help like a low budget how ever that is no longer the case any more I seen things with prices tags on them that were new marked down from a store it was bought for $.74 and the karm was asking $5.00 i do not understand that one, and it's sad I try my best to buy stuff for my 7 kids and now it's tuff to even shop at the karm store due to there very very expensive prices!!! I'm Highly disappointed!!! I think it's sad they are charging so much for items that were donated and like I said thier supposed to help the community that is not the case!! I have since read lots of reviews on all of what I spoke about and it's sad that they re so high on prices and that ppl whom re poor and on a fixed income such as my self cut even get good deals on things that are donated s to lot of others have said you can pretty much pay the same price for it to be new why shop at karm when there stuff is used and there going to charge the same if you buy it new..... Wow I encourage everyone to read the reviews from others so sad!

Rhonda Shope

2023-09

As these stores grow bigger, so does the homeless population. Something is amiss with this BUSINESS! Prices are outrageous! Someone is at the root of this making lots of revenue!

Dana Koogler (Cumberland Gal)

2022-05

I am thrilled we have this KARM store in town. I found my grandson a complete Dockers Christmas/Winter outfit with the retail tag still on it. A $50 value for $25.99. I got myself a pair of womens Taos pumps for $19.99. I just broke my heel on my black Sunday shoes this past weekend. I found myself a couple ladies blouses in the colors I wanted for $15. I found my granddaughter a Halloween outfit for $12 and parts of it can be used as play clothing day to day. Got some cute school clothes for grandson for cheap. Great looking stuff. I looked up the retail price on the shoes I got. They retail for not less than $75 a pair. I feel blessed!

Julia SquiresVernon

2023-05

Best charity thrift shop around. Clea store and items. Staff is exceptionally nice and helpful. Enjoy shopping there. Wish I could give KARM ten stars. And they help so many many folks

Melinda Baker

2023-05

If you are looking for a nice thrift store, this is the place to be! We stopped in to shop while visiting the area during our family vacation. We joked that we will have to vacation this area again so that we can come back to these KARM stores.

The Out Of Doors

2022-05

By far the most overpriced thrift stores on the planet! It is literally insane. You can find clothes at places like TJ Max etc, same brands for the same price but brand new instead of used. If they cut every price in half it would still be slightly over priced. Do not donate your things here, or any KARM location, it is a scam making a few ppl rich at the top. Every other thrift shop, chain and independent in the area that gives to charity has way lower prices. They give to charity and ppl can find affordable things there, as it should be. Their real "mission" here is to rip people off. I've thrifted in SC, TX, AZ CA, NV, FL and this is far and away the biggest rip off in the country when it comes to thrift shops.

Brenda Ponsford

2022-05

KARM is a wonderful organization. I both donate and shop at KARM. I love the variety of artwork. I wish they would start a central bookshop. They would have an amazing variety. Most importantly, when I check out, the cashier says how many meals I provided. KARM is a blessing.