Shopping at Goodwill Online
 

Have any of you ever shopped at www.shopgoodwill.com? I accidentally stumbled on this website when looking for some replacement dishes, but I noticed that they have lots of fabric up for auction beginning at $5.00. There are also some older model sewing machines. I even saw some antique machines, too, and they all start at $5.00. The good thing about it is that by shopping Goodwill, you're helping someone improve their life. Just thought you might like to give it a look.

didn't even know they had an online shop and will have to check it out. Thanks.

I would be cautious about buying a sewing machine on the Goodwill website, mainly because most people do not know how to package machines properly so there is a high risk of damage in transit.

You do need to watch where the item is located .... the postage/shipping could cost more than the item is worth. And with Goodwill there is no guarantee ..... buyer beware! or what a great deal!

I've bought books from them and paid almost nothing more than the shipping costs.

I did not know they had an online shopping site. I will check it out.

Have not purchased from them but do surf the site regularly. Do beware of shipping costs - just like any other online shopping site. And, if possible, I would try to talk to a person about packaging on whatever you might be planning to purchase. Since some of the locations seem to be very invested in the online site, my personal guess would be that they have the packaging/shipping thing pretty well in hand but it would still be wise to check.

I buy the affordable ones I can haul home. Sometimes I win good machines some of them are nothing but parts machines. There is no way of truly knowing ahead of time - you have to be handy either way in order to end up with one in great working order

I have looked at this site. I am skeptical---- sometimes the shipping costs is more than the machine and also it says its working but once it is shipped u may get a piece of junk. Buyer beware. Ebay is a little more trusted. I bidded for one on this site. The bidding started at $l.00 and ended up costing the buyer 70 bucks. WHO KNEW. I'd rathere go to my local goodwills and at least u see what u are getting. One of my quilting buddies got an old kenmore portable for 12.00 it even had a swatch of fabric under the needle showing a beautiful stitch.

I agree about the knowledge about the machines and the care not taken when shipping. I bought two machines from Shopgoodwill. Both were barely working and the second (last) one was badly damaged, parts missing, etc. since they don't take returns it's the luck of the draw for a buyer. If you can find what you are looking for within a distance to pick up (and check out) the item you'll be happiest.

I did buy a used copy of a quilting book listed through Amazon but was very disappointed. It was not in good condition as listed and had an offensive odor. I don't buy their books anymore. However, I have shopped in local stores and made some very good buys.

I have purchased items from goodwill.com. however I only purchase from the one that is in my town so I don't have to pay postage.. I have gotten 2 machines but I was able to go look at them first them I bid accordingly. I have gotten some fabric also. I think the workers are getting better at identifying fabric content. I won a quilting fabric lot once and it was more junk than usable. Old faded sheets etc. But now they seem to know what they are doing. Whenever I when a fabric lot I take a laundry basket with me. I take the box full of fabrics to my car and sort thru it in the parking lit. Whatever I won't/can't use goes right back into their box and right back into the donation door. What I keep goes directly info the washer when I get it home.

I have bought two machines from Goodwill in Ohio. One machine turned on and did not sew (the stitch length was on 0) it works great. The second just needed to be oiled. It was clean, but was really tight. I oiled it overnight then cleaned the extra oil off, and it works great too. The first one I gave to my daughter and the second one I am using with 4H students that want to learn to quilt. I think I paid $30 for the first including shipping and about $50 for the second with shipping. Great buy in both cases. I have also bought fabrics and quilting books too. Also old sewing baskets. What you buy does go to a good help others and a good cause.

I have purchased two machines from them, and no problems. I got a 15 clone, and it is a beauty! I did get to chat with someone, and discussed the packing. They were on the ball. Nice job, and machines arrived well packed.

I have purchased used machines repeatedly from www.shopgoodwill.com for our charity quilting center at church. I've probably bought at least 15 machines. Only twice have they been damaged in shipping and the entire cost of the machine was refunded to me. I try to read the description of the machines to make sure the bobbin case, pedal and cord are included. I also limit to Kenmore, White or Singer machines. The one thing you must watch for is the shipping. You can enter the zip code of where you live and you will know exactly what you will be charged for shipping. I have gotten really good mechanical machines on this site for as little as $15 plus $15 or so in shipping. The weight of the machine is crucial to what the shipping will be, of course. Sometimes they had a $2 fee for handling which I assume is packaging materials. The two times a machine was damaged in transit, I was refunded the purchase price and was able to get the machine repaired locally, so it was a win-win situation.

I also purchased my white Featherweight on the Goodwill website two years ago. It was shipped perfectly.

I have bought several books from them via Amazon and have never had a problem

Yes, I buy from shopgoodwill all the time. I have bought dishes or dolls mostly. I have always been satisfied with with what I got. Have gotten some really good collectable dolls from there and dishes. I collect china cup/saucer sets and snakplate/cup sets and tea pots. They usually pack dishes really well. I have only recieved one broken item, a teapot lid. I have been buying from them for years, much to my DHs dismay!!!

I have bought from shopgoodwill. Shipping was more than the price of the milk glass vase I bought. I love looking at the sewing machines but shipping would be hard to take. I definitely would order stuff again, wish I had the money, lol.
brenda

Heavens - I had no idea they had that site - what a place.

Marysewfun

I purchased a Singer 290C sewing machine off this site, sold new in the 1980's. They packed it well; no damage in shipment and it came exactly when they said it would. The machine was "as is". The motor ran and the needle went up and down, but hadn't been tested on fabric. I was so excited about sewing with the machine. I sat down with my fabric scraps, threaded the machine, went to lower the presser foot.......it was frozen. My DH who is a genius with machines took it all apart; cleaned and oiled and adjusted until he was satisfied. He put it all back together and Voila! It sews like a dream. I was also able to find the owner's manual on line at Singer.com. Moral of the story.....if you don't have someone who can fine tune the machine for you, pass on it. Personally, I'd buy from them again knowing that my DH can make it sew.

I have occasionally looked at the Goodwill site and haven't yet stumbled into anything I needed, but I would trust them to do a decent job of packing. They are professionals and they probably understand how much competition they are up against. If you can discuss it with them, all the better. I would not expect them to actually know how to judge whether a sewing machine functions or not. Most people think if the motor runs and the needle goes up and down it's fine. However, if it seemed like a great bargain, has good pictures and shipping cost is okay, I might not rule it out. I do shop my local Goodwill and have found some interesting things. For some reason they never, ever have had any fabric or sewing paraphernalia that I've seen. There was a late model sewing machine one time, but another customer had already claimed it.