‘That’s crazy to me’: California Goodwill customer hears workers panicking about Supreme, Bape items. Then she learns the truth about designer goods they sell
Goodwill has seen a recent heat for its rising prices and continued price gouging, something that surprises keen purchasers considering it’s supposed to be a thrift store. But one California Goodwill worker has an extra message for those seeking designer goods in Goodwill’s showcase: “Don’t drop by, they sell the real items online.”
In a video with over 246,000 views, Alissa, a history teacher based in the California area, shared a recent discovery she made about Goodwill’s showcase and auction. Based on the testimony of a local Goodwill employee, most of the higher-priced items at Goodwill’s showcase are “fake,” with real, donated luxury goods going straight to the donation-based thrift store’s online auction website.
It started with an overheard conversation
While shopping at her local Goodwill, Alissa said she overheard employees scrambling to locate several high-end items that an employee accidentally placed on the sale floor.
“I was just doing my thing, like shopping around, and all of a sudden one of the employees sort of started panicking and she was like, ‘Where’s the Supreme hoodie? Where’s the Supreme hoodie? Like you weren’t supposed to put that out,’” Alissa said. “And she was like, ‘Yeah, like the Supreme hoodie and the two Bape shirts, like those were not supposed to be put out… Where are they? We have to find them.’Cause now they’re on the floor and they were supposed to be sent out.’”
Alissa decided to ask where all of the nicer items were going. That’s when she learned the truth. “[An employee] was like, ‘No, we’re sending it off to headquarters to be sold.’”
According to the employee, designer or high-value donations are not kept in-store but sent to a central hub for resale, likely on shopgoodwill.com. “He was like, yeah, like, you know, like if we ever get designer bags or like really nice jewelry, we just send it off to sell it online,” Alissa said.
“So I automatically am like, ‘What about the stuff that you’re marking up in the showcase?’” she asked. “And he was like, ‘If it’s like lower-end stuff, it might be real, but anytime you see something designer [in the showcase] it’s fake. [They mark] The designer stuff in the showcase at like $50, $60, $70…”
Shocked by Goodwill’s ‘money-hungry’ practices
Alissa seemed shocked and frustrated that Goodwill willingly sold fake items in their showcase, saving higher-priced items for its auction website.
“Every single thing that Goodwill is receiving is free. It is a donation,” she said. “They are taking the expensive designer pieces, sending them off so not even the consumer can get them… And then you’re marking up the prices of things that you either cannot confirm are real or know for a fact are fake. That’s crazy to me.”
She also added that prices at her local Goodwill have increased in recent years.
“This same location recently marked up all of their prices,” Alissa stated. “A long sleeve used to be $7.99, and today, when I went in, it was $12.99. I was in here two days ago, and you marked it up that much?”
“I don’t know what to do with this information,” she said. “I’m a big thrifter. I’m an avid goer to Goodwill, and now I just feel p-ssed.”
A common complaint for Goodwill stores
Several Goodwill shoppers have recently posted about pricing increases or a lack of higher-quality items in stores. One shopper noticed a high-end bag in her Goodwill store, only for an employee to snatch it away for their e-commerce site.
Other customers have had “nightmare” experiences requesting discounts on items, only for the price to increase due to their question.
One customer overheard Goodwill employees pricing used Athleta tank tops for $30, a conversation that put her off the company. “Why are you putting a used tank top that you got for free as $30?” she said in her TikTok video. “That’s insane to me.”
Commenters also had complaints
“Goodwill is and has always been a giant scam,” wrote one viewer. “I try to avoid [it] as much as I can. Try to donate to and frequent your local thrift stores.”
Another added, “My senior project was on thrift stores in our area. Goodwill was the absolute worst, most of the clothing drop off bins are scams too. Our local Salvation Army stores fund the Adult Rehab Center and actually help communities and families.”
@teachinginstyle Goodwill, speak for yourself?? I love thrifting but this made me so bummed – also for the talking speed, I had too much coffee lol #fyp #thrifting #goodwill #thrifttok #thrift ♬ original sound – Alissa | History Teacher
The Mary Sue has reached out to Goodwill’s press line via email and Alissa via TikTok direct message. We’ll let you know if either party responds.
Update Oct. 31, 2025:
Goodwill responded to a request for comment, stating, “There are more than 150 separate 501(c)(3) Goodwill organizations across North America, making up over 3,400 stores. Each of those 150 Goodwill organizations run their stores and programs based on the needs of their local communities. Goodwill stores sell donated goods so they can use the revenue to provide people in their local area with free job training, career placement services and other human services that can help them build skills and advance in their careers or other life circumstances. For that reason, when a store receives donations, they work to set a price that reflects fair market value for their local community while also making the most of the donated item’s value. The more funds a store is able to drive, the more they are able to assist people who are in need of job training and other support services, all at no cost to them.”
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