Tacoma Goodwill Outlet store

Have you ever been to a Goodwill outlet store? Well I will tell you it is an experience that you don't want to miss. Many years ago, my friend, L and I ventured to the Seattle Goodwill outlet store and after that experience we didn't go back until 2013 when Tacoma opened their outlet store at 3120 S. Pine St. in Nalley Valley,  between Center Street and South Tacoma Way. The old memories came rushing back - piles of clothes and different items were in big rolling bins and people were digging through these piles. We didn't stay long and were on our way.

Here is how the Goodwill outlet store works - each colored tag goes through a cycle at the store. First - a certain colored tag are attached to the item and displayed in the retail store where customers are able to buy the item. If by some chance this colored tag item is still available a month later it is marked 50% for a week and then the next week it is marked $1.29. After this huge markdown, if the item still hasn't sold, it heads along with all the other same colored tags to the outlet store where it is placed along with other local retail store colored tags to a bin. This bin is then wheeled out eventually to the customers who come into the outlet store.

Last Sunday on June 29th,  I decided I was going to venture back to the Tacoma Outlet store and see if things had changed. I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't as bad as I remembered, it was fairly organized. You can tell the regular people who visit the outlet by the gloves they wear on their hands (probably not a bad idea - since you are digging through pounds of clothes, shoes and other items). 

This is just a sampling of what is available.

I decided to dig in and see if I could come up with some treasures of my own. This is what I found:

I took my pile of stuff to the register and piled on top of a scale (everything is weighed - under 50 pounds it is $1.49 a pound) and my total came to $18.39. I bought 29 items of clothing, 2 shoes, 1 book, 1 bath mat and a baby gate. WHOOO! Not bad - it might even be worth going back again - this time with a pair of gloves.

Addresses of Washington Goodwill Outlet stores: Seattle -hours - 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Sunday
1765 6th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98134

(206) 957-5516

Tacoma - hours - need to call to verify

3120 S. Pine Street

Tacoma, WA 98409

(253) 573-6711

Everett - hours - 8 am to 6 pm, Monday through Sunday

2208 W Casino Rd.
Everett, WA 98204

(425) 263-8540

Kent - hours- 9 am to 9 pm, Monday through Sunday

315 Washington Ave S

Kent, WA 98032

(253) 854-2211

Vancouver, WA - hours - 9 am to 9 pm, Monday through Sunday

9025 NE 117th Ave 

Vancouver, WA 98662 

(360) 823-4360