by Colin Dennis

Created on: June 17, 2009

Unless there is a sale, I like to go to my local Goodwill store around ten in the morning. Just before the clerks bring out the carts with the newest offerings of clothing. I am usually one of several customers anxious to peruse the new arrivals. Sometimes I see the garments before they are priced and I will yank them off the rack and ask to have them priced immediately. This process can be repeated four or five times each day I visit the store.

In this way I have garnered a wardrobe of wonderful clothing, mostly designer brands: Nicole Miller, Norman Rockwell and Jerry Garcia ties; discontinued but still exquisite Ralph Lauren button-down 100 percent Polo cotton shirts and a Armani jacket; Phat Farm, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Akademiks and Versace jeans; Abercrombie & Fitch shirts and shorts and Adidas and Puma gym wear.

About 20 years ago, when I worked as a restaurant manager, I was wont to purchase $500 suits. Not now. Today I can buy suits of equal or better quality at a fraction of their original prices and fewer buyers are turning up their noses at wearing second-hand clothing. Indeed, since the onset of the recession, Goodwill stores are more packed now than before the economic turmoil with more middle-class shoppers in evidence.

Goodwill Industries was founded by Methodist minister in 1902 and has about 160 loosely connected agencies throughout North America. About 84 percent of its revenues go towards employment and training for more than 1113,000 people. So when one shops at Goodwill one feels one is also making a contribution to the betterment of society as well.

Whenever there is a sale -usually on a Wednesday- I will go to the store very late the evening before and "pre-select" my clothing. This is where I do my research and ensure a perfect fit and check the linings of jackets for excessive wear. Then early the next morning, around 8:30 as the doors open, I head straight for my loot and take my purchases to the cashier. It can be utter madness on sale days. The only caveat is that new or almost new designer brand clothing tend to be priced much higher than the others and may not be on sale.

The Washington Goodwill store uploads a video of its yearly fashion show to its Web site fashionofgoodwill.com. So customers can see what is available.

Here is all you need to know about shopping at Goodwill: Try on clothing before purchase and retain receipts with the original tags still on the clothing. Goodwill will issue credits within seven days of purchase -but wont give refunds- for returns, as long as you have your receipts and the price tags are still on the garments. Some things like underwear and hosiery can never be returned. Finally, keep informed of sale days: the two Goodwill stores in my area have their sale days on Wednesdays. Sales are sometimes advertised on Craigslist as well as seamsogood.com.

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