Goodwill simply doesn't know phones.

[Greg G.]

Same outfit, different store.  I was at the main Goodwill in downtown Seattle today and came across this gem.  Keep in mind that the Goodwill near me (different store) is where I found the green 1971 SC for $1.99, and it came with a 4-prong to modular adapter.  No such deals this time.  And it was in the "collectibles" area to boot!

[Phonesrfun]

It may sit there a while.

[rp2813]

Clueless overpricing often runs rampant at various thrift stores.  I personally don't think Goodwill knows anything about anything.  Their stores around here have become nothing but junk that you'd see out on the curb, and I rarely set foot inside one anymore.  It's enough to make a person wonder if the local Goodwill retail stores are fronts for something else.  They have nothing worth buying.

That phone is going to gather some more dust for sure.

[Greg G.]

That's why I much prefer Craigslist when looking for quality used items locally.  I still browse the local thrift stores now and then, but more often than not, even items I find that are in good condition that I may have been interested in I pass by when I look at the price.  

The pricing seems to vary widely depending on the store.  Contrast that pos yellow phone with the $1.99 SC I found at the Ballard GW:

[Phonesrfun]

Greg:

That was a great find!

[foots]

Most places around usually are way overpriced for no reason, though sometimes good deals can be found on rare occasion.

[AET]

Goodwill and St. Vinnies here told me they gut them for scrap and toss them out!

[Dan/Panther]

Tom;
Tell them you'll double the scrap value, just save them for you.
D/P

[Greg G.]

Goodwill and St. Vinnies here told me they gut them for scrap and toss them out!

I remember you saying that in another thread.  I make it a point now to try to ask thrift store personell what they do with them if they get them in.  

[AET]

I have talked to them multiple times, and I told them I would pay well for them, and they said they'd save them for me, and I have yet to get my hands on any from either store.

Tom;
Tell them you'll double the scrap value, just save them for you.
D/P

[bellsystemproperty]

I called one and asked about rotaries too. They said that if the phone worked they would just sell it and if it didn't they would "recycle" it, which makes me  . I can just see a 12/49 500 with a simple problem like missing a cord, and it getting "recycled" I then asked if they do get a "broken" rotary that they could put it in the back and call me, and that I'd even give them a bit of cash if they like. They said no they can't do that, again that made me even more  ! I will have to call back or go to the store in person perhaps as a different person for more negotiations. Luckily, at least they informed me that no one had given them a rotary phone in years.

[AET]

Sounds like my experience this week.  And to think it could be as simple as it has a 4 pronger on it so they can't test it.

[bellsystemproperty]

Realistically there's no reason the manager couldn't stash the "broken" phone in a closet somewhere and tell no one but me or drop it off at a pickup location, but at least Petaluma doesn't have hardly any rotary phones for sale anymore, so none will end up in Goodwill.