I know Goodwill mostly through the giving end of things. For years I've dropped off loads of stuff at this marvelous receptacle of things I no longer want or need. I give things not needed; someone gets things needed. Perfect. Long ago I heard about someone who found, at a Goodwill or Salvation Army Store, a bunch of old maps of Paris in the 1800s. They were worth millions. I've always had a fantasy of finding such a treasure in plain sight (aren't they all). Saturday I decided to check out the retail end of the business to you know, see if I could find my maps. No maps on this trip, but I was blown away by the efficiency of the system going on in there. Well lit, well organized and easy to use. And the prices - holy shit! $11 bucks for a suit??? I wasn't shopping for a suit, but someone is - someone who has that big interview where sharkskin could make THE difference. Housewares, clothes, electronics, toys, sundries, etc. It's all there including...old albums, CDs and DVDs - oh yeah and VCRs :-). I poured over the albums: Herb Alpert, Berl Ives (Little Bitty Tear) - Oh dude that brings back the memories, Helen Reddy (Greatest Hit - I Am Woman, 1971) - the more things change the more they stay the same. In the end, I scored several DVDs including John Waters Hairspray for $2.99 baybee - that's right...$2.99. It doesn't matter if you're involved in the giving or getting end of Goodwill. Just get involved. As I left, I thought about those maps. It would be like winning the lottery, except you wouldn't be winning from the State, you'd be winning from an organization that does a lot of good in the world. I'm guessing it would be pretty hard to cash that check. I said it would be difficult...not impossible ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3yKMWaaD9o read more