Thank everyone! I am going to see wha I can find at Goodwill this week. FYI, it's the Rockville one on Boiling Brook Drive.

My concern with electronics (kitchen or otherwise) is that they were donated because they didn't work properly. I'd just be careful the first few times. I do think you can return items with a receipt now at Goodwill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went into Goodwill about a month ago, looking for something to use for a children's craft table. I didn't find one, but I was amazed to see all the high end kitchen items. My $200 wedding present coffee maker was there for $15! I am thinking of getting a crockpot and wondering if this is a good place to go, or if I should just go to Target. What do you think?

Which Goodwill was this?

Seriously! The stuff at my Goodwill is BAD. They sort through and sell the good stuff on ebay before it ever reaches the shelves

I doubt that since I have found things brand new with the tags on. I won't buy stuffed animals there, but I will usually buy anything else if it looked reasonable. I'd be wary of the coffee maker only because it could have hard water deposits inside that you won't be able to get to.

I am a big thrift store person and have found some great finds. Do be careful with electricals to check the cords. Don't buy anything with signs of fraying.

I think every piece of Pyrex and Corningware I own is from a thrift store! I always check there first when I need something. As long as I can wash the main receptacle part (the crockpot's crock or a blender jar or whatever), I say go for it. I remember reading someplace that thrift stores are the best places to buy bread machines, since so many people purchase them new and only use them once or twice. You can also clean a coffeemaker with vinegar or those little packets of cleaner that they sell at the grocery store.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went into Goodwill about a month ago, looking for something to use for a children's craft table. I didn't find one, but I was amazed to see all the high end kitchen items. My $200 wedding present coffee maker was there for $15! I am thinking of getting a crockpot and wondering if this is a good place to go, or if I should just go to Target. What do you think?

Which Goodwill was this?

Seriously! The stuff at my Goodwill is BAD. They sort through and sell the good stuff on ebay before it ever reaches the shelves

If you have a utility tub soak everything for 24 hours in a solution of 1 cup bleach to one gallon water. Rinse. Make sure electrical items dry completely before plugging in.

Soaking electrical items is unsafe and completely bananas. Just wash things as you ordinarily would. If you're so paranoid about bugs that you feel the need to soak not only the crock but also the electric base, then these deals are not for you. Don't electrocute yourself or short-circuit your kitchen over your bug paranoia.

Anonymous wrote:I went into Goodwill about a month ago, looking for something to use for a children's craft table. I didn't find one, but I was amazed to see all the high end kitchen items. My $200 wedding present coffee maker was there for $15! I am thinking of getting a crockpot and wondering if this is a good place to go, or if I should just go to Target. What do you think?

Which Goodwill was this?

If you have a utility tub soak everything for 24 hours in a solution of 1 cup bleach to one gallon water. Rinse. Make sure electrical items dry completely before plugging in.

I'm not sure where bugs could hide in a crockpot. I say go for it!

Anonymous wrote:Didn't you answer your own question? If you were impressed with the quality of the selections, why wouldn't you?

Just wondering if I need to be concerned with cleanliness or bugs. A coffeemaker is different from a crock pot or other cooking item where real food can get trapped, right? Or maybe not? I don't know. Anytime there's a Goodwill post, some people state it's the best place for secret deals, and some people panic about bugs.

I have friends who I respect who only buy kitchen goods from Goodwill. It's the first place they look.

I could never do it, but I eat food made with their Goodwill kitchen items.

I buy classic Tupperware from Goodwill all the time! Best prices and what I buy always looks new. Outfitted my whole pantry this way =)
I also got a full set of crystal (yes, crystal!), 28 glasses, 14 of two different sizes at Goodwill

Didn't you answer your own question? If you were impressed with the quality of the selections, why wouldn't you?

I went into Goodwill about a month ago, looking for something to use for a children's craft table. I didn't find one, but I was amazed to see all the high end kitchen items. My $200 wedding present coffee maker was there for $15! I am thinking of getting a crockpot and wondering if this is a good place to go, or if I should just go to Target. What do you think?