Charities Not Accepting Used Items?

[BleedBurgundy]

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on this one... We recently updated our kitchen and my wife wanted all stainless steel appliances. After we bought all of the new stuff, we had a like-new, 8 yr old set of appliances: Electric Oven, Refrigerator, Microwave...

I could have sold them for maybe a couple hundred dollars, but I thought it would be nice to donate them. Called up Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Salvation Army and NONE of them would take the items, said they only accept new appliances. WTF? Am I missing something? I understand why they wouldn't want some broken down item that they would have to spend money on to get working or to recycle, but for things that are in perfectly good condition? Seems completely counterintuitive/wasteful to me.

I've looked online and I can't find any good reason for this. Anyone involved with a charity and care to explain?

[Hog1]

If your area is similar to ours, there is any number of (non-profit) thrift stores that take donations and in turn support the homeless and needy in your area with the proceeds.

[mooby]

Boy I have no idea. When I was a kid my mom used to gather up me and my siblings' old shit and give it all to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, and they'd take it by the truckload. And we didn't give them crap either, it was all usable/resellable stuff. I had no idea they stopped taking used goods though, must be a change in policy.

[InsaneBoost]

Yeah I knew about this a couple years ago. Grandmother gave me her old computer (which wasn't real old, had XP and was fast, she just bought a newer computer) to give to a library or school, can't remember which.

They told me they didn't take used things. I asked them if why and they couldn't tell me, but they weren't allowed to take used things.

Dumb as hell if you ask me.

[BDBohnzie]

DR - quite strange. I would have though Salvation Army or Goodwill would take them as long as they are in running condition.

Here's a contradicting link: GE Appliance Donation Center
GE is saying to call 2 of the places you said won't take them to arrange pick up.

Perhaps the closer stores won't accept large appliances. I'd call the Frederick stores and see if they accept. I'm pretty sure I've seen the Goodwill take used appliances before.

[KLHJ2]

I donate to these guys all of the time (Damn good cause). I haven't tried large kitchen appliances but here is there FAQ's from what I can tell the only things they don't accept is "used baby items". I haven't researched enough to know everything that they do and do not take though.

Purple Heart Pickup Service - What Do We/Don't We Take?

Edit: It doesn't look like they take large kitchen appliances either. They give you a number to call and ask why. If I had to guess I would say that it has something to do with insurance. Say the appliance catches on fire then they are liable...I am merely speculating though.

[Monkeydad]

Surprising they won't take them. We have a place in my town that DOES take them, they also take leftover building supplies/old cabinets/sinks/etc and you can go buy them cheap for your budget remodels.


If you can't find a charity for them, put an ad on Craigslist, it could likely help someone who is short on money and really needs them. Not the ideal way to do it, but it should work.

[firstdown]

The salvation army thrift store here takes used items. We just put stuff like that out on the street the day before trash day and watch the Sandford & Son types fight over the stuff. Me and my wife bet with each other on what they will and will not take. So far the people riding around will take about anything left on the street.

[Dealseeker777]

Great now even Charities not excepting used goods. What this world coming too...Ha Ha?

[BleedBurgundy]

I had everything on Craigslist since last Friday, no takers. I tried a local women's shelter, no luck. Today at work, someone told me he could use them, so I'll drop them off tonight. It's not a big deal, it just surprised me how hard it actually was to donate some really good condition appliances.

Not to be ignorant, but if you're in the situation where you need to go to Goodwill, Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity, are you really in the place to be turning things down? Shouldn't you be grateful for what you can get? Aside from the super rich, just who the hell goes out and buys a bunch of brand new appliances and takes them to a charity? That's the only way the ones above said they would accept them.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

I had everything on Craigslist since last Friday, no takers. I tried a local women's shelter, no luck. Today at work, someone told me he could use them, so I'll drop them off tonight. It's not a big deal, it just surprised me how hard it actually was to donate some really good condition appliances.

Not to be ignorant, but if you're in the situation where you need to go to Goodwill, Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity, are you really in the place to be turning things down? Shouldn't you be grateful for what you can get? Aside from the super rich, just who the hell goes out and buys a bunch of brand new appliances and takes them to a charity? That's the only way the ones above said they would accept them.

Perhaps a liability issue as someone already said. Who knows, call 'em up and ask.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Perhaps a liability issue as someone already said. Who knows, call 'em up and ask.

I think they might have become tired of people pawning off their junk so they won't take the items any longer. I know I took a bunch of office equipment like copiers, computer stuff, two phone systems, and other office stuff which was pretty much worthless. They take the stuff and guess what? I get a receipt for my taxes. LOL

[firstdown]

Most places we have around here take the used items and then turns around and sells the stuff in good shape and the beat up stuff would get sold for the scrap metal. People do not actually go to the salvation army to get actual kitchen items. The Salvation army sells the items and use the money to fund their programs.