# Ethics of shopping at thrift stores **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-shopping-at-thrift-stores/1022510 "2025-08-26T21:51:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 85
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-shopping-at-thrift-stores/1022510/85 "2025-08-28T12:21:38Z")
Here is a thread I started 5 years ago on exactly this point: > [@Goodwill Industries, etc.: Supply vs Demand of Cast-offs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goodwill-industries-etc-supply-vs-demand-of-cast-offs/914391): > > Occasioned by nothing in particular … Every year I seem to end up with a 3 or 4 large trash bags of cast-off usable clothes and household goods that I donate to Goodwill or the equivalent. Which got me to wondering … How is the overall balance of supply and demand for goods at thrift stores and the like? Are major players like Goodwill Industries drowning in cast-offs they can’t sell, or are they sucking wind with empty shelves and disappointed second-hand shoppers? Is the situation highly re… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-shopping-at-thrift-stores/1022510)._