Do Pay by the Pound Stores Accept Credit Cards?
If you’re planning on shopping at pay by the pound stores (Goodwill Outlet, Salvation Army, etc.) you’re probably wondering if they accept credit cards.
So do pay by the pound stores accept credit cards? Every location is different, but for the most part all pay by the pound store do accept credit cards. We suggest calling ahead to your location to make sure. Our closest Goodwill Outlet accepted only cash at one time but now they have switched to credit cards and we assume most other stores have too.
If you know of a pay by the pound store that does not accept credit cards, please leave a comment below and let us know so we can share with the community.
We’ve found that most stores accept cash, credit, and debit cards. However, they usually don’t accept checks.
Why You Might Still Want to Pay With Cash
Some thrifters and resellers have opted to pay with cash anyway. By only bringing cash, they can limit how much junk they come home with 😉
However, if you decide to bring cash, make sure you keep it in a safe place like your pocket so that it doesn’t get snatched. For ladies, it’s best to carry a cross-body purse or fanny pack.
Cash and Carry Policy
Pretty much all pay by the pound stores have a cash and carry policy. This means you are required to remove your items from the store at the time of purchase. This means you cannot ask the store to hold things your you.
Make sure to bring a vehicle that can fit all of your purchases, especially if you end up buying and furniture.
Pay by the Pound Pricing
Not all pay by the pound thrift stores set up their pricing the same way. There are four ways the stores structure their pricing.
One price per pound on everything. Some pay by the pound stores set one price per pound no matter what type of item you’re buying… whether it’s clothing or general household items. This makes it much easier to determine your costs.
The more you buy in weight, the less it costs. There are some pay by the pound stores that have tiered pricing based on how much you buy. It really works to their advantage because it incentivizes you to buy more and they get rid of more items. As you’re shopping you’ll need to consider what is a better deal. If you’re five pounds away from hitting the next tier, you might want to find more things because it will turn out cheaper for you in the end. An example of this is, 1-24 pounds could cost $1.69 per pound, 25-50 pounds costs $1.49 per pound, and 50 pounds and over costs $1.29 per pound.
Different price per pound depending on the type of item. Some stores charge a different price per pound depending on the type of item. For example, clothing might be $0.99 per pound and housewares is $0.69 per pound, etc. This makes it a little more complicated because you have to make sure to keep the items separate so they get weighed and billed together.
Flat rate pricing for furniture and heavy items. Items such as furniture and TVs are heavier and cannot be put in the bins. The prices are often steeply discounted and are a great deal.