20 Worst Thrift Stores in Arizona

Some places charge near retail prices for items that people donated for free.

Others have staff who treat customers like they are doing them a favor just by opening the doors.

A few locations smell so bad you will want to turn around in the parking lot.

These 20 stores consistently disappoint shoppers who just want a fair deal and a pleasant experience.

1. Mesa Thrift Store, Arizona

Some shoppers say this Mesa shop feels more like a full-price store than a true thrift store.

Reviews mention items priced close to what they cost new, even though the goods are donated.

Older shoppers on fixed incomes may find that frustrating when they are simply trying to stretch retirement dollars.

Several visitors also describe poor customer service.

One reviewer shared that a manager called them a rude name and then banned them from the store, all within minutes.

That kind of tension can make the whole visit feel uncomfortable, especially if you value calm, respectful service.

Others report quality issues.

Items may be broken, and once you pay, sales are final, even if the damage happened in the store.

One longtime customer said, “You’re better off” buying some things brand new because the prices here are so high compared to the quality.

2. Arizona Humane Society Thrift Store, Phoenix, Arizona

This thrift store supports a good cause, but some visitors say the shopping experience falls short.

A few reviews describe prices that feel more like resale shop pricing than thrift pricing, with many items called “junk.”

For seniors trying to save, that can be a big letdown.

Customer service is a mixed bag here.

One donor said a worker was “the most rude person ever” when they tried to drop off items.

Another watched a staff member throw donated goods straight into the trash without checking them.

That is very discouraging for people who want their gifts to help animals.

Some shoppers do praise the store as neat and tidy, but the negative experiences keep coming up.

When you add in the higher prices and hit or miss staff attitude, many thrifters feel this store does not live up to its mission.

3. Goodwill, Phoenix (Thomas Road), Arizona

Multiple shoppers call this specific Phoenix Goodwill location “the worst goodwill in the valley.”

Reviews mention a dangerous area, poor selection, and crappy management.

One shopper said strange things happen in the parking lot at night and the store needs security.

Inside, visitors describe dirty conditions, clothes thrown all over the floor, and a generally unorganized mess.

One customer noted street people laying around “in another dimension of consciousness,” which felt intimidating.

Her husband, who is not easily scared, suggested they leave.

Pricing complaints also come up often.

Shoppers report identical dresses processed the same day but marked at vastly different prices.

When customers ask staff to honor the lower price, management refuses.

That kind of inconsistency hurts trust, especially for older buyers on tight budgets.

4. Savers, Mesa, Arizona

This Savers location drew harsh reviews for customer service, pricing, and cleanliness.

One shopper waited in line so long that another customer made a nasty joke about it.

When she said “hi” at the counter, the blonde-haired cashier turned away to talk to coworkers instead.

Another visitor stopped by on a half-day and described it as total chaos.

She felt mowed down by aggressive shoppers grabbing “nothing but junk.”

The store smelled of urine, shelves were dirty, and the toy section had broken toys thrown everywhere.

She lasted only 15 minutes before leaving.

The store also charges 10 cents for bags, which frustrated many customers who felt profits on donated items should cover that small cost.

For older shoppers who value a calm, respectful environment, this Savers is a miss.

5. The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Phoenix, Arizona

This Phoenix Salvation Army location has changed in recent years, and not for the better.

One longtime shopper said the store is now “a skeleton of the store it used to be,” with shelves and shelves of books now reduced to just 20 books on a single back shelf.

Clothes are unorganized and not sized properly.

Customer service issues also stand out.

One visitor arrived to find the doors not working.

She knocked and made eye contact with the cashier, who continued checking out another customer and never paused to let her in.

Even after finishing that transaction, the cashier still did not open the door.

Some male staff members have been described as unpleasant and acting “as though they are doing you a favor by letting you shop there.”

One shopper said she was embarrassed in the store twice by rude male employees, leading her to stop visiting despite having spent and donated a lot there.

6. The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Tucson, Arizona

This Tucson location is described as filthy, poorly laid out, and dark and grungy.

One reviewer said the floors were littered with debris, making it “not a fun spot to thrift at.”

Prices are also described as not really thrift pricing, especially for the low end items on the shelves.

Another customer noted that at one time this was a pretty good thrift store with reasonable prices and friendly staff.

More recently, prices have spiked and some of the male staff are unpleasant.

Out of three recent visits, she was treated nicely once by a female employee, but the other two times male workers were extremely rude.

She said she was embarrassed in the store and will not be going back, even though she has spent quite a bit of money there and donated a lot.

For seniors who want a respectful, clean shopping environment, this location falls short.

7. Goodwill, Flagstaff, Arizona

Shoppers describe this Goodwill near the Flagstaff mall as suffering from an unpleasant smell.

The entire area often smells like vomit because it is near the Purina factory.

That odor makes the whole shopping trip uncomfortable, especially for older adults with sensitive noses.

Beyond the smell, some visitors note that Goodwill locations in Flagstaff and across Arizona have removed jewelry cases where they used to put cool stuff.

Now, shoppers complain about sifting through picked-over items.

One said they stopped going after the cases were removed.

The excuse given is that people were stealing, but many shoppers believe the real reason is Goodwill’s online hustle, where the good stuff gets sold online instead of in the store.

That leaves local thrifters, especially seniors, with slim pickings and a bad smell.

8. A Second Look, Phoenix, Arizona

This Phoenix consignment style thrift business drew attention for owing money to hundreds of people who left items there to sell.

Reports said consignors struggled to get paid and had to file complaints with state consumer offices.

That is a serious concern if you are thinking of selling your own goods.

For shoppers, those financial problems can be a red flag.

If a store is not paying its consignors on time, it may also cut corners elsewhere.

Inventory can get stale, staff morale can drop, and customer service may suffer.

Older adults who want a safe, simple place to sell or buy secondhand items should take note.

But here’s the catch: before using a consignment model store, it helps to check recent news and reviews to make sure the business honors its agreements.

9. Buffalo Exchange, Tempe, Arizona

Some shoppers describe rude and condescending treatment from buying counter staff at this Tempe location.

One customer said two girl “managers” at the buying counter were very rude and somewhat condescending to most everyone she watched them interact with.

A “soon to be” manager named Chloe or Khloe rolled her eyes and snapped back with a condescending remark.

Others complain that the store does not value employees and is constantly hiring new people who are not experienced.

That turnover can hurt the shopping experience because staff may not know inventory or policies well.

While Buffalo Exchange has great experiences at other locations, this Tempe spot gets mixed reviews.

Seniors who value friendly, knowledgeable service may want to visit a different location or shop elsewhere.

10. Deseret Industries, Gilbert, Arizona

One recent reviewer at this Gilbert location described employees as “very rude and hostile towards ethnic minorities, ganging up on bullying customers so that they leave and don’t come back.”

She said girl associates lie to create issues, then sit there and laugh as customers are abused.

Broader reports about Deseret Industries locations describe core issues including abuse of disabled individuals, harassment, sexism, and violating workers rights.

Some stores schedule employees for 40 hours a week without benefits, then cut hours later to avoid providing benefits.

One former worker at another Deseret Industries said a store manager consistently worked to prevent harassment claims from reaching HR, viewing associates as “expendable.”

When claims did reach HR, he obstructed and lied about necessary safety measures.

That kind of toxic environment often shows up in how customers are treated too.

11. My Sister’s Closet, Phoenix, Arizona

Multiple shoppers describe this consignment shop as having rude and condescending staff.

One customer said, “The employees are miserable to speak with. It’s almost comical how terrible they are to their customers.”

She watched other customers get frustrated and walk out.

Staff is not helpful and is misleading in general.

Another shopper left high-end shoes on consignment, including Yves Saint Laurent, Jimmy Choo, and Manolo Blahnik items.

The store called her 10 days later, after 4 pm on a Saturday, and said if she did not pick up her items, they would donate them, even though the contract said 60 days.

When she arrived, they charged her a pick-up fee and had lost the original boxes for her shoes.

The business also has Better Business Bureau complaints about not working honestly with customers.

One person said they were in the store every week but their products never sold, and they felt cheated.

12. Plato’s Closet, Phoenix, Arizona

This resale chain location draws harsh reviews for hygiene issues and lazy staff.

One shopper posted a photo showing shorts with visible discharge stains on the rack and wrote, “This place is disgusting. Smells horrible, unhygienic.”

Employees barely looked through her brand new Skims items but bought those gross shorts.

Another customer called ahead to confirm they were accepting items and said she would bring 4 full bags.

When she arrived and dropped off her stuff, she got a text 10 minutes later saying everything was ready.

They passed on everything, including Lululemon, PacSun, American Eagle, Brandy Melville, and heels.

A third shopper brought in bags of new items with tags, including Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Spanx leggings still in bag, and Zara.

The staff only took 2 items out of about 50.

When she got home, it was obvious they had not even looked at her bags.

One reviewer asked, “Who turns down LV?”

13. My Sister’s Closet, Scottsdale, Arizona

Reviews for this Scottsdale location mirror the Phoenix store problems.

Multiple shoppers say the staff turns down perfect high quality items while keeping the ugliest stuff on the racks.

One customer called it “awful” and said she is never coming back.

Trip Advisor reviewers describe the business as “greedy and fraudulent people all around from the beginning and even worse so today.”

The store used to have a good reputation, but its practices have changed dramatically over the years.

Pricing complaints are also common.

Customers say items are overpriced for their condition.

One shopper shared they offer you pennies for consignment items, then sell them for hundreds.

She gave an example of retail-priced shoes offered at $125 but looking “like the family dog used as his chew toy.”

14. Crossroads Trading, Various Arizona Locations

While based in California, Crossroads Trading’s complaints show patterns that affect Arizona shoppers, too.

One customer walked into a location and was immediately spoken to unprofessionally and harshly.

An employee cut her transaction short and refused to let her buy items because her friend worked for Crossroads.

The employee then went through her whole order and removed items she was buying for herself, claiming they were “too new,” even though this was not in the written policy.

He tossed her items to the side and made up timelines not stated in policy.

She felt this was discrimination based on nothing but a personal issue.

Other reviewers describe very low offers on high end items.

One shopper brought Marc Jacobs bags, Coach bags, Rag and Bone jeans, Chloe tops, and unworn Donald J Pliner heels.

Instead, they took a Forever 21 shirt and offered a couple bucks.

Pricing is extremely low for sellers but high for buyers.

15. ARC Thrift Store, Arizona Locations

Online reviews show this chain has serious management and staff issues.

One shopper emailed through the website to report a problem but got no help.

A manager accused her of something, spit in her face, and had a finger in her face before even checking security cameras.

There was no apology after.

Another customer described an employee at an ARC location as “angry, hostile, aggressive, intimidating, menacing, racist and threatening.”

The worker threw hangers against the counter so loudly it scared customers.

When the shopper asked for the manager, the manager was standing right next to her and witnessed the employee’s actions but did nothing.

A third reviewer described “horrific” shopping with management yelling and screaming at workers.

They also witnessed staff yelling at and kicking homeless people out of the store.

The reviewer said they would never go back.

16. Deseret Industries, Glendale, Arizona

This Glendale Deseret Industries location often frustrates shoppers who expect true thrift prices.

Some visitors say many items feel closer to regular retail, even though everything was donated.

That can be tough for seniors trying to stretch fixed incomes.

Other reviews mention a tense atmosphere on the sales floor.

Shoppers describe staff who seem stressed and rushed, with little time to answer questions or help find sizes.

That kind of energy can make a simple trip feel exhausting.

There are also concerns about quality control.

Clothing and housewares sometimes reach the racks with stains, chips, or missing pieces still visible.

Older shoppers may not want to sort through that much damage just to find one good item.

17. Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores, Arizona

Former employees and shoppers describe this chain as having some of the least desirable inventory.

One worker said, “SVDP tends to have some of the least desirable inventory. A lot of the items I encountered seemed almost suited for the trash.”

That is not what seniors want to sort through.

Recent complaints online show Saint Vincent de Paul stores pricing fast fashion items like Shein and Temu at typical thrift prices instead of discounting them heavily.

One shopper posted about a local SVDP charging high prices on clothes that are “not designer, not vintage, not quality.”

At that stage, it is just leftover fabric.

The charity also has a long list of items they will not accept for donation, including flimsy furniture, oversized furniture, items with pet hair, and seasonal items out of season.

While some restrictions make sense, the strict rules combined with poor inventory quality frustrate donors trying to help.

18. Goodwill (Multiple Phoenix Valley Locations), Arizona

Beyond the specific Thomas Road store, Goodwill across the Phoenix valley draws complaints about removing jewelry cases and quality items from stores.

Locals say Goodwill took out the cases “where they used to put cool stuff” and now everything is picked over.

One shopper said they stopped going after the cases were removed.

The official excuse is that people were stealing, but many shoppers believe the real reason is Goodwill’s online hustle.

The good stuff gets sold online through shopgoodwill.com instead of staying in stores.

That’s why local thrifters, especially seniors who do not shop online, are left with slim pickings.

A Reddit deep dive into Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona describes it as “a resale empire” that has gotten away from its charitable roots.

Pricing keeps going up while quality goes down.

Employees on Indeed also complain about “very poor support” and weak management.

19. Value Village, Arizona Locations

Value Village is a for profit company that operates under the Savers name in some areas and has drawn criticism nationwide for high prices on donated goods.

One Arizona shopper said the store closed a location and fired leaders after two years of staff shortages and financial trouble.

Social media groups like “Value Village Rants and Raves” are filled with customer complaints about pricing and policies.

Many posts describe frustration with pricing that rivals or exceeds new retail.

That is why locals warn each other to skip Value Village and Savers.

Former employees describe the company as not valuing workers and constantly hiring new people who are not experienced.

High turnover means staff may not know policies, cannot answer questions, and struggle to keep shelves organized.

For older shoppers, dealing with confused new staff is tiring.

20. 360 Thrift, Mesa

Reviews for this Mesa location are mixed, but negative experiences stand out.

Some shoppers describe the store as having interesting items but also note challenges with organization and pricing.

The store operates multiple locations, and quality varies.

Online comments mention that while the store can have good finds, the experience depends heavily on which day you visit and which staff members are working.

Inconsistent service and unpredictable inventory make it hard for older shoppers to rely on this store.

Other reviews describe the store as “closed” or note confusion about which Mesa location is still operating.

That kind of instability and poor communication is frustrating when you are planning a thrift shopping trip.

But here’s the catch: a store that cannot keep its locations and hours clear online is not a good pick for seniors who value reliability.