The manager, Linda, calls me--the owner of Affordable Home Furnishings--and, I'm sure, a few…read moreothers, to purchase merchandise directly off the truck before it ever reaches the sales floor. Since early 2020, Linda has been inviting me into the back of the store to buy items before they are made available to the public. I have an eBay store, and she would have me "volunteer" some weeks--up to four days a week for several hours at a time. She asked me to wear a badge and not speak to anyone. During this time, I would separate the shoes I wanted to purchase in the back and then take the remaining pairs out to the sales floor. Over time, this evolved into me doing hours of work in exchange for being allowed to select inventory first. The owner of Affordable Home Furnishings, Guyla, and Linda have been doing this for many years. When Jeanette was the manager, this would occur on days when Jeanette was not present, particularly with furniture. Linda has also accepted gifts exceeding the allowed $100 monetary limit. She has given me pink-tag items as gifts, including one jacket priced at over $100. Recently, after previously giving me discounted prices, Linda questioned why I was bringing up price differences. When I mentioned the times she had gifted or discounted items for me, she claimed she did not recall those instances. She has now told me that I am no longer allowed to return to the store. When I asked why, Linda stated, "That's what the courts said," but refused to elaborate. For example, I recently purchased a pair of shoes that were missing shoelaces. I mentioned that shoelaces cost about $4, and she gave me a discount. She even said she enjoys negotiating with me. However, about a week later, when I questioned a price difference on T-shirts while checking out with another associate, she became enraged. She told me that I am no longer allowed to purchase items like shirts for $1.99, even though I had done so in the past, and that she personally considers those shirts to be worth $5. I asked her what I should do as a customer if one associate rings up an item at one price, but another believes it should be higher. I also asked whether, if I were purchasing a dry-fit polyester Nike T-shirt with a standard logo, I should request to be charged $5 instead. She did not have an answer. I asked the associate at the register, after she left, what I was supposed to do in that situation, and he responded that he did not know. I have concrete photo and video evidence of these events.

I love exploring in our Salvation Army store, it's laid out for easy shopping. I did a lot of my…read moreChristmas shopping there last year, my family loved their gifts and my wallet was happy! I love Linda and her great staff, you feel welcome when you come in - that's important to me. I'd like to say Thank You to the Salvation Army for knowing Linda would be a perfect fit for us!