The Salvation Army USA
reviews and complaints

I have been shopping and donating to Salvation army for over six years. All of my donations go to Salvation army over any other organization. About a year ago or so I had my first racial encounter at the store on 15 mile and Gratiot in Clinton Township. My best friend and I were shopping in the kids department when the lady began following us through the department giving us a hard time for supposedly not putting a few items back where they belong. This woman as an African-American lady about 5'2 with braids weeks later he came into the store with my friends daughter shopping in the kids department the same woman proceeded to follow us around the kids department she actually at one point shoved my friend out of her way. I have made two complaints with the general manager of this location I watch fell on deaf ears. Not only was nothing done about it but now every time I come into the store she will go and have someone follow me around the store harassing me while I'm shopping. After my first time I was told I would get a call back I never received one. In fact I have been treated worse. I have also been shopping at the saint Shores location I have been applying there for over six months recently I had a short five minute interview after continuing to be persistent with the manager I am absolutely qualified and most times while I'm in the store the customers will ask me questions because they believe I know enough or appear to know enough to work there. I have seen now five black managers within the past six months the hiring sign still hangs and not only from my own eyes but from an inside source only black African-American men and women have been hired into these positions. In fact I think I can count on one hand how many white people are given opportunities to work for your nonprofit organization. Recently I was going through some very hard times and I miss calculated how much my items would cost which I believe they pick and choose their discounts because this would not be the first time someone openly admitted to overcharging me and did nothing to compensate for it. Yesterday I went to check out and the manager started telling me how much of a problem he had with me I asked him how long he had work for Salvation army he told me five years I find that hard to believe I have not only been doing all of my shopping pretty much for the past 5 to 6 years there but I am religiously donating to your organization. It is very obvious that there is a serious racial issue with in your organization I am making a complaint hoping that this can somehow be resolved before I have to take it to the next level I have documented times that I have reached out to upper management and been completely ignored or harassed even worse I want something to be done about how white women are being treated. I was in the store yesterday trying to get some things for my daughter‘s Easter basket because we had just lost our home and instead I was told and shown how much of a problem he thinks I am . I spend at least anywhere from three to $500 a month in your store if not more when my times were better. If I do not hear back from somebody I am going to take this somewhere where my voice can be heard and I am going to expose the reality of what is going on in your organization. I am not going to continue to beg somebody to hear how I am being treated by your workers and your organization

I have been going to this location for awhile now and every single time I walk into to this store, I don't get greeted and when i'm checking out I don't even get a simple hello or how are you. I find it super ridiculous considering this place is a christian owned business. Blue springs missouri is where it is located. I don't think this is appropriate to treat people who are simply just shopping, like this.

I had called The Salvation Army to donate a practically new couch and made an appointment after submitting a picture. Two guys came out and looked at my couch and decided they didn't want to take it because there was a little cat hair on it (and I mean very little). This couch was only seven years old and in fabulous condition. You people are supposed to be helping underprivileged families and you turn down a couch because of a little cat hair? I actually think these two light-weight guys didn't want to do the work of carrying the couch out of my house. Everybody I talk to has the same story about The Salvation Army, that they're really getting ridiculous. I hardly think an underprivileged family would have turned down this couch because of a little bit of cat hair. When I called to complain, I was told "some people are allergic to cats." This is true, but there are also a lot of people that are not allergic. Every Christmas time, you people have your hand out looking for donations, but when someone tries to do good during the year, you turn your nose up. I ended up hiring a junk removal company that will be donating my very fine couch to Habitat for Humanity. I no longer will donate to The Salvation Army after this absurd experience. Your request for money next Christmas will fall on deaf ears.

On 03/26/2019 I went to the Vallejo Salvation Army for two reasons 1) to see if they could help with my PG&E bill and was told they didn't have that program anymore which was ok and was given a number that could possibly help me. 2) then I wanted to get some food (which I've done a few times) and was told no cause the only reason I wanted some because I saw other people getting some and if I really want some to come back on Thursday

Items are way too overpriced, the manager Liz is a crook, I overheard her talking about how they purposely sell things that are broken so people who return them have to use store credit. Saw employees taking the half off colored tags for the day off of the shelves and racks so people couldn't buy them for the reduced price. This is supposed to be a charity that helps people.. I find better deals at target and Walmart. It's shameful, I'd rather spend my money somewhere that uses it for a good cause, but this place is not one of those places. My husband is a former employee and All they care about is profit.

First let me say yesterday Feb 4, 19 between my mom and I we spent over 150.00 in the Salvation Army in Beckley West Virginia. She bought a chair and we had to go back today to pick it up. We have shopped there ALOT..
So while shopping there today they were what they called "cleaning the store" I thought maybe they were moving or something. I was told no just cleaning we do it every beginning of the month. THEY HAD LOTS OF BUGGIES AND BLACK TRASH BAGS OF STUFF TAKING IT OFF THE SHELVES THROWING NICE STUFF IN THE DUMPSTERS.
I was looking threw a buggy with odd and ends of fabric pieces, curtains, good sheets, tablecloths etc.. there were 4 buggies full so I wanted to get some of the bigger pieces (even like 1 panel of a set of curtains) to use for crafts and sewing.
I heard (DREMA) say throw all of these 4 buggies out. So they started bagging it up. I ask her could I buy these items at a discounted price and she told me NO it's full price it has not been bagged up yet. SO THEY BAGGED IT all UP AND TOOK THEM OUT AND PUT THEM IN THE DUMPSTER. They would rather throw them away instead of selling them at a discount price. They were throwing nice shoes, home interior pictures, curtains sheets, heavy coats, kids clothes in the DUMPSTER.. THAT IS NOT ALOT OF THAT STUFF COULD HAVE WENT TO THE HOMELESS SHELTER OR WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER IN BECKLEY. IM VERY UPSET. MY MOM IS 91 YRS OLD AND LOVES TO GO THERE BUT I WILL NOT BUY A SINGLE ITEM FROM THEM FROM HERE ON OUT.

Hello: I frequent the Salvation Army on Winchester Blvd. in San Jose, California. And I might also add that I donate a ton of stuff to them.

On Friday, January 25, 2019, I purchased a few things yesterday and was told there will no longer be senior discounts. I was shocked, to say the least! It's one thing to raise your prices, but to stop senior discounts? Shame on you! I'm a senior citizen living in the most expensive area in the country, and there are many many people here who live at poverty level and depend on thrift stores for many things. And I've also noticed how some of the prices are ridiculously over-the-top. It just feels like price gouging.

If people with less income can't afford to buy at Salvation Army, then what's the point? I mean, after all, everything in the possession of the stores is GIVEN to them, free . And then to jack up the prices of certain items to make top top dollar. I've seen items that I can purchase at other stores for the same price, if not less, for the same item, brand new.

Desirable resolution of my complaint: bring back senior discounts and please stop price gouging. People with lower incomes depend on your stores for their wares.

Thank you.

Linda Bachmeier

I have a great working medical/adjustable bed I no longer needed. Being in Pittsburgh, I know there are plenty of older folks with low income in need. So I went online to Salvation army and scheduled for a pick up( they were the only charity picking up furniture).

I waited two months with this heavy bed sitting against my bedroom wall. The guys finally come today and there was one excuse after another as to why they couldn't take it. When I scheduled, I explained CLEARLY that this was a Heavy, adjustable bed. But the men said they never pick up beds like this. Then he says, "maybe, let me see". Then suddenly Everything has to be perfect, there can be no imperfections. He kept calling the scratch in the corner "damage". Mind you, the Salvation army store sells plenty of scratch and dent furniture. However, my bed Looks almost new except for the scratch I caused, trying to move the thing. It's complete with a clean Serta Foam mattress and cushioned cover. I could see the two guys simply didn't want to take it because they didn't want to lift it. The Big guy kept saying, " It will end up in the Monroeville land fill, because Salvation Army is very picky." the little guy says." Yeah, the guy over us doesn't know what he's doing. Some of the nicest things go to the dump." So we ask If they could just take the things downstairs for us, because, being Women, we can't lift it. They say no.

The two non-workers leave and I make a call to the Dispatch guy. I explain the situation, then he gives me a " Yeah, they can't move anything they're not gonna take. They ain't a moving company. I asked How much does it cost you to take the item to the dump after it has been rejected?" He answers " Well, about once or twice a day it costs $500.00."

Noticing this guy is a jerk, I reply.. " That's for a truck load, I'm asking about an Item." He responds. " Yeah that's for a truck, I don't know how much for an item." I'm honestly so frustrated now, I simply asked. " Couldn't I just give yins a donation to take the thing to cover your cost? " Then he replies.. " No. They wouldn't take any money, we can't accept donations like that. " So I ask one last question. " Do you know any churches, or other charities who would take an great working adjustable bed?" He replies. " No. Not from the top of my head. " I say ok and end the call.

I've never had such a bad Donating experience in my life. I waited two months for a waste of my time. Salvation army sucks.

I arranged over a month ago for furniture donation. When the truck arrived they told us they would not take the couch and 4 chairs, that were in good condition, because we have pets. They picked one piece of dog hair off a chair and refused to take all of it. It is ridiculous! I will never donate to the Salvation Army again, not a dollar at Christmas, nothing!

On December 22nd around 2:30 in the afternoon, my daughter and I were walking out of Walmart (Amherst, NH, 101A ) near the gardening side door. We appreciate the work of salvation army so we both made a donation to the bucket of the bell ringers.
As we were leaving, my 15-year-old daughter heard one of the bell ringers, a white/grey haired older gentlemen, say to his partner in a innuendoed tone and snicker: "I'd like to take her home." My daughter is a presidential recognized volunteer and tutor at other non profit, not prone to exaggeration. We respectfully demand action and may monitor the volunteers to make sure proper action is taken for the honor of young women donating and the two organizations involved. If the man has honor, he will admit his fault. Thank you.

A woman name Annie Vandeventer drives her salvation army money to and from where donations are made. She resides and brings it back to Asbury Park. I know this information because she took medical transportation with me and was bragging about how her and her man pull over on the way to drop off the money and steal from the bucket. I know times are touch Last year I was hospitalized and had no Christmas and this year I can't work still due to my illness. Yes it's awful and sadens me to the core that their will be no Christmas. But that doesn't give people the right to steal. It makes me sad that she is doing this and I needed to voice it. Thank you very much for your time. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

4940 pan american blvd, north port FL 34287 at 11:30am today door was lcoked, hours stated open 9am-4pm (closed for lunch 12-1pm). People were inside but wouldnt help me. Went to 2120 loveland loveland Blvd, port Charlotte FL 33980 & they wouldnt help me either. I spent 2 hours & alot of gas driving around trying to find assistance, everyone is telling me to "try this place, or that place" or "im in the wrong county, you have to make an appointment" etc. I heard every excuse in the book & i was not treated nice by anyone. I lost my job 4 months ago where inworked for 12 years. I recently just got hired at a new job but will not receive a paycheck fofor another week. My FPL bill is past due & now my electric will be shut off on monday. I had to cash out my retirement to get through this difficult time & now that money is all gone which i worked my whole life to build up. I have never struggled like this before. I received food stamps for 2 weeks for $115 but that was all they would help me with. I have a zero balance in my checking account, no food in my home other than spaghetti noodles & canned spinach to live on. I am disgusted with how i have been treated & turned away today. I know plenty of people who have received assistance in the past with utility bills & they all suffer from substance abuse problems. They also get food stamps & rather than buy food they sell their cards to get cash & in return can get their drugs. After all the tax dollars i have paid towards the government over the years & donations i have given to charities for those in need, i am appalled that i can not receive one bit of help. This is a disgrace to call this community my home. I dont understand how all these people can lie about their lives & get all this assistance given to them when I am an honest citizen of this society & i get nothing in return. I will re-think about making any type of donation again in the future.

Today I went Christmas shopping. After I shopped at Ollie's I decided to go to salvation army in west mifflin pa to see what they have and to wait for my ride. As I was standing in the aisle I was told that I can not stand in the store and wait because my boyfriend works there. Meanwhile he was doing what he was supposed to and I was texting on my phone to see where my ride was. And i was told i can not stand there and wait because my boyfriend was working there. My complaint is that it shouldn't matter if he was working I was not bothering him I was a complete row down from where he was working, wasn't bothering him at all. There was no absolute reason to kick me out of the store just because I was waiting for my ride and my boyfriend was working there. I will not ever again set foot in the west mifflin store if I'm going to be treated that way. I want something done about this. This is not how you treat ur customers.

My mom and I have been going to this store for many years, it has always been one of the friendlest clean nice merchandise helpful store til about 6 months agao. Things have gone down hill the workers are not at all nice very anti social no smiles. The store is dirty beyond dirty the rest room that has always been there is out of order forcing people to go across the street to use the other stores rest room. Most prices are very good but latley the housewares is priced so high it doesnt sell. The numbers of people that use to go were much higher than now. I have watched little children wet them self because not restroom. Someone actually urinated in a glass jar and left it in the changing room. Things are going bad. Please can someone help. Salvation army has always been a great store to shop and the quality always great but now with all this going on and its not just me I have thought about starting a petition to have some thing done lots of people having a hardship as is and now to lose a store that is to help people is aweful. I hope there is something you can do my friend who is a spokes person for chrons disesease said it is against the law not to have a restroom in the store please help isnt that what salvation army is all about. Very concerned denise smith [protected]

On October 2 me and my fiancee apply for rental assistance with the salvation army we were approved to receive rental assistance and utility assistance but never received the funds i have contacted the manager who took my case several times and all i get is the runaround i will be getting evicted do to this situation iam ready to contact the news for false advertising about helping family in need get approved but dont receive the funds

The items in the thrift stores are way to high! These items are donations from the
public and should be priced for the low income people to be able to afford them. They have items priced as if they were being purchased at a retail store, brand new. Something needs to be done about that, it defeats the purpose of having a thrift store. Is there a profit to be made ? A coat for 20.00? A box of dishes 30.00? A pair of boots 20.00? Really people. Think of the needy, they cant afford prices like that!
Thank you and I will close signed disappointed in NM.