About 64,000 pounds of new merchandise arrive at this place every single day. That’s not a typo.
It’s roughly the weight of a few loaded school buses, and it all gets dumped into big blue bins for shoppers to dig through.
Nothing hangs on racks here. Clothes, shoes, books, and kitchen odds and ends get sold by the pound instead of by the piece.
Fresh bins roll out onto the floor all day long, so the selection never sits still.
I like how this place turns shopping into a full-contact treasure hunt. You grab a cart, pull on some gloves, and start sifting.
One minute it’s a pile of mystery shirts, and the next it’s a pair of boots you actually wanted.
Iowa has plenty of thrift stores. But how many let you buy a whole cart of stuff by weight?
Grab a Cart, Because These Bins Mean Business
Forget neat racks and tidy shelves. At Goodwill of Central Iowa – Outlet, almost everything sits inside large blue rolling bins on the sales floor.
That setup is why folks around Des Moines simply call it the bins. You don’t browse here so much as dig, sift, and lift your way toward something good.
Each bin holds a jumble of donated goods that didn’t sell at regular Goodwill stores. A sweater might rest on top of a picture frame, which sits on a stack of paperbacks.
It’s messy in the most exciting way possible.
The shopping style takes a little getting used to. Patience matters more than speed, and a curious mind beats a strict shopping list every time.
Shoppers often say the experience feels like a treasure hunt, and that description fits perfectly. You never know what’s buried three layers down until you go looking.
My advice is simple for a first trip. Walk the floor once, see how the bins are laid out, and then pick a spot to start.
Once you get the rhythm, the digging becomes oddly satisfying. Good luck stopping after just one bin.
Your Wallet Will Love the Pay-by-the-Pound Math
Most stores price every item one by one. Here, the majority of merchandise gets weighed instead, and you pay by the pound.
That changes the whole game. A lightweight T-shirt costs about the same as a handful of crumpled tissue paper would, if tissue paper were for sale.
Clothing and hardlines, like housewares and decor, usually have different per-pound rates. The current rate is posted on a sign near the entrance, so check it before you start filling up.
Furniture is a different story. Bigger pieces typically carry a flat price rather than being tossed on a scale.
There’s also a two-pound minimum at checkout. So one lonely shirt won’t cut it, and that’s honestly a great excuse to keep digging.
Smart shoppers think about weight as they go. Heavy items like ceramic mugs or hardcover books add up fast, while clothes and soft toys stay light.
If you’re working with a tight budget, ask the staff about pre-weighing your cart. It’s an easy way to avoid surprises at the register and keep your spending right where you want it.
Blink and the Whole Floor Changes
Roughly every 15 to 30 minutes, workers roll fresh bins onto the floor. Shopped-through bins get wheeled away, and a brand-new batch of mystery takes their place.
That steady rotation is what makes the outlet so addictive. A bin that looked picked over an hour ago might be gone, replaced by one packed with untouched goods.
Staff announce new bins and remind everyone about the rules. One big rule is to give each other space and wait until the bins are ready before digging in.
Courtesy goes a long way during these moments. Everyone wants first crack at fresh merchandise, so a little patience keeps things friendly and fair.
Here’s a smart strategy for a longer visit. Stay a while, keep an eye on the doors, and be ready when the next wave appears.
With about 64,000 pounds of new items arriving daily, the inventory never really sits still. Today’s bins won’t look like tomorrow’s.
That’s the beauty of the place. Two trips in the same week can feel like visits to two completely different stores.
Gloves Are the Unofficial Dress Code
Bring gloves. Seriously, this tip pops up again and again from bin shoppers, and it might be the best advice you’ll get.
The bins hold everything from clothing to kitchen gadgets. Some items have sharp edges or dusty corners, and you won’t know until your hand finds them.
A basic pair of gardening or work gloves does the job. They keep your hands clean and let you dig with a lot more confidence.
Comfortable clothes help too. You’ll be leaning, reaching, and moving around carts, so this isn’t the moment for your fanciest outfit.
Hand sanitizer is another smart thing to toss in your bag. After a long session of sifting, you’ll appreciate a quick clean before grabbing lunch.
Think of it like gearing up for a fun outdoor project. The right supplies make the whole adventure more enjoyable.
One more tip for the road. Bring some reusable shopping bags, because a full cart of finds has to get home somehow.
Prepared shoppers tend to stay longer and dig deeper. And deeper digging usually means better treasure.
Sort Through Sections Like a Pro
Not every bin is a total free-for-all. Merchandise gets sorted into general categories like clothing, hardlines, shoes, purses, media, and books.
Hardlines is thrift-speak for non-clothing goods. Think dishes, decor, picture frames, baskets, and all sorts of household odds and ends.
Knowing the layout saves time. Hunting for a lamp?
Head straight to the hardlines and skip the sweater mountains.
Inside the clothing and shoe bins, though, things get wild. Items aren’t separated by size, gender, or type, so a toddler’s jacket might sit right next to a men’s flannel.
That’s part of the charm. You could find a vintage tee, a designer label, or a costume piece you didn’t know you needed.
Shoes can be tricky, since pairs don’t always land together. Grab one you like, then keep an eye out for its partner nearby.
Book lovers and movie fans will want to check the media section. It’s a fun spot for stocking up on reading material or building a DVD collection without much damage to your budget.
Timing Your Trip Can Make a Big Difference
Early birds have a real advantage here. Arriving shortly after opening is a popular way to dodge bigger crowds and grab a cart easily.
The store opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and stays open until 9 p.m.
Sunday hours are shorter, running from noon until 5 p.m.
Those long weekday hours give you options. A morning dig, a lunch break hunt, or an evening treasure run all fit the schedule.
Busy times can get crowded and a bit hectic. Aisles fill with carts, and bins draw a crowd the moment they roll out.
If big crowds aren’t your thing, a weekday morning might suit you best. You’ll have more room to move and more time to sift slowly.
Plan for a longer visit than a typical store run. Bin shopping rewards people who hang around for a rotation or two.
One family note matters before you go. Children under 16 are generally not allowed at this location, so plan this as a grown-up outing and save the kid-friendly thrift trips for regular Goodwill stores.
Finding the Bins in Southeast Des Moines
Getting there is easy. The outlet sits at 6345 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, on the southeast side of Iowa’s capital city.
SE 14th Street is a major corridor, so the drive feels simple. It’s a handy stop for anyone running errands on the south side of town.
Inside, the store is wheelchair accessible, which makes the bins open to more shoppers. Restrooms are available too, a welcome detail during a long hunt.
Paying is flexible. The outlet accepts both cash and cards, so you won’t have to scramble for an ATM.
Since many trips end with a heavy cart, parking close helps. Plan your vehicle space before you go, especially if you’re eyeing furniture.
Bigger finds may need a truck or a friend with an SUV. A flat-priced chair or table won’t squeeze into every hatchback.
Goodwill of Central Iowa – Outlet makes a great anchor for a thrifty day out. Pair it with a visit to one of the regular Goodwill stores around the metro, and you’ve got a full lineup of secondhand fun.
Every Cart Helps Someone Land a Job
Bargains feel even better with a purpose behind them. Purchases at Goodwill of Central Iowa – Outlet support the mission of Making Purposeful Employment Possible for All.
Store revenue helps fund education, skills training, and employment support. These programs serve people in Central Iowa who face barriers to finding work.
In 2025, the organization provided 1,871 hours of employment support. That’s real help for people trying to find and keep good jobs.
So that pile of jeans and coffee mugs does double duty. You save money, and your spending helps fuel something bigger in the community.
Goodwill of Central Iowa has made it clear that helping people build skills is its primary goal. The retail stores, including the outlet, make that work possible.
It’s a nice thought to carry to the checkout line. Your cart isn’t just full of finds.
It’s also full of small contributions toward someone’s next paycheck. Few shopping trips can say that, and even fewer let you buy a waffle maker and a winter coat while doing it.
The Last Stop Before the Landfill
Think of the outlet as a second chance for stuff. Items that didn’t sell in regular Goodwill stores land here for one more shot at a new home.
Without places like this, many of those goods could end up in the trash. Instead, shoppers carry them out by the cartful.
The numbers are impressive. In 2025, Goodwill of Central Iowa processed 91,759 donations and diverted 4 million pounds of gently used items from local landfills.
That’s a lot of shirts, plates, books, and toys finding new purpose. Every pound you buy is a pound that doesn’t get buried.
I believe that’s one of the coolest parts of bin shopping. You get a bargain and do the planet a small favor at the same time.
It’s also a creative playground for crafters and upcyclers. Fabric, frames, and jars can become something totally new with a little imagination.
Iowa shoppers who love saving money and reducing waste will feel right at home. Just don’t blame the bins when your closet suddenly needs more space.
