Community Forklift: A Shopper’s Guide

Why You Should Visit

• Unique Home Improvement Finds: You’ll find a treasure trove of salvaged materials perfect for home renovations or unique accent pieces. The selection includes solid core doors, used cabinets, bathroom fixtures, fireplace mantels, salvaged wood, light fixtures, door hardware, windows, furniture, and even old movie seats. Expect a wide range of styles, from curated vintage items to more affordable contemporary pieces.
• Great Prices: Most items are reasonably priced, often a fraction of the cost of new materials. One shopper found a sink only $40 more expensive than a new one at Lowe’s.
• Community Resource: This is a non-profit that promotes reuse and recycling. They offer home pickup for donations, making it easy to contribute to a sustainable cause while decluttering.
• Extensive Inventory: The sheer quantity of items is impressive; one shopper noted there’s “tons of everything” for home improvement, from tubs and cabinets to outdoor furniture, paint, and wood.
• Helpful Staff (Generally): Many reviewers praise the friendly and helpful staff, especially Andre, who received accolades for his exceptional handling of a difficult situation with a disruptive customer.
• Convenient Pickup: The organization will pick up donated items, including large items like toilets and vanities.

Why You Might Consider Alternatives

• Inconsistent Staff Experience: Be aware that some shoppers have reported encountering rude or unprofessional staff, particularly on weekdays. The level of helpfulness seems to vary significantly depending on the staff member and the day of the week. One shopper noted differences in treatment based on appearance and described the pricing manager as “grumpy” and confrontational.
• Disorganized Donation Process: The donation drop-off process can be disorganized and frustrating. There have been reports of conflicting instructions and refusal of perfectly good items.
• Unprofessional Donation Pickup: There have been reports of highly unprofessional and even aggressive behavior by donation pickup drivers, including instances of items being thrown onto the donor’s lawn after payment had been received. In one instance, the driver was said to have damaged power lines.
• Inventory Variability: While often praised for selection, the inventory can fluctuate. Some shoppers have noted decreased selection of desirable items on certain visits.
• Pricing: While generally affordable, some items, particularly mantels, may be more expensive than anticipated.
• Customer Behavior: While not the fault of the business, be aware that some customers may engage in disruptive or inappropriate behavior, as evidenced by one incident of verbal harassment.