Kearny Mesa · Best Thrift Stores in San Diego
Goodwill Outlet (the bins) Review
Last updatedRanked #3 of 4 in Best Thrift Stores in San Diego
The cheapest clothing in San Diego if you're willing to dig.
Score breakdown
- Experience86/100
- Consistency74/100
- Value98/100
- Atmosphere58/100
- Uniqueness92/100
The verdict on Goodwill Outlet (the bins)
Ranked #3 of 4 — 84/100 in our Best Thrift Stores in San Diego coverage
Pay by weight and sort through unsorted bins. It's chaotic and physical, but resellers work these bins for a reason.
What to buy at Goodwill Outlet (the bins)
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Clothing by the pound.
Bring gloves and hand sanitizer, and go right when fresh bins roll out.
Is Goodwill Outlet (the bins) good value?
Goodwill Outlet (the bins) sits at $ — the budget band for this category. We scored 1 other $ shop on the same list, and Goodwill Outlet (the bins) outscores 1 of them. Within its price bracket, nothing we ranked does it better.
Goodwill Outlet (the bins) FAQ
Is Goodwill Outlet (the bins) expensive?
Goodwill Outlet (the bins) is priced at $, which puts it in the budget band for this category. We scored 1 other $ option on the same list for a direct comparison.
Is Goodwill Outlet (the bins) worth it?
It scores 84/100, 1.5 points below the 85.5 average for its list. It still ranks, but there are stronger options nearby in score.
What should I look for at Goodwill Outlet (the bins)?
Look for Clothing by the pound.
What else is nearby Goodwill Outlet (the bins)?
Hidden Fish (92/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) and K Sandwiches (92/100 in our best banh mi in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong value — scored 98/100 in our ranking
- Strong uniqueness — scored 92/100 in our ranking
- Top-3 finish out of 4 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Atmosphere is the weak point — 58/100, below the rest of its scores
- Bring gloves and hand sanitizer, and go right when fresh bins roll out.
The full review
Pay by weight and sort through unsorted bins. It's chaotic and physical, but resellers work these bins for a reason.
On our weighted scale it earns 84/100 — good for #3 of 4 places we evaluated for best thrift stores in san diego. We shop the places we rank, buy at regular prices, and score on selection, condition, pricing and staff knowledge rather than on advertising.
What to buy at Goodwill Outlet (the bins)
Clothing by the pound
Price range: $
How we scored Goodwill Outlet (the bins)
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: experience, consistency, value, atmosphere, uniqueness. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We shop the places we rank, buy at regular prices, and score on selection, condition, pricing and staff knowledge rather than on advertising. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.