Tucked away at 400 Huyler St in South Hackensack, NJ, the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet Store and Donation Center has become a destination that thrift lovers across the Garden State are buzzing about. This massive outlet-style store operates differently from your average Goodwill, offering bins packed with clothing, housewares, and hidden gems sold by the pound.
Whether you are a seasoned thrifter or just curious about the hype, this place delivers an experience unlike anything else in the region. Here is everything you need to know before you make the trip.
Pay by the Pound Pricing That Blows Your Budget Wide Open
Forget price tags on every single item. At Goodwill NYNJ Outlet in South Hackensack, you pay by the pound, which completely changes how you shop and how much you save.
Shoppers have walked out with two or three full summer outfits for under $11, and that is not an exaggeration.
One reviewer shared that she and her boyfriend spent just $14 on three items combined, calling it a great deal. The by-the-pound model rewards patience and digging, because the more you find, the better your cost-per-item ratio becomes.
This setup is especially popular with resellers who flip items on platforms like eBay. Buying in bulk at pennies per ounce means profits can be significant.
Stretch your dollar further than you ever thought possible at a traditional retail store.
Massive Square Footage Means More Treasures Waiting to Be Found
Spanning roughly 125,000 square feet, this Goodwill outlet location in South Hackensack is genuinely enormous. Walking through the doors for the first time can feel a little overwhelming, in the best possible way.
There is simply so much ground to cover.
The sheer size means donations are constantly cycling through, giving shoppers a fresh experience nearly every visit. Bins are spread across a massive floor space, and the perimeter shelves hold housewares, electronics, and more.
You could spend hours here and still not see everything.
One longtime shopper noted that the scale of the operation is unlike any other pound store in the area. The location has serious potential, and on a good day, the variety of items available is staggering.
Plan for a long visit, wear comfortable shoes, and treat it like an adventure rather than a quick errand.
Bin Release Events That Feel Like a Treasure Hunt Championship
Nothing quite prepares you for your first bin release at the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet. When workers roll out fresh bins of unsorted donations, the energy in the room shifts instantly.
Shoppers who have been waiting patiently suddenly spring into action.
One first-time visitor described watching everyone “go CRAZY” the moment staff gave the signal to start shopping. Experienced thrifters know the golden rule here: grab first, look later.
Hesitation means someone else snags what could have been your best find of the day.
Bins are reportedly turned on a schedule, roughly every two hours, so timing your visit matters. Arriving right before a new bin drop gives you the best shot at untouched inventory.
Weekday mornings tend to be less chaotic than weekends, making it easier to dig through items without the crowd pressure bearing down on you constantly.
Designer Finds Hiding in Plain Sight Among the Bins
Some shoppers come for basics, but others leave with jaw-dropping designer scores. One reviewer found mint condition Ferragamo crocodile print sandals and Saint Laurent sneakers buried in the bins at this South Hackensack location.
Those kinds of finds are what keep serious thrifters coming back week after week.
High-end donations end up here because this is a no-frills outlet, not a curated boutique. Items are not sorted by brand or style, which means luxury pieces sit right alongside everyday clothing.
Your reward for digging patiently is sometimes extraordinary.
Resellers especially love this dynamic, since a single designer item can be worth many times what you paid by the pound. Even casual shoppers can stumble onto something remarkable without even looking for it.
Keep your eyes open, move methodically through the bins, and you might walk away with something your friends will not believe you thrifted.
Gear Up Right Before You Even Walk Through the Door
Veteran shoppers at the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet in South Hackensack have a pre-visit checklist, and it is worth following. Gloves are at the top of that list.
The bins contain everything from dusty clothing to broken glass, and at least one reviewer reported getting cut by an exposed kitchen knife while digging.
Bringing a large reusable bag or even a rolling cart helps you carry finds without slowing down. Comfortable, layered clothing is smart since the store temperature can vary.
Some regulars even suggest stretching beforehand because flipping through heavy bins for hours is a real physical workout.
Staying hydrated matters too. One seasoned shopper specifically recommended bringing water, noting that the digging process is more exhausting than people expect.
A little preparation before you arrive transforms the experience from stressful to genuinely enjoyable. Think of it like prepping for a sport rather than a casual shopping trip.
Housewares and Home Goods Hidden Among the Chaos
Clothing gets most of the attention at the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet, but housewares enthusiasts have their own loyal following at this location. Shoppers who focus on the home goods section have reported finding amazing pieces at rock-bottom prices that would cost a fortune in retail stores.
The housewares section lines the perimeter of the store on metal racks and shelves. Yes, there is broken glass and the occasional piece of junk mixed in, but that is part of the deal.
Patience separates the people who find nothing from those who walk out with stunning vintage glassware or a one-of-a-kind kitchen item.
One dedicated houseware shopper mentioned spending an average of $25 per visit before some changes were made to the layout. The lesson here is to go early, move carefully, and inspect items thoroughly before adding them to your pile.
Broken things are mixed in, so handle with care.
Weekday Mornings Are the Secret Weapon of Smart Shoppers
Timing your visit to the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet in South Hackensack can make or break your experience. Weekends draw big crowds, long checkout lines, and intense competition around the bins.
Weekday mornings offer a calmer, more relaxed environment where you can actually take your time.
Multiple shoppers have pointed out that the checkout line alone can stretch to over an hour on busy days, partly because staffing at the registers has historically been thin. Going mid-week reduces that wait significantly.
You also get a better look at what is available without elbows flying around you.
Store hours run Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The store is closed on Sundays.
Arriving right at opening gives you the freshest pick of whatever inventory came out that morning, which experienced thrifters know is the prime window for scoring the best items.
Resellers and eBay Flippers Have Made This a Regular Stop
Walk through the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet on any given morning and you will spot resellers working the bins with practiced efficiency. These are shoppers who buy items by the pound and then list them online for profit on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, or Depop.
For them, this store is essentially a wholesale supplier.
The math works out beautifully on a good day. Pay a few dollars per pound, find a vintage jacket or a collectible item, and list it online for ten times the price.
One regular shopper mentioned going four times a week specifically to find items to resell, averaging $25 per visit before certain layout changes affected inventory flow.
The competitive atmosphere between resellers and casual shoppers is real and worth knowing about going in. Some items will be grabbed quickly.
Staying focused, moving fast, and knowing your categories ahead of time makes a huge difference in how productive your visit turns out to be.
The No-Photos Rule Is Strictly Enforced, So Leave the Camera Down
One quirky but firm rule at the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet is that photography and video recording are not allowed on the floor. Staff enforce this actively, and more than one shopper has been called out for pulling out a phone, even for innocent reasons like scanning a QR code posted on the wall.
One reviewer described getting scolded for what they believed was simply scanning a membership QR code displayed on store signage. The situation felt confusing and frustrating, especially since the QR codes are posted publicly.
It is worth knowing this rule before you visit so you do not accidentally create an awkward moment.
The no-filming policy likely exists to protect the shopping experience and prevent resellers from broadcasting inventory before others can access it. Whatever the reason, follow the rule and keep your phone in your pocket.
Focus on the bins, enjoy the hunt, and save the content creation for after you leave.
Clothing Sold by Weight Means Your Haul Size Determines Your Savings
Here is a fun way to think about shopping at this outlet: the heavier your bag, the better deal you are likely getting per item. Since clothing is sold by the pound rather than individually priced, loading up strategically is the smartest move.
Lighter fabrics like T-shirts cost less than heavy denim or wool coats.
That means summer shopping here is especially economical. One shopper reported getting two to three summer outfits for under $11 total, which is practically unheard of anywhere else in New Jersey.
Even shoppers who are picky about what they take home tend to find at least a few worthy pieces.
The by-weight checkout also makes it easier to take chances on items you are not 100 percent sure about. If something costs you fifty cents by weight, the risk of a bad choice is minimal.
That low-stakes attitude is what makes the whole experience feel freeing and fun for new visitors.
Come With Zero Expectations and Leave With Everything
The most consistent advice from experienced shoppers at the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet in South Hackensack is simple: leave your expectations at the door. The store is not organized by size, style, or brand.
Shoes are often mismatched across different bins, and finding a pair can take a full hour of dedicated searching.
But that is also kind of the magic. One reviewer spent over an hour hunting for the matching shoe to a designer sandal and still called the trip a win because her total bill was under $11.
The unpredictability is part of what makes each visit feel different from the last.
Shoppers who treat the experience like an adventure rather than a structured shopping trip consistently report having the best time. Bring patience, bring curiosity, and bring a willingness to get a little dirty.
The reward for that open-minded attitude is often a haul that shocks even the most seasoned thrift veterans.
The Online Auction Side of Goodwill Comes With Buyer Beware Warnings
Beyond the physical store, Goodwill NYNJ also runs online auctions where donated items are listed for bidding. It sounds like a convenient way to score deals without making the trip to South Hackensack, but at least one shopper had a frustrating experience worth knowing about.
A reviewer described winning a lot of Pokemon cards described online as having many sealed boxes, only to receive opened boxes filled entirely with loose cards. Since the platform operates on a no-returns, no-refunds policy, there was no recourse available.
The buyer felt misled by the item description.
This does not mean the online auction is always a bad experience, but it does mean you should read listings carefully and understand that what you see in photos may not match what arrives. When possible, shopping in person at the outlet gives you the advantage of seeing and handling items before committing.
Knowledge is your best protection here.
Why People Keep Coming Back Despite the Chaos
With a 3.2-star rating and hundreds of reviews ranging from glowing to frustrated, the Goodwill NYNJ Outlet in South Hackensack is clearly not for everyone. But for those who get it, this place becomes almost addictive.
The thrill of finding something incredible for almost nothing is genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else.
Regulars mention the community aspect too. There is a whole culture built around the bin release routine, the unspoken rules of the floor, and the mutual respect among fellow diggers.
Even the competitive edge adds excitement rather than negativity for shoppers who embrace the environment for what it is.
Located at 400 Huyler St and reachable at (201) 727-8215, the store opens as early as 9 AM on Saturdays. More information is available at goodwillnynj.org.
For bargain hunters willing to put in the effort, the payoff makes every dusty, chaotic, glorious visit completely worth it.
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