I wrote a letter to Micheal Miller, president and CEO of the Portland-area Goodwill Industries, Wednesday August 5th asking for his help looking into this problem. I introduced my myself, explained what I do, told him a little about my purchase and donation history with Goodwill and then went into the chain of events that took place. To save repeating the same information I'm posting a few paragraphs from the letter rather than the whole thing;
Since my full time job ended four years ago, I decided to pursue my love of junk collecting by shopping for resalable items to sell through the Internet. In these four years I have made considerable progress in building a small online business that helps to support myself. Unfortunately, I have accumulated more then I have sold, but that’s a whole other story and probably very common amongst Goodwill addicts. Goodwill has been a major part of my life the last four years - almost too much at times as it seems I have no life outside of Goodwill or church. I visit your stores every day and make purchases but mainly shop your Outlet store in Milwaukee. In the last four years I have spent over $47,000 in your stores. Donated countless loads of items of which I have seen many sell in your stores such as a player piano which sold for $499.00 at the Super Store and an antique couch that brought in $225.00 at the Outlet Store. I am known as the guy with the dog throughout your stores as I carry a small Pug with me at all times. The dog has been called the “Goodwill Ambassador” by some of your employees. He is my best friend and well loved by your customers and many of your employees.
I have no problem with Sean doing his job in apprehending me; I do, however, have a problem with how this is turning out. I have to go to court and prove my innocence, incur expense for a lawyer and court costs - not to mention the embarrassment and humiliation I have suffered. In the police report Sean says “He and other employees saw me place several items that he had selected from the display shelves underneath the dogs blanket” I have a hard time with this because they’re stating something that did not happen. I’m a pretty big person and it would take x-ray vision to see through or around my fat body. I did place the items in the cart but did not place them underneath the blanket as they have stated. I accept responsibility for my stupidity and not paying attention to the items placed in my cart. It was not intentional, just an oversight due to being tired. I think what I have gone through so far is more than enough punishment. A night at the Multnomah County Jail is something one will never forget.
It would have been nice if Sean could have worked this out in the store without having me arrested. I would like to think that my long term patronage to your stores would count for something. I made a mistake. I think back to some of the mistakes Goodwill has made to me over the years and I have to hope that Goodwill and I can work this out without having to go through the courts and incurring wasted time and expense, which I can’t afford. I just want to keep shopping at your stores and put this unfortunate incident behind me.
I would appreciate your looking into this situation and responding to me; my reputation and livelihood are at stake.
Thank you for your consideration.
Time will tell if Mr. Miller will take the time to look into this and respond. My hope is that he will and see that this was an unintentional oversight on my part that has been blown way out of control and resolve it. Any input from you, the reader, of this would be appreciated. The Goodwill contact emails are Sylvia Schmidt, assistant to Michael Miller, sschmidt@gicw.org . Dale Emanuel, Public Relations Representative, demanul@gicw.org .
Since my full time job ended four years ago, I decided to pursue my love of junk collecting by shopping for resalable items to sell through the Internet. In these four years I have made considerable progress in building a small online business that helps to support myself. Unfortunately, I have accumulated more then I have sold, but that’s a whole other story and probably very common amongst Goodwill addicts. Goodwill has been a major part of my life the last four years - almost too much at times as it seems I have no life outside of Goodwill or church. I visit your stores every day and make purchases but mainly shop your Outlet store in Milwaukee. In the last four years I have spent over $47,000 in your stores. Donated countless loads of items of which I have seen many sell in your stores such as a player piano which sold for $499.00 at the Super Store and an antique couch that brought in $225.00 at the Outlet Store. I am known as the guy with the dog throughout your stores as I carry a small Pug with me at all times. The dog has been called the “Goodwill Ambassador” by some of your employees. He is my best friend and well loved by your customers and many of your employees.
I have no problem with Sean doing his job in apprehending me; I do, however, have a problem with how this is turning out. I have to go to court and prove my innocence, incur expense for a lawyer and court costs - not to mention the embarrassment and humiliation I have suffered. In the police report Sean says “He and other employees saw me place several items that he had selected from the display shelves underneath the dogs blanket” I have a hard time with this because they’re stating something that did not happen. I’m a pretty big person and it would take x-ray vision to see through or around my fat body. I did place the items in the cart but did not place them underneath the blanket as they have stated. I accept responsibility for my stupidity and not paying attention to the items placed in my cart. It was not intentional, just an oversight due to being tired. I think what I have gone through so far is more than enough punishment. A night at the Multnomah County Jail is something one will never forget.
It would have been nice if Sean could have worked this out in the store without having me arrested. I would like to think that my long term patronage to your stores would count for something. I made a mistake. I think back to some of the mistakes Goodwill has made to me over the years and I have to hope that Goodwill and I can work this out without having to go through the courts and incurring wasted time and expense, which I can’t afford. I just want to keep shopping at your stores and put this unfortunate incident behind me.
I would appreciate your looking into this situation and responding to me; my reputation and livelihood are at stake.
Thank you for your consideration.
Time will tell if Mr. Miller will take the time to look into this and respond. My hope is that he will and see that this was an unintentional oversight on my part that has been blown way out of control and resolve it. Any input from you, the reader, of this would be appreciated. The Goodwill contact emails are Sylvia Schmidt, assistant to Michael Miller, sschmidt@gicw.org . Dale Emanuel, Public Relations Representative, demanul@gicw.org .
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