Evergreen Goodwill, which runs thrift stores in the Seattle area, is developing an AI system to help employees price donated goods. The goal is to speed up pricing and identify items that could sell for more than staff might initially estimate.
The Seattle Times covered the project in a recent report that examined Evergreen Goodwill’s financial losses and its efforts to change how the organization operates.
For thrift shoppers and resellers, the news raises a practical question: could AI make it harder to find a bargain at Goodwill?
How Is Goodwill Using AI to Price Donated Items?
According to The Seattle Times, Evergreen Goodwill is developing a tool that lets employees take a photo of an item and receive a suggested selling price. Staff members can accept the recommendation or change it if they believe the amount is off.
The newspaper gave the example of a plain white cable that the system priced at $12. An employee lowered the price to $3 and recorded the correction, giving the system feedback that could help improve its future suggestions.
The tool is still being trained, and employees remain responsible for reviewing the prices it recommends.
Related: 12 Clothing Items People Wish They Never Donated
Why Is Evergreen Goodwill Making This Change?
Goodwill receives its merchandise through donations, but it still takes time and labor to sort, price, and prepare every item for sale. With so many different products coming through its doors, setting a fair price for each one can be time-consuming.
Evergreen Goodwill has also faced financial trouble. The Seattle Times reported that the nonprofit lost $9.3 million in the fiscal year ending June 2025, despite higher sales, prompting changes including store closures and staff reductions.
The AI tool is intended to reduce manual pricing work and help the organization earn more from donated goods with higher resale value. Revenue from its stores funds job training and education programs, so merchandise sales support work beyond the sales floor.
Related: Goodwill’s Newest Store Doesn’t Sell Clothes or Furniture — It’s All About Records, CDs and VHS
Could AI Pricing Make Valuable Thrift Store Finds Harder to Come By?
If the system gets better at recognizing valuable donations, some items that once received ordinary secondhand price tags could end up costing more. Bargain hunters and resellers may watch vintage clothing, collectibles, and sought-after brands closely.
Still, The Seattle Times did not report evidence that bargains have already become harder to find across Evergreen Goodwill stores. The system is still in development, so its effect on everyday prices remains unclear.
A suggested price also doesn’t guarantee that an item will sell for that amount. Condition, demand, and what shoppers are willing to pay will continue to influence whether a price makes sense.
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What Could AI Pricing Mean for Resellers?
Resellers make money by buying goods cheaply and selling them for more than their total costs. If Evergreen Goodwill gets better at recognizing valuable donations and pricing them closer to their resale value, some of those deals could become less profitable.
Evergreen Goodwill’s reasoning for developing the tool includes the possibility of lost revenue from underpriced merchandise. According to The Seattle Times, CEO Libby Johnson McKee said that when a reseller profits from an item priced below its potential value, the nonprofit misses out on money that could have supported its programs.
For resellers, the effect depends on which items sell at higher prices and whether those prices match real market demand. A higher purchase price leaves less money to cover shipping, selling fees, and other expenses, even if an item has a recognizable brand or appears valuable.
The report doesn’t show how reseller profits have changed or whether the tool will affect every type of merchandise the same way.
Related: 18 Goodwill Shopping Tips Most People Never Learn (and Experienced Thrifters Rarely Share)
Will AI Make Everything at Goodwill More Expensive?
Evergreen Goodwill has said the goal isn’t to raise every price. According to The Seattle Times, the system is also meant to flag items priced too high, since unsold merchandise brings in no sales revenue and can add handling or disposal costs.
It’s too soon to say whether the tool will raise average prices, lower them in certain categories, or widen the range of prices across Evergreen Goodwill stores. The results will depend on how the system performs and how employees use its recommendations.
Related: Goodwill Is Getting Better at Spotting Valuable Donations Before Resellers Can Find Them
Is This Happening at Every Goodwill?
The AI pricing project described in The Seattle Times report belongs to Evergreen Goodwill, which operates in Seattle and other parts of Western Washington. The report does not say that every Goodwill organization is using, or plans to use, the same technology.
For now, shoppers and resellers will have to wait and see how Evergreen Goodwill’s system affects its own stores. Whether other Goodwill organizations follow suit, and whether similar tools change secondhand prices elsewhere, remains an open question.
