Eli Portillo reports in his “What’s In Store” column for the Observer that a new Goodwill computer store will be coming to the University area, at 9605 North Tryon Street, May 31st, 2014. It will be called The Grid. The current Goodwill computer store, on Freedom Drive, next to the big Goodwill Outlet, will close. It sounds like the new store will be a bit of an upgrade, with some new items, as well as refurbished and donated items. They’ll also have a gaming lounge so shoppers can try out new games, and will host gaming events. We’ve shopped the Goodwill computer store on Freedom Drive many times and have gotten great deals on components we needed.
From the Observer piece:
“Tech-hungry shoppers and curiosity-seekers will find The Grid to be an exciting addition to Charlotte’s electronics scene,” said Michael Elder, CEO of Goodwill. “Its diverse mix of new, donated and refurbished products is unique, and will make the overall Goodwill brand relevant to new segments of the consumer market while furthering our mission of helping people find family-sustaining employment.”
In addition to the current product assortment of desktop and laptop computers, printers, flat screen televisions and gaming systems sold at Goodwill’s Computer Works location, The Grid will feature new additions to its product line-up, such Raspberry Pi, the Oculus Rift experience, audio components, portable chargers, phone and tablet accessories, retro games, gaming consoles and controllers.”
The store will also feature “sleek design, user-friendly displays and a lounge area where video game enthusiasts can try out the newest games.”
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jb says
As someone who shopped at the previous location for many years, I’m kind of disappointed on how far I have to drive now. Also, I am a game collector and I like that the old location was low key, so not too many others knew about it. With the new location being at an UNCC entrance, I’m sure more people will find out about the store even more now. Great for the store, bad for me. The prices are better than they were before and they tell me they will get even more items than before, but I’m worried all of that will change once the demand goes up. With a lot of the prices being on par or close to the prices on eBay, don’t look for the steals that were once found at the old location. This is a full retail store, with full market pricing. I did notice a few things I use to get at the old location are no longer being sold at the new location, which is a bummer.
GameCollector says
Goodwill Computer Works was bad…I haven’t got a chance to go to The Grid yet. This isn’t Goodwill though. As a video game fan myself…its fun to go in Goodwill and find a game or two for around 3 bucks and be very happy about it. But at Computer Works the same game is FULL EBAY PRICING. Now what that means is anyone who has ever bid on something just to UP the bid…that becomes the new price of the game at Computer Works.
JB, if you found some deals at the previous store you must be willing to pay. I am not a cheap guy but why pay in a store what I can buy online and maybe get a better deal. I have often found myself buying a loose game for 9 bucks thinking it was a great deal…only to go on amazon or ebay and finding a complete in box for 5 bucks. It makes your heart drop.
What is worse and the veeerry worse about The Grid. In the past few weeks my local Goodwill has strictly followed the “policy” which is to send any and all donated games to Charlotte. This is a MAJOR bummer. If it was donated at my Goodwill…it should be sold at my Goodwill. Its not like someone isn’t going to buy it. The excuse is that its professionally cleaned and a lot of other nonsense that a casual gamer can do with a q tip or magic eraser. Because I noticed they are putting the games in a seal’d pack now…that’s more money you gotta pay them cause they made it look nice.
Goodwill is taking advantage of the hunters and the collectors who find awesome games for cheap prices. You can’t really blame them. Why should they sell something for say a dollar that can be sold on ebay for 100 dollars…so I understand it….I just feel its really bad and it will trick people. Trick people into thinking they are getting a good deal cause its at goodwill but its just not the truth. Its easier, cheaper and more of a thrill for me to order online than drive to The Grid. Uping the price because its more of a retail store is fine…but when you cross that ebay line….there is an issue.
JB you also mentioned a few things not being sold at the new location…do you mean like the cases? The one thing I loved picking up from Computer Works was those Gameboy cases and dust covers. Its such a simple item that helps out and they sold them dirt cheap cause I guess they saw little value…if this is something they stop selling that’s truly a shame because that tells me they are just throwing them away in the back because they are obviously getting those in. A good % of people would still have stuff like that…or manuals…
I wanna give The Grid a try and I will. But I must agree…the new location and the marketing will feed right into the college crowd thinking its “cool” to play retro and buy it from Goodwill…when really just last summer I was buying high value games at awesome prices and trust me I walked out of my local goodwill with stacks on stacks of games….but not no more.