Do you think Deseret Industries is profitable?

[Katy Lied]

I'm obliged to not post numbers, but let's just say that the goal of DI, as grapevine pointed out, is to train folks to be able to find better jobs and/or learn to take advantage of what is out there in order to succeed.

I can say that the goal of each DI store is to be self-sufficient and most are able to do that. That said, because of the combination of a poor economy and the fact that there are literally tons of donated items that are taken to the landfill each month, profits are down 14% last quarter compared to the previous year in the Murray store alone. I've not seen any numbers from other stores, but I've heard that most are not doing as well and only a few are doing better, though losses are across the board.

Hey IP, I would think with a down economy, business at DI would be booming. I know of several women in my ward who shop there now, when they would have shopped at Ross and TJ Maxx several years ago.

Does this mean that breaking even has a lot more to do with donations than sales?

[UteStar]

Isn't this just an urban myth? I remember hearing this when I was younger and I was pissed thinking about all of the Girbauds and Polo shirts getting to shipped to Africa.

I agree with your younger self...The poor people in Africa are lucky, they get all of the good stuff.

[Joe Public]

When a group of us from the quorum went to DI for a sorting assignment awhile back, we sorted donated clothing. We divided items into three categories.

The first was for clothing that was ready to put out on the floor for sale. It couldn't have any stains, smells, damage, etc. It might have some wrinkles from being stuffed in a donation bag, but that was it.

The second was for lightly soiled or minimally damaged clothing. Even minor stains or threadbare elbows placed an item into this category. We were told those items are not sold and are shipped to humanitarian relief (flood, earthquake, etc.) areas around the world.

The third was for damaged, soiled, smelly, or otherwise unfit clothing. These items are discarded. Any underwear or socks that are not still in original packaging are automatically placed in this category.

Things may be different in the SLC area, but it seemed our DI got to keep any clothing in good condition for its own sales floor.

[il Padrino Ute]

Hey IP, I would think with a down economy, business at DI would be booming. I know of several women in my ward who shop there now, when they would have shopped at Ross and TJ Maxx several years ago.

Does this mean that breaking even has a lot more to do with donations than sales?

Yep. About a 3rd of the donations end up getting sent to the landfill. Folks here still think that the DI will accept anything that is donated, despite the fact that the policy changed a number of years ago in that only useable items will be accepted. The workers at the donation station have been trained to help folks recognize what items are accepted, but there are still far too many people who get angry, so to avoid an argument, too much garbage is accepted. If it was my decision, crap would not be accepted and the fools trying to save the cost of a trip to the landfill would have no choice but to take it there themselves.

And to answer another question about how much is shipped overseas, it's about 10-15% of the items donated. The humanitarian donations are all shipped away, but they are not used items, but new.

[TripletDaddy]

Brethren, I am frustrated.

I went over to D.I. last night to drop off 5 boxes of clothes and misc sundries (syringes, motor oil, lead-based paint, old mattresses, etc). I knew the store was closed but I thought they would have after-hours drop off bins for those that cannot make it during work hours. Similar organizations are known to have these sorts of drop-off bins and previously my main experience with D.I. was for purchasing ward activity-based disco rollerskating costumes, thus I was unfamiliar with standard op-pro.

After exerting the time and petrol to engage in this amazing display of late-nocturnal eleemosynary benevolence, I arrive to find all entrances to the parking lot fortified by what appeared to be a series of metal palisades, reminiscent of some WW2 beach head from a long-forgotten battle. This labyrinthine cluster of posts and fences was additionally secured by what appeared to be the custom made padlocks you might see at the entrance to SuperMax or Rick Majerus's diet pill storage cabinet.

Needless to say, I was unable to drop off my charitable donation under cover of darkness. It is evident to me that there has been a policy shift at D.I. What used to be a welcoming destination for our household wretched refuse has morphed into a country-club atmosphere of elitism and snobbery. I think the "Verboten Items" reprobates are to blame. Your neighbor, your Bishop, the person that bags your groceries....any one of them could be making it more difficult to drop off legitimate donations at off-hours. D.I.s aggressive approach to securing its borders only escalated an already-tense situation. It was terribly inconvenient to drive all the way down there and be so severely rebuffed.

D.I. is now on my sh** list. Admittedly, it is my humanitarian-based sh** list, but it is a legitimate sh** list, nonetheless.

[Donuthole]

Brethren, I am frustrated.

I went over to D.I. last night to drop off 5 boxes of clothes and misc sundries (syringes, motor oil, lead-based paint, old mattresses, etc). I knew the store was closed but I thought they would have after-hours drop off bins for those that cannot make it during work hours. Similar organizations are known to have these sorts of drop-off bins and previously my main experience with D.I. was for purchasing ward activity-based disco rollerskating costumes, thus I was unfamiliar with standard op-pro.

After exerting the time and petrol to engage in this amazing display of late-nocturnal eleemosynary benevolence, I arrive to find all entrances to the parking lot fortified by what appeared to be a series of metal palisades, reminiscent of some WW2 beach head from a long-forgotten battle. This labyrinthine cluster of posts and fences was additionally secured by what appeared to be the custom made padlocks you might see at the entrance to SuperMax or Rick Majerus's diet pill storage cabinet.

Needless to say, I was unable to drop off my charitable donation under cover of darkness. It is evident to me that there has been a policy shift at D.I. What used to be a welcoming destination for our household wretched refuse has morphed into a country-club atmosphere of elitism and snobbery. I think the "Verboten Items" reprobates are to blame. Your neighbor, your Bishop, the person that bags your groceries....any one of them could be making it more difficult to drop off legitimate donations at off-hours. D.I.s aggressive approach to securing its borders only escalated an already-tense situation. It was terribly inconvenient to drive all the way down there and be so severely rebuffed.

D.I. is now on my sh** list. Admittedly, it is my humanitarian-based sh** list, but it is a legitimate sh** list, nonetheless.

A wise move on their part. They have a tough enough time monitoring what gets dumped on them during business hours; I can only imagine what kind of stuff the after-hours crowd would want to dump on them.

[NorthwestUteFan]

You have found the enemy, and he is you.

Why do you think it fair to force the volunteers and minimum wage 'leg up' workers at the DI to sort through all the garbage that gets dropped off at night simply to find the few gems that get left behind? It would take hours every morning to do that job. The quality will certainly go down when somebody isn't watching the donation line.

FWIW when our ward did 'service' there we were told to throw out all computer monitors and TVs. I have to admit it was very fun to 'splash' the monitors into the dumpster from the loading dock.

apparently Donut and I are on the same wavelength.

[grapevine]

For buying at the DI I know of people that do a good deal of shopping there. Thing is if it wasn't for stores like Kmart, Target or WalMart and people that shop there there would not be a DI. I don't think too much stuff there is sacrifice and more room in closet is blessings you get for donating there.

TVs and Computers can go there if they are usable. Employ people to check and see if they are usable. I did that at a DI volunteering before. And partner them up with electronic stores in the area. Employees that is. Working at dock a few people wanted donations back and I occasionally gave in when no supervisor was there. Or Brother in Law gave this to DI.

Have been confrontations when someone going through divorce donated something they had no business donating according to one of the spouses. Anyone could say things like that though. I even took mattresses I shouldn't of probably. They got some that they manufacture though.

For after hour donations Around here I think if they see them they will probably take them in the morning. Some gets stilled. But call it dumping. Many Thrift STores will assume after hour donations are that donations.

A good share of churches have di bins in the parking lot. I will go after church and put things there myself. Know the code. Make it easier than going to DI if there is not one close by. Why not put things in bin at church.

As for Fridges and stoves most di's don't take them but some places like Sears would take them and repair them. I bought nice bike at DI and parked it in customer parking and it got sold. Had to buy new tire for next bike. Left price tag on it. INteresting place to work at.

I know someone that left his summer job at Potatoe Plant because he did not like co worker environment to work at DI. I do not think that is the purpose of the di. And in my experience there were people there that were not as spiritual as there would be anywere else. Job market good people and not so good people you are around. DI no diffrent.