ShopGoodwill fees: shipping, handling, sales tax and tax-exempt buying

ShopGoodwill names no buyer's premium: joining and using the site is free, and what you pay on top of the bid is the selling Goodwill's shipping (a flat rate or the carrier's calculated rate) and its handling fee, both shown on the listing, plus sales tax for your ship-to address. On a $50, $200 or $1,000 win at a 6% tax rate that is $53, $212 or $1,060 before shipping and handling, which in some states are taxed too.

Resellers can buy tax-exempt by emailing ShopGoodwill the form their state requires; it is usually processed in 1 to 3 business days, and the certificate must be in a business name and dated in the current year. Payment is typically due within seven days of the close, and wins from the same Goodwill that close within 7 days of each other can be combined if they weigh 20 lb or less together.

Rates verified on Oct 23, 2026

Buyer's premium: None named: joining and using the site is free
Payment: Typically within 7 days of the close
Pickup or removal: Some Goodwills offer pickup; the listing says
Sales tax: Charged by ship-to location; tax-exempt resellers send a certificate
If you don't pay or pick up: You must complete the purchase; non-payers can be suspended or banned
What it sells: Donated goods listed by local Goodwill organizations

ShopGoodwill: what a $50, $200 and $1,000 win costs

Worked from the published rates linked in each row. Sales tax uses a 6% example rate (Kentucky's statewide rate, which has no local add-ons) on the bid and premium; with an accepted resale certificate it is zero, and some states also tax the fees and shipping.

Shipping and the seller's handling fee are on each listing and are on top; in some states they are taxed too. Sources are linked in each row label and listed at the end of the page. Shipping, freight or your trip to collect it is not included.
What you pay	$50 win	$200 win	$1,000 win
Winning bid	$50.00	$200.00	$1,000.00
Buyer's premium (none named)	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Sales tax at the 6% example rate, on bid + premium	$3.00	$12.00	$60.00
Total before shipping or pickup, taxed	$53.00	$212.00	$1,060.00

What you pay on top of the bid

No buyer's premium is named: ShopGoodwill says joining and using the site is free, apart from what its Terms of Use say and applicable taxes. (ShopGoodwill: Are there fees?) “Joining and using ShopGoodwill.com is free to all users”
Shipping is either a flat rate set by the selling Goodwill or a rate calculated from the carrier's prices for the size and weight, box and packing included. Insurance or a required signature can add fees. (ShopGoodwill: shipping and handling) “Additional fees may be added for insurance and/or signature required.”
The handling fee is set by the seller and shown on the listing before you bid. (ShopGoodwill: shipping and handling) “Handling fees are determined by the seller of the item and can also be viewed prior to bidding on the item listing page.”
ShopGoodwill's shipping guide says handling is separate from shipping and covers preparing the item, packing materials and labor; items ship from the selling Goodwill, not a central warehouse. (ShopGoodwill blog: Shipping & Handling, Shipping Locations; Handling Fees Explained)
The same guide points to a One-Cent Shipping section of items that ship for one cent, and to bundling wins from one Goodwill within seven days. (ShopGoodwill blog: Shipping & Handling, Smart Strategies to Save on Shipping)
That is why the shipping weight can be higher than the item: carriers bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight (length x width x height divided by a divisor), and can add surcharges for oversize boxes. ShopGoodwill’s shipping guide gives a painting or a guitar case as examples of light but bulky items that can cost more to ship. (ShopGoodwill: Why is the shipping weight higher than the item weight?; ShopGoodwill blog: Shipping & Handling, Dimensional Weight vs. Actual Weight) “If this dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, the carrier determines the shipping cost based on the dimensional weight.”
Each local Goodwill is the seller; ShopGoodwill collects your payment as its agent, and shipping policies vary by seller. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Payment) “Shipping policies may vary by Seller.”

Paying, shipping and pickup

You typically need to pay within seven days of the auction closing. (ShopGoodwill blog: Shipping & Handling, FAQs) “within seven days of the auction closing”
Extensions are up to the selling Goodwill; ask through the "Contact Seller" link on the listing. (ShopGoodwill: payment extension)
ShopGoodwill takes most major credit and debit cards, including Visa and Mastercard, plus PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay and Venmo. Its Terms of Use say payment terms vary by seller, so check the listing. (ShopGoodwill: What forms of payment does ShopGoodwill.com accept?; ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Payment Terms)
Auction wins can be combined for payment and shipping when they come from the same Goodwill, close within 7 days of each other, aren't marked "Cannot Be Combined For Shipping", weigh 20 lb or less together and ship by the same carrier. Wait until all of them have ended before you pay. (ShopGoodwill: How do I combine items?) “To combine eligible auction items into one order, you must wait until all of the items have ended before paying.”
Buy It Now (non-auction) items and stock items can't be combined, and neither can items from different Goodwills. (ShopGoodwill: How do I combine items?)
Orders usually ship within 5 business days of payment, with tracking on your "Shipped Orders" page. (ShopGoodwill: When will my item ship?) “In general, orders are usually shipped within 5 business days of payment.”
The carrier (FedEx, UPS or USPS) varies by seller and is on the listing's Shipping tab, so check it before you bid. (ShopGoodwill: How are orders shipped?)
Prepaid and gift cards work only with a verifiable billing address and a 3-digit security code; otherwise use a standard Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, PayPal or Google Pay. (ShopGoodwill: Can I pay with a pre-paid or gift-card credit card?)
Many Goodwills offer local pickup; Advanced Search can filter to pickup items only. (ShopGoodwill blog: Shipping & Handling, Local Pickup Options)
New accounts (under 30 days old) can be in no more than 15 active auctions at once, and a winning bid the seller accepts obliges you to complete the purchase. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Auction Bidding)

Sales tax and tax-exempt resellers

ShopGoodwill collects sales and use tax based on the item and the ship-to location, and in some states shipping or handling is taxable too. (ShopGoodwill: Why am I being charged tax?) “In some states, shipping and/or handling is taxable.”
Resellers can buy tax-exempt: email the form your state requires to ShopGoodwill support. It passes it to its tax processor and your status is usually updated within 1 to 3 business days. (ShopGoodwill: tax exempt status) “ShopGoodwill.com offers tax exemption for retail resellers as well as other eligible parties.”
The certificate must be in your business or organization name (an individual name is not accepted), dated in the current year, with "Goodwill/ShopGoodwill.com" as the seller and "Multiple" as the seller address, plus your state exemption number or FEIN if applicable and a description of what you will buy. (ShopGoodwill: tax exempt status, Reseller Documentation)
Which form: the Multistate Tax Commission's uniform certificate for 37 listed states, including AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, NJ, NM, OH, TX, WA and WI; New York's ST-120, Massachusetts' ST-4, Pennsylvania's REV-1220 and Virginia's ST-10; and the Streamlined Sales Tax certificate for Indiana, West Virginia and Wyoming. (ShopGoodwill: tax exempt status, Reseller Documentation)
The list names no form for Louisiana, Mississippi or the District of Columbia, so buyers there should ask ShopGoodwill support which one it accepts. Non-profits and other exempt buyers email support with their documentation instead. (ShopGoodwill: tax exempt status, Reseller Documentation)
Because the certificate has to be dated in the current year, plan to send a new one each calendar year. (ShopGoodwill: tax exempt status, Reseller Documentation) “Certificate must be dated in the current year”

If you don't pay, and other rules that catch buyers

A winning bid the seller accepts is a binding purchase. Bids can be retracted only in exceptional cases, such as the seller materially changing the description after your bid or a clear typing error. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Auction Bidding) “YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION.”
Don't pay, and ShopGoodwill can record it and suspend or ban you, or take other action. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Auction Bidding) “ShopGoodwill will record, monitor, suspend or ban any bidder who fails to fulfill his or her obligation to purchase the item(s)”
ShopGoodwill's bidding guide puts it plainly: paying on time keeps your account in good standing. The same guide says proxy bidding is built in: enter your maximum once and the system raises your bid in small increments up to it. (ShopGoodwill blog: Bidding & Buying, The Power of Proxy Bidding; closing section) “In order to keep your good standing (and avoid any suspensions), you’ll want to make sure you pay for your items on time.”
The Terms bar dealing directly with a party you were introduced to through ShopGoodwill in a way that cuts ShopGoodwill out, unless it agrees in writing, and set liquidated damages of 20% of that purchase's subtotal. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Non-Circumvention) “you shall pay to ShopGoodwill an amount equal to 20% of the subtotal of the relevant purchase”
Returns and refunds, like shipping and payment terms, vary by selling Goodwill; the listing has its policy. (ShopGoodwill Terms of Use, Returns and Refunds)

What to do

Open the listing's shipping tab and Shipping Calculator before you bid: they show where it ships from, the carrier, the weight, the handling fee and whether it can be combined.
Send your resale certificate before you win, in your business name, dated this year, with "Goodwill/ShopGoodwill.com" as the seller.
To combine shipping, bunch wins from one Goodwill that close within 7 days of each other (20 lb or less, same carrier) and wait until the last one ends before you pay; or look for pickup items near you.
Bid once with ShopGoodwill's built-in proxy bidding, set to what you'd pay before shipping, handling and tax are added; the landed cost calculator works that number backwards from your budget.
Pay within seven days of the close, or ask the seller for an extension through the "Contact Seller" link.

Price the whole lot before you bid with the landed cost per item calculator.

Questions

Does ShopGoodwill charge a buyer's premium?

Its help center names none: joining and using ShopGoodwill is free apart from what the Terms of Use say and applicable taxes. The costs on top of the bid are shipping, the seller's handling fee and sales tax.

How is ShopGoodwill shipping calculated?

Either a flat rate set by the selling Goodwill or a rate pulled from the carrier for the size and weight, including the box and packing. Insurance or a required signature can add fees, and a bulky item can cost more because of its dimensional weight.

What is the ShopGoodwill handling fee?

A fee set by the selling Goodwill, separate from shipping, for preparing the item, packing materials and labor. It is shown on the listing before you bid.

How do I buy tax-exempt on ShopGoodwill as a reseller?

Email the resale form your state requires (the multistate uniform certificate in 37 listed states; ST-120 in New York, ST-4 in Massachusetts, REV-1220 in Pennsylvania, ST-10 in Virginia) to ShopGoodwill support. It must be in a business name, dated in the current year, with "Goodwill/ShopGoodwill.com" as the seller and "Multiple" as the address.

How long do I have to pay on ShopGoodwill?

Typically seven days from the close. The selling Goodwill can grant an extension if you ask through "Contact Seller."

Can I combine shipping on ShopGoodwill?

Yes, for auction wins from the same Goodwill that close within 7 days of each other, weigh 20 lb or less together, ship by the same carrier and aren't marked "Cannot Be Combined For Shipping." Pay only after the last one ends. Buy It Now and stock items can't be combined.

General information from each site's and agency's own published pages, checked Oct 23, 2026; not legal or tax advice. Each auction's own terms control, so read them before you bid, and check with a lawyer or tax professional where it matters.

Sources

Rates verified on Oct 23, 2026 from each official page below.

Free 1-page Reseller Cheat Sheet: fees on 8 platforms, Media Mail and stamp prices

What each platform takes from a $10, $25 and $50 sale, Media Mail 1-10 lb, Ground Advantage to Zones 1, 5 and 8, and the Forever stamp, on one printable page. The link appears as soon as you sign up.