Habitat for Humanity ReStore - Oakland

The service and this location hardly ever exist. There has been an improvement in the floor lot that all that I say positive about this location. There used to be lady behind the count with a why are you bothering attitude, I haven't seen her lately and that is good she wasn't very helpful anyway.

We picked up two amazing end tables and a bench for our salon remodel in fantastic shape. Honestly, we would have paid close to $1000 for similar items brand new. They were such amazing finds and the team were so wonderful helping us load the car.

I also dropped off a donation of a matching console table, storage bin and wall mirror and it was super easy. I was in and out in minutes!

Habitat for Humanity the non-profit organization is A+. Habitat for Humanity the store (at least this one) is not so great. It's maybe worth a walk through if you are getting a toilet or something from the Reuse people next door. If next door is the 'I am trying to remodel on the cheap' store, this is the 'I really wish I could redecorate on the cheap but it's not gonna happen here' store. You want a stained and disgusting rug for $100? No? Neither does anyone else. Very perplexing. Also the staff here are generally kinda meh. Here is an example:

me: So yay you are having a sale on paint!
them: yes. just today. and you can only buy the one gallon size.
me: can I just get the giant size and pay you the difference (it was like 15 dollars or something) so I wont have to make multiple trips up the stairs with paint? My janked up knee will thank you.
them: no.
m: okay.

But 3 stars because I did get paint at a pretty good price (which I am slowly moving upstairs one gallon at a time...lol) and I didn't have to deal with Lowe's which is always a bonus. Bring hand sanitizer because you will want to disinfect a little if you touch the gross rugs.

The store was organized, however the prices were so expensive!
Even the scrap wood was just as much as new wood from Home Depot.

Left empty handed and wont be back anytime soon.

Just went in to purchase a used piece of furniture. Everything with a green tag is an additional 50% off. BEFORE purchasing, I asked the guy at the register if items with green tags are 50% off the lowest marked price. He said YES. Then when I brought the tag up to the register to the same guy, he said, no discount on this item. ???
Bad service with misinformation.

This is one of my favorite restore, and the employees that work here are ALWAYS so helpful! Today, I got a bed frame, and Daniel took the frame apart and had it hauled out before I got to the pick up spot...and had took the bed apart and carefully placed it in my car. Thank you Daniel!

I have only been to the Fairfield location. This one here is huge!!! I felt like a lot of times were overpriced, and you can find similar on Facebook marketplace or at yard sales for less money.

They did have brand new couches in boxes that were well priced for the quality. Good for young ones moving put on their own for thr first time.

Products: 3/5
Although I did not find anything to actually purchase from here there is a much larger selection that the Concord location. Especially for larger items (doors, vanities, tiles etc). I felt it was in need of some help/upkeep. A lot of products were covered in dirt or dust. I leaned over a cloth couch to look at a mirror and ended up getting "bites" or a "rash",all over the area of contact, not sure what type of insect in particular. I had to deep clean everything when I got home and I had even worn gloves when I was at the restore. Some items have prices and others do not, it took some time to get a hold of an employee who worked there each time to ask the price and it was not set/negotiable. Some items like the mattress toppers being sold seemed priced a bit high, almost exactly the same price as they would be if you purchased them from the company yourself directly. Interestingly, all the mannequins there were pregnant.

For tiles and doors, this location's variety was superior than the Concord location I have been to. There are some nice furniture pieces, but I would be wary of purchasing anything other than leather or faux leather, and only after considerable cleaning/sanitizing.

Service: 4/5
Everyone I spoke to, I asked for help, was friendly and responsive. The location overall however, seemed understaffed.

I LOVE Restore Oakland, but plan to give yourself time (like a Disneyland visit) to explore it. Discovery of that perfect item is patiently awaiting you wading through things that don't interest you until you get to the items you love.

While my husband shopped for appliances, renovation hardware and lumber, I meandered through the large, packed showroom. A set of dishes caught my eye because they matched a bowl my mother had when I was a child. With the staff's aid, I examined it up close and verified it was the pattern of bone china that I remembered. (BTW, anyone concerned about lead leeching from china dishes should know that BONE CHINE does not use lead, even if the dishes are very old. In fact, it's the highest level of china possible and does not break as often when dropped as stoneware will do.)

When it came time to pick it up, the staff let me bring my boxes (a combo of Trader Joe's and Amazon) with a laundry hamper full of packing materials --linens, washcloths, sox, and other stuff saved from other deliveries to individually wrap and line the boxes to protect the dishes, in the area so transporting them was easy.

They were accommodating and helpful.

They have a lot of home building materials and furnishings but I have to say it's hit or miss on the prices.

We found a large horizontal picture window for for a steal at $65 but you turn around and find used candles for $2 a piece & chairs for $1500? It's confusing.

We had our eye on a small used refrigerator which had been sitting there for over 2 weeks and asked if they lower prices the longer items sit there...they don't.

Go check it out but honestly it's hit or miss.