5 Downsides To Shopping At HomeGoods

HomeGoods is a store that specializes in selling... well, home goods! It's in the same corporate family as TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and it has a lot of fans for a reason. HomeGoods provides an affordable shopping experience with an extensive amount of inventory for shoppers to parse through. The stores contain everything from kitchen goods and gourmet food items to clothing.

Plus, the "treasure hunt" aspect of shopping there can be fun, as searching through an ever-changing inventory invites the promise that you'll find some discounted delight that other shoppers have passed over. But despite the positives, not everyone is the biggest fan of this retailer. HomeGoods has a score of 2.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (as of November 2026), with one reviewer warning potential shoppers to "take your business somewhere that respects common sense." What are the downsides to shopping at HomeGoods? Well, we've outlined a few below.

The nature of shopping at HomeGoods is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the casual, sprawling feel of the store is part of what gives it its appeal. You can go bargain-hunting and emerge with some interesting items you never would have considered buying before. On the other hand, if you're looking for something specific, the disorganization can be frustrating.

The potentially overwhelming shopping experience has given rise to some colorful assessments on social media. "If you've never been in HomeGoods before and you to some degree like organization, don't go into a [HomeGoods]," said one user on Facebook. "My bedroom is better organized[.] It just looks like [the staff shoves] stuff on a shelf." Another user agreed about the chaotic feeling, saying that the store is their "worst nightmare. Like a hoarder ran out of room so they bought a store to help sell some stuff[.] The overwhelming maze of just things is anxiety[-]inducing." If you're seeking out an orderly shopping experience, you may want to steer clear.

One of the most appealing aspects about HomeGoods is the fact that it sells goods at bargain prices. However, just because something is sold there it doesn't necessarily mean it's the best value available. Social media users have some tales of locating the same items for less money at other retailers. One Redditor noted that the bargains depend on the type of item you're looking for. "I find the furniture at those stores is super overpriced," they said. "Clothes are hit or miss, but mostly miss. Bedding and stuff of that sort are a great deal. Pots and pans are good prices but bad selection."

A different customer on Trustpilot outlined a situation where some plates were much less expensive elsewhere. "I bought [a set of 124 Lenox] plates totaling $4,500," they said, explaining that they returned the collection due to faulty, unmatched patterns. "I returned all 124 pieces[,] got all my money back[,] and I ordered them directly from [Lenox,] on sale for $700. [HomeGoods] is a [ripoff]." This same user went on to share another example as well, stating that their local HomeGoods was selling a set of six Scrub Daddy sponges for $26, and they were able to find them online for only $5.

Yes, one of HomeGoods' major flaws is the fact that finding matching sets is far from a guarantee. Let's say you discover a box of plates in a particular shade that is exactly your style. That's great! Want to find an accompanying set of bowls in the same color and design? That's going to be a much bigger challenge. The reason for this is because there's no uniform inventory at HomeGoods; the store mostly sells what its buyers have purchased from other parties for discounted rates.

Social media is full of shoppers who found an item they liked and are searching fruitlessly for its companions. One Redditor was in search of five identical wedding center pieces after the poster's friends made the "risky decision" of going with HomeGoods decor for their big day. Other users were on the hunt for a second storage bin and matching bar stools. In other words, if you're going to HomeGoods for decor, you might have to get used to an eclectic look instead of a uniform one.

Any store out there is likely to occasionally let a broken or defective product onto the floor. This is certainly the case at HomeGoods, which has faced its fair share of criticism for scuffed or damaged items. This is probably partly due to HomeGoods sourcing its products from a wide variety of locations, including closeout sales and manufacturer surpluses that might not keep their merchandise in mint condition. And with a lot of items out loose on the shelves, there's potential for chipping and breakages. Whatever the reason, shoppers at this store have reported accidentally purchasing broken merchandise fairly frequently.

"When [HomeGoods has] good items, they're great and the prices are fabulous," noted a two-star review on Trustpilot. "However, many times, they are broken, chipped, breaking, ripping, shredding, and with flaws[. ...] Many times, I find the quality of the merchandise [...] lacking." Other shoppers have reported decor that was missing pieces, sets of broken drinking glasses, and various other items in suboptimal condition. If this happens to you, make sure to get good use out of HomeGoods' return policy.

HomeGoods once had an online shopping platform, but the brand retired it in 2023 in order to, as expressed via email to HomeGoods shoppers, "[focus] on that 'treasure hunt' shopping experience that [...] customers love, and [deliver] incredible value on an ever-changing in-store selection of exciting top brands and home fashions from around the world, all at amazing prices." A former employee on Reddit expressed the reason for losing the web store a little differently, blaming a lack of profitability and a challenge for workers. "It was just a headache in general to deal with," they said. "Customers wouldn't know [whether] or not have their e-receipt. Even when they did, we had to punch just about everything in manually. It was even worse when they bought it from one of the other websites and tried to return clothes or luggage to us (as a HomeGoods alone. Not a combo store)."

While web-based returns may have been a hassle for employees, there's no doubt that the end of its online store is a bummer for people who prefer to shop from home. Today, if you want something from HomeGoods, you'll have to go in person and look around yourself.