Feature guide

How Cloth Goblin works

Whether you just unlocked the map, joined as a Goblin, or spun up your Org Dashboard — here’s what you can do and where to find it.

Cloth Goblin in a minute

Overview

Quick answers that apply no matter what tier you’re on. Tier-specific details follow below.

What is Cloth Goblin?

A worldwide map of thrift stores, donation sites, vintage shops, and upcycle shops — for clothing first, plus the home items and furniture some of those stores carry alongside. We help thrifters find places to buy secondhand and donate clothing, and we help shop owners get discovered. The map is a living, growing thing — new locations are added all the time by our community and our team.

How do I get started?

Anyone can preview the map. To see all pins and details, unlock as an Unlocked Thrifter ($1 one-time on web, or the paid app download on iOS / Android). Want to react, follow stores, build Travel Lists, or suggest unlimited locations? Become a Goblin. Run a store? Spin up an Org Dashboard. Each higher tier includes everything from the tiers below.

Does Cloth Goblin work on the web AND on my phone?

Yes. clothgoblin.com works in any browser, and Cloth Goblin is available as a paid download on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). Your account state — favorites, Travel Lists, follows, subscriptions, role, AND the Thrifter map unlock — carries between web and the apps when you sign in. So if you bought the paid app, signing in on clothgoblin.com unlocks the web map automatically (no second charge). The one wall is Apple and Google’s billing: those platforms gate every app install with their own purchase, so a web-only user who later wants the app still has to pay the App Store / Google Play price. More mobile-app questions below.

How does the map keep growing?

Three ways at once. Goblins suggest stores we haven’t found yet, Org Dashboard subscribers add their own listings directly, and Admin researches and seeds new locations all the time. Today’s “empty zone” on the map is next week’s neighborhood find.

$1 one-time

Unlocked Thrifter

Full map access, search any city or store, and up to 10 location suggestions. The default map view shows curated featured pins — toggle the Featured Only filter off whenever you want to see everything.

What you can do

•Explore thousands of thrift stores, donation sites, and vintage shops worldwide on the full map.
•Search any city or store name and jump straight to it on the map.
•Suggest up to 10 new locations we haven’t found yet — every add helps the community.
•Your $1 credit will apply to your first month if you ever upgrade to Goblin or List Your Store.

What does the $1 unlock get me?

Full access to the Cloth Goblin map forever on the web (one-time charge, not a subscription). You’ll see every thrift store, donation site, vintage shop, and charity we’ve indexed, anywhere in the world. Your unlock is tied to your account — sign in on any web browser and you’re in.

Can I save favorites or build Travel Lists?

Those features are part of the Goblin plan ($4.99/mo). As an Unlocked Thrifter you can explore the full map and search any store by name or city. Upgrade any time from your Account page — and your $1 unlock becomes a credit toward your first month of Goblin.

How do I suggest a location that’s missing?

Tap the “+” button on the map (or the ‘Suggest a location’ option inside any drawer). You can submit up to 10 suggestions as an unlocked Thrifter. Our team reviews each one and adds approved places to the map.

Do I need to buy the app separately?

Your $1 web unlock is tied to your account, so signing in anywhere unlocks the map. The catch is Apple and Google: those stores gate every app install with their own purchase, so a web-only user who later wants the iOS or Android app still has to pay the App Store / Google Play price for the paid download. The other direction is free — if you bought the paid app and later sign in on clothgoblin.com, the web map unlocks automatically (no second charge).

What’s the difference between Thrifter, Goblin, and Org?

Thrifter (you) = full map + favorites + 10 suggestions. Goblin ($4.99/mo) = unlimited location suggestions, reactions, follows, and pings. Org ($6.99/mo) = a dashboard to manage your own store’s listing. See the Goblin and Org sections below for the full lists.

$4.99/month

Goblin

The community tier. Everything in Thrifter, plus Favorites, reactions, Travel Lists, follows, optional pings, and unlimited location suggestions.

What you can do

•Full map access + unlimited location suggestions (no 10-cap).
•Save any store to your Favorites — revisit them any time from the Favorites tab.
•React to locations — heart, new arrivals, upcycled finds — your reactions signal demand to shop owners.
•Follow stores to see when they post new stuff and get optional pings.
•Build unlimited Travel Lists for thrift road trips.

What do Goblin reactions actually do?

Each location drawer has reaction buttons (heart, rad vibes, new arrivals spotted, upcycled find, etc.). When you react, the store owner sees an aggregated count — no personal info is shared — so they know which items are drawing attention. It’s a low-effort way to signal demand and encourage small businesses.

How do follows and pings work?

Tap ‘Follow’ on any location. We’ll show that store’s activity in your feed and — if you opt in — send an in-app ping when they post new content, upload photos, or are featured. You can mute pings per location or globally in Settings.

Where do my Favorites live?

Tap the heart icon on any location drawer to favorite a store. Open the ‘Favorites’ tab from the bottom navigation (Home, Map, Favorites, Discover, Account) to see your saved spots on a dedicated page — they’re grouped by city and you can jump straight to any store on the map. Favorites carry across web + native so a store you favorited on your phone shows up on the web too. No limit on how many you can save.

What are Travel Lists and where do I build them?

A shareable saved list of locations for a thrifting trip. Open the Travel List sidebar from any drawer or from the map’s top bar (look for the Travel List icon), then tap ‘Add to Travel List’ on each store you want to visit. You can reorder stops, name the list (e.g. ‘Atlanta thrift weekend’), see all stops on a single map view, share a link with a friend who can view your route, or hand off the list to Apple/Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions. Build as many as you want — trips by city, by vibe, by date. Travel Lists are a Goblin-only feature; Thrifters can see the UI but can’t save lists between sessions.

Can I cancel?

Any time, from your Account page. You’ll keep Goblin features until the end of your current billing period, then revert to Unlocked Thrifter (your map access stays, your favorites stay, you just lose unlimited location suggestions/reactions/pings). No prorated refunds.

Does my Goblin sub work in the mobile app?

Your role is tied to your account, so sign-in anywhere works — but payment flows are separate: a web subscription is billed via Stripe; a mobile subscription is billed via Apple/Google. If you subscribed on web and install the app, sign in and your Goblin features follow you. Vice versa if you start on mobile.

$6.99/month

Org Dashboard

Your store’s home base on the map. Everything in Goblin (and Thrifter), plus the Org Dashboard to manage your locations, hours, photos, intake preferences, and Instagram feed.

What you can do

•Open your Org Panel to add or edit your locations, hours, photos, and intake preferences.
•See aggregated thrifter pings + demand signals so you know what’s drawing interest.
•Connect your Instagram account so your latest posts appear on your location pages automatically.
•All Goblin community features included — Favorites, reactions, Travel Lists, follows, pings.
•Appear in map search + filter results across the entire Cloth Goblin platform.

Where is my Org Panel?

On the map, there’s an ‘Org Panel’ button in the top right (only visible to Org admins with an active subscription). Everything about your store — locations, photos, hours, donations acceptance, intake policy — lives there.

What is the 60-day review?

After you sign up, you have a probationary 60-day window where Cloth Goblin verifies that your business is operating in good faith at the locations listed. We may request a utility bill, business or trade license, Google Business Profile verification, or your country’s equivalent proof of operation. If you don’t hear from us, you’re good.

Who is the Authorized Signer on my account?

At signup you named a person (e.g. Owner, Manager) who signed the Org Subscription Agreement on behalf of your business. That name + title is on file and becomes important if there’s ever a successor or email change — the Agreement binds successors automatically (see §10).

How do I change my business email on file?

Go to your Account page. Under ‘Organization business email’, click Change. You’ll enter the new email, re-confirm your signer name + title, and upload a fresh verification document. The change takes effect immediately but is reviewed by our team; both the old and new email receive a notification so a compromised account can’t be hijacked silently.

Can I cancel?

Yes, from your Account page under ‘Cancel Subscription.’ Your Org Panel remains active until the end of the current billing period, then your locations stay on the map but you lose the ability to edit them. If you want your locations removed entirely, email support@clothgoblin.com.

Will Cloth Goblin send emails to my customers?

Only thrifters who have explicitly opted in to location pings at your store. You don’t get their identities — only aggregated counts. Using the platform to contact thrifters directly is not permitted (it’s spelled out in §6 of the Agreement).

Reference

What’s listed

Where we focus today — and where we’re headed.

What kinds of stores are on the map?

Cloth Goblin currently focuses on locations that sell or accept secondhand and vintage clothing and accessories. Stores devoted exclusively to antique or vintage furniture aren’t in scope yet, but locations that carry both clothing and furniture are welcome — tap the Also Furniture filter to find them. Dedicated antique and furniture listings are on the roadmap for a future release.

My store isn’t listed — why?

The map is a living, growing thing — new locations get added and suggested every day, and our community is constantly turning up shops we didn’t know about. Some shops also operate beautifully without a website or social media presence, which makes it harder for us to confirm key details (hours, address accuracy, intake type, and whether the business is still active). Locations without an online footprint may take longer to appear on the map while we verify them. If you run a shop that fits our scope and you’re not yet on the map, we’re so glad you’re out there. Please reach out at support@clothgoblin.com and we’ll work to add you.

Reference

Map filters, decoded

What each filter actually means when you tap it on the map. These tags come from Orgs themselves or from Goblins suggesting a fit — Admin is a backstop, not a gatekeeper.

Pin colors — what the dots mean at a glance

Green — a thrift or secondhand shop. The default for most stores.

Purple — a spot tagged Luxury Vintage or Cool Aesthetic: designer finds or a strong curated vibe.

Yellow — a donation center or donation bin (drop-off, may not sell on-site).

Light blue — the pin you’ve currently tapped (just a temporary highlight, not a category).

Colors are first-match: a donation center that’s also tagged luxury still shows yellow (the place type wins), and a tapped pin glows blue regardless of its color.

Types — what kind of place it is

Thrift Stores: Shops that primarily sell secondhand goods. Could be a nonprofit, a for-profit vintage boutique, or anything in between.
Donation Centers: Places set up to take your donations, whether or not they sell on-site. Filtering by Donation Centers also surfaces shops that are both a thrift store and a donation center, plus any store tagged “Also Accepts Donations.”
Donation Bin: Standalone drop-off bins for clothing and goods — no storefront, just a place to leave a bag. They always show as pins on the map.
Upcycle Shop: A shop centered on upcycled and remade goods — old pieces transformed into new ones. (Different from the “Upcycles” vibe tag, which flags a store that also does some upcycling.)

Vibes — what you’ll find or how they operate

Luxury

Designer and high-end pieces are a regular part of their inventory — Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Hermès, Coach, and friends. Often consignment. Prices reflect that, but so do the finds.

Cool Aesthetic

A shop with a strong curatorial point of view — think styled interior, intentional merchandising, a visual identity you could spot on a vibes-forward Instagram grid. Not a judgement on anyone else’s store; just a heads-up that this one leans into the experience.

Sneakerheads

Kicks are part of the draw — secondhand and vintage sneakers, grails, resale pairs, or a shop that actively buys and trades them. If you collect, this pin is worth the detour.

Razzle Dazzle

Sparkle and showstoppers — sequins, rhinestones, costumes, dancewear, and statement pieces for drag, the stage, cosplay, pageants, and anyone who dresses to dazzle. If you need to shine, start here.

Bale Friendly / Industrial

This location has real industrial / logistics muscle. The drawer spells out the specifics — things like a full 53-foot semi-trailer loading dock, an on-site baler, or shipping outside the U.S. Handy if you’re in the biz.

Bridal

Can mean either (a) a shop that specializes in bridal pieces, or (b) that you can find wedding pieces at the shop. Investigate before you commit the drive, fellow thrifters.

Buy + Sell Here

They’ll buy your clothes from you — usually cash or store credit, usually by appointment or during specific buying hours. Check the website or call ahead so you don’t lug a bag across town for nothing.

Sells New + Vintage

Mixes curated vintage with new arrivals or brand-name stock. Great if you want one-stop shopping; slightly less of the “treasure hunt” energy than a pure thrift.

Also Furniture

Locations that stock clothing plus couches, chairs, tables, and the occasional lamp with a story. (Stores devoted exclusively to antique furniture aren’t listed yet — that’s on the roadmap.) Bring a friend with a truck — the good pieces don’t sit long.

Upcycles

Reworked, repurposed, remade — old pieces transformed into new ones. Jeans-into-bags, band tees turned into quilts, that whole beautiful genre.

Online Store

They also ship. Good news if the shop is a six-hour drive and you saw something perfect on their Instagram.

Denim Dreams

Serious denim inventory — vintage Levi’s, selvedge, raw, properly-broken-in jeans. A specialty this deep deserves its own tag.

Alt + Goth

Shops that lean into alternative, goth, punk, emo, grunge, or metalhead fashion — black, leather, studs, band tees, platform boots, the deep end of subcultural style. If you’re hunting for the look, this is your filter.

Also Home Items

Glassware, ceramics, knick-knacks, estate-sale leftovers, the occasional weird lamp. Home-decor thrifters, this is your filter.

Also Vintage Jewelry

Costume, estate, fine — varies by shop. Smaller items; ask to see the case if it’s locked up. Worth the ask.

Also Vinyl

Records in the mix — a crate or two of vinyl alongside the clothing racks. Worth a flip-through for the crate-diggers.

Also Accepts Donations

A store that isn’t primarily a donation center, but will take your bag of gently-used goods. Check the website or call ahead for what they do and don’t accept before you show up.

Purchase By Weight

Not necessarily wholesale for business — thrifters can purchase bundles of clothing by weight. Popular in the UK and Europe, often called “kilo shops.” The vibe is bins, scales, and lucky digs.

Wholesale

A wholesale shop that supplies thrift businesses — think bales, lots, and bulk vintage. Usually B2B; check the website or call ahead before you plan a casual drop-in.

Nonprofit

Run by a registered nonprofit. Proceeds typically fund a mission — shelters, disaster relief, animal rescue, community programs. Check the store’s website or call ahead for the specific cause.

Donates to Charity

The shop donates a portion of proceeds to a nonprofit cause. This tag focuses on what they do rather than their legal structure — it covers confirmed for-profits that give back, as well as shops where we can see they donate but haven’t confirmed nonprofit status. If a shop is a registered nonprofit, you’ll usually see the Nonprofit tag too. Check the store’s website or call ahead for the specific cause.

Billing & Privacy

How do I cancel?

From your Account page, tap “Cancel Subscription.” You’ll keep paid features until the end of the current billing period. No prorated refunds. Your map access stays (your $1 unlock is permanent).

Does my $1 unlock count toward a subscription?

Yes! If you paid the $1 map unlock on the website and later subscribe to Goblin or Org (also on the website), we automatically knock $1 off your first month at checkout — no code needed. It’s single-use, and it can’t cross into App Store / Google Play billing (Apple and Google don’t let us discount their checkouts from outside).

Do new subscribers get a free trial or discount?

Yes. Your first month of Goblin is free — in the iOS app and on the website — then $4.99/mo. New Org subscribers get a discounted first month in the iOS app: $5.99 (then $6.99/mo), with equivalent discounts in most other currencies. The exact terms always appear on Apple’s purchase sheet (or Stripe checkout) before you confirm, and you can cancel anytime before the free month ends without being charged.

Region exceptions: Goblin’s free month works in every storefront. The Org discount is priced in Apple’s fixed currency tiers, and in a few storefronts the tier below the regular price doesn’t exist — so no Org intro offer appears in Australia, Colombia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Poland, South Korea, and Vietnam; subscribers there pay the standard Org price from month one. The $1 web unlock credit is separate and applies on the website regardless of region.

Can I switch between Goblin and Org tiers?

Both directions, on the website:

Goblin → Org (upgrade): your first Org month is discounted by the full Goblin price — $4.99 off $6.99 — and your Goblin sub ends the moment the Org sub starts. Org includes every Goblin feature, so nothing is lost mid-switch.
Org → Goblin (downgrade): from your Account page, tap “Switch to Goblin.” You keep full Org access until the end of the billing period you already paid for, then you’re billed $4.99/mo instead of $6.99/mo. Your locations stay on the map; you just can’t manage them until you upgrade again. Changed your mind? Undo the switch any time before it kicks in.

Subscribed through the iOS or Android app? Plan changes happen in Apple/Google’s subscription settings — the “Manage Billing” button routes you there. On iOS, upgrading to Org takes effect immediately and Apple automatically refunds the unused portion of your Goblin month, prorated to the day — you never pay twice for the same stretch of time. Google Play applies its own plan-change proration when switching on Android.

What do you do with my data?

We never sell personal data. Reactions and follows are stored against your account so you can manage them. Stores only see aggregated counts, never individual identities. Full details in the Privacy Policy.

Can I download my data?

Yes. Go to Privacy Settings and click “Download my data” for a JSON export of everything we have on file.

I’m an Org. How does the 60-day review work?

When you sign up, your subscription starts immediately but we reserve 60 days to verify your business is operating in good faith at the addresses you listed. We may email you requesting proof (utility bill, business or trade license, Google Business Profile verification, or your country’s equivalent). Respond and you’ll pass review; failure to respond or disqualifying info results in suspension with 30 days to appeal. Details in the Org Subscription Agreement, Section 3.

Mobile Apps

Where do I get the app?

Cloth Goblin is available as a paid download on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android). The native app is the same Cloth Goblin you know on the web, with offline-friendly navigation, push notifications for pings and Travel List updates, and a faster map.

Does my web account work in the app (and vice versa)?

Yes. Sign in with the same email and your account state carries over:

Features carry both ways. Favorites, Travel Lists, follows, suggested locations, community reactions, and your tier role are all tied to your account, not to the device. Subscribe to Goblin on web — the app honors it. Subscribe on the app — the web honors it.
The Thrifter unlock follows your account, but Apple and Google still charge for the app download itself. Web and app each have their own one-time price (Stripe $1 on web, the paid app download on iOS / Android). Once you’ve paid on EITHER platform, your account holds the Thrifter unlock — so a user who bought the app and then signs in on clothgoblin.com gets the web map unlocked automatically (no second charge). The reverse isn’t free: a web-only user who later wants the app still has to pay the App Store / Google Play price for the paid download itself, because Apple and Google gate every install with their own purchase regardless of what other platforms have done. That wall is theirs, not ours.
Subscriptions don’t double-charge. Once you’re a Goblin or Org subscriber on one platform, the other recognizes you on sign-in. Web checkouts are billed by Stripe; app subscriptions are billed by Apple or Google.

Where do I manage my subscription?

From your Account page. We route the “Manage” button to wherever your subscription is actually billed — Stripe Customer Portal if you subscribed on web, Apple’s Subscriptions settings if you subscribed in the iOS app, Google Play’s subscription manager if you subscribed in the Android app. Apple and Google require subscription management to live with them; we can’t cancel an App Store sub on your behalf.

Still stuck?

Email support@clothgoblin.com — we’ll get back to you.