Charity shops.

I used to regularly donate to a local charity shop (even volunteered there for a time) but when a new manageress took over she would not allow any clothes which came from supermarkets to be sold - no matter how good a condition they were in - they had to go straight into the "ragging" bag, books had to be pristine, glasses, crockery etc. had to be in complete sets. I think more stuff ended up in the skip than went into the shop. Many volunteers left in protest.

On the other hand I had some laughable experiences when volunteering there, a lady came into the shop and wanted a discount because she was buying 3 things! When sorting through some donated clothes I came across some childrens' dirty underwear (I always wore rubber gloves after that), toys with bits missing, jigsaws with pieces missing (we had to count them).

grannypiper- brilliant, every town should have one!

The charity I volunteered in received some odd decrees from head office. Door open whatever the weather, shivering manager stood under the tiny heater! Only one item to be displayed in the windows. Previously attractive, they just looked as if we hadn't bothered.
Constant updates of the list of items we weren't allowed to sell. The knitting needles had to go (H&S apparently) but I don't understand why the dozens of (steadily selling) knitting patterns were thrown out too. Handknitted items including unworn baby clothes are banned because they don't have fire safety labels.
Books must have pristine white pages, no yellowing. Thank goodness the dedicated bookshops which Oxfam runs will display and sell books less than perfect condition, those are often the out of print interesting ones. Some weeks more books went for pulping than were put on sale. And, of course, any clothes needing a button or having had alterations such as a handsewn hem must go for rags. What a waste.

In my local town we have the best charity shop, all of our local clubs,schools and other organisations can hire the shop for a week each year. They keep the prices at a level people can afford and on a friday morning before the charities time is up they let you fill a bag with clothes etc for £1. What is left is either taken by the next charity or goes off to be sold by weight. It really is a great concept.Most people pop in and give a donation wether they are buying or not

When our children were still at home we bought loads of stuff for them at charity shops. and jumble sales. Anything except footwear and underwear. When they were older and had their own money they bought a few things themselves.
Now I regularly look at the second hand clothes stall in the market. I've had some real bargains - in the past clothes were made of better-quality material than they are nowadays.

I'm totally with gilly on on the effect charity shops have on small independent retailers. It's just so unfair. Selling used clothing etc great - all in favour of recycling but new goods, undercutting because they don't have to pay the same tax, rent or staff wages. But most charities are just big business now.

Love charity shops...last weeks bargain..unworn ugg boots...price tag on £157.....paid £3 ?.......dont go in the Sue Ryder shop...manageress with awful attitude..even with her staff!

My local charity makes money for a local church and the manager is very sensible re pricing. I bought 4 small wine glasses and paid very little for them- I thought that the price was for one and not the four.

I love the books- a large selection and because they are cheaply priced there is an excellent turnover.

Clothes for adults although clean are not of any quality so I give them a miss but children's clothes are a bargain. It is well run and reasonably priced.

How do we do the survey Meganallcock ?

I work in a charity shop and do the pricing . I agree that most of the `big` charity shops are totally out of hand with pricing !Our shop - Books 3 for £1 , clothing from £2 - £4 , childrens clothing £1-2 . Everything has to be clean , in good condition with no damage or else it goes to the rag man for recycling . I worked for British heart for 10 years and towards the end it was embarrassing the prices we were instructed to ask for things so I left and went to a local animal charity - all proceeds go to the sanctuary , no one takes a salary and we work on a `sell it cheap , fast turn over ` principal . Vote with your feet and don`t buy from the ones which are over priced .

Hi, I'm currently completing a survey for charity shop volunteers, if you know any or have volunteered at a charity shop/currently do. Please take the time to complete this, I would really appreciate it.

I couldn't agree with you more Dott I thought the exact same thing only last week, it is getting rediculous!!

I love charity shops but they can get a bit carried away with the pricing. Our local hospice shop was selling a Thomas track for £25 when we'd just bought the same one on ebay for £10 so my husband told them. They asked him to leave and said if he didn't like their pricing policy he shouldn't bother going in again.

Having said that our daughter has a lovely collection of barbie dolls courtesy of another more sensibly managed charity shop.

I bought 4 really pretty champagne flutes from Oxfam, when I asked the price they said £1.50, I thought they meant each, but that was for the 4, very pleased. And an odd wine glass to display some little glass knick-knacks in, 20p.

Bought a bottle of Molton Brown hand lotion in charity shop yesterday - £1.00!

I have a dear friend who will think nothing of spending £thousands on a cruise and shop in charity shops for clothes to take. I am so conformist not to be able to even go in one and I do know that reflects badly on me.

I love 'em. Having done all my Christmas shopping in them last year (family decision to spice up the Christmas buying, save money and help charities at the same time) I am a convert. So many bargains and why buy new at ridiculous prices when you can buy almost new or even new at these shops for a song. Last purchase was a brand new snow suit for DGS for £1.95. Simples

dottilind

I am never out of them. I bought a brand new girls school coat for my GD today from a school charity shop. 50p Happy Days.

Well done ladies I thought I was the only one who thought about pricing in charity shops.

gillybob One of the charity shop's near my home also sell new products which affect the shop's in our area,the goods are donated by the on line shopping channel's when they have stock left from a promotion but the pricing is out of reach of most people who shop in the charity shop.I volunterred for Banardo's at one time and found their pricing far too high they have a corporate pricing list and do not take into account regional differences in prices,I have now been at SVP for a long while every Saturday and we have a quick turn around of stock because the pricing is realistic.

yes it is small bookshops that are hit the worst.
I dont object to them selling new goods. Many high streets would be 50% boarded up if it were not for charity shops.
Yes they are a bit different in Australia/NZ. Salvo - Salvation Army and St Vincent seem to dominate - but in cheap rent areas they often have huge furniture and household goods stores. My son bought a brilliant vintage lazeeboy chair from one.

Meant to add that I also feel sorry for small bookshops that must be losing out, and wouldn't want to see our local one go under.

Absent I so agree with you. I think the charity shops should price expensive items realistically. It's a tricky problem though.Some people with plenty of money pride themselves on buying clothes at bargain prices in charity shops,while there are those who can only afford clothes from charity shops. As someone said ,the shops are there to make money for the charity . I would rather give away decent clothes to friends if I thought the charity shops was going to almost do the same to strangers.

If I were in retail I wouldn't be happy at all. The charity shops in our town ( there are several) are selling new and used books, greetings cards, perfumes and cosmetics, decorative accessories, clothes, furniture,CDs, DVDs, in fact almost everything.

It is extremely unfair on many if the small struggling businesses trying to scrape a living when the charity shops pay zero rates and only a token rent .

We must be lucky here in Australia - while some charity shops are unrealistic, most are great. I bought a lovely necklace for A$4 (about 2 pound 80p), and another for A$2. I got a very posh skirt for A$10 (about 7 pounds), and lots of stuff is 50c to A$3.

You can get a brand new mattress for A$190 (133 pounds)

Jess, Cancer Research has 'Gift Aid' too, certainly in Cheshire.