What’s your best charity shop bargain?

I bought my DD a coat about 30 years ago, so don't remember how much I paid. However I found a pair of gloves with each finger being one of the colours in the coat fabric so a perfect match in another local clothes shop. It was a beautiful outfit and when she wore it the next day someone commented on her 'new' coat and she said very loudly, "Yes, Mummy bought it from Oxfam!" She was too young to know it was a charity shop, it was just a shop brand to her. Now she buys lots of things second hand either from charity shops or on ebay. We believe in recycling as much as possible and it's usually cheaper than buying new.

A pair of knee length suede Hotter boots, still boxed, new for £30.
I wear then every year, so a real bargain.

We had some dinner plates from M&S from a boot sale now discontinued but I liked them so much I wanted the other bowls etc. I found the whole set ..teapot, jug, gravy boat ,teacups , small plates , salt &pepper pots, cereal bowls . I got the lot for £16!

A large Jellycat bashful puppy. Absolutely perfect condition with original price ticket still on it. Couldn't believe the Charity shop only wanted £1.00. Ticket price had £55.00.

A Le Creuset fondue set in a really tatty box but had obviously had never been used as forks etc in original bags. I suspected it was a wedding present that had undergone several house moves. Cost £5 and has been used and lent out a few times!

Jocork, you have reminded me of some brilliant bargains l had for my daughter when she was small. When she was just under two she had outgrown her winter coat but, as her birthday is at the beginning of April, I was reluctant to buy her a new one at this point. A local charity shop had a red Ladybird anorak for 50p in the size she needed. It was ideal and she wore it for a few months in the autumn at which point I bought her a new coat. I passed on the red anorak to a friend for her little boy as it was a unisex design.When she was five, I paid £1 in another charity shop for a summer party dress. It was really pretty and as new because party dresses are not worn very often. When she was eight l bought her a pair of Gap jeans in a charity shop for 50p. Again, they were as new and had sequins too. The best part was that they had an internal elasticated waist so that they could be adjusted to fit the child. My daughter was, and is, petite with a very small waist and these were wonderful. They had a lot of wear.

Oh, and my daughter has also caught the charity shop bug and, as an adult, has bought some of her favourite clothes there.

Lomo123

Diamond and sapphire bracelet. Sitting on an open shelf along with plastic bracelets and necklaces. £5.

Did your conscience trouble you? Did you know what it was when you bought it? Did you keep it or sell it? Did you make a further payment to the charity?

Marydoll

I have a friend, who trawls charity shops for bargains and then makes a profit selling on Ebay.
She has even asked for her money back on items, if she gets home and changes her mind.
That does not sit well with me at all.

I knew someone who did exactly the same Marydoll. She visits not only Charity shops but car boot sales as well and sells old books. She has been known to return to shops when things she got in the Charity Shop still had all their tags.
When challenged she could see nothing wrong and said she was recycling.
I also knew two charity shops where volunteers kept the best back for themselves. One tried to get my late mother to buy things from her, luckily my mother told her where to go.
I never leave tags on clothes when passing the odd thing in and scuff the bottom of unworn shoes.
It doesn't seem right to me either.

It’s all fair to my mind.

I’ve been shopping in charity shops since about 1978 it was a punk thing then and I don’t recall such places existing in towns until then.

Obviously if it wasn’t for the charity, no one would have the option to shop in them (and many people won’t even set foot in one) but if everyone was well off enough to buy everything brand new they’d soon close down.

Posh hats - perfect place to search for them! I've worn a few fab charity shop hats and fascinators over the years, as MOB, MOG, etc;. Buy them for a modest price, return them immediately after, absolute win- win ( and no hat boxes cluttering up the wardrobe)

Selling them on doesn't sit well with me, the money is for the charity - perhaps give some of profit to them?

I can't think of anything startling (a recent brand new new Seasalt Dress was £7.50, that was nice) but about half my wardrobe is charity shop, and its fun looking.

Locally if I have something valuable I'd take it to Oxfam, as they do price for a designer rail.

But I actually take my clothes to MIND shop in a very deprived area indeed. After seeing people count out shillings and pennies for children clothes or something nice for themselves, I'm very aware of the other side of charity shopping - its sometimes the only way for people to clothe themselves and family or have something nice. The shop prices things low accordingly.

Chocolatelovinggran

Posh hats - perfect place to search for them! I've worn a few fab charity shop hats and fascinators over the years, as MOB, MOG, etc;. Buy them for a modest price, return them immediately after, absolute win- win ( and no hat boxes cluttering up the wardrobe)

Yes, hats are a great find, I forgot that! And my black handbags are charity shop, when it looks grotty I go searching.

A charity shop manager used to bring me items for valuation and repair before putting them in their shop. There were some lovely items and when cleaned up were sold at a good price.

In my local charity shop I found some ‘ Beefsteak’ oval plates being sold for 50p each…. In perfect condition . I have my mothers set that she had 60 years ago !
They aren’t particularly valuable but they are ‘collectables’…..I explained to the assistant that they were worth £20-£25 a plate and she took them off sale until the manager came in . I saw them he next day displayed in the window for £7 per plate. They sold them all in two days. My point being ….surely just having a Millers antique book in the shop for them to run their eye over before putting ornaments and collectibles on sale would be sensible.

The majority of my clothes/books come from Charity shops - a lot with tags still attached or in the case of shoes new in boxes. I've had 2 pairs of safety trainers for myself brand new for about £8 a pair, both worth around £45/50 minimum. Also a pair of safety boots for a male friend for £10. Last year a friend and myself went on a cruise for the first time - many of the dressier dresses came from charity shops for between £5-15, although there was one - a long Monsoon dress still with the label of £149 that I paid £25 for (don't normally go that high). Haven't actually worn it so labels are still on there - if i don't wear it can sell it. Another bargain last Saturday was a pair of glittery sandals (unworn) marked up at £4 but she charged me £2 so whether they had been there a while not sure. I like to google my bargains, they were originally £18 so not expensive but they look a lot more.

Another good find for me was a mushroom colour leather handbag. The label inside said The Tannery which I recognised as an expensive make. It was £17 and I looked it up and it’s still on sale for £118. It was immaculate as was the lining. The assistant says she knows the lady who brought it in and everything she donates is quality. I think some people have more money than sense to give away something like that.

I bought a brown faux shearling, zip-up jacket for £5. I wear it a lot, particularly in spring and autumn. It is very warm and has a hood that is useful if there is a shower.
A few years ago I bought a beautiful silk-mix, embroidered and beaded jumper very cheaply. When I got it home I realised the label said 'Dry clean only'. I decided to risk a machine wash and it was fine! I recently wore it to church and two ladies said " What a lovely jumper!"

ruthiek

You must all live in lovely areas as my local charity shops seem to have “ tatty “ clothing to resell 😪

Yeah same here😩
Have never got anything like most people on here have.What finds for some, your so lucky.

A Hobbs gilet, brand new, very warm - for £4. It's 'dry clean only' but washes just fine.

An earlier poster mentioned a “dog on wheels.” This brings back memories - our annual church Holiday Harvest Bazaar had a silent auction item that no one knew what it was for - a dog on wheels, bright red stroller with a push handle. Undercarriage had an English Co as a manufacturer. You could tell it was beloved and worn (the dog’s head was nearly bald from being petted.)

I said it was for a baby learning to walk. It immediately went on the auction block - came down to a heated exchange between another “to-be” gran and myself. I went home with the new-won prize, $75 lighter. That was 40 years ago!!! (Go figure the value in today’s market)

It passed through our family and various grandchildren. The kids always wanted to ride it! What a find. I loved that little “dog on wheels.”
Cheers!
USA Gundy

Germanshepherdsmum. No I thought it was paste to be honest. It was a jeweller friend who identified it. I liked the colour of the stones.

5 metres of Harris Tweed fabric for $10. Usually I would have to hope to find and recycle a Harris Tweed suit for the fabric.

I am due to inherit a Royal Doulton tea service in the Rondaley pattern which I adore. Saw four cups and saucers in this design on a charity shop shelf with price of £30. I bought them, only to discover there were a further two boxes of the same set, various size plates, jugs, sugar bowls, gravy boat, teapot etc, all included!!! I told the assistant they were worth a great deal more but she just shrugged her shoulders, so I paid my £30 and made off with my haul! Later, I made a generous donation to the charity and I use my beautiful China every day.

I am quite happy if volunteers get first dibs on buying goods for the price that a non volunteer lould pay for them if they hit the shop floor. Why should volunteers not have the chance of getting a bargain too? The charity gets the same income both ways. Refusing to treat a volunteer the same way as a non volunteer seems unfair and churlish. The raison d'etre of charity shops is to raise money for the charity. As long as it is on the same terms, ie the pricing is not set by that volunteer. I can't volunteer myself, in the local shops so am not saying that for personal reasons, people sound mean spirited when they complain about volunteers being able to buy goods too. And as for cutting off tags and dirtying brand new unworn shoes that just reduces the price anyone would pay for the goods so it could be harming the charity's income.
Charity shops are to raise money for the charity, and set the price to sell, they can sell online if they think it worthwhile, but for some it may be best use of volunteer time to just get money for it in the local shop
There are bargains for all in charity shops. We are all different shapes and sizes and the number of nice blouses that might fit a volunteer is going to be a fraction of the number that come in, leaving plenty for those on here who moan about volunteers being able to buy things first. I didn't feel in the least bit guilty the other day buying a beautiful nearly new good label coat in the local hospice shop which was half price as it hadn't sold at the full price and they needed to clear winter stuff to make way for new seasons stuff. Why should someone make a volunteer feel guilty had they bought it?
I know that resellers. Trawl the shelves and again they are buying for the price offered. A while ago I overheard a couple talking as they were doing that and was surprised to see that they were talking of an absolutely hideous ornament that apparently could be sold on for a lot more, I wouldn't have given 2p for it. It was dusty as well so had probably been on the shelf some time. Better for them to buy it, store it, take the risk than it end up being binned eventually.
So that's my bargain, yes I won't get use out of it until this autumn and will have to store it until then but it will keep me warm and smart next winter