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BHF refuse my donation of an antique Edwardian Windsor chair

(108 Posts)
Stillstanding Mon 10-Jun-24 15:08:39

Some weeks ago I filled in the form to donate an antique Edwardian Windsor chair. I got a very rude phone call to tell me that they only take in chairs as sets and must have a table as well and must have a fire label

I pointed out that there were no fire labels in Edwardian times and I asked her if she knew what an antique is.

I posted a comment on Nextdoor about what a fool the woman was and got loads of replies telling me that calling the woman a fool is "unwoke". I also got a very apologetic email from BHF head office and I was told that there would be retraining as no fire label is required on furniture pre 1953.

I left it for a few weeks and then tried again filling in the online form. I got an email telling me collection would be 10th June 2024.

I phoned them up and got another load of ignorant rudeness and a demand for a set of chairs and a table.

I looked it up inline and the manager of that BHF shop get £45,000 pa.

I dont think I will ever donate to BHF again and there is £5000 for them in my will so that will have to be changed.

Am I really so wrong to expect standard from charity shop workers? They get paid what appears to me to be a reasonable wage.

Thanks for letting me vent!

keepcalmandcavachon Thu 13-Jun-24 12:24:45

Last Friday my snug was donated to our local children's hospice shop. Sofa, chair, cushions, two pairs of full length curtains, rug and a fire surround. The collection guys were very happy with it all but I had been told that they would inspect all items first, fair enough.
As they left however, they were quite animated, discussing how it should all be set out in the shop 'roomset' area. Made me giggle as they were more beefy builder types than your LL Bowens grin

AreWeThereYet Thu 13-Jun-24 13:24:27

We just bought an extending oak dining table and six chairs from a local charity shop to replace the round glass one we had. They took ours away and we saw it advertised last week for more than we paid for the oak one. So they've made money twice over from us.

I think a lot of people are thinking of the general smaller charity shops that sell clothes, jewellery and bits and bobs rather than the bigger shops that sell furniture, like the BHF ones.

BHF did a house clearance after FiL died, stating exactly what they would take (any furniture with fire labels, DVDs, CDs, a few bits of newish clothing) and came and collected it for a fee.

NotFrum Thu 13-Jun-24 13:25:46

Its a shame some stuff has to go to Landfill ,Surely ,some Charities that help the Homeless would be grateful for Kitchen Items .

zakouma66 Thu 13-Jun-24 13:42:14

Its not easy volunteering or even being paid in a charity shop.

My mother had things which regarded as valuable eg hand made lace, tapestries and so on. Some of them were quite old. She got it into her head the museum in the town might like them and was quite hurt by a swift No Thanks. We have to accept times have changed radically.

crazyH Thu 13-Jun-24 13:50:46

I once donated a valuable, rosewood/ivory ingrained very large art work (last supper) for a church auction, requesting the gentleman who came to collect it, to let me know how much money it had raised. Never heard a peep from them. I’m still wondering and slightly angry. I now wish I had sold it and given the money to my grandchildren.

keepcalmandcavachon Thu 13-Jun-24 14:10:22

zakouma66

Its not easy volunteering or even being paid in a charity shop.

My mother had things which regarded as valuable eg hand made lace, tapestries and so on. Some of them were quite old. She got it into her head the museum in the town might like them and was quite hurt by a swift No Thanks. We have to accept times have changed radically.

That's such a shame Zakouma66 as many seek out these beautiful pieces, crafters in particular love to incorporate or re work lace and embroidery into their own 'slow-stitching' project or frame and display them. There are lots of us that see the love and skill that have gone into hand crafted treasures.
One of our charity shops saves up these things for a haberdashery sale every 6 weeks or so. It's fab!

Witzend Fri 11-Oct-24 21:57:23

lemsip

They simply are not allowed to take furniture, beds ect ect antique or not!

they do not accept 'everything.

They certainly accepted a large solid oak sideboard of ours.