Unfriendly staff in charity shops

CountessFosco

RedRidingHood

That's been my experience at a host of different charity shops.

LeBonCoin = we used it regularly

Sorry, that was meant for Grandmafrench, not RRH

HettyBetty

I tend to use the same charity shop most of the time. The staff are very friendly, always say thank you for donations and go out of their way to be cheerful. A while ago there were two teenage girls trying on prom dresses and the staff were making a big fuss of them, making positive comments and admiring the way they looked in each dress.

The manager has an amazing memory and sometimes tells me about my donations. "That set of mugs you brought in, it went to a young couple who have just moved to XTown." She is fabulous and very popular. I'm sure it increases the income considerably.

That's quite wonderful!

nanna8

I like our op shops better than calling them charity shops! Op= opportunity, not so patronising.

Nothing patroining about our charity shops. They are so called because they raise money for the charity that runs them, Age UK, Oxfam, Local hospice or whatever.

It is not a referral to the people who buy there because that would be inaccurate because every sort of person buys there and some charity shops are quite upmarket specialising in antiques and collectables, or expensive clothing.

I always organise an uplift from BHF. In fact I had one last week.
The staff in the shop I phone to organise an uplift, are very appreciative, the drivers always thank me, and I receive a thank you letter, saying approx how much they had earned from my donations.

Bluebelle - you have described perfectly a day in the life of a charity shop worker, certainly in my shop. Worn knickers and all

Whenever we take stuff in to one of our local charity shops they are always really pleased and thank us. No excuse for bad manners.

I’ve rarely encountered unfriendly people in charity shops and have always been thanked for donations. Except once.
A few years ago, there was a collaboration between Innocent drinks and a well-known charity, which asked people to knit tiny hats for the bottles to wear. I knitted 50, all completely different (I was really proud of some of them! ) and never got any thanks at all. I didn’t expect them to be over the top or to look at every one, but some acknowledgement would have been appreciated!

Oh you're so lucky to have lovely people working in your local charity shop. We have 3 in our little suburb & they were all great until a new lady manager took over!
I was rummaging in the 50p compartment one day near a little old man. He then took his hard-rumaged spoils to the till, puffed-up with thrill of it all , as we all do.
Anyway, this awful harridan at the till burst his bubble by accusing him of taking said spoils from the more expensive section. She was a complete & utter cow to him. I had to say my bit. I'm afraid charity shops do attract some right #*!# so & so's, who quite frankly shouldn't be allowed near nice little old men. Rant over. 😶

How rude!

Chocolatelovinggran

I think it simply is the luck of the draw.
One I visit has smily, chatty staff, another is strictly -business, another has a lady with a permanent air of disgruntlement!
However, they do sterling work, raising money for good causes, recycling goods that might otherwise end in landfill, and saving the thrifty money.
Recently, I have bought three new bedside cabinets from one such, and returned with my old ones: all were priced up and sold very promptly. Great work, charity shop volunteers.

I think you’re right.
Staff vary wildly as do regions where charity shops are.

We have 6 charity shops on our high street. If someone was rude to me, I'd leave, take my donation with me and move on to the next. It costs nothing to say thank you.

I have lost a lot of weight since last summer, so in April I sorted last years holiday clothes from a large suitcase. Most had only been worn once or twice so I took them to a newly opened charity shop in our town . The staff were wonderful . I’d gone in just to ask if they were accepting donations and the young man couldn’t have been more helpful, I’m disabled so he came out to my car and carried it all in for me . He was lovely and we had a good chat while he was taking my details for gift aid . He told me about his wedding to his lovely husband a few months ago and also about his mental health struggles .
I think that was why he was volunteering as I got the impression that he would be too stressed to hold down a full time job .
I will definitely go back there when I go down another dress size 😊

A smile and thank you doesn't cost a lot....people who treat customers like that shouldn't be there

We have over a dozen different charity shops in our town to choose from, but as a non driver I always used to carry my donations to the nearest one. I stopped when, on asking if they were taking donations of children's toys and books,I was met with a sigh and a 'I suppose so'.Now I'd rather carry the stuff further to another shop than go back in there

I use donate clothes.uk. You can book online, arrange a collection to suit you. They send an email to let you know when they will collect & confirmation that your bags have been collected. Having put bags out for collection & then they have been taken by someone else this is an ideal way to donate.

I think it's very rude!

It's happened to me. I was feeling very vulnerable, recently widowed and trying to have a clear out.
I was asked if I had an appointment!
No. So I made one but I was quite nervous taking my precious offerings back again.

I reported the rude volunteer to the manager and I don't think I've seen her since. They now say thanks and go through everything in front of me.

I used to volunteer in that same charity shop and come to think of it, it was pretty awful then. They didn't trust me with taking money to the bank or with sorting the clothes!! 😅🤣

I genuinely think that a paid job I'd far less fraught than a voluntary one.

Now I go only go in on the days when I know the people on duty.

Blimey, I have just started to help in a charity shop. I find it very stressful learning the tills, working out how to price things and what to do with or except donations. You have all made me even more nervous now! Not sure I want to go back!

I'm sure it will be fine Suggsy. Well done you!

Lots of charity shops rely on volunteers, many of whom have various and complex issues relating to mental health. It’s often a stepping stone for people to get back into paid employment.

Make a complaint but please bear in mind some of these volunteers are on a journey to recovery or just having their own place in society

It will be fine Suggsy. I’ve been doing it for nearly 3 years and had never worked in a shop before or worked a till . If I’m not sure about something or I make a mistake, I just tell my manager .
With donations I accept everything and work on the principle, is it clean, in good condition and saleable . Anything not up to scratch goes in the rag bag or recycling or the bin. With prices we have a list of examples , but anything unusual or high value, I leave for the manager .
Just remember the manager is there to help you . Good luck 🤞

Casdon

I think that many charity shops are overwhelmed with the sheer quantity of donations they receive. We think we are doing them a favour by donating, but as there is a bit of a trend at the moment for buying less and simplifying our lives, the whole of the UK is doing the same thing at the same time. Clothes in particular are just too plentiful in supply.

There’s no call for rudeness, obviously, but I can understand why the volunteers would feel ambivalent about more donations coming in if they are in that position - locally we’ve reached the point where people ask on the community Facebook Group which charity shops are taking clothes before they offload them.

It’s the same here in our small city. And people get quite cross when the charity shops are not taking donations. They now have to pay to dispose of the things as they can’t sell, as the quality of textiles/clothing has dropped to the point where they have no value even as rags. Obviously they wouldn’t exist without donations (and volunteers) but I understand that it can feel like a bit of a mixed blessing.
But I have twice walked out of charity shops recently when staff have been sharing their opinions on current events with customers. I felt that in both cases these were at odds with the philosophy of the charities involved, but I didn’t have the time to follow it up.

Some of the staff in our charity shops are doing community work as a punishment so obviously don’t want to be there. Usually volunteers are helpful and friendly. I am signed up for gift aid and always get a thank you email saying how much my items have raised.

JaneJudge

Lots of charity shops rely on volunteers, many of whom have various and complex issues relating to mental health. It’s often a stepping stone for people to get back into paid employment.

Make a complaint but please bear in mind some of these volunteers are on a journey to recovery or just having their own place in society

Well said JaneJudge.

I have had the same response at times Desdemona. I said “a thank you wouldn’t go amiss”!

I volunteer in our local hospice shop and all our donators get a thank you with a smile and ‘much appreciated’ response.
I know how much a genuine reaction is especially if the items are from a recently deceased family member… we always have time to enquire if they would like them sold in our local shop or would prefer them to go to our main shop 20 miles away so they perhaps do not see them worn locally.