Unfriendly staff in charity shops

was in a ymca shop yesterday where the lady behind the counter was running down a young male volunteer in a scathing way to...A holier than thou attitude.. I have reported this to main manager.

When I have had donations turned down with an apology or a smile and a reason - that they had more than enough stock and had no room for any more, or that they were unable to take anymore books, or that their sorter aand picer was on holiday.

I either went elsewhere or came back a week or two later.

I was in a newly opened charity shop when a lady came in with 2 bags of donations, the woman behind the counter almost sneered and said oh we don’t want them and the person donating them looked very put out,I quickly suggested another charity shop across the road and the lady left. After her leaving the woman behind the counter said we don’t take any old thing. I left at this point and have not been back since. How did she know what was in the bags,and how dare she be so rude, I feel like I should of said/done something but avoiding the shop makes me feel better.

What a horrible experience Omaju

This is why I only take things on certain days now so I know I won't get the rude staff.

Taunton

Unfortunately I had the same when dropping off some of my dad’s clothes after he died. I found it very emotional packing up and letting go of his clothes and when I got a ‘you have left it a bit late in the day bring that lot in’ - it was three bags of his nicest M&M shirts, a few cashmere mix jumpers and pairs of brogues - I could of cried. I appreciate what a great job the volunteers do, but surely they realise that bereaved family often bring items in at a very sensitive time? I always shop and support our local charity shops but I’m afraid I have given that particular one the cold shoulder after that incident. I wish I had been in a stronger emotional place at the time to reply accordingly!

The same happened to me when my mum died, I took 5 bags to a local hospice charity in a local shopping centre, the bags were in a Tesco trolley and the woman in the charity shop started to rummage through the top bag. I asked what she was doing and she replied that she was only going to take the good stuff, I was so tired and upset by this time as my husband was still in hospital after a bowel cancer operation, that I just looked at her and said "These are my mum's things and she has died, it's all good stuff! My husband is hospital and you are the last straw in a very upsetting day for me, you either take the lot or you don't as I am not standing here while you rummage through her things and discard what you don't want. Do you want it or not?!" I was standing there with tears running down my face and shaking from sheer anger and exhaustion... one of the other customers came and hugged me and the charity shop volunteer took all the bags.

Any charity shop will take them

Take it somewhere else...I wouldn't put up with rudeness

@Harris -

My sympathies on the death of your brother. I'm glad his charity colleagues have offered you comfort. Losing a brother is a big thing to get over.

That's thoughtful Nicksmrs. I sent my sister, who lives 500miles away, with a load of my DH's clothes as I couldn't bear the thought of seeing someone wearing them.

Now after nearly 5 years I am trying to give away his books but no-one wants those.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 🤞

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

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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 😊

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.

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.