Charity Shop Prices

Thank you M0nica for such a clear explanation. It explains a lot and makes me feel much more sympathetic now I know it's "orders from above" and not just more of the aggressive collection tactics seen over recent years on the high streets where one is all but rugby tackled and then verbally pressurised to sign a regular giving document.

MOnica has explained it well but it is hardly surprising that the aim of charities is to make money for the charity! I don't understand why that should upset anyone. It is no different from any other shopping experience, if you like it and like the price then buy it, of not don't. So simple.

Early this year I stepped up from being a volunteer at a Charity Shop to becoming the Shop Manager and what an eyeopener that has been for me,we keep the prices in line to what I think the area can afford,I make sure everything that is not acceptable to be put on the shop floor is bagged and that I get the best price from the "Rag" man,you would be mortified what people think is acceptable to be donated, rather than they take the items to the tip it has been known for people to just drop things off outside the front door prior to the shop opening ie:mattresses/headboards we then have to send them and pay for them to go to the local tip which is all time and money for our deliver men who are also volunteers.
We rotate our clothes on a two weekly basis and whilst we have lower prices than the norm (£1.49 for M&S) tops etc we after a full 4 weeks reduce to a 50p rail which is very busy with buys all day long.I keep a rail of designer goods most under £5 for wedding/christening/parties and a really good selection of shoes which we charge maximum £2/3 for,no silly prices for furniture we would rather have a quick turn around and money in the till quickly.glamma x

I think charity shops should, ideally, work two ways. Firstly, to make money for the charity, and, secondly, to help out the hard-up members of the local community. Glamma seems to have it right. The manager of our local Oxfam shop makes me really cross though. It's no wonder the stuff doesn't sell.

Thank you Wheniwasyourage.You are so right about the open door policy-many shops now use this as Elrel points out.I also think it is ridiculous and don't see why they do it!

I agree Glamma and Jingl
Also think that any shop with open doors in Winter is ridiculous. (There are a lot.)

They do it in summer too, which is fair enough - unless they have air conditioning!!! There is a campaign called either Close the door or Shut the door or something along those lines (sorry, senior moment - haven't done my research properly). There is apparently some research which they mention, which found that people are not put off by closed doors, but will come in if they want to, or not if they don't. As Elrel points out, it's a bit tough on the staff!

And in colder weather people are even more likely to want to come in and get warm - probably buying something when they do. An open door would make me think it wasn't going to be much warmer inside...

There are 7 charity shops in our small town, all short of volunteers. Cancer Research is the latest, paying low rates in a prime position where the previous shop could not afford a 20% rise in rent plus full business rates.
This is a tourist area but people will not come to a town full of charity shops.
I actually buy all my clothes in charity shops and volunteer in one too but I regret the rapid spread of them.
I only buy good makes in perfect condition so think £5 - £7 for jumpers and trousers and £10 for a coat is very reasonable.

someone mentioned that new or almost new books could be donated to the local library, well in our area, the library was quite bare in places and I offered them a pile of recent paperbacks all published in the last year.
the girl behind the counter said they were not taking any more and if anyone donated any she would take them to the charity shop. I would have thought that any books would have been welcome to fill the empty spaces as long as they were clean, however not so.
I now donate them to charity shops.

Yesterday I met up with AngieBaby in Milton Keynes, and she showed me some wonderful things that she`s bought at her local charity shop for unbelievably low prices, definitely better quality stuff than we get in our charity shops here, there must be some very affluent people donating down there!