if you take items to charity shops,an appeal

Maw we learn something new every day.

Jaxjacky

Because Maw some dogs drool and leave dog hair everywhere, including possibly on clothing hanging up, especially long skirts, dresses, trousers and coats.

Apologies Jaxjacky - my bad. I misunderstood and thought guide dogs were excluded from the shops.
(TBH I’ve never seen a dog in a charity shop so I was surprised it was an issue.)

We are so lucky to have a community charity shop in the town close to where we are ( nigh on 10 miles but that is close by here) each local group or school gets the chance to rent the shop for a week, this means that you can always get rid of items you no longer need and the "stock" changes constantly.

Exactly right Jaxjacky, also not unknown for a dog to cock his leg up if he so wishes usually aiming at clothing - and guess who has to clean it up - not the owner - no, its the volunteer!

Because Maw some dogs drool and leave dog hair everywhere, including possibly on clothing hanging up, especially long skirts, dresses, trousers and coats.

Billybob4491

Our local Charity Shop is very popular, it may have something to do with the "No dogs allowed in shop - sorry" sign on the door, excluding guide dogs etc.,

Why would that make it popular, particularly for those with assistance dogs?

There are shops for all sorts of things. . You get to know what your local ones specialise in, and can aim your donating and shopping to the right shops
I personally prefer slightly less upmarket ones as often good stuff in them still. I don't need tiny expensive clothes. The nearby market town has one in the carpark and it both gets loads of stuff and sells loads of stuff. A nearby one is a bit more upmarket and rarely has stuff I want, for some reason it doesn't get the really good stuff it's sister shop elsewhere does
Are freecycle/freegle/local free groups, loads of different things on offer, if you put a photo on you get no timewasters, if it's a vase. However small pop it on there if you want to give it away

I have seven Charity shops in town, six of whom allow owners to bring their dogs into. the shop whilst they browse around.

Do people usually take their dogs into shops?

Our local Charity Shop is very popular, it may have something to do with the "No dogs allowed in shop - sorry" sign on the door, excluding guide dogs etc.,

I don't think that charity knitters expect to be paid for what they knit, but it's not unreasonable to expect your work to contribute towards the item being sold at a reasonable price - your work is meant to add value, not take it away.

I knit a lot, and wouldn't mind doing it for charity, but not if the end result is that I have wasted my time and skill because the item sells for less than the cost of the yarn.

If charities only want donations, they may as well close their shops. That would mean that those who do want donations will get them all.

I am quite old and spend quite a bit of time sitting down. Because I was taught when I was young not to waste time I can't sit and do nothing, so I knit. As long as what I knit ( I have been knitting since i was 8 and am now quite an experienced knitter) goes to someone who can use it , I am happy. Most of it now goes to Eastern Europe and poor countries through the world. I have found a company who will pick it up from my home and they have the facilities to get it to where it's needed. That's all I want. I don't want money, which is all most charities want. They would rather you donated money than your unwanted stuff to sell, it's too much trouble for them.

nipsmum

All the hand-knitted things I donate to charity are brand new, well finished and packed neatly. When they sell a single bed size blanket for £2 it's a bit disheartening. I would rather give them away than see them sold for so little.

Yes, I learnt my lesson when I made a blanket from squares for Oxfam, having read that they sell them at festivals. Now I know I’m not the most expert of knitters, but they hadn’t heard of the scheme at our local shop and said it would be ideal to put with the warm clothing they left out the back for homeless people.

I appreciate that someone may have benefitted from it, but it wasn’t in the way I expected!

I agree, nipsmum. I knit, but not for charity, as it is not cost-effective. I value my time, and people won't pay enough for hand-knitted items to cover the materials, never mind the work. I think there is an image problem, and people see 'home made' rather than hand made. I'd rather donate direct and knit for myself, or the few people I know who appreciate nice yarn and garments that fit them rather than a standard size template.

Re the 'first world' thing - that phrase comes into so many discussions, but the reality is that we are a first world country, and anyone wanting to make a profit (which is the role of a charity shop after all) has to work with that, rather than against it. Charity shops are all about people 'clearing the decks'. The alternative would be to buy things specially to donate, which would be ridiculous, or just to sort a direct debit and throw your old 'stuff' away. This would mean that others didn't have a chance to get a used item instead of an new one, and all the social benefits for staff and customers would be lost.

All the hand-knitted things I donate to charity are brand new, well finished and packed neatly. When they sell a single bed size blanket for £2 it's a bit disheartening. I would rather give them away than see them sold for so little.

I've always sorted anything I take to a charity shop - everything is washed and ironed and folded neatly. Most of it is almost new, things I bought and never wore or only wore once. I used to separate rags things I didn't think could be sold but after the first couple of drop offs was told no thanks, we can't cope with them (lack of staff, lack of space, whatever the reason). There aren't many charity shops left near us anymore. Two in one town, two in another. I used to buy furniture as well and upcycle it, especially tables and mirrors, chests of drawers for the bedrooms. One of the hospice shops I used to visit often now sells upcycled furniture and ornaments - all very nice but very little that I want. And quite expensive.

Thanks for you' re reply Liz46. Yes that's the problem. Hand knitted goods sell for less than the cost of the yarn. I can assure you all my buttons are sewn on well. It probably was not the only problem.

I've just taken some bags today for my mum....First shop said no...2nd shop ...3 doors down....took them...I drop them 0ff when it suits me..not the shop...if they can't take then...there's always someone who can

I agree GillJames. Too much stuff is rather a first world problem, but I do think charity shops have useful a part to play in recycling, and as the economy tightens many may depend on them.
In addition at least money is raised for charities. I prefer to buy infrequently, of decent quality and ethically, but it can be expensive to do so.

I gave a very few things away to a charity shop recently; some socks because I've gone over to bamboo ones and a few clothes I've grown out of because I'm on steroids. My main point is that I wear my clothes until they drop - and then would not wish them on anyone though I wish the cloth could somehow be recycled. We have a problem with the end-life of all that we own and on the whole we own too much counter argument is that these items provide a livelihood for other people. Donating goods to charity shop is usually more about clearing one's decks than being charitable. If we were truly charitable we would buy those in need new clothes.

nipsmum

This may not be the right thread,but do charity shops you know take hand knitted children's jumpers and cardigans. I spend all my spare time knitting and have difficulty finding shops that want them My next question is do they sell them for a sensible price or very cheap just to get rid of them before they are sent to the rag factory.

I volunteered in a charity shop and we were given hand knitted baby cardigans. A very low price was put on them and eventually the area manager wouldn't let us sell them as the buttons were not sewn on well enough.

Some older people would hope for a chat and one day we weren't busy so I talked to a lady for quite a long time. Eventually she said 'thank you for talking to me. Here is £5 for your charity'.

Thank you Witzend. I live on Aberdeen and the cost postage is prohibitive now. I used to take them to a lady who collected things like that for charity but unfortunately she passed away during the COVID lockdowns now I am needing to find somewhere that wants them.

Helpfully, one the charity shops here has a large wheelie bin outside where we can deposit outgrown or outworn bras which we are requested to put in a bag. I hope everyone else also launders them first.

nipsmum

This may not be the right thread,but do charity shops you know take hand knitted children's jumpers and cardigans. I spend all my spare time knitting and have difficulty finding shops that want them My next question is do they sell them for a sensible price or very cheap just to get rid of them before they are sent to the rag factory.

nipsmum, I make the odd blanket for Knit For Peace, a charity that also asks for hand knitted jumpers for both children and adults. You do need to pay the postage though - unless you live close enough to take the things. They are based in Hampstead (N London).

Your nearest organisation for helping refugees might also welcome such things.

This may not be the right thread,but do charity shops you know take hand knitted children's jumpers and cardigans. I spend all my spare time knitting and have difficulty finding shops that want them My next question is do they sell them for a sensible price or very cheap just to get rid of them before they are sent to the rag factory.