Charity shops.

I've seen secondhand stuff in charity shops selling for more than it cost to buy new. Not expensive 'named' stuff, just clothes from places like Primark and New Look. I doubt they ever sell it.

I used to love going round charity shops but haven't bothered for a long time. Most of the good stuff is quite expensive and the local shops seem to be full of cheap, new, stuff from India and China.

Some charities occupy empty properties for free or low rent but have to move out quickly if the owners want to sell or find a paying tenant. Perhaps that is why some close quickly.

I've taken lots of stuff to the local charity shop and it'd always been washed and ironed or dry cleaned first. I do gift aid so make a note of sale proceeds and declare them on my tax return, every little helps.

South Devon where I live has lots of charity shops. Some sell furniture too and we've bought drawers, wardrobe and a cupboard from them when we moved here. There were no fitted wardrobes in this house like our last one so it was a great help.

we have plenty of charity shops around Guildford and Godalming all seem to cater for different customers.
One in particular is the Salvation Army shop in Guildford, large shop with plenty of stock, appeals to students and families with sensible and bargain price tags meaning stock changes regularly. Some charity shops ask too much for things sometime putting customers off so perhaps those will be the shops closing.

As a frequenter of charity shops almost as long as they’ve been around, I’ve noticed that the prices are not cheap these days.
Vinted are cheaper for clothes, even with postage.
Of course, it’s great to be able to see the condition of the clothes/books/homewares etc and give to a charity, but many people will be seeking the most economical outlet.

There is a lot of mixed messages around charity shops. Some think that it is wrong to buy and sell on, and others that they are threatened by people selling on their unwanted items on Vinted. Some think that they exist to help 'the poor' to buy cheap items and others that they are there to raise money for the charity so should charge a market price. Some object to people 'offloading' unwanted items, and others think that saving unwanted items from landfill is a good thing. Some think they lower the tone of high streets and others that they bring in footfall. It's a minefield .

What puts me off donating higher value items is that my mother used to work in a charity shop, and the staff all creamed off donations. Yes, they paid for items they bought, but they were priced by the shop floor teams, so they got good prices, and then a 25% discount. This system was explained to them in induction, and was 100% above board - nobody thought it was wrong, and nothing was hidden.

They would put items aside for one another, and there was a book kept in a drawer saying things like 'Look out for baby clothes for Gladys's granddaughter - 6-9 months or bigger - also good quality toys up to age 3', 'Brenda is looking for an iPad cover', or 'Keep wool coats in size 14 for Mavis - she's in on Tuesdays and Fridays, so leave in coffee room'.

I have no objection to passing on a coat that could be sold for a reasonable price to raise money for charity, but I am not keen to let Mavis have it for £3 when she already has another half dozen that never made the racks. I'd rather sell it on, or (more likely) send it to Anglo Doorstep Collections who are at least honest about their charities getting a percentage of profits.

I know that not all shops operate like this, but I am certain that the one my mother worked in did. It is part of a local 'chain'. A friend of mine has recently started working in a different branch of the same one, and the same system operates there still. It is seen as a 'perk' of the job for the staff, and not in any way dishonest - everyone is very open about it all.

My nearest market towns have several, I browse a few of them but only donate to one supporting a local hospice, and one supporting a local animal rescue. I’m less keen to help the big national charities.

I’ve only been volunteering for 3 years but I’ve noticed that we rarely get higher end high street clothes from Hobbs , whistles , jigsaw etc anymore, as people are selling on vinted . It’s more primark and the supermarket clothes .
I’ve also noticed more customers buying a selection of clothes with new tags , which I’m sure they’re selling on vinted . Often they have clothes from a size 8 to a 20 . Of course they could be buying for other people , but when I ask if they want the receipt, they say no .

Calendargirl

Regarding prices.

Everything has been donated.

I think charity shops should perhaps sell items cheaper, thus turning over more stuff, and freeing up space.

Vinted must have made a big difference to them, and if people buy from CS with a view to re-selling, does that matter as long as they are getting money in the till?

Totally agree.

LOUISA1523

Belardo

What often bothers me in charity shops is hearing people complain about the prices, stating they could buy the same item brand new for only a few pounds more.

What they fail to realise is that these stores are operating for the benefit of their charity, not as a place to get something for (next to) nothing. This leads me to question their motivation for visiting these places. Is it to actually support the charity, or just to find something cheap?

To find something cheap I would imagine for most people....if I want 5o donate to charity then I donate online....I certainly don't go into a charity shop motivated to 'give' to the charity

I do LOUISA1523, absolutely do. I would much rather my money went to our local children's hospice than to any chain stores. Sometimes have to be a little creative with the purchases but the charity and our planet benefits.
What's not to like!

I live in the middle of town and I've got 4 within 100m of my front door! I offer to drop friends' stuff off, rather than them have to find a parking spot.
I can think of another 4 elsewhere in town and 2 warehouse arrangements a bus ride away.

Lathyrus

I understand what you are saying.

I don’t really see why charity shops sell new stuff that they have ‘bought in’. Well, obviously to make money.

But surely you go in a charity shop expecting to see donated items, not things you could be buying in a gift shop brand new.

Or maybe I’m out of touch.

This is my experience, too, Millie. Most people are very thoughtful, donating good quality children's clothes and toys.
However, I have learned to look through the bags I am given before taking them to foodbank, and I do find, in some cases, there are items which I donate, immediately, to my bin!
I can imagine that this is quite a problem for the shops.

Calendargirl

Regarding prices.

Everything has been donated.

I think charity shops should perhaps sell items cheaper, thus turning over more stuff, and freeing up space.

Vinted must have made a big difference to them, and if people buy from CS with a view to re-selling, does that matter as long as they are getting money in the till?

Just to say everything hasn’t been donated.

In the nationally run shops, only the used stuff is donated.
The new stuff has been bought in.

My son has a gift shop and one of the important questions he asks producers and wholesalers of goods is “ Do you supply charity shops.”

He learnt this lesson the hard way when gifts he had bought for his shop were also on sale at Sue Ryder next door. Cheaper of course, because charity shops don’t have to pay for shop staff.

I work for a charity and we have a children's shop. Some of the items we receive are definitely not in a saleable condition.

A lot of clothes have to go straight into the rag bag. People tend to sell on Vinted if they have anything in a good condition.

We still have them here in Australia but we don’t call them charity shops because that is a demeaning name for them and not acceptable to most of us. They are opportunity shops. Maybe if they were called that they would have a resurgence? Recycling shops and vintage shops are other names used.

petra, is there a food bank near you which could take the children's clothes?
I do understand that charity shops may not have room for small items which raise very little money.
Oddly, better - off parents, in my experience, hand baby clothes around family and friends. All of my GC wear hand- me- downs from the family .
Sadly, our poorest families don't always have those connections.

Regarding prices.

Everything has been donated.

I think charity shops should perhaps sell items cheaper, thus turning over more stuff, and freeing up space.

Vinted must have made a big difference to them, and if people buy from CS with a view to re-selling, does that matter as long as they are getting money in the till?

Belardo

What often bothers me in charity shops is hearing people complain about the prices, stating they could buy the same item brand new for only a few pounds more.

What they fail to realise is that these stores are operating for the benefit of their charity, not as a place to get something for (next to) nothing. This leads me to question their motivation for visiting these places. Is it to actually support the charity, or just to find something cheap?

To find something cheap I would imagine for most people....if I want 5o donate to charity then I donate online....I certainly don't go into a charity shop motivated to 'give' to the charity

7 in my market town .....4 in my mums village ( NW)

What often bothers me in charity shops is hearing people complain about the prices, stating they could buy the same item brand new for only a few pounds more.

What they fail to realise is that these stores are operating for the benefit of their charity, not as a place to get something for (next to) nothing. This leads me to question their motivation for visiting these places. Is it to actually support the charity, or just to find something cheap?

We had 2 both for the local hospices. My favourite one unfortunately closed as thr landlord was asking too much rent when the lease came up for renewal and it would have eat into their profits so much it wasn't worth carrying on.

Squiffy

On a previous thread, a GNetter suggested Anglo Doorstep Collections, who collect from your home. I’ve used them loads of times as they’re very reliable and they offer you a choice of a few charities - just tick a box. This info might be useful to those who’ve lost their local charity shop/s.

www.anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk

Thanks for the link Squiffy. I've been wondering what to do with a pile of household linens and clothing that was too much to haul into town on the bus but I've now booked a collection. Problem solved. 🙂

Chocolatelovinggran

Many of my friends give me their clothes and household goods to take to the food bank, so our neediest group can have such for free.
One of my fellow volunteers brings in baby and children's clothes, because the charity shop she supports bins donated children's wear, as the manager says that there's not sufficient space.

When we are overwhelmed by children’s clothes I take them to a woman’s refuge.
Now that has stopped because they can’t take anymore 😥