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AIBU?

to be seriously saddened by the fact that a few of my local charity shops no longer accept or stock childrens books because they don't sell?

39 replies

Crablass · 02/09/2009 13:59

I went on a book buying mission to get my Nephew some books. He came on holiday to our house for a week and developed a serious and very pleasing reading bug. He's normally addicted to the computer.

In order to encourage him I wanted to send him a book parcel but had trouble finding good stuff for him because four out of the six charity shops in my local area no longer stocked kids books because

"no one buys them".

AIBU to be really saddened by this?

OP posts:

Report

southeastastra · 02/09/2009 14:01

that is quite sad. we got ds tons of books from charity shops

MamaG · 02/09/2009 14:01

It is sad if its because nobody buys children books any more, but I rarely buy my children books (and I have hundreds of books in my house) becuase we go to the library at least once a week. I can't keep buying nad buying, my boot is full of books after a sort out as the house was bursting at the seams!

Maybe its becusae more kids use thelibrary nowadays ?

MIAonline · 02/09/2009 14:02

YANBU, it is really sad.

I often buy books from charity shops, sales as well as the library. I grew up in a house with very few books and, as a bookworm, love having the house full of them now. Luckily my DS loves them too and has done since being very tiny.

I am hoping this will continue, but as he is only 2.5, who knows!

Lizzylou · 02/09/2009 14:02

We've had loads of good books (for the DC and myself)from charity shops, so that is sad.

MIAonline · 02/09/2009 14:03

Loving your optimism MamaG

Harimosmummy · 02/09/2009 14:03

Yes, that is sad.

I buy most of my books from charity shops.

MamaG - we go to the libary too, but at 14 months old, he still needs his own books to 'read' himself (and destroy!!!)

OP - YANBU

GoAwayMrWappy · 02/09/2009 14:04

They sell them round my way, I regularly trawl for books, I also use the library and buy new too. We like reading in our house!

YANBU.

superduperminder · 02/09/2009 14:04

Blimey I buy tons of children's books from charity shops - especially as I am a childminder and it is a great way of buying good quality resources cheaply. I'd be lost if ours stopped.

Crablass · 02/09/2009 14:05

I thought I was going mad, walking around the shops going "wheres the big pile of kids books?" I eventually asked and was told

"No dear, we don't accept them any more as no one buys them". I thought it was only the one shop but my trip up the high street left me incredulous.

OP posts:

Yurtgirl123 · 02/09/2009 14:05

Of course people buy them - we buy loads!
But I agree they probably end up with loads of ancient unsellable books

Surely they could sell the better/newer ones?

GrimmaTheNome · 02/09/2009 14:08

yes and no. I think that people who are into buying books are probably buying more than ever, but its so easy and cheap to get them new or used from Amazon or eBay (or whole new sets from The Book People etc) that people are less likely to get them from charity shops.

Crablass · 02/09/2009 14:09

A month ago there were loads in all of the ones round here so I'm assuming it's a new thing.

OP posts:

IOnlyReadtheDailyMailinCafes · 02/09/2009 14:10

I buy most of our books from charity shops, dd first stop with pocket money is the oxfam bookshop.

I find it surprising they don't stock them.

MadameCastafiore · 02/09/2009 14:10

You should walk past my house at the moment - we have a whole load of books and toys with help yourself labels attached to the boxes (am having a major clear out of the play room!) - it's funny though - the amount of people that knock and ask if we are for real and is it ok to just take stuff!!!

Crablass · 02/09/2009 14:12

@ MadameCastafiore

Are you in the Midlands???

OP posts:

IOnlyReadtheDailyMailinCafes · 02/09/2009 14:13

lol MadameCastafiore, we have a footpath/brideway that goes past out house and I sometimes put cakes or whatever I have been baking for ramblers as they go past. I am getting some regulars now.

Crablass · 02/09/2009 14:15

@ GrimmaTheNome

I really hope so. I'm hoping it's just my local area.

OP posts:

vbusymum1 · 02/09/2009 15:06

Have you tried British Heart Foundation ? My local one has a fantastic books section and hundreds of childrens ones or at least it did the last time I was there. However I no longer buy them as by DC4 we have just about every book ever written it seems but I'm sure that other people must do. If you don't have access to a library or like to keep books charity shops are the way to go IMO.

lynniep · 02/09/2009 15:10

It is sad - but I can actually understand it round my way because they are quite expensive, the shops here. I can pay 30p to get in the local car boot sale on a weekend then get a load of fantastic books for much much less than they ask at the charity shop. And whilst I like the idea of helping a charity, I'm not paying £2.50 for a book that only cost a bit more than that new.

IOnlyReadtheDailyMailinCafes · 02/09/2009 18:52

kids books are usually 99p each in our oxfam shop.

Overmydeadbody · 02/09/2009 18:57

That is sad.

DS bought three books form charity shops today.

I was a bit shocked by Oxfam's prices though, £1.99 and up for a children's chapter book!

The red cross was much more reasonable, at 50p each.

NorbertDentressangle · 02/09/2009 18:57

Some charity shops do over-price things and, in the case of children's books, they are not going to shift them.

On the other hand some (like the shops for a local children's hospice here) sell children's books at 5 for £1 so have a quick turnover and are never drowning in books.

DD and DS love going in if we're ever passing as they know they'll be allowed to buy some books.

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Overmydeadbody · 02/09/2009 19:02

MadameCastafiore DS did that with all his baby books a few months back, big box of them all nicely arranged, colourful signs saying help yourelf etc.

Two days later only two books had been taken

It sadly reflects the average local population of ignorant illiterate young mums who couldn't be bothered to get a few free books for their children

Silver1 · 02/09/2009 19:05

MadameCastafiore and others if charity shops aren't accepting your books and toys would you consider giving them to contact centres? The children who have contact through CAFCAS or Social Services are often left with broken toys and torn books with pages missing as there is very little funding for the centres.

Tinfoil · 02/09/2009 22:49

I wonder why "no-one bought them"? Were they shoved to the back of the shop in a section difficult to get to? Were they promoted in an obvious way near the children's clothes and toys, or not? Did the shop ever promote them with a window display?

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