Secondhand September

[TableNiner]

Is anyone else doing second hand September? You can only buy second hand, nothing new.

I am getting increasingly guilted about my online shopping habits, just been reading how only about 10% of clothing donated to charity shops is actually resold in charity shops. As it’s poor quality, most of it is shipped off to Africa into landfill. Also that retailers often find it cheaper to destroy online returns than repackage them to sell again.

I always seem to find a way to justify needing just one more thing especially at the change of seasons.

[Bluewavescrashing]

I'm in!

[chunkyrun]

Yes! There's some fantastic resources and ideas on Instagram

[Bluewavescrashing]

I will need willpower though. I need nothing but love new things. My wardrobe is overflowing so I need to stop shopping!

[Supersimkin2]

I'm in! I volunteer at a superb charity shop. AMA as they say.

[PersonaNonGarter]

That’s terrible about the returns. Really hope that isn’t standard practice. Brands would really lose support.

[rockingthelook]

Can't bear to buy stuff new anymore, total rip off, went on a shopping trip yesterday and the shops were just full of tat they've not be able to get rid of over lockdown, and it wasn't cheap either! Ive already started my Sept haul, bought 2 gorgeous Next jumpers for £3 each and a Myleene Klass blouse for £3.50 in the chazzer today, the rule in my house is to donate an item for every one you buy

[OooglyBoogly]

I'm in. Although I did take delivery of a new fuzzy onesie today... hopefully that doesn't count as it was ordered in August?

[Florial]

I used to work in a department store and none of the brands selling there wrote off returns, online or otherwise, unless they were faulty to the point of unsellable, or clearly had been worn.

They couldn't afford losses like that.

[chunkyrun]

Depop, vinted and eBay are all great for online second hand shopping. I've not tried it but there's a website swopped for swapping clothes

[chunkyrun]

Got a £1 jaeger blend jumper today 💪🏾

[Ragwort]

I'm on holiday at the moment and have sourced my winter wardrobe - not that I update my clothes every season, from charity shops. A lovely dusty pink coat, couple of dresses, Mistral tip, Monsoon skirt and a few tops - total spend less than £35 ... and a necklace (£1).

I echo the comment though about many clothes donated to charity shops are not fit to sell, I manage a charity shop and much of the quality of our donations is shocking (even more so at the moment) our charity does recycle textiles responsibly but it is depressing to sort through endless sacks of donations that are only fit for recycling ... but we do find the odd gem .

[chunkyrun]

What's everyone on the look out for? I want some vintage blazers and quality knitwear

[SoLongFurlough]

Similar to Supersimkin I work in a charity shop so AMA!
I buy most things from there anyway but today’s purchases were an oversized coatigan and a pair of heeled boots (bnwt) cost me less than twenty quid

[SoLongFurlough]

Agree with Ragwort most donations are a depressing pile of shit at the minute
Lucky we have the good winter stuff from last year!

[chunkyrun]

I've never understood charity shop pricing! It varies so much. How are prices decided? I'm very lucky to have one near me where everything is £1.5 and a rail of quality goods which cost a max of £10 but shops like these seem few and far between

[XingMing]

Against the grain, I'm not in. I've done 18 months of nothing new (except shoes, underwear and one for one basic replacements) and now my wardrobe needs some refreshing. But I haven't bought anything yet either.

[Ragwort]

chunky in my opinion the charity shop manager will charge what she/he feels she can achieve for an item bearing in mind its condition, brand etc. I know that I am going to get maybe £15 for a nice Monsoon dress and maybe £5 for a Tu or Atmosphere dress so I wouldn't do a rail saying 'all dresses £8'. If things don't sell at the higher price they can always be reduced. I recently got £20 for a pair of Levi jeans, but M & S jeans probably only get £5. Different areas will be able to charge different prices ie; I am on holiday in a rather upmarket place - I went into a branch of the same charity shop I work for and was amazed at how high their prices were, but they can clearly achieve that.

We have an obligation to those who donate to us to make sure we get a fair price for their donations - and charity shop managers are rated on their sales performance like any other retail manager. A poor performing shop will be closed down. It's not an 'exact science' and of course we do get things wrong sometimes and not all volunteers will be able to recognise designer brands ... but it's a fabulously challenging job, I absolutely love what I do .

[Panticles]

I bought a new Superdry bomber jacket and DH a David Bowie jigsaw!

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

I’m in. I failed last year, so need to do better. I quite often buy via Depop but rarely get a chance to go to charity shops.

[TenhillPlace]

I buy second hand quite often, usually eBay. I'm lucky enough to be quite small so can buy up the fashionable items that the youngsters no longer want😂 because they've moved on....(Topshop jeans, RI dresses etc)..and I haven't ...😂

I also buy quality vintage, fabrics are so much nicer.
I never buy online brands that I wouldn't choose in the shops, so Primark for instance.
I have had some great buys..a Joseph wool coat for £11.93 including postage and a designer Danish jacket for £6.00.
I also buy vintage furniture for the house.

Hate waste, this is a great way to reuse and save money.

[Divebar]

I’ve had some great finds at my local charity shops - Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Daks, Jean Muir etc but theres a danger in mindlessly purchasing because it’s there and it’s cheap / fits rather than it adding something to the wardrobe. Some of the IG names are buying “new” things every week. It all seems to contribute to the idea of consumption even if it is an environmentally better way of doing it. I did it myself today -bought my DD a Boden dress for £3.50. She doesn’t really need dresses she needs leggings etc. I really want to clear through my wardrobe and see what I need... I’d then rather aim for one or two things to fill the gaps even if they’re new rather than a second hand item that doesn’t fit work. Obviously if I could find a good second hand option first that would be perfect.

[Supersimkin2]

Charity shops will be putting some winter stock out soon so get thee along, I say. We save the best coats we get to put them out in Sep.

The only thing I won't buy charity is white tee shirts cos I want them white, but they do double duty as dusters afterwards.