Charity shop rant

Well said RB68

I lost faith in one of our charity shops when my hubby took a box of stuff in, as soon as he got back to the car he realised he had put a lamp in the box by accident, he was supposed to be dropping the lamp at my brothers instead (it was a special daylight lamp). He immediately went back and asked about it. The volunteer denied it was there, when hubby remembered very clearly it was in the box as he had to put the plug end back into the box as it was dangling as he passed it over. It wasn't more than 5 minutes and they just denied it was there. He said he could see all our stuff in the back room turned out of the box. The lamp had gone. It wasn't in the shop and nothing else of ours had been put out. I'm convinced one of the volunteers put aside for themselves. It looked like they had gone through the stuff to get the good stuff. I just hope they put a contribution in the till.

There are a few charity shops in Cambridge like this. I found the Oxfam book shop quite sniffy about my donations. Probably because they weren't an illuminated manuscript....

Yanbu. Im another person who refusing to enter one charity shop due to horrible person at the back. I cant gift aid as im self employed as my tax return is already complicated enough without dealing with gift aid. I also know my mums friend had to pay £20 to the tax man as she didnt pay enough tax for the year and her donation meant she paid to donate. Nasty lady spent 10 minutes telling me how horrible i was to not gift aid. (Oxfam).

RB68 I volunteer myself, so I know exactly what is involved - and the types of sniffy and rude members of the public that you sometimes come across. Unfortunately just because someone is volunteering doesn't make them an automatic candidate for sainthood! Volunteers can be rude, unhelpful, dishonest, patronising - just like everyone else. Fortunately the overwhelming majority of volunteers that I meet and deal with, are friendly and helpful and welcoming - because they know that we are reliant on the public's goodwill for donations and also their patronage in choosing our shop rather than someone else's.

Reow, no burleigh street. Not for the first time with this lady either.

Some staff/volunteers work there as a sort of work experience which might explain some behaviour but kudos to the woman who asked for her donations back

Regarding signs up saying no more donations it's because a lot of people donate in January and the stock room is full and no more will fit in there. It's not that they are grateful for donations there's just no space.

Back to the original post - YANBU they shouldn't be rude.

UANBU What a nut job! I bet she has a rubbish life.

YANBU but I'm not surprised. Volunteering of that nature seems to attract a certain type of person... the type that also seem to gravitate to GP receptionist jobs.

I was spoken to very rudely by the vicar of a church when trying to leave some donations for the food bank. He was really put out. I haven't been back - I now leave my donations at another collection point. I guess there was no incentive for him at all to behave with basic politeness. The house of God and all that

Couldn't agree more RB68

As to nabbing the best stuff - they still have to pay for it at the going rate (again set by head office for the bigger shops) and why shouldn't they get first dibs at the fair price given what they give

Give them a break - the majority are volunteers and do it FOR FREE week in and week out, they have to follow rules handed down from head office and some of them do get a bit uptight about it why because if you have people just wondering in (I mean would you do that in a shop) they get a bollocking. Not only that but people steal from these shops in just that way, they harass the staff and are rude to them when they are just trying to do their job etc.

I think you need to get off your high horse and try volunteering in a shop and see how you feel after 5 days of that

There are at least 4 charity shops in the nearest town. When I take stuff in, I usually drop it off at the nearest. The staff are usually very pleasant and grateful, and are quite friendly. They sell stuff cheaply and it seems to fly off the rails.
There is an even better one further down the high street. I went in once and thought it was a real dump and didn't go in there for ages but have I had bargains there. The staff are friendly and helpful and you can take it back if the tag is still on and you have the receipt. I think it's an outlet as it often has good makes (Hobbs, Jigsaw, Boden etc) as well as the usual jumble.

Must be something in the air, OP! I had the same experience the other day - ungrateful buggers! I promptly picked them up and walked them down to the PDSA place down the road where my items got a considerably warmer reception.

Can't do right for doing wrong etc etc

What a shame, I popped in with a few books to our local hospice charity shop the other day and happened to mention I was having a clear out. She asked me to let her know if I ever needed a hand moving stuff from the car. Two days later, I did, and true to her word, she beetled out, chatting away. She was lovely. I will be going back.

Yeah, you need to be polite to people who are giving their stuff to you. Some charity shop workers are serious control-freaks and make you almost feel bad for donating to them. And don't get me started on the fact that they nab all the best stuff for themselves rather than putting it on the racks.

"you will see scenes of Roman carnage as they fight over where the shirt rail will go and there was once a crowd - drawing row in the window display "

That actually sounds like fun.

One of the charity shop near me will go through the donation before accepting it! I had the misfortune of having my donation rummaged through -and rejected- by a snooty woman - wearing gloves. Needless to say, I haven't returned.

That is incredibly rude. In her defence I used to volunteer in a charity shop and lots of people would donate absolute crap that they clearly just couldn't be bothered to take to the dump - (loads of dirty socks and pants with holes in, puzzles with half the pieces missing, books which have been torn to shreds, stuff that smells of urine) so you ended up holding your breath and wondering what crap might be inside overtime there was a new bag! However I very much doubt you were doing that and there is no excuse to be so rude!

"Not good enough."

You pay peanuts...

I never donate to the Oxfam shop in our town because they are so unfriendly. I now only donate to the local hospice charity, and tbh I prefer that anyway as I know exactly where the money is going.

We had this in our local area. I get that they are staffed by volunteers - and that some people will palm off the dodgiest shit which is only fit for the bin! However there are plenty of charity shops and people can always take their items elsewhere. Nobody is forcing you to volunteer there (I do voluntary work myself so I know it can be a bloody thankless task at times though!).

After a mass boycott of a particular charity shop, the manager there faced up to the fact that a couple of his volunteers were putting people off - from shopping and donating there. After a big re-vamp things have started to improve. In the meantime I use a charity shop in the next town who are always very friendly and helpful. I love the fact that they let me know how much my donations have raised as well.

We have a few charity shops in our town. Only one of them where the staff seem thankful for donations and say so.

The others don't seem very bothered or want to quiz you about Gift Aid straight away.