To ask for discounts at charity shops

I mean it sounds like it's working for you but I do think it's a little bit tight. The money is going back to charity. Why would you want to give them less?

I do think the shops are getting a little unrealistic and adding cost into the system by moving things around shops and trying to maximise price per item rather than throughput - fresh stock is more shoppers more frequently and so longer term means more cash raised - there is a balance to be had in my view. I do get annoyed by Tu or similar t shirts for £5 or more though as they are barely that new and usually badly mis shaped. I find prices vary wildly and smaller more local charities are less expensive and more in touch with pricing. There are still bargains to be had but you have to look at the demographic of donors and volunteers and the charity itself. I always think charity shops should have two purposes - the recycling of goods and the raising of funds. Also meaning for those less well off or with less disposable income there is somewhere to fall back on

Not really that simple though is it? No discount, maybe OP doesn't buy it. Maybe nobody buys it. Maybe it eventually ends up on the sale rale for even less. Maybe it ends up in landfill. OP paying a discounted price could easily be best case for the charity and that damaged or overpriced item.

I came on here to say this. Talk about entitled

that’s a waste imo- we would either sell sold as seen for a nominal amount or ask for a small donation for it.

Charity shops are pricing things too high though they have dropped slightly in the last month or so) probably as no one was buying anything!).
There were tops in there that were bobbly and misshapen selling for a fiver!

Even the bric a brac started to increase a lot and I do like a browse of those things. Going from 50p or so to a couple of quid.

No I'd never ask for a discount. We buy all our children's books&games from a charity bookshop, sometimes they seem a little overpriced but it doesn't bother me - more money for charity! I wouldn't buy something massively overpriced but for a couple of pounds I'd just think of it as an extra donation.

My friend works in a platinum rated charity shop which means prices are higher due to the location. Lots of barely damaged items are put in the rag bin to keep the standard and prices high. No bartering allowed there.

I managed retail for a small charity, as PP have pointed out they are there to raise money for the charity. I'd loads of issues with people claiming the prices need to be in line with what they want to pay rather than how much we need to raise to cover costs and fundraise effectively.

Some charities are fine with haggling others aren't as long as you ask nicely and accept the decision of the volunteer or manager staight away without argument it's not a problem but as this often happens, some vols do find it annoying and can get quite vocal about it even when they shouldn't

The pricing for some items comes from head office. Even if it was a cheaper brand you could find yourself looking at a higher price than it is at the shop simple because a blouse is always £4.50 minimum or similar.

Personally I'd never haggle with a charity because I know how much hard work it is to raise funds but if it's done respectfully fair enough.

If I think a shop is overpriced, I don't go there.

If I see something has a major defect like a hole, I might ask about it.

The charity shop near me has a few families who are always pestering for discounts, it's stressful for the volunteers.

You would find it difficult to get a teenage boy to wear charity shop clobber.

If your children don't continue to wear charity shop clothes you won't have done anything wrong.

My son sells his tracksuits when he's done with them.

If you're not interested in defending your position, why have you started this thread. In AIBU too.

Just - why ??

I volunteered in a charity shop as a teenager and I still remember a woman who came in looking for a last minute outfit for the races. She asked what I "could do " about a stain on the dress she was thinking of buying. I said that we had no cleaning facilities on site but that she might think about buying a broach to cover it. It didn't occur to me until years later that she was actually asking for a discount!

I think if the charity shops you go into are happy enough to say yes or no, then it's fine.

Ultimately I think charity shops should go back to pricing everything for pennies - £1. It depends on the level of damage. I don’t think they should’ve sold a top that was coming apart at the seams for £9 but maybe they didn’t notice.

I wouldn't ask myself, think it's a bit tight.

If the item was damaged I wouldn't buy it, simple.

Your children won't always wear charity shop clothes so I suppose you're making the most of it while you can.

I agree with this . The point if a charity shop is to raise money for the charity .
But also the volunteers working in the shop probably won't be able to offer you a discount anyway. The clothes will have been priced up by the manager who may have already taken into account the loose threads.
Would you ask for a discount in Marks and Spencer or John Lewis?

@GroaningGyrtle

Did you miss the bit where I give them cash money in exchange for items? I think you did x

Less than what is asked.

XXX

@GroaningGyrtle

By failing to pay the price asked you are taking money away from the cause.

Thank you x

I think it's crap to do it.