Page 11 | To think people are quite petty to object to charity shop staff getting "first dibs" when they are BUYING the items?

SorcererGaheris · 2024-12-06T20:03:48+00:00

For context, I am a volunteer in a charity shop myself, and if I see something that I want, I will purchase it. The shop doesn't give staff discounts, either; staff pay full price - the last item I bought, a book, cost me £40. Anyway, I COMPLETELY understand people objecting if volunteers were to just take donated items for themselves, but I've seen some online discussions in which people complain about the staff getting first pick of donations when they are *paying* for them. I really don't see the problem in this case, and think people who object are rather out of line. Other retail workers surely sometime purchase items from the shops they work in, so I don't see why volunteers should be begrudged that. A volunteer is a customer as much as any other.

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:23

saraclara · 07/12/2024 10:20

So is she also to tell the next customer who wants to buy a nice thing, that they shouldn't buy it because it makes the shop look less nice?

This thread is nuts.

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No, because the customer has found a bargain - the attractive item has served its purpose - that customer will be back because that's the shop where she found the Harry Potter with the misprint or whatever.

Paddymcpaddy · 07/12/2024 10:21

GridlockonMain · 07/12/2024 09:04

It depends. If all the best stuff is being skimmed off by staff before anyone else has a chance to see it, it reduces the overall value of the charity shop and makes it less likely people will make the effort to go. Stuff should at least get a chance on the shop floor so that people are encouraged to go in and browse.

‘Best’ stuff??? Have you seen what people donate to charity shops? Unless you’re in West London or similar it’s not actually worth very much…

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:21

DrZaraCarmichael · 07/12/2024 10:17

up to you if you want to make your shop less attractive and risk it closing in the long term,

And also going round in circles with this idea thar volunteers are staggering home under the weight of ALL the good stuff, leaving just the tat.

Funny that figures from the charity retail association show that sales are increasing year on year - how is that happening when there is nothing left worth buying?

And other sources say that profits are falling:

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charity-shops-see-drop-in-profits-as-retail-costs-continue-to-increase.html

You can't base your judgement on bald sales figures during a period of rampant inflation.

saraclara · 07/12/2024 10:20

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:16

Going round in circles, but as I said, it's your choice - up to you if you want to make your shop less attractive and risk it closing in the long term,

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So is she also to tell the next customer who wants to buy a nice thing, that they shouldn't buy it because it makes the shop look less nice?

This thread is nuts.

Original poster

SorcererGaheris · 07/12/2024 10:19

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:16

Going round in circles, but as I said, it's your choice - up to you if you want to make your shop less attractive and risk it closing in the long term,

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I don't thibk that buying niche books on occultism is going to make the shop less attractive overall. The majority of our customers are not witches or occultists.

OP posts:

DrZaraCarmichael · 07/12/2024 10:17

up to you if you want to make your shop less attractive and risk it closing in the long term,

And also going round in circles with this idea thar volunteers are staggering home under the weight of ALL the good stuff, leaving just the tat.

Funny that figures from the charity retail association show that sales are increasing year on year - how is that happening when there is nothing left worth buying?

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:16

SorcererGaheris · 07/12/2024 10:14

Sure, but we're not obliged to do that, so I don't. If I've decided to buy something, I buy it straight away.

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Going round in circles, but as I said, it's your choice - up to you if you want to make your shop less attractive and risk it closing in the long term,

Nolegusta · 07/12/2024 10:15

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:10

If that's the case, then you'd be safe giving it a week on the shelves before buying it.

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Indeed. Why the need to purchase so urgently?

dontcryformeargentina · 07/12/2024 10:15

I think the best option would be for volunteers to have a set number of times they can have their first pick. Or to be able to buy what they want with their 50 discounts after the item was on a shop floor on display for a week and no one bought it.

Original poster

SorcererGaheris · 07/12/2024 10:14

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:10

If that's the case, then you'd be safe giving it a week on the shelves before buying it.

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Sure, but we're not obliged to do that, so I don't. If I've decided to buy something, I buy it straight away.

OP posts:

Pussycat22 · 07/12/2024 10:12

Patriciathestripper1 , might be a Harry potter first edition with the mistake in the shopping list in it Worth thousands.

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 10:10

SorcererGaheris · 07/12/2024 10:08

For all those who raise concerns about volunteers buying so much of the good stuff so that there's not as much out on the shelves for other customers, I'd like to ask this:

Do you ever consider that at least SOME of the time, the items that the volunteers buy are things that a lot of other people would not be interested in and might not sell otherwise? In which case the shop is gaining a sale that otherwise would not have happened.

I can pretty safeky say that I'm sure that's been the case with some of my own purchases. I've bought books on very niche fields that th vast majority of our other customers would have no interest in having.

If that's the case, then you'd be safe giving it a week on the shelves before buying it.

Original poster

SorcererGaheris · 07/12/2024 10:08

For all those who raise concerns about volunteers buying so much of the good stuff so that there's not as much out on the shelves for other customers, I'd like to ask this:

Do you ever consider that at least SOME of the time, the items that the volunteers buy are things that a lot of other people would not be interested in and might not sell otherwise? In which case the shop is gaining a sale that otherwise would not have happened.

I can pretty safeky say that I'm sure that's been the case with some of my own purchases. I've bought books on very niche fields that th vast majority of our other customers would have no interest in having.

OP posts:

DrZaraCarmichael · 07/12/2024 09:54

I wonder if people underestimate the amount donated to shops. The one I worked in looked like a very sweet high street charity shop.

Totally. Those of us who volunteer are well aware that if we are taking all the "good stuff" then we would be staggering home under the weight of several of those blue Ikea bags each shift.

There is a wider conversation about the quality of donations and it is true that this is on the slide, especially in clothing. Vinted is so easy Ebay has cancelled its fees for selling. So if you are short of cash or just want to make some money back, it's very easy to sell your unwanted clothes. But a lot of people just can't be bothered with selling, don't want the hassle. We still get good quality clothing but the percentage of clothing which is only fit for rags has increased definitely. Quality of other categories such as books, bric a brac, toys/games has not changed.

AgathaMystery · 07/12/2024 09:50

I wonder if people underestimate the amount donated to shops. The one I worked in looked like a very sweet high street charity shop. You’d never know that out the back, crammed in amongst the commercial area behind shops was a triple garage just full of bags for rag (emptied monthly but always over flowing) and a shipping container stuffed with items for the shop and to go to other shops. Like, so full that sometimes we would have to bring items in to the shop overnight so we could lock the container properly overnight.

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 09:45

DrZaraCarmichael · 07/12/2024 09:25

You are making another massive assumption that people are taking/buying the "best stuff" for resale. Nobody's going to buy a size 6 or 8 dress when they are a size 14 or 16, even if it is Armani. Or a kettle/mixer when they have one in the cupboard at home already.

Most charities will have a policy to monitor what volunteers are buying, I used to volunteer in an Oxfam shop like the OP and everything is written down in a book and audited for transparency, where i currently work someone else puts the sale through the till. It would be easy to spot people leaving with bags and bags of stuff to put on ebay.

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Where on earth did I say people were taking it for resale? I've never mentioned resale.

People don't only buy for themselves in charity shops - that size 6 or 8 Armani dress might be being bought for a daughter, niece, or friend.

I disagree that people won't buy a kettle etc. if they already have one. If they're into high end electricals, they might well replace their Russell Hobbs kettle with a Dualit Architect, given the chance to do so at a bargain price.

It's true that they might also buy for resale, but that isn't of any materiality to my point, which is that skimming off the best stuff, whatever you do with it afterwards, makes the charity shop less attractive - for customers, it's like being last to the buffet at a wedding and finding only a few curling cheese sandwiches and crisp crumbs left.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 07/12/2024 09:45

It's sooo common for managers to have secret ebay accounts and take all the good stuff to sell on. Put me off donating to charity because it feels like it's not going to anyone who needs it.

uptheculdesac · 07/12/2024 09:44

@SorcererGaheris

I am certainly not "skimming the cream" when I buy books from the shop I volunteer in, and I'm not doing so to sell on Ebay either. I'm buying the books because I want to read them.
Why are you basing your view on what you do. Do you really think everyone is as ethical as you are?

I also don't see how it qualifies skimming when we are paying for the items - at the exact same price as other people would. Again - volunteers are customers as well, not just the other members of the public who do not work there.
There are plenty on posts on here where people have witnessed staff grabbing things the minute they come in and sometimes just relocating it straight into their cars. Might they go back in and put money in the till? Who knows?

As many others have pointed out, the eBay thing DOES happen whether you are party to it or not. And poor quality stock means vintage hunter won't frequent the shop. So sales overall fall. It's not just about the two or three items the staff purchase first. It's the effect this has on footfall

Mrsredlipstick · 07/12/2024 09:33

I spent two years in the charity retail sector and sadly I had to report 30% of paid shop managers for theft. The volunteers in the main were very humble and always asked if they could buy certain things. Our volunteers were mainly retired nurses as we were a hospice charity. However I did eventually leave after a member of the senior management team stole a clock. It would have made £500. The CEO refused to confirm the person had paid for it or not. They'd removed it from one of my stores but no payment was made or store credit given.
I had no issue with anyone buying anything but quite a few donors did. They wanted to see their things in the window.

Glitchymn1 · 07/12/2024 09:30

ODFOx · 06/12/2024 22:07

I work at a food bank and if someone donates lobster bisque from the back of a cupboard on a short date I will 'buy' it for 3 tins of tomato and take it home. So many people send back the 'fancy' or unusual stuff we do try and swap it out if it's something we like. Last year we had a donation of several sachets of dry congee. We're a rural community with a limited cultural mix and none of the volunteers knew what it was and no one took them from the 'pick your own' table so I took it home and donated ramen in its place.
So I don't think that your fancy neighbour is doing anything wrong as long as they're back-filling with more popular foods.

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I didn’t say she was fancy 🤣 no it’s large jars of coffee. boxes of chocolates, and no she isn’t back filling anything. She’s a thief isn’t she. She’s just taking what she perceives to be the “good stuff” from the homeless. To me, that’s low but we all have different standards.

AmICrazyToEvenBother · 07/12/2024 09:29

I've never been aware of anyone objecting to this, but considering the people give their time for free, I think it's a reasonable perk!

dontcryformeargentina · 07/12/2024 09:26

uptheculdesac · 06/12/2024 22:11

The problem is that I have known of workers buying the items purely to sell at profit for themselves online.
That's just completely against the spirit of things and turns the charity shop into a sort of wholesaler for the staff's little side hustle

Exactly this... I know people too who volunteer just to get the best picks.. it's absolutely worth their time and effort.. especially when it comes to jewellery

DrZaraCarmichael · 07/12/2024 09:25

FancyAReallyLongUsernameJustForAChange · 07/12/2024 09:11

Of course there is an element of subjectivity about what qualifies as the 'best stuff' but let's not pretend it's entirely subjective.

In a clothes shop (I realise yours isn't, OP) it's the high-end label items, or designer items, especially if they are in excellent condition.

Electricals - again, high end brands and designer brands, especially if they are current or 'classic' such as kettles or mixers. Nearly-new items in mint condition.

Books - rare, collectable books that would sell for significantly more than the original list price.

Bric-a-brac - you have to know what you're looking for, but again, collectables that have risen in value from the original sale price; antique items with valuable hallmarks (I was once in a charity shop where a man very kindly informed them that a vase they were selling for £2.50 was worth about 10 times that much).

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You are making another massive assumption that people are taking/buying the "best stuff" for resale. Nobody's going to buy a size 6 or 8 dress when they are a size 14 or 16, even if it is Armani. Or a kettle/mixer when they have one in the cupboard at home already.

Most charities will have a policy to monitor what volunteers are buying, I used to volunteer in an Oxfam shop like the OP and everything is written down in a book and audited for transparency, where i currently work someone else puts the sale through the till. It would be easy to spot people leaving with bags and bags of stuff to put on ebay.

Nolegusta · 07/12/2024 09:23

AgathaMystery · 07/12/2024 09:21

I think the OP makes a brilliant point about volunteers buying the best stuff.

When I was a charity shop volunteer the item I was most pleased about buying before it hit the shop floor was a very specific glass coffee jar that was in a bag of bric a brac. It was a jar that instant coffee came in in the 60’s-80’s and I use in my pantry. I have dozens of them. THAT was my ‘best item’.

Conversely I went into the charity shop next door on the same day (it really was a bumper day) and saw a candlestick for sale for £9. A design classic well known to anyone keen on scandi design. I took it to the counter, explained that the candlestick was worth at least £90, and did they want to add it to their eBay pile? I showed the manager the online listings and she said ‘okay, it’s not £3, it’s £10’ - I purchased it. I love it. Use it daily. The

Last week I purchased an item of clothing BNWT from a charity shop - not in my size for £15. I put it on vinted for £38, sold it that day for £33 and purchased the same item, in the right size, from Vinted, for £30. I did this because I couldn’t afford to just spend £30 on an item without making the money back.

Which is worse?

So you're a reseller, and openly admitting it on MN? You're brave.

Fluufer · 07/12/2024 09:22

JingleB · 07/12/2024 09:21

Once a shop is known for never having anything interesting as the staff buy it before it hits the floor, many people just don't bother going in.

Staff purchases aren't enough to keep a shop open

These statements are rather contradictory.

Either the staff are grabbing everything good, leaving nothing worth buying for the general public OR the staff purchases are negligible and can’t keep the shop afloat.

No because perhaps I go into a charity shop to buy something "good", whilst I'm there I might also grab a cheap book and a toy for the kids, or a raffle ticket. If there's never any "good" stuff I won't bother going in at all.