I am a Charity Shop Manager - AMA

[mrspink27]

Charity Shop Manager jumping on the AMA bandwagon - fire away!!

[Bloodyhell11]

Do you have a pricing structure to follow?
How do you decide what to sell and what to recycle or dump?

[ColdCottage]

Strangest things that have been donated or found in pockets?

Most valuable item donated?

[molifly]

How much of the donations actually get thrown away?

[mrspink27]

Do you have a pricing structure to follow?
How do you decide what to sell and what to recycle or dump?

Yes - we have a pricing structure depending on brand - it is guide though and we price to sell - there is a lot of competition on the high street and retail is in a massive state of flux.

Deciding what to sell, recycle or dump can be more subjective; one person's trash is another ones treasure - nothing damaged or faulty as a start. Then we have items which are not allowed to be sold for a variety of reasons e.g. fur, knives, armbands, open cosmetics, food stuffs, magnetic toys.... and the list goes on. Some items just wont sell in my location but would sell in another shop in a different area so they are moved on. A lot is recycled for cash - e.g. out of date, tatty books, damaged/dirty clothing and shoes, broken jewellery and electricals.

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

Does it drive you mad when people dump bags full of crap on you? I only send nice things to the charity shop, scruffy things get sent to recycling where possible. Or can youbrag the scruffy stuff for cash?

[IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst]

Cross post!

[Freyanna]

My friend worked in a charity shop but left because so many things were getting stolen. They weren't allowed to confront shoplifters. I can't understand someone doing that. Does it get you down?

[ScreamingValenta]

What's the worst thing you have found in a bag of donated items?

[mrspink27]

Strangest things that have been donated or found in pockets?

Lots of sex toys, a dead cat, someone's ashes are amongst the more bizarre.

Most valuable item donated?

We sometimes get legacy donations and last year we had a car left to us in a will. Through the door donations - a very nice designer pair of shoes which sold for £200, a couple of paintings sold at auction for £500. Still waiting for the Faberge egg though!!

[Icecreamandpineapple]

Do some charity shop workers put aside some of the best donations (as soon as they've been delivered) such as clothes, to buy for themselves/their family members without even putting the items on the shop floor do you think?

[mrspink27]

@Freyanna we do have a huge problem of theft, we arent allowed to confront either. There are the known regular light fingered customers and when they are in it is all hands on deck and we follow and watch to try and deter. Then there are the one offs - the best one is the shoe swap - nice pair of shoes tried on and then replaced on the shelf with the tatty ones. The good ones walk out of the shop! It can be frustrating and disheartening because we have to work so hard for every penny. We just have to hope that those that steal have a genuine need - although I am aware that is not likely in the majority of cases!!

[Nograssisgreener]

What’s the smell in charity shop , do you spray something on all the stuff , also does anything get washed or cleaned?

[ScreamingValenta]

a dead cat



Had it been embalmed or was it decaying?

[mrspink27]

IlPorcupinoNilSodomyEst We are very grateful and thankful for all the donations we receive and we sell on/recycle for cash tatty, damaged or dirty clothing and shoes, also books, media, electricals for scrap, broken silver and gold. It can get very wearing to receive a bag of broken or damaged toys or jigsaws with pieces missing. Some bags we receive are literally the contents of the "crap" drawer/cupboard tipped in and gifted to us. Post boot fair donations are always hit and miss - but we look at every last broken pencil and chipped single saucer to try and make the most of every donation. Inevitably there are unsaleable items and obviously these have to be thrown away.

[mrspink27]

Icecreamandpineapple
Do some charity shop workers put aside some of the best donations (as soon as they've been delivered) such as clothes, to buy for themselves/their family members without even putting the items on the shop floor do you think?

I am sure this does happen in some settings but our charity are very strict about this. All items have to be put out onto the shop floor for a minimum of 24 hours before staff and vols can put them aside. Obviously you cant price an item which you would like to buy.

[mrspink27]

Nograssisgreener What’s the smell in charity shop , do you spray something on all the stuff , also does anything get washed or cleaned?

We have commercial air fresheners all around the shop and the scent is alternated on a regular basis to avoid "nose blindness". Also we are careful about putting "smelly" clothing out into the shop!
All clothing is steamed before it goes out onto the shop floor - but not washed or cleaned- only exception would be a high value item which we couldnt sell because it is dirty. In which case I take it home and bung it the washing machine. Bric a brac generally gets a wipe over with anti bac.

[mrspink27]

ScreamingValenta sadly, just a dead cat, in amongst a bag of clothing.

[AdaColeman]

What always sells well?

[ScreamingValenta]

How awful .

[Freyanna]

That's terrible about the shoes, who would ever think of doing that?

I buy quite a lot of things from charity shops, I love having a browse round and buying gifts for people.

I never notice a smell, the ones beside me are more like boutiques now.

[CanaBanana]

Have charity shops started googling the labels on all donated items to determine the price? Several years ago I used to find loads of great bargains in charity shops. Nowadays they're much more savvy and even obscure brands are labelled and priced high. E.g. I once bought a Stig Lindberg plate for 50p because nobody recognised the brand. Recently saw a similar one priced £50 and labelled VINTAGE! COLLECTABLE! I doubt that anyone who isn't a ceramics collector recognised such an obscure brand? It kind of sucks the fun out of rummaging when you know all the bargains have been identified and removed!

[lostinjapan]

How do you feel about people who buy from charity shops and then sell on eBay for a profit? Is it ethically wrong or do you not care so long as you’re getting your money?

And what about haggling in charity shops? Acceptable or not?

[mrspink27]

AdaColeman

What always sells well?
Good quality "brands" like Superdry, Levis, Diesel - we sell a lot of mens clothing. Same with shoes - fly, doc martens, nike trainers.

Kids clothing has to be in really good shape - we just cant sell it cheaply enough.

Quirky items are usually sold quite fast and suitcases - can never have enough suitcases or sewing machines!!

[mrspink27]

CanaBanana

I think there are still bargains to be had but I think the sector generally is a lot more savvy with brands than it used to be. I also believe that charity shops, in some cases, have got greedy and asking ridiculous prices for second hand goods.
Competition is so great, especially with shops like Primark, Poundland, supermarkets etc selling low price clothing that we cant afford to put shoppers off with silly prices.
I would rather sell lots for slightly cheaper which generates repeat business and lets customers feel they have got a deal.

Ultimately it's about getting the most out of the donations we are given so that the charity, the donor and the customer all win.

[MsJaneAusten]

That's terrible about the shoes, who would ever think of doing that?

Someone who’s desperate for shoes and can’t adford to buy them

I presume that’s why charity show have the ‘no challenge’ policy too.