What wouldn’t you buy from a charity shop?

[CoolPlayer]

What wouldn’t you buy from a charity shop? Why? What do you buy? What’s the best bargain you’ve picked up? Genuinely curious, I’ve always picked up kids toys, books ect I think it’s a great way to re use / save money. never any kitchen bits but I know people pick up some good bargains..

I'm cautious about shoes, but having said that, I got a pair of almost-new De Walt safety boots for a bargain price. I replaced the insoles, which helped me overcome my ick about other people's feet.

Jeans / trousers / shorts (I’ve learned a shocking amount of people don’t wear underwear…ty MNers who proudly declare they don’t).

I love buying nice retro Gibsons jigsaws. They remind me of my childhood. 😊

I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t get, I pick up prettt much anything, shoes, clothes, kitchen stuff.

Presumably you do, though? So it wouldn’t actually be quite the same as second-hand knickers?

Wouldn’t

• Pants, tee shirts
• Supermarket, Primark or Tk maxx stuff cos it’s cheaper new more than you think.

Would

• cashmere
• dresses
• scarves
• coats
• That can be washed in machine.

Underwear and shoes, especially when the shoes are worn to the shape of someone's foot - yuk! DS bought a very bargainous pair of trainers in a second hand shop which looked amazing but very quickly absolutely stunk, so I suspect the previous owner wore without socks or had some kind of foot problem.

My best bargain is probably a Boden t-shirt type top that I bought in 2016 for less than a fiver and still wear every summer. It probably dates back to when Boden was actually good quality as it still looks in good condition.

Nope, can’t get over the mental image of someone’s bits all over the crotch.

Shoes unless they were almost unworn.

I’d be careful with any kind of cushion type thing, if it could be washed fine, no otherwise.

Kitchen items would be fine, as would any clothes. Basically anything I can wash myself is ok.

Shoes and underwear.

Knickers and bras. That’s pretty much the only thing I wouldn’t buy.

Nothing really. Anything can be washed.

Underwear.
I used not to buy shoes until my sister alerted me to UV sterilising wands.

I buy loads of books from charity shops and replace my frequently broken wineglasses tumblers and Pyrex mixing bowls from them.

And odd bits, you never know what you're going to find. I've had velvet curtains, silver rings, silk scarves, a Moorcroft vase, a really old and thick wooden chopping board; I think my le Creuset pans were from one, and several wicker hampers.

I buy lots from charity shops and happy to buy most things secondhand. I wouldn't buy underwear, swimwear, nightwear, or shoes unless they are new or nearly new.

Shoes - I worry about fungus and verrucas.

Anything I can buy for a similar price new, so most clothes now.

But most of our books are from Sue Ryder, and when my son was younger most of his toys came from there, as does his Halloween costume this year.

I wouldn’t buy anything from them. When I buy something I want it to be in perfect unused condition.
I used to volunteer in one and people would donate actually bin bags of rubbish. It didn’t matter if the clothes were ragged amongst it they would steam them and sell them. Yuck.

Ps. It was the British heart foundation.

Shoes and underwear.

Beyond that I love charity shops and I regularly buy books, clothes, furniture, cutlery, plates, vases, plant pots, artworks and rugs from them.

Unfortunately I don't buy anything from our local ones anymore. I went in a few months back to look at bits for Christmas. We have a baby and it seems so wasteful to buy new toys. But the stuff they had in was as expensive as it would be new. They had a bag of mega blocks that looked partially empty, I could get them new off amazon for 50p more.

But previously I've bought most things from charity shops. Shoes, clothes, pjs, a sports bra etc. I didn't have many other options growing up and in my early 20s. I wouldn't buy any cosmetics that weren't sealed but I can't think of much else.

In terms of things I find yukky, probably only knickers.

I'm buying less and less in charity shops though, as the prices seem to be sky rocketing. I'm not really into anything designer (where I guess you might get bargains) and I find it's cheaper to buy supermarket stuff new in the sales than to buy worn stuff from charity shops. I particularly like Sainsbury's both for clothes and homeware.

Underwear, nightwear and shoes are my no go’s. I now only buy higher quality clothes, especially cashmere.

Underwear and shoes (unless new)

I'm buying less as prices here are getting silly.
Wouldn't touch underwear or shoes but have bought new shoes in charity shops before now [labels still on].

I donated a sofa in very good condition recently and was amazed to see it priced at just £50 less than I bought it for years ago. Same thing happened when I donated a bed frame, it was priced more or less what I paid for it.

Shoes, underwear, pajamas.

I think charity shops are the same as vinted or eBay etc but lots of people are funny about C shops but not the rest.

I’ll but mostly any clothes as long as they can be machine washed, and they are not massively over priced or in very bad condition.

shoes but only rarely as almost all the one I see are not in good enough condition.
i will if they are in good condition and not over priced. I always stick any in the freezer on the rare occasion I buy any

i won't buy normally

cushions incase they have had things like bedbugs as they can not be washed and are normally too big to fit in the freezer.

same for hats unless I am confident that it can either washed in the machine or frozen to kill of any possible nit eggs.

i won't pay over the odds for cheaper brands,
two examples I have seen an item in Tesco and primark which I coincidentally have seen in a charity shop later being sold once for the same price within a few pence but the primark item (which by that point had been quite well used) was being sold for more than I’d seen it in store!

knickers unless they are new.

anything that is is in bad condition.

Shoes