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 really don't understand why some people are so weird about things other people have touched. It's like any object any other human has handled is irredeemably and permanently contaminated by some sort of mega-virus that defies all methods of cleaning, and will instantly kill you if you touch it yourself.

I've never met a single person outside MN who thinks like this.

@PrimitivePerson I wonder how they think products get from factory to distribution centre, to one port to be sent by boat in a shipping container to another port, to distribution centre in the UK to individual shops into the stockroom/warehouse and finally then to the sales floor - without being handled by several people 😂

I suspect it's more like several thousand!

Really! I don't want a garment that's been around someone else's crotch or armpits. Even when washed, many garments/fabrics exude a former pong when they warm up. I know lots of people who wouldn't buy second hand. Notwithstanding the fact that they might be harbouring clothes moth larvae, etc.

I want new, I want the lovely carrier bag to take it home, and the sense of treat rather than compromise. I may feel differently if money were annissue and the choice was warmth or not but it isn't. Also, I've never been in a charity shop that doesn't exude a certain smell.

So judgemental. Are you for real?! Or is it just a wind up post?

@Mademetoxic judgemental of who?

There's nothing wrong with charity shop things. This poster must be on a wind up as that's the first I've heard from anyone who has said that.

What a weird mindset to have.

I buy books/toys/the occasional utensil/glassware. After volunteering in a charity shop, I was appalled by the amount of really shabby, crummy clothing they would put out to try & sell. Horrible stained clothes, clothes with a busted zipper, stuff that should have been thrown out. It was grim.

Plus we've already established you won't buy anything in a charity shop that's been around someone's crotch anyway. It's a ridiculous assertion.

@Mademetoxic that poster never wrote there's anything wrong with charity shop stuff, just his/her reasons for not buying from them.

Me? This is the first time posting on this thread.

I think it's a wind up post. The wording they have used is to get people's backs up.

I volunteer in a charity shop, and some of the stuff people donate makes me seriously wonder about their standards.
On opening a recent donation, I immediately banned a mesh leopard-print thong which had obviously been worn. Let's just say not everything on it was part of the pattern 🤢

I rarely see clothes that I like / would wear / are in my size, but don’t have anything against the idea in theory. I love jigsaws, but I’m put off by the possibility of missing pieces. I used to buy a lot of books from charity shops, but I prefer ebooks now. I’d happily buy homewares provided they were washable (ds got some great vintage coffee cups in one).

@RosesAndHellebores my nearest Oxfam is more clean, tidy and organised than the WHSmith next door 😂
(although the AlexTLC one is a bit on the shabby and chaotic side. - but they sell paperbacks at 20p)

Sorry, I meant "you" in a generic sense, not you personally.

I have an MO for charity shops and browse daily if I can. On my list are silver plated photo frames, paintings and pictures, wool throws and blankets, unused scented candles, books, kitchen stuff (Le Creuset, Portmerion, Denby,) anything that's proper tweed, quality clothes for me and endless clothes for my horsey son to horse in. As a previous poster said it's pointless spending lots of money on stuff to wear to the stables.

Today's haul was a country casuals linen jacket, per una skirt, a set of vintage stirrup cups in a leather case and a portmerion quiche dish. I also would have bought 2 gorgeous limited edition prints but I'm completely out of wall space. Yesterday I got the most beautiful mirrored wall sconce for candles, a lambswool scarf and some tweed man's gloves for son to ride in. The day before was a Johnstons of Elgin rug and a Hobbs scarf. At the weekend, I got a James Lakeland faux fur gilet for me for £15, and 2 Ralph Lauren, 1 Barbour and 1 Timberland polo shirts for horsing. I very much have champagne taste and a lemonade budget and charity shopping enables me to have nice things and still have money to pay for Pony Club or whatever. Best buys include a Max Mara coat, Baldinini handbag that still had the £700 price tag attached and a framed tottering by gently print for £3 that would retail for £120 at the country shows.

Underwear. Shoes if they've been worn. I've bought unworn shoes a few times; pair of Converse, a pair of pump style Adidas trainers, and a pair of Dr Marten platform style boots. They're great.

The one in the town over from us is really good, I've got a few cashmere jumpers from there too and lovely silk scarves. I tend to mainly buy second hand clothes either from charity shops or Vinted, so I love popping in.

Underwear ...... even with tags ....

Can everyone shut up about the underwear you can't actually buy in charity shops already?

Underwear definitely not and no to shoes unless they are new. Other than that I love a good charity shop rummage. We've got loads near us, and a very good one in our village. My latest bargain is an Orla Kiely crossbody bag in great condition for £5.50. I'm a bit choosy about which ones I go in as some are getting quite pricey. Like others I refuse to pay what I consider to be top dollar for Primark and the like.

A couple of our local ones do sell underwear (bras and slips) and nightwear.

I'm wary of lovely old bits of wooden furniture like side tables or plant stands. Someone I know got bedbugs imported into their bedroom this way!!! Most other things ill think about... I love a bit of whimsical knick knack in particular...

Used to love take my the kids when little for a rummage and some cheap distraction.

Plus we've already established you won't buy anything in a charity shop that's been around someone's crotch anyway. It's a ridiculous assertion.

You can absolutely buy swimwear in some of ours, I know this because I asked last time I had a bag of stuff to donate, ready to pull out the swimwear and chuck it in the Sally Army rag bin if it wasn't going to be accepted. It was accepted. I'd also like to add that it was new (although tags had been removed so while I knew it hadn't been worn, the shop didn't).

Did you miss the memo? 😆

Apparently, not a single charity shop in the UK sells it.