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..

bedding (someone might have died on it) and underwear...

@Needmorelego thanks, I've never worked in one and didn't know about that! :)

Also, I've never been in a charity shop that doesn't exude a certain smell.

I've never been in a charity shop which smells.

bedding (someone might have died on it)

So? Don't you own a washing machine?

Mine was a pair of Blue Illusion jeans in a soft suede-y fabric (microfibre?) for AU$7 - they'd be at least $150 new.

@Catsmere I think charity shops are having to sell more new products now instead of secondhand because so much of the donated stuff is just awful shite that can't be sold.
Far too many people treat charity shops as a dumping ground - clearly confusing them with the local tip 🙁

So true, I gave a way an Ikea chest of drawers which they listed for £110.

I'd bought it 3 years earlier for £99.

I wouldn't buy shoes, underwear or nightwear. In fact I'd only buy clothes if it was something I really loved and in really good condition. No cutlery or anything that I'd use for food (yes, I do eat in cafés and restaurants, I know I'm being weird but I can't help it!).
What I do buy is books, jigsaws and dvds (to watch in our campervan)

Underwear, nightwear, shoes, socks, cosmetics, soft toys or furnishings. The only things I do buy really are kids toys.

But who donates things with holes in or food down the front?!

That's a question we ask ourselves multiple times per shift. We don't mind as mucg having bags clearly marked as rags which can be sent straight for recycling. More often than not though it'll be a black bin bag full of clothes, everything from stuff in OK condition which can be sold through to odd socks and ripped blouses. And not just clothes, people will donate chipped mugs, or frying pans with food crusted on, DVD boxes without DVDs in them, ripped books.... the list goes on. You seriously wonder what goes through some people's heads.

Most of the donations are not like that though and every shift we get bags of neatly folded, clean clothes, good condition and decent brands which we can immediately put out to sale and make good money on.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. I see some iffy stuff in the op shops here (Australia) and we're not in such a bad way as Britain seems to be.

From what I have seen some of the charity shops have much more new product than others. Oxfam has always sold Fair Trade chocolate and eco washing powder, and wee craft things made overseas. Cancer research has always had race for life merchandise. I was in Barnardos recently though and they do have a lot of bought in toys and other tat. The charity I currently volunteer with (Save the Children) has no new stock at all - except a single spinner of greetings cards, and christmas cards.

This

I once wanted to buy a CD player from a debra charity shop. The silly shop assistant didn't want me to plug it in to check it worked.

My local Salvation Army shop sells used underwear in the back corner. Not knickers, but Bra's and Basques for sure.
Definitely not new.
Right next to the crockery shelf 😁

I think that they’re missing a trick here 😝

Underwear
shoes
anything broken or personalised
some chazza shops need to watch that Mary Portas programme from years ago instead of putting out loads of shit that’s only fit for the bin
in one near me last week I saw a silver dish engraved “dear Mum, Merry Christmas, love Peter”

what’s the chances Peter is going to be looking for a tarnished silver dish for his mum’s Christmas?

Underwear and shoes. That's about it. ALL clothing gets washed in very hot water when I get home.

@PorridgeEater I'd assume they would have tested it before putting it on sale 🤔

Do charity shops even sell underwear?! 😂

The only thing I tend to buy in charity shops is cards. Charity shops always seem to have a grubby smell which puts me off looking at anything else.

Some people pay a lot for that sort of thing! 😅

Pants !! Plus
and everything has to be washed !!
my daughter brought a shirt yesterday and wore it unwashed immediately!!
yuk yuk
shes to old to tell , can’t believe she does this
then leaves bags of “ vintage clothing in my spare room… then wizzes off home to her place , how the hell do I keep letting this shit happen
now I have a major moth invasion in there .
skip on order it’s time to get tough
love pre loved but it’s getting to much

most of the shoes I've bought from Charity shops look like they've barely been worn, at least, not outside the house. I got some lovely Clarks Brogues for £20, and some Moshulu ankle boots for £10.
be lucky to get either of those for much less than £100 new, and they were practically unworn in condition

I used to know that a lot of smaller busted ladies would buy big bras in charity shops.

because they make great rat hammocks :P

I KIND OF want to read fifty shades, because of how comedically bad it's meant to be (and I'm not short on well written smut, I'm on A03) BUT I don't want to give the author money in order to be amused at it's awfulness, but I don't really want to know what might be infused in the charity shop copies ....

right. I've got some antique black opal earrings. how is that any different to charity shop earrings? just make sure you clean the posts well.