Do you think charity shops have lost their minds with overpricing items?

[luluxxx]

Been into my local charity shop (not a big city ,just a local area and it’s in a pretty working class area )
Used to be able to get some bargains but today they have two new rails “new with tags “ and a “top brands “ rail.
On the new with tags was a skirt from select (£7 ) the skirt itself was only £14.99
A Primark pair of beach trousers (£6 ) tags were £10
Then on the top brand rail was a clearly used M&S jumper for £8 and a shein dress for £6
Are people really going to pay this ?

Actually I’m often shocked by the trivial amounts they ask for good quality items

I volunteered in a charity shop. I found that after the manager, 2 P/T managers, rent and overheads were paid, it was just about washing its face.
The reason it was kept open was for advertisement of the charity (da)
Customers constantly complained about prices, but the manager had targets and charging higher prices was the only way to achieve them.

I don’t bother with them now. Shrunken cashmere jumpers for £25. Anything by AllSaints, no matter how dated or tatty, £30. Coats £45. No.

How are you doing with your rag collections? I used to take a small bag into mine with a bag or more of saleable goods. The last couple of years no rag accepted. So I dont - I believe the market for rag is no more. such a shame.

I’m a case in point. I used to be an avid charity shop buyer for thirty years and I never go in them now as they are too expensive for dross.

Whereas I know my interest (antique ceramics) will be so overpriced in the US compared to here. So I guess that is know your market, buyer be aware, etc.

I was in Barnes in SW London the other week and the charity shop prices were insane. I get that it is a swish suburb and some of the gear they get must be fairly high quality but was so expensive.

You can look up their accounts on the charity commission website

we don’t get a huge amount for rag.

That was my understanding. But do you still accept rag donation?

Mine didn't cost that brand new!! From a proper wedding dress shop as well!

No.

My local charity shops are quite cheap - I rarely see clothing items for more than £4 or so. Definitely varies according to area - posher areas, better brands and higher prices.

I'm a great charity shop trawler and agree some of the pricing is completely bonkers, particularly in what I call the 'chain' charity shops - Oxfam, BHF and the like. I tend to stick to ones that are for our local charities where there are still bargains to be found. Recent purchases were a Ted Baker quilted jacket for £7.50, a Michael Kors crossbody bag and purse for £10.50 and a Mia Tui crossbody bag for £5. One of our hospice charity shops has a second small outlet shop where I picked up an Apricot jacket and Made in Italy jumpsuit for £2.00 each. Being retired does mean that I can pop in regularly which has its advantages.

I popped into a shop the other day in a posh market town and got 4 brand new, tagged Nobody’s Child dresses for £9 each!
Few months ago an unworn wool coat for £10.
So bargins are out there to be had..,,,,,

They absolutely 100% are not in existence to provide a 'service ' to people on restricted income in any shape or form. The sole reason they exist is to raise and channel funds to the allocated charity, if this doesn't happen sufficiently to meet the ever increasing targets they will be shut down.

If their targets keep increasing but they have an ever-more-shoddy selection of goods to sell then I suppose charity shops will cease to exist eventually?

Very likely, the model is to move towards superstores and poss keep a few very high end boutique type ones. All the rest will and have disappeared.

400 is a ridiculous price. 100 should be the most if they want to sell it. You could probably get it cheaper on Vinted . Even if it was designer it would be a previous season and so definitely not worth the price tag. People aren't going to go to the charity shop unless they are desperate really. If they have 400 to spend they aren't desperate.

Same with Communion dresses,, there was one priced at 70 in the local charity shop. I got my daughters brand new in Debenhams for about 50 in the sale!

I think the number of people who are willing to pay £400 for a secondhand dress from a charity shop is pretty small. For the price conscious you can buy a used dress from eBay, vinted £100-200.

I’m quite surprised the wedding dress was in a shop rather than being sold via eBay or Vinted for the charity

My wedding dress was £400 brand new from needle and thread a few years ago.

@socialdilemmawhattodo and @FettchYeSandbagges the small charity that I volunteer for that is reasonable , a Hobbs dresses in perfect condition for £7 for instance is like a boutique. The manager has an arts degree and does really amazing displays. We steam everything and it is all colour co ordinated on the rails.

Actual volunteers fall in to different categories. The majority being very capable retired folk, people wanting work experience, people that have significant MH issues or people with additional needs and youngsters doing DofE or work experience from school. I will say that for some of the volunteers it’s a lifeline. I have seen both of my bosses really look after people, it’s a side people don’t see. Some of the volunteers can be quite marginalised in society. Both of my managers will just randomly buy cake for us sometimes out of their own pockets, they are not well paid.

There have been some lovely moments, a little girl of around 8 and I had a very long chat about the toys she was choosing. Her Mother said she had autism and would usually never speak to anyone randomly. I felt very privileged at that point. There are also regulars that just come in for a chat. The charities are not there for that reason but it happens a lot.

Charity shops pay the same rent and utility bills as any other high street business.

Supermarket brands or Primark being priced too high will almost always be because volunteers (who work unpaid!) haven't got knowledge of brands and prices when new, but have been allowed to price because paid staff are run off their feet. It can happen the other way round too, with designer brands hugely underpriced.

Charity shops shouldn't be selling the prams / baby items you mention at all. No prams or pushchairs, cots or cot bedding. It's strictly not allowed due to safety risks.