Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Charity Shops

75 replies

Fleurdebleurgh · 30/03/2012 14:55

I bought two puzzles yday for my children from a local charity shop for £1.50.

When we got home and put them together, 1 was missing 3 pieces (of a 20 piece puzzle) and the other was missing 4 pieces (of a 24 piece puzzle) but had an additional 17 pieces in from what looked to be 2 completley different puzzles.

I took them back to the shop today and explained the problem, not really expecting a refund, afterall it is a charity, but perhaps to raise their awareness that its something they should check.

I explained there were pieces missing, and the lady replied with "And?" I said that i was just letting them know that they might want to check the number of pieces of puzzles bought in, that i didnt expect them to 'do' the puzzle, but it would be an idea to count the bits to see if they were all there at least.

She replied "You do know we are volunteers dont you? We dont get paid to be here"

Firstly, they are 20 piece puzzles, it would take seconds to count to ensure they are all there, and secondly how is the fact she is an unpaid worker relevant to the subject?

I asked if she would sell me a pair of shoes if only one shoe was present. She said no. Its the same deal isnt it?

Throughout the 'debate' she did not offer an apology or solution to the problem.

I think its a little crass to stand and argue with a pensioner in a charity shop over £1.50. But AIBU for thinking she could have handled it better, and also, that they shouldnt be selling incomplete items to begin with?

(Yes i realise this would be classed as a 'first world problem' Wink )

OP posts:
timetosmile · 30/03/2012 14:57

Our local charity shops take things back if you still have the receipt

vix1980 · 30/03/2012 14:58

YANBU, In our charity shop where i volunteer we check everything, even jigsaws, i hate having to count a 1000 piece jigsaw but still do it, if theres 1 piece missing it wont go on the shop floor.

i know you dont expect a refund on them but if it did happen that someone had bought one with bits missing wed just say you can change it if you like for something else. the woman sounded really rude, pensioner or not!

SuePurblybilt · 30/03/2012 14:58

They do do them in my local shops, and put a label on saying 'complete' or similar.
Tbh, I think as charity shops get more and more mainstream - selling new goods, selling at high prices etc - then they need to expect to handle this kind of thing as a high street shop would.

Original poster
Fleurdebleurgh · 30/03/2012 14:58

Had the receipt, and their gift aid labels were both still on the front of the box.

OP posts:
ThatllDoPig · 30/03/2012 15:00

YANBU
People should be polite and friendly in any context in an ideal world.
If this lady had volunteered to do this job then no-one is forcing her to do it, she is there of her own volition out of the goodness of her heart, BUT part of that 'job' is basic customer relations surely?

People are usually stroppy in shops because they don't want to work there. If that is the case then she should go and do something else instead.
So, did you get the refund? I thought that charity shops were still bound by the same laws as anyone selling anything?

Pandemoniaa · 30/03/2012 15:01

I don't think being volunteers is at all relevant, tbh. Presumably they sort through clothes, shoes and other items routinely to ensure they are wearable or complete so why not puzzles? With only 20 pieces it can't be an impossible task. If they haven't the time or competence to do this then they should sell them with a warning about pieces possibly being missing.

YANBU and I'd have been inclined to (politely) ask to speak to the shop manager who won't, with any luck, be a member of the Awkward Squad.

sooperdooper · 30/03/2012 15:04

Bloody rude, her being a volunteer is nothing to do with it, the role is to be a shop assistant and in this case that includes making sure the good that are being sold are of a reasonable standard, charity shop or not

SparkyTGD · 30/03/2012 15:04

She was rude.

My mum volunteers at a charity shop & often takes the jigsaws home to check & do. She likes doing them so realise that not all will do.

I have also bought jigsaws from charity shops and usually will either have a sticker saying 'complete' or 'not checked'.

If they have loads its not likely that they will have time to check them so a little sticker on them to say 'not checked' would be ideal.

Perhaps a little note to the mananger?

Original poster
Fleurdebleurgh · 30/03/2012 15:05

I left the puzzles at the shop after telling her they were of no use to me, and would she kindly dispose of them.

I didnt get a refund/replacement/apology or otherwise.

OP posts:
HairyGrotter · 30/03/2012 15:06

YANBU, I'd have asked to speak to someone more senior than her. I always assumed charity shops did quality control to ensure these sort of things don't happen.

The volunteer really should look at another career path, maybe she was serving a probation order...grouch

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 30/03/2012 15:06

I think you are both being U to be honest.

She should have been politer yes - actually, she doesnt sound like she should be working there at all if thats her attitude - but at the end of the day, she is a volunteer and imagine if someone bought in a 1000 piece jigsaw - are they really to count the bits.

Personally if I bought a jig saw from a charity shop I would count the pieces before I did it just to make sure. I donated one of DS's hotwheel games to a charity shop ages ago after clearing out his room. To my absolute horror a week or so ago I found quite a vital piece to it Blush.......I just hope the poor sod who bought it checked it first!

Original poster
Fleurdebleurgh · 30/03/2012 15:12

I will be checking all future puzzles/games before purchase.

Not sure how its unreasonable to expect a product to be complete at the time of purchase though. Surely that is a given?

OP posts:
IAmBooyhoo · 30/03/2012 15:16

YANBU

she was rude.

CakeMixture · 30/03/2012 15:18

I would have asked for a refund tbh.
If she refused I would have asked to speak to her manager.
If the manager made a fuss, I would have asked her to perhaps display a sign that said "Warning: this shop does not always sell a complete product, come back another day to buy any missing components" or some other equally foolish remarks.

Perhaps go in tomorrow and donate one shoe and see what they say.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 30/03/2012 15:18

I don't think secondhand jigsaws should necessarily be complete, but I do think they should either be checked for completeness before going on the shop floor or, as Sparky says, carry a sticker making clear whether or not they've been checked.

And contact the store manager. That volunteer could do with some training.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 30/03/2012 15:18

YANBU. I can see why they wouldn't want to check the 1000 ones, but it can't be too hard to check a 24 piece puzzle.

Or put a sticker on saying "not checked" so that you know you're taking a chance.

Fleurde - I bet she sells them again to someone else.

GeekCool · 30/03/2012 15:27

betty just because it is a charity shop does not mean they can sell goods with essential pieces missing. YABU not the OP.

qazxc · 30/03/2012 15:28

YANBU. I spent quite a lot of my summer holidays doing the puzzles that came in to the charity shop were my gran worked to check they were all there keep me quiet and if they were incomplete they wouldn't be sold (these were 200/500/1000 piece puzzles as well as the kiddy ones). Like you said you weren't expecting a refund just pointing out a problem. the very least she should have done is be polite to you, even if she thought you were being unreasonable/ nitpicking. personally i don't think you were unreasonable to expect a complete puzzle, with an attitude like that she really shouldn't deal with the public.

Quenelle · 30/03/2012 15:32

imagine if someone bought in a 1000 piece jigsaw - are they really to count the bits.

Personally if I bought a jig saw from a charity shop I would count the pieces before I did it just to make sure.

Even if it was a 1000 piece one?

YANBU OP. If the charity wants customers to go back to their shops and spend money again they have to offer at least a halfway decent level of customer service.

CroissantNeuf · 30/03/2012 15:38

At the charity I work for volunteers take the puzzles home to do and games etc are checked for contents.

I've also been known to bring home DS/Wii games for the DC to check and erase any personal info from just in case they are dodgy copies or don't work properly (and, of course, it entertains my DC as well as giving them a sense of helping)

lisaro · 30/03/2012 15:43

You need to contact head office. Even though the lady is volunteering how much repeat custom is she costing them? I an sure they want/need to know about her manner to customers.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 30/03/2012 15:49

No, I wouldnt buy a 1000 piece jigsaw from a charity shop!

ilikecandyandrunning · 30/03/2012 15:50

I agree with contacting head office, just because she volunteers it doesn't mean she has to act like a twat. Contact them and compain away. All the charity shops I go to check puzzles and are really nice about telling you so if you ask! She is am arse and needs pulling up on her crappy attitude - some people think that just because they are 'older' it gives them licence to be rude - it doesn't.

heliumballoon · 30/03/2012 15:54

If it's only 20 pieces and didn't have a sticker on it saying 'complete' I would have quickly checked myself before purchase TBH. Still,not surprised you're pissed off.

quirrelquarrel · 30/03/2012 15:55

We checked everything like that- children's puzzles and games at least, and games like Mousetrap. Fun sorting it all out :o

"And?" like that is really rude! what happened to the customer being right, and treated nicely? how little respect

Swipe left for the next trending thread