Charity Shops

[Fleurdebleurgh]

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' )

I have bought quite a few 1000 piece jigsaws from charity shops and they have almost always been complete.
2 or 3 pieces missing from a childrens jigsaw is much more annoying from an adults one simply because its much more of the picture!!

Yanbu. I bought dd a battered and overpriced Orchard Toys game from a charity shop today but when I got home about half of the contents were missing.

But Dp got a vgc tux for a work event cheaper than he could have hired one so it is swings and roundabouts.

Nor I Betty!

OP did she look like one of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=league+of+gentlemen+charity+shop+ladies&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=909&tbm=isch&tbnid=CnIizz9cA2wVjM:&imgrefurl=www.howretro.com/2011/07/charity-shops.html&docid=nTjh6N4zHs29LM&imgurl=3.bp.blogspot.com/-4zr4SENlt8g/Ti5JoxC8FwI/AAAAAAAAAp0/4Gswvgpvvfs/s1600/vasey_03_400x267.jpg&w=400&h=267&ei=osl1T8DyL9CSswaynJHEAw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=334&sig=102443038490564289438&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=152&start=0&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0&tx=126&ty=72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these?

YANBU. I love going to charity shops but i'm afraid that in my experience a lot of the "ladies" who work in them are quite frankly grumpy old cows. (with apologies to anyone on MN who works in a charity shop and is not a grumpy old cow) Although they are volunteering to help a good cause charity shops seem to be a hotbed of politics and backstabbing. I was once in a charity shop where there were an asian family shopping there and when they left the two old biddies started making frankly racist comments. The shop - Oxfam!

Most charity shops do check them I thought- at least all the ones I've been in have a sticker on to say if any bits are missing. YANBU. Just because someone is a volunteer doesn't mean they should be lazy.

A lot of the elderly people who 'volunteer' in charity shops are arseholes, though, actually. A friend of mine volunteered in Oxfam after he'd been diagnosed with a schizophrenic episode and was off sick being assessed by psychiatrist/CPN etc. He got constantly bullied for being on benefits. Really disgusting but I suppose charities are desperate so take whoever they can get for these jobs.

YANBU

as others have said, she's the face of that charity and must be polite to customers.
full stop. no excuse

and all the charity shops here check the toys/jigsaws and put notes on to say if they're complete or not.

definitely complain to the manager about her - she's a volunteer, not being forced to be there and it does the charity no favours to have a horrid shop assistant.

The woman was incredibly rude. The fact that she's "not paid to work there" actually makes her attitude worse than if she was - why on earth would you volunteer to do something you obviously don't enjoy or resent being asked to do properly? I would flag it up with the manager, she needs to be told that's not acceptable just as much as an ordinary member of staff would be.

I was a vounteer in a charity shop for 12 years and we had to count all jigsaws and label them as complete, then seal the box. if there were any pieces missing it did not go on sale.

An awful lot of the volunteers were elderly, and, with the odd exception, they were bloody rude.

I help in a charity shop and we go through games etc to check, then put a sticker on the front to indicate whether the game is complete or if anything is missing. I thought all charity shops did as it seems like common sense?! Perhaps send an email of concern to the area manager? Bad form on that woman's part to be so rude to a customer.

This thread has made me realise how lucky I am that overall our charity shops are lovely.

no excuse. she doesn't have to volunteer.
I run a charity shop and we count them it gives the people who aren't volunteers but are on community placements cos they've been naughty, something to do (i do count smaller ones myself)
If a mistake has been made, i ALWAYS apologise and refund. In fact, I refund even if someone changes their mind - it's our policy. It's called good customer service. A charity shop is still a business, after all.

but i also agree with Wibblybibble. I have to work with a bunch of horribly racist and intolerant old ladies. I've just had to speak to one for picking on a young disabled volunteer. I don't mean just her ignorance and intolerance but proper bullying..a woman in her 70s doing that to a 20something

The community service placements aren't allowed anywhere near the till as a lot of their crimes have been theft , fraud etc and they are only therefore allowed in the back room. They are the brilliant checkers of toys, puzzles etc and work way harder than the bitchy old dears!

yanbu.

I get right pissed off when being a volunteer is used as an excuse to be sloppy. IT IS NOT. I volunteer and I work bloody hard for no money and I actually got loads done today and this is work I'd rather do for free than a low wage because it's about pride in the job and I only fucked one thing up but have no idea how it happened so have deleted the bastard account to be on the safe side

Thats exactly what i thought Katie. Im a Scout leader and the fact that we are volunteers doesnt make a jot of difference.

Seems ianbu and i will consider a swift note to the manager, its a chain of charity shops so they should know their arse from their elbow really.

Thanks all!

What is it about volunteers in charity shops? They always seem to be having bitchy, back-stabbing conversations about whoever is not in today, and don't seem to care that their customers can hear every word. I have thought about volunteering before now and then realised that I would be working with these harridans and it has put me right off.

I got called Sir in my local Oxfam shop. Wouldn't have been so bad but I was 41 weeks pregnant

I think the odd oddity and a few "characters" is no bad thing in a charity shop and many people who work in them would not be able to work any where else but like any organisation the people in it should be properly managed.

I'm dithering about volunteering for CAB but they only have training on a Wednesday when I have no childcare. Apparently

Everyone I work with as a volunteer is lovely.

I got thrown out of a charity shop while browsing this week (for answering my mobile phone). I had been going to say "can't talk now, in a shop" but didn't get the chance. This thread has made me feel strangely better... was stunned at the time. Have never been thrown out of anywhere before!

what sort of charity shop would not let you use a phone???!!! Britain's only silent shop??!

Going to stereotype but am guessing the volunteer who threw you out was militant / bossy / elderly . 70something, large of bosom? Bon Marche and popsocks attired? I know the kind indeed!

militant - yes
bossy - yes
elderly - yes

70something - yes
large of bosom - yes
Bon Marche and popsocks attired - possibly, throwing out happened too quickly to say

i knew it i knew it!!
I am daily bullied by a troupe of these old 'dears'.
I am a mere child, whippersnapper , newby compared to their 15 yrs or so or service, they cannot handle me being in charge , I'm 'too young' (i'm actually early 40s) they are in their 70s and 80s some even coming up for 90s! marvelous in some ways, terrifying in most others!!
They all hate change
They all hate anything out of the blue
They all hate anyone under 65
They have been known to make grown men cry
(great for scaring off shop lifters though!)