to expect at least a little politeness if not gratitude

[poachedeggs]

On several occasions I've handed stuff in to charity shops and been gruffly told to dump it somewhere. I've only had a thank you once that I can recall. Today I phoned to check whether they actually wanted what I had and was told 'no, we don't' and hung up on!

I don't give them rubbish - usually laundered and folded clothes or clean toys. AIBU to think that manners would be nice? I can see a return to freecycle ahead.

If I went into a charity shop and they were rude and didn't thank me I would take the items back and storm out to a different shop that were appreciative, or give the items away for free on local FB selling pages

In fact I tend to do the latter most of the time now, as it's easier for me as the recipients collect

YANBU. It's shocking to read some of the bad experiences some people have had.

I gave a lot of good quality fiction books to my local library when I was having a clear out before DS was born, and the librarian was lovely - offered to carry the books in from my car and everything.

I think they were quite pleased that I'd asked what kind of books they wanted in advance though - the librarian said that a lot of people try to offload out of date school textbooks and other non-fiction stuff on them.

It's always worth complaining to the charity's head office who should take it seriously, after all it isn't exactly good PR for them is it?

I like BHF because they periodically tell you how much they've sold your stuff for.

Bhf are good in the way they tell you how much what you have donated has earned. We donated several large mahogany furniture pieces. All in good condition, the letter said they raised £470. However getting them to pick stuff up was a nightmare, everyone I spoke to was rude. The person with the truck was on his phone the whole time, left his 18 year old colleague to do the lifting with me. Tbh since then I have stayed away. I find mind staff very helpful in my local shop. Thats where my stuff goes now.

I donated a big bag of stuff to Oxfam recently, and the elderly lady volunteer was ever so sweet. I guess it's all down to who you get on the day.