to feel charity shop pulled a stroke by raising price at till (from that on tag)

[annoyednow]

I picked out a bag at a charity shop yesterday. I wanted to try on some clothes in the changing room, so I gave the bag on the counter and told the person behind the counter that I was going to take the bag but wanted to try on some clothes first and then maybe pay for everything together if the clothes fitted.

While I was in the changing room the manager seemingly had come in and saw the bag. Having been told it was being held for the customer in the changing room, she told the assistant that the price was too low on tag (3.99) and to whack another fiver on it.

When I came out of the changing room the assistant informed me of the revised price. I felt a little bit stung.

[NicknameIncomplete]

Crumblepie thats not entirely true. The charity shop i worked in got very little donations from people coming into the shop. Ours had a driver who picked up donations door to door, and from clothing banks. The driver had to be paid by the shop.

However it does not excuse the cheek of the manager upping the price.

[StealthPolarBear]

We know that jess, I don't think anyone has argued that

[jessjessjess]

Nobody has to sell an item at any price. It's a complete myth that you're legally obliged to honour the shelf price - this may be store policy but it's not the law.

[crumblepie]

they get given the stuff, what ever they make is profit , i would not of bought anything in the shop after that trick.

[AmIthatSpringy]

Sorry but they were out of order.

As a seasoned charity shopper, I would have told them that, and not bought the bag. They may very well have the bag sitting there for weeks now.

[Elquota]

It was rude of them to suddenly change the price once you've said you're about to buy the item.

I'd have walked out and not bought anything.

They probably do this a lot, and size up what they think their customers can afford, which I think is very distasteful.

[MrsHoarder]

Charity shops don't pay business rates either usually.

[MrsHoarder]

different it isn't. Charities are legally obliged to do the best they can to achieve their aims (be that helping the world's poor, research into cancer cures or helping 5 donkeys in a sanctuary). Charity shops aren't a charitable activity, they are a fundraising activity like a ticketed ball and auction of donated high value prizes is.

[differentnameforthis]

It's not good PR to do what he did but then a charity shop is very different from an ordinary business

How so? I think you will find that a shop, charity or not, is a business. In the same way that they have to pay rent for the building, they have to pay rates, taxes etc. A business is a business.

[differentnameforthis]

If you had donated that bag (and it's worth £50) you'd be a bit peed off if someone bought it for £3.99

hahahahaha! OK, firstly, if you donate anything, to anywhere, you have absolutely NO say what so ever, in what it is sold for, as you don't get the money. Different thing completely if you choose a shop that sells on consignment for you.

Secondly, if you are aware that you can get 50 pounds for a bag & don't want it selling for anything less, sell it on bloody ebay!

I think the manager has a duty to get a fair price for items that have been donated

Of course, but BEFORE a customer decides to buy it, not after she puts it on the counter.

[TangfasticMrFoxalastic]

Despite a priced item being an 'offer' , and a customer accepting that price or 'invitation to treat', there is no contract until money or 'consideration' is exchanged. Case law is Boots vs Pharm.
A shop can state any price and change it, a customer can offer any price, and the shop can accept if they wish. Until money exchanges hands, then you have a contract. (assuming it is for something legal, etc)

Doesn't make it any less annoying though, in that instance I would have left the price as a goodwill gesture, and spoken to the volunteer that priced it to ensure it didn't happen again

[differentnameforthis]

It's a tricky one but I think it's a bit mean spirited to begrudge giving an extra fiver to charity - especially if they're going for fifty quid online

Oh for heaven's sake, how was the op to know how much these sell for on ebay? Are we supposed to look up items on ebay & pay the 'going rate' now?

And it isn't mean spirited to want to pay the price on the tag for your purchases.

They sell for 50 pounds on ebay because people are prepared to pay that, no one would buy a bag from a charity shop for 50 pounds, just because that is what people on ebay charge!

[differentnameforthis]

'It's not a charity for you!'

Well it actually kinda is, isn't it. If I shop in a charity shop it is often because I need something that I can't (at that time) afford to pay full price for. Therefore, helping me save some money, which could be construed as charity.

[differentnameforthis]

So if we all went to Tesco & put a loaf costing 1.50 on the counter, we would be OK if the cashier added another fiver on that, would we? Or say, you put a piece of clothing on the counter at M&S costing, say 40 pounds & the cashier added another 20, that's ok too, is it?

Pretty sure if op decided to buy the item, she agreed to do so at the price that was on the tag, and that they are not allowed to increase it "just because"

[olidusUrsus]

You can't incorrectly price an item in a charity shop.
Yes, you can. Charity shops have targets to meet just like any other shop and lots (inc. mine) have price bands for branded goods.

FWIW OP I would have sold it to you at ticket price and bollocked the person responsible for price later.

Please don't let it put you off going back though - by not spending money there, who are you proving a point to? The staff get paid regardless (or not in the case of volunteers) and the only thing that suffers is the charity's profits. How will they know you were unhappy with the service?

Ask for an apology if you want one, next time don't trust them to hold something for you at the till, but ultimately the only people who suffer by someone purposely avoiding the shop are the vulnerable.

[StealthPolarBear]

Because she didn't make a fuss Miss S

OK you lot. My clothes and accessories tend to be George, or Florence & Fred :o

[OwlinaTree]

Me and Mr Owl lolling at 'it was a guy, laroche'

[IsThisAGoodIdea]

It's a myth that shops have to sell you an incorrectly priced item. They can just take it off the shelf. A lot of places will honour the price as a gesture of goodwill but they are not compelled to.

[MissStrawberry]

Why are you embarrassed to say you still bought it?

[pigletmania]

It's worth £50 new Anna, the bag was not in a good condition when op saw it

[pigletmania]

Yanbu at all tat was very naughty of them. I know they have to make many but not by diddling customers, if this were a shop this would not be allied to happen. They should have gotthe prices right in t first place

[AnnaFiveTowns]

It's a tricky one but I think it's a bit mean spirited to begrudge giving an extra fiver to charity - especially if they're going for fifty quid online.

If you had donated that bag (and it's worth £50) you'd be a bit peed off if someone bought it for £3.99. I think the manager has a duty to get a fair price for items that have been donated.

It's not good PR to do what he did but then a charity shop is very different from an ordinary business.

[Fakebook]

at posters thinking Guy Laroche was the name of the assistant.

I think that's a bit rude what they did OP. note for future: keep stuff with you and pay in one go.

[wonderingsoul]

i wouldnt have brought it just because of what they did.



i dont buy this think of the chairty-- yes you are doing a good thing and they are donating to chairty but you know most of them people who shop there do becasue they have to, its supposed to help thouse buying too.

[NicknameIncomplete]

Some charity shop managers dont have a clue.

The charity shop i worked in was a lot like Lamour mentioned.

I remember once we had a glass vase priced at ove £50. A couple came in asking about the vase. They offered to pay £30. My manager said no. The couple left without the vase and the vase sat on the shelf for a few more weeks before it was sent to another shop.

Now to me thats not good business.