AIBU to haggle at the charity shop?

[MrsSippy]

I've been out today going round the local charity furniture stores looking for a sideboard. I found one that was about the right size and colour, but quite battered and half the handles were missing. No problem as I want to re-vamp it, but they want £200 for it. That's a bit steep innit?? Should I make an offer (p.s. I regularly buy from and donate to this local charity) it just feels wrong to haggle at the charity shop, but today I noticed their prices had gone a bit mad i.e. £15 for a chipped vase with a £16 price tag still on from the original shop.

Your opinions please...

We used to have three charity shops where I live, now there's one.
If they don't keep selling and taking in money, they won't survive, there are many,many charities chasing the same donations.

I take things that are good condition (like my DD Converses, grown out but barely worn. Some of her clothes (Ladies size 6) mainly Primark/ H&M so they won't sell for £££)

But I did say on a previous thread , what's the harm if ,for example, you say "I'd like the teapot and mugs. If I buy the sugarbowl can you throw the milkjug in for free"
They get a sale
Buyer gets a deal.

But I got my arse on a plate for suggesting it

We've got about 10, all in good health with a regular turn over of quality stock. I see haggling as a car boot sort of thing, not something I'd do with a charity.

OK, I've had a quick scout on ebay and found some nice ones, similar to the one I found today, but they are all under £60!!! Even with the best haggling skills in the world (which I don't have) I'm not going to get a £200 sideboard down anywhere close to that!! So sorry, local hospice, I wish I had the extra to give you but sadly I don't

I had a problem like this last month. I don't haggle with charity shops but happened to go in when they had just gotten in an old metal round fronted fridge , it looked lovely. I marvelled at it and the staff said it had just come in but was in working order. I said I would go have a look round other shops while they pondered a price. When I came back I offered 40 pounds (the price of everything else in the shop was pennies). The staff said they had discussed it and wouldn't accept less than 100, as it was vintage. They said it would be sold on eBay if I never bought it. I didn't haggle but did point out that it may be vintage but it's also a decades old electrical appliance with no warranty. We also live in rural scotland so I did wonder whether anyone would travel to view it or pay a courier to collect it.

I was the only bidder on eBay. I was too embarrassed to collect it myself. I also contacted them to see if they would prefer cash on delivery but they insisted on PayPal (so presumably incurred fees). And I got it for 20 quid.

I wouldn't have haggled though!

I think some charity shops have gone a bit ridiculous re prices. But I don't think it's right to haggle. Just don't buy it if you think the price is too high. Some paperbacks are ridiculous.

We bought some beautiful furniture from a charity shop recently,all real wood,all quite old which is what we were looking for and in excellent condition.We paid less than £100 for 4 pieces.

And we didn't haggle that was what it cost.The charity shop you've looked at sounds absurd with regards to it's prices.

Maybe it is a name antique? You couldn't expect to get a Chippendale cheap just because you intend to "upcycle" it
I wouldn't haggle though

This annoys me so much. I went to buy a coat in a charity shop the other day and there were holes in the cuffs which I only noticed when I got to the till. I told the manager "I think this needs to go back to the stock room...it's got holes in it! and she said "Oh yes, we know." And I said "8.50 for a jacket with holes in the cuffs?" and she said "Yes."

A few years ago I would of said no but they are run like businesses now.

When customers try to haggle in my charity shop it's usually over £1 or 50p, and I usually refuse, because it's in my job description to make as much money for the charity as possible, and if I did deals on everything, I wouldn't be doing my job.
However, I accept that customers have a right to haggle, but I don't think it's on when they get stroppy when I refuse, as is my right!
Charity shops exist to earn money for the charity, and when donations get handed over, it's the charity shop manager's responsibility to make the most of that donation.

£200! London here but we got some amazing real wood furiture for alot less than that in charity shop. Have you tried a local auction?

Can you nicely ask why it's priced as it is.there may be a good reason? Then ask them to phone you if they decide to lower the price. Tell them you are about to start trawling through ebay for a similar one