Charity shop donations

[sbshannon]

Just reading some comments posted about a year or so ago on donating to charity shops. BHF do free collections; however they can be very picky. I have waited in all day for them to collect a mattress; about 2 years old, good condition, no tears, etc. The van drivers were not particularly friendly, and refused to take the mattress due to 'stains'. Apart from it not looking brand new, there were no stains, so not sure what standard it has to be for them to take it. Personally, as I live in a flat, I wonder if they didn't want to bother lugging it down the 3 flights of stairs!
Anyway, I wouldn't bother with BHF unless the item in question is 'nearly new'.

I wanted to get rid of my stuff. Not really a good deed.

I took some stuff to a local Salvation Army shop last week and they were polite. I had a quick look at their books - the shop has a good reputation locally for having lots of books, at four for £1. I was disappointed to find hardly any books in stock, and that they were all priced at one pound or more. I would not pay £1.50 for a second hand paper back book. Things have changed, not for the better.

I contacted a local charity about a desk, chest of drawers and a bookcase. They arranged a date for collection, the two men collecting carried them down two flights of stairs and were polite and friendly. I got a thank you letter a few days later and a couple of months later got another letter saying thank you again and that my items had been sold raising £x for them. The main reason I donated to them was that they collected for free, but after that great response I support them with smaller items by dropping them at their shop.

I'm not sure what to do about an old settee and chair though, as I doubt it is resalable and anyone will take it away for free.

Years ago I helped in a charity, I opened up a black bag and pulled out a heavily blood stained duvet.

I called Emmaus a few weeks ago and told them I had a display cabinet. They agreed to come and get it. I also put a cd rack out at the same time with a note to take if of use. They took the rack and left the display cabinet.

Once they couldn't give away the hardbacks, and they just took up space. Now they can be used for that utterly appalling abuse of books book origami.

Shops are now a bit too savvy though to get the real bargains. I just hate the primani t-shirts for more than they cost new.

I have quite a lot of books in very good condition, some hardbacks that look new, and also tons of DVDs to clear out. I'm going to give them to Crusaid because they're nice and always accept that kind of thing.

I really dislike the staff in the other charity shops near me - Oxfam, Sue Ryder and worst of all, FARA. I wouldn't piss on that shop if it was on fire.

I gave a pet carrier to Blue Cross yesterday. I bought it from Argos and when I put it together I realised it was too small for my cat. I crammed the poor sod into it because he had to go to the vet but I've got the next size up now.

Though snowed under, they were really grateful and friendly which made me smile.

Interesting thread.

Any ideas what we can do with clothes that are way past charity shop status? Is there such thing as textile recycling?

There are textile bins near me indomitable. They are secure to prevent skip-diving and last time I noticed were carrying branding from Scope and also in an official site next to the local authority bins.

indomitable you can take then to charity shop as rags as they make money on rags as well. My mil volunteers in a charity shop and talks about 'ragging' items. Just wish she'd stop buying us ridiculous tat that we have no room for!

I'm an unsociable bastard so I don't go into the shops. I take everything I don't want to the nearest charity bins next to the recycling ones- either Oxfam, British Heart Foundation or the Air Ambulance. It's all good stuff, I just like being able to take a car full at once.

Yes, textile recycling is important, mark the bag as rags, even charity shops sell items on purely for this purpose when worn out but still clean, it's made into 'shoddy' which is the stuff you find inside car upholstery etc. Cash4Clothes sells stuff on to poorer countries, African markets are full of 2nd hand westerners' clothes.

Thanks folks. I'll label some bags as rags.

I know what you mean OP. Some shops are quite indifferent to your donations, but I generally have a very good response from the two I donate to most. My local hospice shop keeps a record of donations and send me a periodic statement on how much money it's made them. It recently was a whopping £50, built up from quite small donations. Very gratifying. Along with Barnados, I have a little card with a donation code so they can match my donations and claim back tax. In short, don't give up. There are organisations out there who seem to be using donations intelligently.

I have lots of clothes, children's clothes, books and toys that I want to donate to charity. The problem is I don't have a car. I have contacted several charities asking if they would like them but nobody seems to want to collect them any ideas what I can do? The stuff is all in good condition, I would rather it go to charity but nowhere seems to want it?

Do you have a local selling site on Facebook? I often put stuff on there free to collector.

The issue is that unfortunately most people are a bit blind to the actual state of the things they donate and/or can't bear the thought of chucking stuff away so they throw everything in bin bags and dump it in a charity shop. The amount of broken, damaged items, filthy mouldy teddies that have been stuck in a loft for years and tat or smelly, stained clothes full of cat hair, stinking of fags or sweaty mens socks that the owners have all thought were perfectly acceptable, that then must be sorted through, is just ridiculous and charities must pay out to bin all this crap. Few people will actually tell you their clothes are just rags.
Also i'm surprised mattresses will be taken due to health and safety issues unless new.
Video tapes should just be binned.

Notmymonkey it's more likely that they can't collect them. Few of the big charites have vans/drivers available to do private collections anymore. Years ago they all did the bags through letter boxes thing but not now.
If you phone a shop a normal member of staff won't be able to just come and collect your stuff and won't be insured to do so.

Notmymonkey, we get twice yearly messages through the door from our local scout hut offering to collect donations (they do say they prefer you to deliver!). If you check when your next scout/guide/church sale is, it might be worth giving them a ring.

Might also be worth contacting your local Home Start about the children's clothes and toys. I volunteer there, and we do occasionally collect. They might ask you to sort it out into things suitable for under 5s.

Local school might take the books. Your DC could carry them in!! I also volunteer in a school library, and love to get donations. I am sure most schools are the same. I have collected once. Would do more, if people offered!

I give to small local independent charity shops rather than the big brands.

I do like buying stuff from charity shops - mainly because of the feel good factor and because you can buy some relatively good stuff but I have never once had a good experience donating anything! Only last week I donated a buggy (that was only used 6 times) and was told that it would need to be cleaned (wtaf - it was pristine) gah. People lol

Notmymknkey if you have at least 20 carrier bags full to donate, you can ask Cancer Research to come and collect. They're usually very quick, and can generally agree to a specific day.

Every now and then we have a clear out, ask the neighbours if they have anything to add, and then just ask them to collect as we also don't drive.

See www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate/donate-goods for the details.

Just be careful re gift aid. My mums friend got a bill for £20 as she didnt pay tax. Worried tax man looks that closely into donations...

I volunteered in a charity shop for a while. We used to get some really rubbish/revolting/weird donations. One day I asked them what was the worst donation they'd had? Apparently it was a hand grenade in the bottom of a rucksack of stuff. It was deactivated, but they didn't know that at the time and apparently put it in the safe whilst figuring out what to do!

I've worked in charity shops. People don't realise they're run as profit-making businesses, with all shop policies decided by head office.
They mostly get more donations, and unsold stock from other branches, than they can ever process. What isn't sold is recycled and ends up in African markets.
So no, they're not waiting eagerly for your old gran's 1960s junk nor her old underwear, but the staff should say thankyou before dumping it.

sue Ryder shop is really rude here. Considering local shopping precinct has several charity shops in it you'd think they would be more polite to make sure you keep giving them the good stuff.
Tbh these days I just put it in the Sally Army or air ambulance bins as it's more convenient (bins in the car park near school) I make sure the rag stuff goes in a white bag so I can marker pen RAGS on it so it's obvious it's just for selling for weight.

My sister is SEN and works part time in age concern. She has told me horrible stuff about what's been found in donation bags though.