AIBU to think charity shops shouldn't be a dirty little secret?

[LunaLoveg00d]

I volunteer in a charity shop not far from where I live. It's a fairly affluent area and we get very good quality donations. Last week I sorted a whole bag of brand new, still with the tag on Joules/Boden/SeaSalt type things.

It's a busy wee shop and there is a constant stream of people dropping stuff off, and buying too. One lady was buying a fabulous hat to wear to a relative's wedding, she showed me the outfit it was to go with and we agreed it was perfect, and that she'd look amazing. I rang it through the till and said "And don't forget to tell them you got it here if anyone asks!"

She gave me the most evil stare I've had in a long time and said "As if I'd admit shopping in a charity shop!"

Why is it something to be ashamed of?? All of my friends love a good charity shop, we could all afford to buy new but there's nothing like knowing you've got a bargain. Our shop regularly has vintage clothing in which you just couldn't get in the shops anyway.

I love charity shops.... I rarely go to regular shops. But I find shopping for clothes for myself boring, I prefer to find clothes for DH and the DC, plus books, toys, china etc.

Best find was an old picture that I wasn't sure if it was an original or a print, I paid £10 and it turned put to be an original and when I started googling for hours on end it turned out to be worth about £7000!

Delighted! I still have it in our landing, in it's original frame and everything.

I think it became cool around 2008ish to shop in charity shops. It's 'vintage' shopping init. All the hipsters do it. An ex of mine pretty much got his entire wardrobe from charity shops, all Topman stuff for more than half the price. AFAIK the stigma was removed around that time... I don't hear anyone thinking it's not cool to admit, quite the opposite.

I find lots of charity shops in London now really over-charging though

There's no shame in shopping in a charity shop if you find something that you really love. We couldn't find a Smurf soft toy anywhere and found it in a charity shop. If I saw a fantastic handbag there, no problem buying it. People who don't want to admit to it are just hypocritical idiots and my bet is, they aren't honest in other areas of their lives either.

Last week I found a cardigan exactly the same as one I own. Except mine has been in use for about 7+ years, has a repair in a sleeve (caught on a door handle and tore) and the button loop has snapped.

This one had languished, mostly unworn, in someone's drawer or wardrobe. It's as new. This is not the first time I've found an identical item to one I own and love in charity shops.

LookNiceYah - snap!

Our copy of Risk came from a charity shop too! I used to play it as a child, now it is a firm favourite with the DDs.

Toddzoid - I wouldn't say there is much "vintage" in charity shops nowadays (apart from specialist ones) - it seems to be mostly modern-day cast-offs.